Three men have been arraigned at the Special Criminal Court on charges of murdering a dissident republican shot dead outside a public house in Meath over five years ago. Michael McDermott, aged 58, of Ballinagh, County Cavan; Kevin Braney, aged 43, from Dublin; and Frank Murphy, aged 58, of Bettystown, County Meath, have all pleaded not guilty to murder. McDermott and Braney also deny possessing a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and ammunition in March 2013, while Murphy denies possession of the same firearm and rounds on the date of the killing itself. The prosecution opened its case before three judges, outlining that the victim was shot multiple times in a carpark whilst in his vehicle, with witnesses present. The court heard that a stolen vehicle was used in the attack and subsequently recovered. The prosecution indicated that accomplice evidence will feature prominently, noting that a protected witness will testify regarding the planning and execution of the murder. The trial is expected to last approximately ten weeks.
Michelle Ruth, 40, of Spring Garden Street, North Strand, Dublin, pleaded guilty to assaulting a female shop worker at Londis on 8 November 2015. She had previously been barred from the shop and, when the staff member asked her and a male companion to leave, Ruth grabbed the woman by the hair, filled a paper cup with boiling water and flung it at her face, also throwing a jar of powdered chocolate. The victim suffered a sore, swollen, red face and was taken to hospital; she later reported mental distress but no physical scarring. Ruth, who has 158 prior convictions mainly for shoplifting and public order offences, was arrested after CCTV footage identified her. She apologized in court, claiming she was not drug‑free and had been under stress. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to allow further urine analysis, with the case to be finalised on 14 November.
Joseph Anderson, a former contributor to the anti‑drugs newsletter The Shrew, is awaiting the result of an appeal against his conviction and sentence for sexual offences committed between August 1992 and May 1995. He was 71 at the time of the appeal, lives in Powers Court, Mount St. Lower, Dublin, and had pleaded not guilty to twelve counts of sexual assault and one count of oral rape involving a boy aged 12 to 15. A jury at the Central Criminal Court found him guilty and he was sentenced to six years' imprisonment on 28 July 2016. Anderson's barrister, Patrick Gageby SC, argued that the boy's repeated visits to Anderson's home were not a legal consent and that the trial judge had misdirected the jury. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Bernard Condon SC, contended the sentence was unduly lenient and should have been higher.
In a Special Criminal Court murder trial, Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, aged 62, was shot six times by a gunman in the driveway of his Dublin home on 22 December 2016. The attacker, Jason Keating, 27, has pleaded not guilty. Kirwan suffered eight gunshot wounds to his head, right arm, chest and abdomen, including a fatal wound to the chest that damaged a major blood vessel. He was seated in his Ford Mondeo with partner Bernadette Roe when the attack occurred. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that Kirwan's body was examined on 23 December, confirming the wounds and the absence of alcohol or drugs. The prosecution alleges a 'Gotek 7' tracking device linked Keating to the scene. The case is set to continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
In the murder trial of Joseph Hillen, the wife of the stabbed taxi driver, Grainne Mulligan, denied that her husband kept a kitchen knife in his car. She stated that Hillen, a 24‑year‑old coal delivery man turned taxi driver, kept a bar on the floor of the taxi for protection and a small Swiss Army knife. She also admitted that she had previously claimed he kept a kitchen knife in the taxi, but later corrected that the knife was in his coal lorry. Mulligan described Hillen as a formidable man who would not back down in a confrontation. She said he kept the bar as a weapon if needed. The trial continues before a jury and Justice Eileen Creedon. Joseph Hillen pleaded not guilty. Grainne Mulligan pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Jason Keating, 27, of Rush, Co Dublin, continued before a three-judge court presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Keating has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, who was shot six times outside his Clondalkin home in December 2016. Prosecution evidence focused on a 'Gotek 7' electronic tracking device found under Mr Kirwan's car the day after the shooting. Sergeant Damien Gannon testified that the device was attached to the undercarriage with strong magnets. James Kennedy, a Garda telecommunications analyst, explained that the device uses GPS to upload location data to a web server and can send movement alerts to saved mobile numbers. Although the device contained a SIM card from Holland, Kennedy stated he could not decode the internal information and did not retrieve location data from the device's memory. He noted that such trackers are also used for legitimate purposes, such as taxi fleets. In his opening address, prosecution counsel Paul Greene SC alleged the murder arose from a feud between criminal factions, though Mr Kirwan had no connection to either side. The matter is ongoing, with the trial continuing before the court.
During a murder trial, Gardaí recounted a car‑chase involving the accused, 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen, hours before he stabbed taxi driver Martin Mulligan to death. Hillen, who pleaded not guilty, admitted stabbing Mulligan but claimed he did so to protect himself. The chase began shortly after midnight in Dundalk town centre, when Sergeant Michael Kermath and Garda Damien Fanning spotted a Toyota Avensis spinning its tyres outside Ridley's nightclub. They pursued the vehicle with blue lights, but the Avensis accelerated erratically, broke two traffic lights, and fled toward Marsh's Shopping Centre. The patrol car followed until the pursuit became too dangerous, and the officers believed they would not catch the driver before the border with Northern Ireland. CCTV footage of the chase was shown to the jury, and the trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon.
Adam Clarke, 20, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to causing serious harm to Ownie O'Connell at the Tivoli Theatre, Francis Street, Dublin 8, on July 3, 2016. The prosecution alleged that Clarke, an apprentice electrician, punched the victim in a fit of jealousy after seeing him kiss a mutual acquaintance. Mr O'Connell was knocked unconscious, suffered a scalp cut, and was left permanently deaf in his left ear with tinnitus. He was hospitalized for five days. Clarke, of Donaghmede, has no previous convictions. During his Garda interview, he reportedly showed no remorse, stating he had no regrets because it was a great night. However, he later visited the victim in hospital, accepting he had delivered an unprovoked assault and expressing that he was sorry and jealous. In a victim impact statement, Mr O'Connell detailed how the impairment affected his education, social life, and ability to play football. Defense counsel Dominic McGinn SC submitted that Clarke's initial attitude did not reflect his character, citing testimonials describing him as placid and remorseful. He noted Clarke had €2,000 in court as a concrete indication of genuine remorse and argued against custody. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to November 2 next and remanded Clarke on continuing bail.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Raymond Leonard, 35, pleaded not guilty to assaulting Nicholas Devlin on 30 August 2015 at Anna Villa, Ranelagh. Devlin, who had been ejected from McSorley's pub, approached a group outside the pub and was punched twice in the face and kneed in the groin by Leonard. Devlin suffered severe pain, collapsed, and was taken to hospital where doctors found a ruptured testicle, leading to surgery to remove part of it. Devlin testified that he was not overly intoxicated and identified Leonard on CCTV presented in court. Leonard's defence lawyer noted some equivocation in Devlin's language. The prosecution alleged Leonard acted in a vindictive and malicious manner, having removed his shirt before the assault. The case is before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury of five women and seven men.
The Court of Appeal has reduced the sentence of an unnamed 81-year-old man from seven years to five-and-a-half years. The defendant, who cannot be named to protect his victims, had previously pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six sample counts of indecent and sexual assault. These counts were drawn from an indictment containing 18 sample counts detailing abuse inflicted over two distinct periods: between 1972 and 1978 against his adopted daughter, then aged eight to 14, and between 1997 and 2001 against his granddaughter, then aged four to eight. The original seven-year sentence was imposed by Judge Martin Nolan on July 24, 2015. The Court of Appeal has now cut this term to five-and-a-half years. The case emerged after the granddaughter sought counselling in 2013 and disclosed the abuse to her mother. The defendant subsequently admitted the offences to the girl's father and later to a priest during confession, who advised him to report the matters to the gardaí. The man voluntarily went to a garda station to make a confession. The appeal resulted in the reduction of his effective custody period, reflecting the appellate court's review of the original sentencing decision.
A 32‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 11 months' imprisonment for sexual assault after he put a hand under a woman's skirt and groped her while she slept at a house party in Blanchardstown on 21 June 2015. The man, whose name is withheld to protect the victim, pleaded not guilty but was unanimously convicted by a jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had no prior convictions. The victim, aged 29, had fallen asleep after failing to secure a taxi and later recalled waking to a hand rubbing her vagina on the outside of her skirt. She reported stress and work absence in her victim impact statement. The judge noted the offender's family status but found the offence to be of a mid‑range severity, and the defendant could not accept responsibility for the act. The sentence was imposed with no mention of a suspended portion or effective custody beyond the 11‑month term.
Carl Freeman, aged 23, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at the home of Mr William Crean (72) and Mrs Kathleen Crean (65) in a rural area outside Ashford Village, Co Wicklow, on 12 March 2015. He was originally sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, by Judge Michael O'Shea on 26 July 2017. The Court of Appeal, following an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions, found the sentence too lenient and re‑sentenced him to ten years' imprisonment, with the final four years suspended. The decision was made by a three‑judge panel headed by Mr Justice John Edwards. The case involved a violent burglary in which the intruders used hurls, assaulted Mr Crean, threatened Mrs Crean, and stole approximately €150 in cash, a landline, and Mr Crean's mobile phone.
In the murder trial of Jason Keating, a witness described how she held Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan's hand and spoke to him minutes after he was shot outside his Dublin home. Mr Kirwan, 62, was in his car on St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin, when a gunman fired six shots from a Makarov handgun that was later recovered. The witness, who was in the passenger seat of Mr Kirwan's Ford Mondeo, said she saw him "slumped" over the gear stick and she stayed with him until an ambulance arrived. She also reported that a white van had driven away from the scene. The prosecution's case links a tracking device found under Mr Kirwan's car to the accused, Jason Keating, 27, who has pleaded not guilty. The trial is set to continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
In a murder trial, 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen of Forkhill, Co. Armagh, pleaded not guilty to the stabbing death of 53‑year‑old Martin Mulligan in Dundalk on 28 September 2015. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that Mulligan suffered three blunt‑force lacerations to the top of the head, 30 other minor injuries to head, arms, chest and legs, and two fatal knife wounds. One wound cut the abdominal aorta, the other severed the femoral artery in the thigh, both causing rapid blood loss. Dr Curtis explained that a sewer rod could account for the head injuries and that the knife wounds were consistent with Hillen's account of a "backhanded" motion while kneeling. Hillen admitted stabbing Mulligan but claimed he acted to protect himself. The trial continued before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
In a Special Criminal Court case, three Dubliners—Jonathan Keogh, Thomas Fox, and Regina Keogh—are accused of murdering 36‑year‑old Gareth Hutch on 24 May 2016. Hutch was shot four times as he entered his car outside Avondale House flats on North Cumberland Street. The prosecution alleged that Keogh threatened Hutch the evening before the shooting, while Fox and Keogh planned the murder and that Keogh and another man, Mr AB, carried out the shooting. Fox, Keogh and Keogh have pleaded not guilty and denied unlawful possession of a Makarov handgun on 23 May 2016. The trial closed in July; Judge Tony Hunt postponed the verdicts, now scheduled for 26 October, citing the case's complexity and the need for careful deliberation. The judge promised the judgments would be read in four to five hours. The prosecution's closing remarks described the killing as a premeditated act rather than a spur‑of‑the‑moment attack.
In 2018 the Court of Appeal upheld the eight life sentences imposed on a 49‑year‑old Wexford man for raping a 60‑year‑old mother and her daughter in Dublin between 2 and 5 July 2015. The man pleaded guilty to rape, false imprisonment, attempted rape, aggravated burglary, threats to kill and aggravated sexual assault. He had previously been convicted of repeatedly raping his daughter between 2000 and 2004. The sentences were concurrent and the Court of Appeal found the offences "wholly exceptional" and "appropriate" for life imprisonment. The judge noted the mother's vulnerability, the prolonged nature of the assault, the use of a knife, restraints, threats, and the fact that the daughter heard the rape on a voicemail. The appeal was dismissed, with the Court affirming the life terms as justified by the severity and violence of the crimes. The defendant's guilty plea was deemed insufficient to reduce the sentences.
Joseph Fraser, a 42‑year‑old Dublin businessman, was remanded in custody pending a November sentencing after he violently attacked a mother‑of‑two. Fraser had been dating the woman for a few months when he drove to her home drunk. The victim hid Fraser's car keys to prevent him from driving again, which angered him. He then punched her in the ribs, face and head, and kicked her in the head with a steel‑toe shoe. The assault continued through the hallway, kitchen and back garden, and the victim tried to escape by locking herself in a dog cage. Fraser's previous convictions for drunk driving were noted. Judge Melanie Greally stated that a custodial sentence was "absolutely unavoidable" and remanded Fraser pending the final sentence. The victim's injuries included bruising, black eyes and lasting pain, and she reported flashbacks and social withdrawal following the attack. The case is still pending sentencing. The unnamed woman pleaded guilty.
In a murder trial held in Dundalk, 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen pleaded not guilty to the killing of taxi driver Martin Mulligan, 53, who was found dead near his taxi on 28 September 2015. Hillen admitted stabbing Mulligan twice, claiming he acted in self‑defence after an altercation that began when Mulligan allegedly punched him and a wrestling match ensued. Hillen also described a struggle over a stainless steel kitchen knife, during which he cut his own hand and stabbed Mulligan. An autopsy revealed two stab wounds and numerous blunt‑force injuries, with the abdominal wound severing an artery and killing Mulligan within 30 seconds. Hillen's statements to Gardaí in July 2018 acknowledged driving a Toyota Avensis that night, and he admitted to chasing Mulligan before the fatal encounter. The jury, hearing the prosecution's case, will decide whether Hillen's actions were self‑defence or murder. The trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon.
A 30‑year‑old man, Danny Whelan, pleaded guilty to the murder of Samantha Walsh, a 31‑year‑old mother of four, in Waterford. The offence occurred on or about 28 April 2017 at an apartment on Thomas Street. Whelan, who has no fixed abode, was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court without a jury. The judge directed a victim impact statement and remanded him in custody pending sentencing. He will receive a mandatory life sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 17‑year‑old minor was due to be sentenced for assault after throwing a stone at a fellow youth's head, an act the victim described as homophobic. The victim, a young actor, sustained a facial scar requiring 11 stitches. The teenager pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 17 July 2016 and has 24 prior convictions for assault, theft, burglary, criminal damage and trespass. He has been suspected of involvement in a burglary, a mugging, two assaults and criminal damage. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the sentencing to 3 December to review updated reports from the agencies dealing with the teenager, who has a history of missing from his care home 20 times in the last three months and is still addicted to cannabis. The case remains pending.
In a 2015 burglary and criminal damage case at the Halligan household in Coolock, Dublin, 23‑year‑old Josh Byrne, assisted by two other men, used baseball bats to smash windows, a front door and various household items. The assault was carried out under the direction of Byrne's mother, Alice Byrne, who had a telephone argument with the mother of Byrne's girlfriend, Rebecca Halligan. Byrne's mother opened the house to the men, who wore balaclavas and demanded to see Dean Halligan, who was not present. Byrne had prior convictions for traffic offences and obstruction, the latter ending in July. He was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment, suspended on condition of engaging with the Probation Service, and a €2,000 compensation was offered to the victims. The mother's sentencing was adjourned pending a probation report. Josh Byrne was found guilty.
Brian Rattigan, a 37‑year‑old from Cooley Road, Drimnagh, faces arraignment on 1 January 2001 murder charge. He is accused of killing 21‑year‑old Declan Gavin outside the Abrakebabra fast‑food at Crumlin Shopping Centre on 25 August 2001. The Central Criminal Court had scheduled a trial for 14 January next year, but his barrister requested an earlier arraignment. The court granted the request, setting 22 October as the arraignment date, while a governor's report from Portlaoise Prison is to be prepared. The prosecution will not present evidence on that day.
Martin Aylmer, 31, was convicted in July for aiding a criminal organisation in the murder of Michael Barr, the manager of the Sunset House pub, on 25 April 2016. A mobile phone he had purchased two days earlier was found dropped beside the getaway Audi A6, linking him to the crime. CCTV showed Aylmer buying three prepaid phones at Ilac Shopping Centre and another three at a shop on Moore Street, all unregistered. The phone was used for calls after the shooting. Aylmer's fingerprints were found on a bleach bottle at a lock‑up premises visited by him on 24 April, where firearms and cleaning products were seized. He was arrested on 17 June, exercised his right to silence, and was remanded in custody until 15 October for sentencing. The case was the first prosecution under the 2006 organised crime legislation for this offence. Eamonn Cumberton, 30, had already been jailed for life for the same murder. Martin Aylmer pleaded guilty.
Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson, 37, of Dublin, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of the murder of David Douglas on July 1, 2016, on Bridgefoot Street. Thompson had pleaded not guilty to the charge. The non-jury court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, determined that Thompson was involved in an intricate, pre-planned execution, specifically driving a Ford Fiesta used for surveillance and coordination, though the prosecution did not allege he fired the shots. The court rejected the defence argument that the circumstantial evidence was insufficient, noting that Thompson's failure to answer garda questioning regarding his movements and possession of vehicles and items constituted a significant factor. Thompson was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment, backdated to November 1, 2016, when he first entered custody. His legal representative, Michael O'Higgins SC, stated that Thompson intends to appeal the decision. Detective Superintendent Paul Cleary noted that the victim's family was satisfied with the verdict, while the investigation into the case remains ongoing.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 35‑year‑old man named Jason O'Driscoll is on trial for the murders of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, who were found shot in their heads and fused together inside a stolen car in Co. Louth on 7 March 2012. O'Driscoll, who lives on Richmond Avenue, Fairview, has pleaded not guilty. The State alleges he was involved in the killings, travelling to and from the scene in a stolen silver Mercedes S Class, and that the prosecution can rely on circumstantial evidence to convict him. The jury, composed of five women and seven men, began deliberations on Monday afternoon and had deliberated for just over five hours when the judge informed them that a majority verdict of at least ten could be accepted.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 46‑year‑old man was convicted of two counts of sexual assault and one count of rape against his younger sister, aged 11‑12, between August 1987 and September 1988. The court described the family home as "a house where sexual abuse was culture". The judge sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, and noted no need for post‑release supervision. The case also referenced a separate trial in which the same man was convicted in January of four counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault against another sister between 1983 and 1990, receiving a ten‑year sentence with the last two and a half years suspended. The article reports the victim's impact statement, the judge's remarks on the family dynamics, and the defendant's continued denial of the allegations. No further legal outcomes are mentioned.
In a Dublin Circuit Court trial, a 37‑year‑old man was convicted of sexually assaulting his 15‑year‑old daughter after he mistakenly believed she was his partner while groggy in bed. The case had previously gone to trial in July 2015, where the defendant pleaded not guilty. During the trial, the daughter recounted that she and her younger sister had slept in a double bed with the defendant and his partner, and that the defendant groped her while she slept. She described feeling dirty, unable to sleep, and distrusting others after the assault. The judge noted the defendant's remorse as self‑serving and remanded him in custody, ordering a probation report on his risk of re‑offending and future involvement with his daughters. The sentencing was adjourned to December 17. The defendant had no prior convictions.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the judges announced that a verdict in the murder trial of Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson, accused of killing David Douglas, will now be delivered on September 3, rather than the earlier date of October 1. Thompson, 37, pleaded not guilty to the murder that occurred on 1 July 2016 when Douglas was shot six times at Shoestown. The prosecution's case relies on DNA found in two alleged 'spotter' cars and CCTV footage identifying Thompson as a driver. Thompson's counsel, Michael O'Higgins, argued that the delay since the trial's conclusion in May had disadvantaged his client and could impair a safe verdict. The court rejected this claim, noting that the delay mainly affects the preparation of reasons for judgment rather than the decision itself. The verdict will be announced on the scheduled date of September 3.
Donal O'Hara (26), of Glin Park, Coolock, Dublin 17, has been sentenced to three years imprisonment with one year suspended by the Special Criminal Court for his role in a coordinated intimidation and assault on June 9, 2015. O'Hara pleaded guilty to assaulting John Roche at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, County Dublin, and to falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at the same location. The court heard that O'Hara was part of a large group who confronted Mr Byrne following a deteriorated business relationship, subsequently assaulting Mr Roche when he attempted to prevent their entry to the complex. CCTV footage and forensic evidence linking O'Hara to the assault were presented. Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted O'Hara was the "brawn and not the brains" of the operation and considered his youth, early guilty pleas, and remorse as mitigating factors. The sentence is to run consecutively to a previous aggravated burglary conviction. O'Hara will be subject to probation supervision for two years upon release.
John Paul Gantley, 36, of The Coombe, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of assault causing harm that occurred on 20 and 24 May 2017. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended for a two‑year period during which he may not contact his former partner. He will be supervised by the Probation Service for 12 months. Garda Gary Burke described how, on 20 May, Gantley texted his ex‑partner, arrived at her house, pinned her against a wall, held her by the throat, struck her face and brandished a kitchen knife, cutting her forearm. On 24 May he again went to her house, followed her onto the street, struck her face with a hand while holding a sharp object, cutting her face. The victim's impact statement said she was "always on the edge of fear of John Paul" and "fearful of the day he is released".
In 2018, a 41‑year‑old woman recounted how a local horse trader, John Phelan, 54, ended her aspiration to become a vet by raping her during school holidays in 1992–1993. She had taken a summer job caring for animals on farms, hoping to prepare for her future, but Phelan abused her while she was 14–16. He pleaded guilty to four sexual assault charges and two rapes, and was already serving a seven‑year sentence for earlier abuse of a girl aged nine to eleven. The court heard that Phelan began with inappropriate questions, then progressed to kissing, fondling, and digital penetration. He also forced her to wear a one‑piece swimsuit to facilitate molestation. The victim, who had not spoken out until the trial, described lasting trauma, depression, and a loss of trust in men. She thanked Garda Michael Kennelly and others for their support. Phelan was remanded in custody, with sentencing pending. John Phelan was convicted.
Luke Wilson, 23, from Ballyfermot, admitted to conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017. He was recorded by Gardaí in extensive discussions about the plot, stating he had "no problem" camping in the back of a van to "get" Hanley and that he wanted "money not jail." Wilson also pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun with intent to endanger life on 6 November 2017. Gardaí monitored a Seat Leon with false plates, a white Nissan Primastar van and a white Volkswagen Caddy, and placed surveillance on Hanley and his partner's vehicle. Audio recordings captured Wilson and another man planning routes, escape vehicles, and the use of a van to approach Hanley's home. Wilson was found with a 9‑mm pistol, a silencer, 15 rounds, a black ski mask, and three petrol containers in the van. He has 36 prior convictions, including theft and traffic offences.
Dean Evans, 27, of Raheny, Dublin, received a mandatory life sentence at the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Peter Butterly. Evans pleaded guilty to shooting Butterly outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanstown, Co Meath, in March 2013. He was extradited from Spain in April after failing to appear for a trial scheduled in January 2017. Evans expressed remorse, stating he made decisions as a younger man that he would not make today. The court heard from the victim's widow, who described the family's trauma. Evans is the third person to receive a life sentence for this murder, following convictions for Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly. Frank Murphy, 58, of Bettystown, Co Meath, also appeared at the Special Criminal Court today, where he was charged with firearms offences arising out of the events at the Huntsman Inn. Previous firearms charges against Murphy were struck out. Three other men, Kevin Braney, Michael McDermott, and Frank Murphy, are due to go on trial later this year on the same murder charge.
Paul Brannigan, 27, of Finglas, was convicted of two assault charges after a March 18, 2014 incident at Fassaugh Avenue, Cabra, where he struck Jason Saunders, who later died at the scene. Brannigan pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, assault causing harm, and possession of a golf club during the assault. A jury could not reach a majority verdict on manslaughter. The Director of Public Prosecutions announced no third trial would be pursued. Brannigan claimed the headbutt was in self‑defence and that the golf club was used to scare Saunders. CCTV and witness evidence showed a headbutt and a golf club injury, with post‑mortem revealing a tulip‑shaped bruise and fractured rib. Brannigan, with ten prior convictions, was remanded in custody pending sentencing on October 22. The court had not yet received a victim impact report.
The Court of Appeal upheld a joint trial for Seán Davy (24), Matthew Cummins (24) and James Davy (27) who were convicted of murdering 64‑year‑old Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley in his Edenderry home on 12 February 2014. The men broke into the house and beat Dooley with a baseball bat, delivering eight blows to his head. Each defendant gave conflicting accounts: Cummins claimed Davy struck first and then continued the assault; Davy said James Davy delivered most blows and he struck once with less force; James Davy denied striking and said Davy beat him while Cummins kicked. All were found guilty by jury and sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment by Justice Margaret Heneghan on 10 October 2016. Davy's appeal to separate his trial was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, which ruled the case was "compelling" for a joint trial and the judge's refusal to sever the indictment was proper.
A 28‑year‑old man with paranoid schizophrenia was sentenced to nine years in prison for attempting to murder a 17‑year‑old camper and assaulting two of the victim's friends. The judge suspended the final six years of the sentence on the condition that the offender live with his mother upon release and comply with strict conditions, including medication, abstaining from alcohol and drugs, attending probation and welfare appointments, and engaging with recovery services. He will be released after three years, remain under probation supervision for the remaining six years, and must not leave the family home without court consent. The mother, Margaret Corbett, agreed to manage the situation and to inform authorities if the offender stops taking his medication. The judge emphasised that the offender's severe mental illness significantly diminished his responsibility at the time of the attack. The sentence was imposed by Mr Justice Michael White. The unnamed 28-year-old pleaded guilty.
A Longford man convicted of sexually abusing four of his nieces has had his 13-year prison sentence upheld by the Court of Appeal. The 50-year-old man pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to seven charges, including three counts of anal rape and one sexual assault committed between 2001 and 2010. The offences involved victims aged between seven and 16 at the time. The Central Criminal Court imposed consecutive sentences totalling 13 years in May 2017. The Court of Appeal, comprising Mr Justice John Edwards, Mr Justice George Birmingham, and Mr Justice John Hedigan, found the sentences proportionate both individually and cumulatively. The court dismissed the man's appeal against sentence severity.
Denis Nolan, a former priest aged 64, was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of six counts of oral rape, defilement and sexual assault of a boy aged 10‑11 between 2005 and 2006. The boy was paid €10‑€15 for gardening work at Nolan's home and the presbytery, a sum that rose when the abuse began. Nolan, who had previously been defrocked and was serving an eight‑year sentence for a separate sexual abuse case, denied the charges. The court heard that Nolan made inappropriate remarks about puberty, encouraged the boy to view sexual material online, and progressed to fondling, oral rape and assault in the priest's bedroom, the presbytery and a car. The final rape in the presbytery caused injury requiring surgery and ongoing health problems. Nolan's appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice John Hedigan, who upheld the conviction, noting that alleged inconsistencies in the victim's evidence were within normal limits for such cases.
A teenager has walked free from court after receiving a suspended sentence for impeding the investigation into a murder committed by his two older brothers. Ryan Bradley (18) of Liscarne Gardens, Dublin 22, admitted to impeding the investigation of a crime after his brothers, Jason Bradley (20) and Dean Bradley (24), murdered 36-year-old Neill Reilly at Esker Glebe in Lucan, Dublin on January 18, 2017. All three were charged with murder, along with their father, Paul Bradley (54), and the four men went on trial at the Central Criminal Court earlier this year. Ryan Bradley was found not guilty by direction of the trial judge and pleaded guilty to impeding the investigation of a crime. His father was acquitted by the jury, while Jason and Dean Bradley were convicted and are now serving life sentences. Ryan Bradley's sentence hearing took place earlier this month, where it was noted that he had no previous convictions and was not involved in the feud with Neil Reilly. Mr Justice Paul Coffey imposed a five-year sentence fully suspended for 10 years, with conditions including keeping the peace, being of good behaviour, and having no contact with the Reilly family or a named associate. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
In a 2018 Central Criminal Court verdict, a 49‑year‑old man from Co. Waterford was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for the persistent sexual abuse of his younger sister. The jury convicted him on 56 counts of rape and 15 of indecent assault committed between December 1983 and December 1986, when the victim was aged seven to twelve and the perpetrator was fourteen. The judge, Justice Eileen Creedon, described the abuse as "persistent" and noted that the brother threatened the girl with a shotgun, threatened to shoot their mother if she disclosed the abuse, forced her to watch pornography and re‑enact scenes, and coerced her into sexual acts. He had not been previously convicted, had integrated into society, and was married with three children. The judge acknowledged his late admission of responsibility, which vindicated the victim, and suspended the final 12 months of the sentence on strict conditions, including completion of a sex‑offender programme in custody.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 65‑year‑old Bartholomew Prendergast pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and 13 counts of indecent assault against his sister‑in‑law, Stephanie Hickey, aged 12‑15 at the time, and to one count of indecent assault against Deirdre Fahy, aged 13‑14, and two counts of indecent assault against a third woman, aged 9‑12. The offences occurred between 1979 and 1991 in County Waterford and County Tipperary. Prendergast, a former Waterford County Council worker and local musician, had recently retired and had no prior convictions. The court adjourned the case to 26 November for sentencing, after the judge remanded him in custody and revoked his bail. The hearing included victim impact statements from the three women, who described the abuse and its lasting effects. No further legal actions were announced at this stage.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Lenihan, aged 28, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, following a 2017 assault on his ex‑partner Grace Brady at the Plaza Hotel, Tallaght. Lenihan held Brady down, punched her repeatedly, grabbed her hair, and covered her mouth to silence her. He later threatened to release personal photographs of her if she did not comply. After the attack, Lenihan sent over 200 harassing texts and emails, and was arrested for harassment in January 2017. He pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault causing harm, and admitted further harassment between 13 and 31 January. The judge noted Lenihan showed no remorse and had limited insight into the impact of his actions. Lenihan must complete probation supervision for 18 months, offence‑focused work, and a domestic‑violence programme if suitable. He has a prior conviction for breach of a barring order in February 2016.
The jury has begun deliberating in the trial of a 35‑year‑old man charged with murdering two fellow Dubliners, who had planned to sell him a stolen car. Jason O'Driscoll, of Richmond Avenue, Fairview, has been on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the past month. He has pleaded not guilty to murdering 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond in Co Louth on 7 March 2012. Firefighters were called to a burning car in Ravensdale Forest Park shortly before 11 o'clock that night. The bodies of the two men were discovered fused together inside the Volkswagen Golf they had stolen that morning. They had been shot in their heads. The State's case is that Mr O'Driscoll was involved in the murder, travelling to and from the scene in a stolen silver Mercedes S Class. The prosecutor told the jury that it could rely on circumstantial evidence to convict him.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, judges announced that verdicts for the three Dubliners accused of murdering 36‑year‑old Gareth Hutch will be delivered on 8 October. Hutch was shot dead on 24 May 2016 outside Avondale House flats, suffering four gunshot wounds. The prosecution alleged that Jonathan Keogh (33) threatened Hutch the evening before, while Thomas Fox (31) and Regina Keogh (41) planned the murder and that Keogh and another man, Mr AB, fired the shots. Fox, Keogh and Regina have pleaded not guilty. Fox denied unlawfully possessing a Makarov handgun on 23 May. Mrs McDonnell (45) was initially arrested on suspicion of murder but later charged with withholding information; that charge was withdrawn and she received immunity. The court described the trial as "long" and noted it involved three trials within a trial, with priority given to the case of Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson. The judges will consider evidence against each co‑accused before delivering the verdicts.
Two organised crime 'foot soldiers', Gary Gleeson (34) and Stephen Dunne (39), have been sentenced to 12 years each, with one and two years suspended respectively, for their involvement in a 'shambolic' and 'ill-prepared' plot to murder Dublin man Michael Frazer. The sentences were handed down at the Special Criminal Court following guilty pleas in May to possession of a 9mm Luger semi-automatic pistol and 10 rounds of 9mm calibre ammunition with intent to endanger life. The court heard that during an operation targeting organised crime in Dublin in August 2017, armed detectives intercepted the men's van, which contained a loaded firearm 'ready for use'. The court was told that the men had discussed aiming for 'head shots' or they would not get paid, and that a transcript of their conversation was described as a 'disturbing document' containing a 'graphic description' of their intentions. The judge noted that the men's drug use was clearly audible on secret recordings. Defence counsel for both men highlighted mitigating factors, including their guilty pleas, Gleeson's violent offending history, and Dunne's long-term heroin addiction and mental health issues. The sentences were backdated to August 7, 2017, when the men were arrested. The court also heard that Dunne's DNA was found on a SIM card linked to a tracking device under Mr Frazer's van, and that the men had been contracted and paid to carry out the attack by senior figures in the organised crime group.
Luke Wilson, 23, from Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November last year, and to unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun with intent to endanger life on 6 November at Philipsburgh Avenue, Fairview. Alan Wilson, 39, Liam Brannigan, 37, and Joseph Kelly, 35, were also charged with conspiring to murder Mr Hanley on the same occasion. Alan Wilson and Joseph Kelly faced additional charges of conspiracy to murder an unknown person or persons at the 74 Talbot public house between 11 and 15 September last year. Joseph Kelly was also charged with possession of a Beretta handgun and fifteen rounds of ammunition with intent to endanger life on 6 November at Philipsburgh Avenue. A trial date for Alan Wilson was set for 7 October 2019, while Brannigan's case will be mentioned on 8 October and Kelly's hearing was adjourned to October.
A 21‑year‑old Dublin man, who cannot be named to protect the victim's identity, will be sentenced for having sex with a 14‑year‑old neighbour. Garda Campbell Brennan said the man had been in a relationship with the girl and had been affectionate when alone. The girl told the school chaplain, who notified her family and Gardaí, and the offence came to light after she reported it. The man pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexual intercourse with a child under 17 on a date between 1 and 24 July 2014. He has 47 previous convictions for assault, drugs offences, false imprisonment, criminal damage and road traffic matters. The victim's impact statement described depression, suicide attempts, drug and alcohol addiction, school withdrawal and family distress. The man admitted he did not know the girl's age and later admitted having sex with her once in his bedroom.
John Wheeler, 49, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempting to rob a post office on Botanic Road on 13 October 2017. He entered the shop with a plastic bag that concealed a sweeping brush, which he claimed was a gun. The post office owner, 72, heard a banging noise, checked a safe, and later saw Wheeler banging on the counter and demanding money. The owner pressed a panic button and called Garda Barry Brennan, who reviewed CCTV and identified Wheeler. Wheeler later admitted to the Garda that he had tried to rob the post office "as a joke" and had no intention to actually commit robbery. He denied having the brush during the attempt. Wheeler had 55 prior convictions, including assault, robbery, theft, larceny, forgery, dangerous driving and drunk driving. He was sentenced to four years, with 18 months suspended, for a final effective custodial term of two and a half years.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 46‑year‑old man was convicted of 24 counts of sexually assaulting one girl and one count of assaulting her younger sister, all while the children were staying at their grandmother's home. The first victim, aged six or seven, was assaulted between July 2000 and July 2002 when she slept on the man's date, and the second victim, also aged six or seven at the first assault, was assaulted from 2005 to 2010 while she slept in her bedroom. The man pleaded not guilty to 33 charges; a jury convicted him on 25 counts and the judge acquitted him of eight. Judge Martina Baxter described the acts as "gratuitous, depraved and exploitative," noted the family's division, and imposed an eight‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended. The sentence was partially suspended, leaving the man to serve eight years in custody.
A man from Strokestown, County Longford, has been sentenced to four years in prison for causing over €50,000 in damage to Oberstown Children Detention Campus during four separate incidents in 2016. The 18-year-old, who was 16 at the time, pleaded guilty to four counts of criminal damage at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The incidents involved stand-offs with staff spanning between three and four hours each. One incident included a fire being set in a multi-purpose room. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed the sentence with the final year suspended, and ordered two years' probation supervision upon release. The court acknowledged Ward's efforts at rehabilitation while in detention and his expressions of remorse, but noted the incidents were violent and aggressive, causing significant anxiety to staff and residents. Two further counts of assault and theft were taken into account.