A 47-year-old man from County Mayo, convicted of multiple sexual offences against his daughter, has been granted an early appeal hearing date by the Court of Appeal. In February, he was found guilty of three counts of rape, five counts of anal rape, and six counts of sexual assault committed between 2006 and 2010 when the victim was aged seven to eleven. Justice Deirdre Murphy imposed a sentence of fifteen years imprisonment with the final year suspended. The man has maintained his innocence and lodged an appeal against conviction. An application for bail pending appeal was considered, with the court fixing an early hearing date for the second of November. A separate gardaí investigation is ongoing into allegations that the victim made statements contradicting her trial evidence. The man's identity is protected to safeguard the victim's anonymity. The unnamed 47-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In July 2018, a 35‑year‑old man, Jason O'Driscoll, stood trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murders of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, who had planned to sell him a stolen car. The prosecution alleged that the men were shot in their heads inside a Volkswagen Golf that was later set on fire in Ravensdale Forest Park on 7 March 2012. O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty. Defence counsel Vincent Heneghan SC argued that the prosecution's theory was implausible, likening it to a James Bond film, and questioned the feasibility of two shots being fired within two minutes inside a cramped car. He highlighted alleged gaps in Garda evidence, the lack of forensic links between O'Driscoll and the silver Mercedes cited by the State, and the absence of proof that the victims were shot inside the vehicle.
In the Special Criminal Court, the defence for Regina Keogh (41) argued that key prosecution witness Mary McDonnell (45) was a "willing participant" in the alleged murder of Gareth Hutch. Defence counsel Patrick Gageby SC submitted that McDonnell, who was granted immunity after a charge of withholding information was withdrawn, downplayed her role to secure a "great bargain." He contended she told untruths to gardai and the court, pointing the finger at Keogh, her "stalwart" friend. The prosecution alleges Keogh and Thomas Fox (31) planned the shooting, while Jonathan Keogh (32) and an accomplice were the shooters. All three defendants, who have pleaded not guilty to murdering Hutch, were remanded in custody by Mr Justice Tony Hunt until Monday for legal submissions. Fox has also denied unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9 mm handgun. The defence highlighted inconsistencies in McDonnell's testimony regarding her coercion and the provision of rubber gloves, suggesting she fabricated evidence to minimize her liability. The court is currently hearing closing submissions in this non-jury trial concerning the May 2016 shooting outside Avondale House flats in Dublin.
During a rape trial at the Central Criminal Court, a black juror requested to be excused after claiming discomfort with fellow jurors, citing remarks about his clothing and manner of walking. He submitted a note citing "personal reasons" and later explained to Judge Eileen Creedon that he felt "slagged" daily. The judge agreed and discharged him. The accused, a Pakistani national, had pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault at a Dublin beach. The trial was adjourned to the following Monday for a new date. The prosecution, led by Roisín Lacey SC, presented the complainant's testimony, describing consensual meetings, a subsequent incident where the accused attempted to undo her bra, and ultimately a forced sexual act. The complainant detailed her distress and attempts to seek help during the aftermath. The case remains pending.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Karl Sutton, aged 33, received a suspended sentence for a violent assault on his girlfriend, Tiffany Curtis, on 16 August 2003. Sutton accused Curtis of cheating before attacking her, striking her head against walls and floors, kicking her, and threatening their infant son who was in a Moses basket nearby. The court noted the extreme violence, the couple's turbulent relationship, and that they had two children together, one of whom died in 2010. Curtis had written to the court expressing remorse for Sutton's potential imprisonment. Judge Melanie Greally set a headline sentence of five years, then imposed a four‑year term entirely suspended on strict conditions, including two years of probation and participation in an intervention program for intimate‑violence perpetrators. Sutton pleaded guilty, showed remorse, and had no prior convictions. The case ended with the suspended sentence and probationary conditions.
Keith Murphy, aged 42, was convicted of repeatedly raping his step‑daughter over a six‑year period from May 2008 to November 2015. He pleaded not guilty to 26 counts of sexual assault, two counts of attempted rape and 64 counts of rape. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty after just under four hours of deliberation. He was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy on 29 May 2017. The offences largely occurred in the former family home in Cork while the victim, now 19, was aged nine to 15. She waived anonymity and described the abuse as having a devastating, profound and far‑reaching effect on her life. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction, dismissing Murphy's appeal. The appeal was heard by Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice John Hedigan.
Zoltan Almasi, a 46‑year‑old Hungarian national living in Harbour View, Naas, was convicted of murdering 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne with a baseball bat on 16 May 2014. The Central Criminal Court found him guilty after 11 hours of deliberation and imposed a mandatory life sentence on 16 March 2016. Almasi, who worked for a courier company, had previously lived alone and had moved to Ireland after becoming a Hungarian national in 2007. He appealed the conviction, arguing that the partial defence of provocation should have been left to the jury. His barrister, Dominic McGinn SC, claimed that drunken youths had damaged his van, provoking Almasi. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, dismissed the appeal, holding that the trial judge had not applied an overly rigorous standard and that the evidence did not conclusively show a total loss of self‑control.
In a Louth double‑murder trial, the prosecution argued that a collection of circumstantial evidence—mobile‑phone records, CCTV footage, witness statements and vehicle details—when combined, proved that Jason O'Driscoll was involved in the killings of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond on 7 March 2012. The accused, 35, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution highlighted the timing of the victims' movements, the presence of a silver Mercedes linked to O'Driscoll, and the absence of motive. O'Driscoll's defence counsel, Vincent Heneghan, counter‑argued that the case lacked motive, criticised police work as sloppy, and questioned the evidence's reliability. The trial was ongoing, with the jury instructed to consider the evidence as a jigsaw that might conclusively prove guilt if assembled together. The case remained at the closing‑speech stage before Mr Justice Michael White.
In the Special Criminal Court, Jonathan Keogh, aged 32, was defended by Sean Guerin SC, who likened the prosecution's case to a "Jackson Pollock" painting, arguing it was a chaotic collection of evidence lacking analysis. Guerin highlighted that Keogh had been involved in a public row with Gareth Hutch the day before Hutch's murder on 24 May 2016, and that Keogh had received threats from Gardaí. He contested the reliability of Mary McDonnell's testimony, which placed Keogh at Avondale House on the morning of the shooting, and questioned her identification of Keogh from CCTV footage. Guerin also noted that McDonnell had been granted immunity and that her evidence was "unreliable." The prosecution alleged Keogh threatened Hutch, that Thomas Fox and Regina Keogh planned the murder, and that Keogh and another man, Mr AB, were the shooters. All three pleaded not guilty.
The trial of a 35‑year‑old woman, Laura Kenna, charged with attempting to murder a woman on Drumcondra Road Lower on 3 January, was adjourned by Mr Justice Michael White after the defence barrister fell ill with a severe viral condition. Kenna, who has no fixed abode and is being held at the Central Mental Hospital, will receive a new trial date on Monday.
In a Louth double‑murder trial, the jury heard that Gardaí had confidential information that the two deceased car thieves were to meet another man in Dundalk on the night of their deaths. The case is a retrial at the Central Criminal Court after the first jury reached a verdict disagreement. The defendant, 35‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll of Richmond Avenue, Fairview, pleaded not guilty to the murders of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, who were found with gunshot wounds to the head inside a burning silver Mercedes at Ravensdale Forest Park on 7 March 2012. Detective Sergeant Michael Sheridan testified that Gardaí reconstructed traffic from CCTV and identified the car as a good match for the one seen that night. He also confirmed that the confidential information about the planned meeting was received from a man originally arrested as a suspect.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a prosecution barrister argued that three Dubliners—Jonathan Keogh (32), Regina Keogh (41) and Thomas Fox (31)—planned and executed the murder of Gareth Hutch (36) on 24 May 2016. The barrister claimed the accused believed Hutch posed a threat to their safety and that the killing was pre‑planned, not a spur of the moment act. He presented evidence that Keogh threatened to kill Hutch the evening before, that Fox and Keogh were involved in planning, and that Keogh and another man, AB, were the shooters. The prosecution also alleged that Regina Keogh helped secure a flat for surveillance and that Mary McDonnell, a protected witness, identified the gunmen. All three accused pleaded not guilty. The court heard evidence of a heated exchange between Keogh and Hutch the day before, and of the accused's presence at McDonnell's flat the night before the shooting.
Martin Aylmer, 31, of Casino Park, Marino, Dublin 3, pleaded guilty today to facilitating the murder of Michael Barr, 35, the manager of the Sunset House pub in Dublin 1, which occurred on 25 April 2016. Aylmer admitted that between 23 and 25 April 2016 he participated in or contributed to activities that could facilitate the commission of the murder by a criminal organisation or its members. He also admitted reckless conduct that could facilitate the murder. The prosecution, led by Dominic McGinn SC, presented the first count to the Special Criminal Court, where Aylmer was arraigned and pleaded guilty. Judge Tony Hunt remanded him on continuing bail until his sentencing hearing on 1 October, noting that his guilty plea would be treated as an early plea with significant credit. The case is the first prosecution under the 2006 organised‑crime legislation. Eamonn Cumberton, 30, was jailed for life in January for the same murder.
A Dublin man has pleaded guilty to assault and false imprisonment at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. Donal O'Hara (26), of Glin Park, Coolock, Dublin 17, admitted assaulting John Roche and causing him harm at The Towers, Saggart on 9 June 2015. He also admitted falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at locations in Rathcoole and Saggart on the same date. The court heard that Mr Byrne was forcibly removed from a meeting and brought to his residence where Mr Roche was subsequently dragged from a nearby house and assaulted by multiple men. CCTV footage was presented to the court, and forensic evidence linked O'Hara to the assault. His defence counsel acknowledged the gravity of the offence but urged leniency given his age. O'Hara, who has previous convictions for assault and aggravated burglary, was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 31 July.
Lawyers for Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson, accused of murdering David Douglas, expressed concern to the Special Criminal Court about the delay in delivering a verdict. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and Michael Walsh, had earlier indicated that the court would not be able to issue a judgment until 1 October, despite the trial concluding at the end of May. The case, involving complex legal issues and a "heavy trial," required a detailed, reasoned verdict. Thompson, 37, pleaded not guilty on 1 July 2016 after being shot six times at his partner's shop on Bridgefoot Street. The prosecution did not allege Thompson fired the shots but presented DNA evidence linking him to two "spotter" cars and CCTV footage identifying him as a driver. The court heard that four vehicles, including a Mercedes, a Ford Fiesta, a Mitsubishi Mirage and a Suzuki Swift, operated in concert on the day of the murder.
Wayne Kinsella, 46, has appealed his conviction for the murder of Adil Essalhi, 31, to the Court of Appeal. Kinsella, who pleaded not guilty, was unanimously found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury and sentenced to life by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan on May 21, 2012. The prosecution alleged that Kinsella and a relative lured Mr Essalhi to a field behind the Plaza in Tyrrelstown on January 6, 2011, where he was violently assaulted with a machete-type weapon and a knife. His burnt and bleached body was subsequently discovered in the location. Kinsella's counsel, Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC, argued that the trial witnesses colluded to omit Michael Kinsella from the narrative, thereby falsely placing blame on the appellant. Counsel further submitted that the trial judge erred in identifying CCTV as corroboration and failed to properly articulate the defence case to the jury. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham with Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, considered the appeal and a motion to adduce fresh evidence. The court reserved its judgment, meaning the matter was adjourned and remains pending rather than concluded.
A 38-year-old Roscommon man has pleaded guilty to threatening to kill a woman and harassing her, whilst facing a separate attempted murder charge. Gerard Mooney of Castle Hill, Castlerea appeared before the Central Criminal Court on 23 July 2018, where he admitted to burglary at a residence in Cartron, Carrick-on-Shannon on 12 February 2017. He also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, possession of a shotgun, making threats to kill or cause serious harm, and criminal damage during the same incident. Additionally, Mooney admitted to harassing the woman by persistently following, watching and communicating with her between 7 and 12 February 2017. Mr Justice Michael White remanded him in custody pending trial on the attempted murder charge and outstanding counts scheduled for 27 May 2019. The court noted that the firearms offence carries a presumptive minimum sentence of five years, with sentencing to follow after trial.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 22‑year‑old Emily Stewart of Coolock pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Shannon Ryan and her mother Sabrina Ryan on a Dublin bus in March 2017. Stewart was found to have pulled clumps of hair from Shannon's head, left her with facial scratches and bleeding, and later bit, punched and scraped Sabrina's face. The judge, Martin Nolan, fully suspended a six‑month sentence, citing pre‑existing tensions between the families. Stewart, who has three prior theft convictions, was also noted to suffer from mental health issues, anger problems, borderline personality disorder, and drug addiction at the time of the assaults. She was ordered to pay €750 to each victim within one calendar year. No jail term was imposed. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
A 19-year-old man from Ramelton, County Donegal, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment with the final three years suspended at the Central Criminal Court. Bailey Laughlin pleaded guilty to orally raping a 16-year-old woman at Fanad on 1 May 2016. The victim, who waived her right to anonymity, had followed Laughlin outside a party to ensure his welfare after observing him in a distressed and heavily intoxicated state. Mr Justice Michael White imposed strict conditions on the suspended portion, including probation supervision, alcohol abstinence, and engagement with sex offender management services. The judge acknowledged both aggravating factors, including the serious nature of the offence and its impact on the victim, and mitigating factors, including Laughlin's age at the time and difficult upbringing. He noted particular societal concerns regarding youth alcohol consumption and exposure to violent pornography.
In the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution closed its case in the trial of three Dubliners accused of murdering 36‑year‑old Gareth Hutch. The court also ruled that mobile phone records could be admitted as evidence. Hutch was shot dead on 24 May 2016 outside Avondale House flats on North Cumberland Street, suffering four gunshot wounds. The prosecution alleged that Jonathan Keogh (32) threatened Hutch the evening before the shooting, that Thomas Fox (31) and Regina Keogh (41) planned the murder, and that Keogh and another man, "Mr AB", were the shooters. Fox, Keogh and the unnamed man pleaded not guilty. The court heard that the State sought to use mobile phone data linked to the accused, while defence lawyers argued it breached privacy rights. The trial will resume with closing speeches from both sides.
A 45‑year‑old woman, Mercy Peters of Sierra Leone, was declared fit to stand trial for the 2014 murder of Tyrone McKenna, 42, in their shared home in Marley Court, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14. The alleged killing occurred on 17 July 2014. At a brief hearing, the prosecution's counsel, Paul Burns SC, presented a report indicating Peters' fitness for trial. Justice Tony Hunt added her to the court's list for fixing dates, and a trial date was set for the following Monday. Peters had been deemed unfit and sent to the Central Mental Hospital in July of the previous year.
A man from County Mayo has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment following his conviction at the Central Criminal Court for the anal rape of his wife on two occasions in a single night in December 2015. The 39-year-old was found guilty by jury of two counts of anal rape after a trial in May 2018. He was acquitted of four further rape charges relating to earlier dates in 2015. During sentencing, Mr Justice Michael White described the offences as most serious, noting aggravating factors including the nature of the assault, aggression involved, and degradation of the victim. The judge acknowledged the man's lack of previous convictions and medical conditions but noted the absence of a guilty plea. The victim provided an impact statement detailing the psychological consequences she had endured. The sentence was backdated to May 2018 when the man entered custody.
A man formerly of Foxford, County Mayo, has been sentenced to 18 years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the sexual abuse of his daughter throughout her childhood. John Murphy, aged 61, a former member of the Irish Defence Forces, pleaded guilty to rape, indecent assault and sexual assault of his eldest daughter between 1988 and 2001, with a further incident in 2010. The abuse occurred at locations in Counties Galway and Mayo when the complainant was aged between three and fifteen years. Mr Justice Michael White described the offending as characterised by "length, intensity and depravity" and noted the grave breach of trust involved. Murphy is currently serving an eight-year sentence imposed in February for sexual abuse of two younger sisters. The complainant, now aged 33, waived her right to anonymity and read a victim impact statement in court, urging others in similar situations to come forward and break silence surrounding abuse. The sentence was backdated to December 2017.
The prosecution is close to closing its case in the Special Criminal Court trial of three Dubliners accused of murdering 36‑year‑old Gareth Hutch, nephew of Gerry "the monk" Hutch, who was shot dead on 24 May 2016 outside Avondale House flats on North Cumberland Street. The prosecution alleges that Jonathan Keogh (32) threatened to kill Hutch the evening before the shooting, that Thomas Fox (31) and Regina Keogh (41) were instrumental in planning the murder, and that Keogh and another man, Mr AB, were the shooters. Fox, Keogh and Ms Keogh have pleaded not guilty. The court has heard CCTV footage from Belfast, evidence that Keogh travelled to Belfast after the killing, and mobile‑phone records that the State seeks to admit. Defence lawyers argue the mobile‑phone evidence breaches privacy rights. The trial continues before Judges Tony Hunt, Patricia Ryan and Michael Walsh.
In a Dublin street incident, 23‑year‑old Donna Dineen, a homeless woman who had recently given birth in custody, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after slashing a stranger's stomach with a 25‑cm wound. The victim, Saurjan Syergaz, was found bleeding from Dorset Street to St Benedict's Gardens and later underwent surgery. Dineen claimed self‑defence, stating the man had pulled a knife on her, but she also admitted to robbing his wallet. The court noted her 17 prior convictions and her history of abuse and addiction. While her defence sought a suspended sentence to allow her to keep her infant son for 18 months, Judge Melanie Greally rejected this, citing the severity of the wound. Dineen remains in custody, with sentencing postponed to November pending further reports. The co‑accused remains unnamed as his case is still before the courts.
In the trial of 35‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll, a vehicle‑identification expert, Andy Wooller, testified that the car the State claims O'Driscoll fled in was a very good match for a vehicle seen near the scene. Wooller examined CCTV footage of two vehicles driving in Ravensdale Forest Park at about 10.45 p.m. on 7 March 2012, the night two men were found shot dead in a burnt‑out car. He identified the first vehicle as a large, light‑toned car consistent with a Mercedes, and the second as a dark hatchback consistent with a Volkswagen Golf. Wooller and a colleague ran a CCTV identification parade and described both the Mercedes S Class and the Volkswagen Golf as very good matches for the original footage. The State alleges O'Driscoll drove north to sell the stolen Golf to a victim, and the trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard a voir dire regarding the admissibility of mobile phone data in the trial of Thomas Fox, Jonathan Keogh, and Regina Keogh, who are accused of murdering Gareth Hutch. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge; Mr Fox has additionally pleaded not guilty to unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9 mm handgun. Defence counsel argued that the retention and unrestricted access to call data records breached EU privacy laws and should be excluded. Prosecution counsel Paul Burns SC countered that privacy is not an absolute right and that the Gardaí's access was proportionate, necessary, and justified under a balancing exercise. The State seeks to admit records showing phones "pinged" off masts at relevant times, alleging Mr Keogh threatened the victim, while Mr Fox and Ms Keogh planned the killing. The prosecution described the act as premeditated. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Patricia Ryan and Michael Walsh, will rule on the admissibility of this evidence at a later date. The trial continues.
Michael Lynch, a 26‑year‑old from Cork, had his eight‑year jail term for false imprisonment upheld by the Court of Appeal. He was found guilty of false imprisonment of a woman he had been seeing for three weeks and was sentenced to 10 years, with the final two suspended. Lynch had a history of violent offences, including torturing a pregnant ex‑girlfriend by pouring boiling water over her after adding sugar to raise the temperature, and assaulting another ex‑girlfriend. The Court of Appeal, citing his record of violence against women, held that the sentence had to be significant. The appeal against the severity of the sentence was dismissed, and the eight‑year term remained in force. The case was heard by a three‑judge panel, including Mr Justice George Birmingham. The decision was made on 19 July 2018. Michael Lynch pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of 35‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll, charged with the murders of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond on 7 March 2012 in County Louth, the jury has been shown 'EvoFIT' sketches of a suspect driver. The sketches were produced after Sergeant Stephen Downey of the PSNI described seeing a silver Mercedes, travelling northbound on the Dublin Road, with two men inside who appeared relaxed and laughing. Downey, who was a passenger in an unmarked armoured patrol at 11 pm that night, claimed the car was the same one he had seen earlier in Newry and attempted to chase it, but a puncture forced him to stop. He later supplied a description to a facial artist, who created the 'EvoFIT' images that were given to the jury. The unnamed 35-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court is set to begin deliberations tomorrow in the trial of a 19-year-old from Donegal charged with raping and orally raping a schoolmate. The alleged offences occurred in the early hours of March 18th, 2016, in a Donegal town, when the complainant was 16 years old. The accused has pleaded not guilty to both counts. Justice Deirdre Murphy concluded her charge to the jury today, directing members on the burden of proof and instructing them to assess the reliability of witness testimony. The judge advised jurors to consider whether memory inconsistencies might be expected in accounts of traumatic events. During closing arguments, the prosecution contended that injuries sustained by the complainant were consistent with forced sexual assault, whilst the defence submitted that significant gaps existed in the complainant's recollection of events that night.
Eoin Morrow, 38, a Louth bricklayer, will be sentenced for possessing cannabis and prescription drugs worth €1.38 million. Gardaí set up a surveillance operation on a Scania truck that met Morrow's Volkswagen Jetta. They observed Morrow and truck driver John Needham, 31, removing boxes from the truck onto a trolley bound for a storage unit in Newcourt Business Park. A subsequent search uncovered four large cardboard boxes of cannabis resin and 29 boxes of Zopiclone tablets. The 96 kg of cannabis was valued at €580,200 and the 400,000 Zopiclone pills at €800,000. Morrow pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis resin and supplying a prescription‑only drug. He has 15 previous convictions, including assault, burglary and theft. He fled to Europe after a bench warrant was issued but returned and surrendered. Needham also pleaded guilty to the same drug offences and was sentenced to eight years earlier this month.
In the Special Criminal Court trial of Jonathan Keogh, accused of murdering Gareth Hutch, the three‑judge panel ruled that the Gardaí's extensive "trawl" of CCTV footage was proportionate and did not violate Keogh's constitutional right to privacy. Judge Tony Hunt, presiding, found that the footage, which documented Keogh's movements in the days before the shooting, was admissible. The defence argued that the mass capture of images was disproportionate, but the court rejected this, stating that the State had a legitimate interest in investigating crime at Avondale House and that the evidence was gathered in a structured, focused manner. The ruling affirmed that the right to privacy is not absolute and that the State's interest in preventing crime outweighed any intrusion. The trial continues with the prosecution presenting evidence that Keogh threatened Hutch, that Fox and Regina Keogh were involved in planning, and that Keogh and another man, Mr AB, were the shooters. Regina Keogh pleaded not guilty.
Two brothers, Jason Bradley (20) and Dean Bradley (24), were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Neil Reilly, a 36‑year‑old mechanic, on 18 January 2017. The murder occurred after Reilly had previously broken into the Bradley home and shot at their house. Jason inflicted seven chop wounds on Reilly with a sharp weapon before Dean drove over the deceased, causing fatal crush injuries. A third brother, Ryan Bradley, pleaded guilty to impeding the investigation and will be sentenced later. The brothers' father, Paul Bradley, was found not guilty of murder. The sentencing hearing took place in the Central Criminal Court, where Justice Paul Coffey imposed a life sentence on Jason and Dean, noting their remorse and the impact on Reilly's family. The case highlighted the violent confrontation that led to Reilly's death and the subsequent legal proceedings against the Bradley brothers.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Thomas Fox, Jonathan Keogh, and Regina Keogh, who have all pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Gareth Hutch. The prosecution alleges the killing was premeditated, with Mr. Keogh and an uncharged man, Mr. AB, acting as shooters, while Mr. Fox and Ms. Keogh are accused of planning the crime. Evidence presented includes a text message sent from a UK number to a phone associated with Mr. Fox hours after the shooting, stating, "your scot free pal" and "there all poxy blaming me." Senior crime analyst Paul Hibbitts confirmed that this UK number also contacted Denise King, Mr. Keogh's former partner, and Ms. Keogh. The court previously viewed CCTV footage of Mr. Keogh in Belfast on the night of the shooting and at the Stenaline Port Terminal the following day. Testimony indicated that Ms. Keogh arranged for money to be brought to Mr. Keogh before he traveled to Scotland. Additionally, analysis of SIM cards found in a car linked to Mr. Keogh revealed significant interaction with numbers associated with Mr. Fox and Mr. AB on the morning of the incident. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Patricia Ryan and Michael Walsh.
The jury in the trial of 35‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll, charged with murdering 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond on 7 March 2012 in County Louth, has seen CCTV footage of O'Driscoll in the days before the killings. The footage, compiled by Garda Gareth Kenna from cameras on the Northern Ireland side of the border, shows O'Driscoll purchasing mobile‑phone credit in a shop in Newry on several occasions. Ambient noise from the footage also captured a Dublin accent ordering the credit. The prosecution, led by Alexander Owens SC, has presented circumstantial evidence of the mobile‑phone credit purchases and other technical evidence. The defense, represented by Vincent Heneghan SC, has argued that the evidence is insufficient to convict. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Michael White. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 15‑year‑old woman recounted being raped by a 59‑year‑old man who later threatened her with a defamation lawsuit after she disclosed the abuse to a family member. The victim described the assault as occurring while she was babysitting at the man's home, where he showed her pornographic material and then raped her. She had previously told two siblings before 2004, a doctor in 2013, and a relative at a charity event in 2014. After the last disclosure, the man sent a solicitor's letter threatening legal action. He pleaded not guilty to the rape, was convicted in May, and will be sentenced later. He was acquitted of two additional sexual assault charges. The woman's testimony highlighted long‑term psychological effects, including loss of confidence, nightmares, and claustrophobia, and she emphasized reclaiming her self‑worth and identity as a survivor.
A 28‑year‑old Dubliner, Michael Corbett, was sentenced to nine years in prison for attempting to murder a 17‑year‑old and assaulting two friends at the Hellfire Club on Dublin's Montpelier Hill on 27 June 2016. Six years of the sentence were suspended because Corbett was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The judge praised the victim's courage and the two friends' assistance, noting the victim had a four‑inch stab wound to the chest and was close to losing his life. Corbett's sentence will be finalised on 31 July after a probation report. The victims expressed disappointment at the suspended portion, describing fear, trauma and lasting psychological effects. The case remains in custody pending the probation review.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has heard closing arguments in the trial of a nineteen-year-old accused of raping and orally raping a sixteen-year-old girl in Co Donegal in March 2016. The prosecution submitted that injuries sustained by the complainant to her head and genital area were consistent with a violent and forced sexual encounter, contrary to the accused's account. Counsel for the prosecution stated the complainant had remained consistent in her assertion that she had not consented to either act in the alleyway incident. The defence challenged the reliability of the complainant's recollection, noting gaps in her memory and questioning her account given the alcohol she had consumed that night. Defence counsel also referenced CCTV footage showing the teenagers together after the alleged incident and submitted that the complainant's DNA on a condom wrapper supported evidence of digital penetration. The accused denies both charges. The trial before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury continues.
In 2018, a 51‑year‑old Limerick man pleaded guilty to seven charges of rape and sexual assault against a 12‑year‑old girl in the 1990s. The offences were alleged to have occurred in various locations around County Limerick. The trial took place at the Central Criminal Court, and the man's plea was entered on the second day of the proceedings in May. Patrick McGrath SC informed Justice Deirdre Murphy that the defence was struggling to obtain necessary reports for the sentencing hearing, and requested an adjournment. The judge agreed to postpone the hearing to 8 October next year.
The Special Criminal Court has heard evidence regarding the provenance of mobile phone records in the ongoing trial of Thomas Fox, Regina Keogh, and Jonathan Keogh, who are accused of murdering Gareth Hutch. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge; Mr Fox has additionally denied unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9mm handgun. The prosecution alleges the killing was premeditated, with Mr Keogh and an accomplice acting as shooters, while Mr Fox and Ms Keogh planned the offence. Retired Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan testified that gardai made 38 requests for call data records and purchase details for phones allegedly linked to the accused, including two SIM cards found in a Honda Civic associated with Mr Keogh. Maureen King, CEO of iTrust Ethics, confirmed that accurate records were retrieved from a secure Garda email address. Detective Garda Niall Hodgins testified that he obtained a mobile phone from Mr Fox's partner during a search and later attended Mater Hospital when Mr Fox required medical attention after a self-harm attempt in his cell. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Patricia Ryan and Michael Walsh.
A 64-year-old man, Seán Davy, has appealed his conviction for the murder of Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley, who was brutally beaten to death in his home in Edenderry on February 12, 2014. Seán Davy, along with Matthew Cummins and James Davy, was found guilty by a jury of the murder of Mr Dooley, who suffered eight blows to the head with a baseball bat. All three men had denied the charges. They were each given a mandatory life sentence by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan in October 2016, who described the attack as 'brutal, motiveless' and targeted a 'defenceless elderly man'. Seán Davy's barrister, Ronan Munro SC, argued that his client's conviction was unsafe due to a pre-trial decision not to sever the indictment and order separate trials. He claimed that the garda statements of James Davy and Matthew Cummins gave the jury a 'peculiarly vivid' picture that it was 'all Seán Davy's fault', which overwhelmed any judicial direction. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Patrick Treacy SC, stated that the case was presented as one of joint enterprise or common design, with Seán Davy being the only accused who admitted striking the deceased with a baseball bat. The court has reserved its judgement on the appeal.
A trial date has been set for Nathan Foley, an 18‑year‑old from Rosary Road, Dublin, at the Special Criminal Court. Foley is accused of murdering 55‑year‑old David Douglas on Bridgefoot Street on 1 July 2016 and of damaging a car on Strand Road on 4 July 2016. The prosecution, led by Tony McGillicuddy, noted that Foley's defence had raised a fitness‑for‑trial issue and that a consultant psychiatrist had been requested but the accused has reportedly obstructed the process. Paul Greene, Foley's solicitor, expressed concern that the professional witness had not been properly facilitated and that Foley was anxious for the case to proceed. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Patrician Ryan and Michael Walsh, set the trial for 5 December 2016, expecting it to last up to three weeks, and remanded Foley in custody. The case was listed for mention again on 31 July.
Stephen Harnett, a man in his 30s from Wicklow, pleaded guilty to four attempted murder charges involving young children. On 3 June 2016, he tried to strangle two children, leaving them when he believed they were dead, and then attacked two more who fought back and escaped through a window. One child was unconscious and air‑lifted to hospital; the others had purple faces and bulging eyes. Harnett admitted guilt to each charge and was remanded in custody after a brief hearing before Mr Justice Michael White at the Central Criminal Court. His counsel, Patrick Gageby SC, noted a history of depression that might reduce responsibility but not to the extent of insanity, and requested bail to allow a psychiatrist to complete a report. The judge denied bail, citing the seriousness of the offences, and remanded Harnett in custody. Family members were present and tearfully hugged him before he was taken away by prison officers. Stephen Harnett was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Tadhg Butler, aged 37, pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014. He was remanded in custody pending a sentence hearing on 18 October. Butler's case had seen three trials: the first in April 2015 ended with a jury discharge, the second resulted in a guilty verdict and a mandatory life sentence, which was overturned on appeal, and the third ended with a hung jury. Butler admitted he had stabbed O'Dwyer while taking a knife from his nephew to prevent self‑harm.
Two Dublin men, Gary Gleeson (34) and Stephen Dunne (39), who were contracted by senior figures in an organised crime group to murder Michael Frazer, will be sentenced at the Special Criminal Court. They pleaded guilty in May to possession of a 9mm Luger pistol and 10 rounds of ammunition with intent to endanger life, offences committed on Naas Road, Crumlin on 7 August 2017. The court heard that the men were intercepted by Garda detectives in a Fiat Doblo that contained a loaded firearm, a can of petrol, a lighter, rubber gloves and a small amount of cocaine. The men had previously been charged with conspiracy to murder Frazer between 28 July and 7 August. Defence counsel highlighted the defendants' personal circumstances, including addiction and mental health issues, and pleaded for leniency. The court remanded both men in custody until 30 July when they will be sentenced.
The Special Criminal Court heard CCTV footage of alleged gunmen and vehicles linked to the murder of Gareth Hutch. Prosecutors identified a silver Skoda Octavia, a black BMW, a silver Honda Civic, a black Toyota Avensis and a white Ford transit van as connected to Jonathan Keogh (32) and Thomas Fox (31). They claimed Keogh threatened Hutch the evening before the shooting, Fox and Regina Keogh planned the murder, and Keogh and another man, Mr AB, were the shooters. Footage showed the black BMW leaving Wellington Street and parking in Avondale House carpark, the Honda Civic arriving at Champions Avenue, and the Skoda Octavia arriving from Ballymun. The fatal shooting was captured as Hutch entered his car at 9.56 am. After the shooting, Keogh and AB fled in the BMW, which later burned out at Dubber Cross. The trial continues with the accused pleading not guilty.
Two brothers, Dean Bradley (24) and Jason Bradley (20), were found guilty of murdering Neil Reilly (36) after a shooting at their home. A jury reached a unanimous verdict after more than nine hours of deliberation. Both were convicted of murder and face mandatory life sentences. Their father, Paul Bradley (54), was acquitted of the murder charge. Dean and Jason were found guilty of the murder, while their brother Ryan (18) was acquitted of murder but pleaded guilty to impeding the investigation. The trial described how Reilly, who had a debt to the family, fired shots at the Bradley home, leading to a confrontation in which Jason struck Reilly with a sharp weapon, causing fatal blows. Dean's BMW later ran over Reilly, an act he claimed was accidental. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court, with sentencing scheduled for the following Wednesday. The Bradley family was present throughout the proceedings and reacted emotionally to the verdicts.
Michael Kaiser, a 24‑year‑old Polish national, was found guilty of burglary and assault causing harm to an off‑duty Garda in Naas on 1 July 2016. He was originally sentenced to two years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal agreed and increased his term to two‑and‑a‑half years, crediting time already served. The judge noted that Kaiser and a co‑offender had been drinking at the Ivy Inn, entered the kitchen without permission, attacked the head chef with a mop, and then assaulted Garda James Keating, who had come to the pub for lunch. The assault on the Garda was aggravated by the fact it was committed on an off‑duty officer. The court emphasised that Kaiser had no prior convictions, had been a good employee, and had returned to Ireland in breach of a deportation order. Michael Kaiser pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Thomas Fox, Regina Keogh, and Jonathan Keogh, all accused of murdering Gareth Hutch, continued before a three-judge court presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt. The defendants, who have pleaded not guilty to the murder, faced the admission of extensive CCTV evidence after the court rejected a defence application to exclude the footage on privacy grounds. Prosecutors presented clips from May 22, 2016, allegedly showing the accused and linked vehicles, including a white Ford Transit van, a black BMW, and a silver Honda Civic, in Dublin 7. The State alleges the defendants purchased Milton sterilising fluid and that Mr Keogh and an accomplice, Mr AB, were the shooters. Mr Fox also faces a charge of unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9mm handgun, which he denies. The prosecution characterised the killing of Mr Hutch, who died from four gunshot injuries on May 24, 2016, as premeditated. The trial is ongoing and continues tomorrow.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 17‑year‑old boy pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after throwing a stone at a 16‑year‑old victim's head on 17 July 2016. The victim, a young actor, sustained a facial scar requiring 11 stitches above his right eye. Garda Eoin Brennan reported that the boy and another youth had called the victim "a dope" and "a fag" before the stone struck. The victim described the scar as a constant reminder of being attacked because of his sexuality, expressing fear, low confidence, stress, anxiety, and a belief that the scar had cost him acting opportunities. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to set a sentencing date later in the month, noting the defendant's 24 prior convictions and serious risk factors, and remanded him on continuing bail until 25 July. The defendant accepted responsibility and expressed shock at the seriousness of the injury. The case remains pending sentencing.