In the 'Freddie' Thompson murder trial, forensic evidence showed Thompson's DNA on a hand sanitiser and an air freshener recovered from alleged spotter cars used in the shooting of Dublin shoe shop manager David Douglas. Douglas, 55, was shot six times while eating at the shop counter and died from concussion, brain haemorrhage, facial injuries and obstructed breathing. The prosecution argues Thompson was in one of the spotter cars, not the shooter, and that four vehicles operated together that day. Professor Marie Cassidy testified to Douglas's injuries and cause of death, noting half the shots came from different directions, indicating movement by one or both parties. Forensic scientist Sarah Fleming matched Thompson's DNA to items in a Mitsubishi and a Ford Fiesta, estimating the chance of a coincidental match as less than one in a billion. No DNA was found on the gun or cartridges. The trial continues with a legal issue on admissibility of evidence. The unnamed 37-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 28‑year‑old man named Michael Corbett, who lives in Raheny, pleaded guilty to attempting to murder a teenager at the Hellfire Club on Dublin's Montpelier Hill on 27 June 2016. He was arraigned on 8 May 2018 and admitted the charge. His barrister, Michael Bowman SC, requested a sentence hearing for 2 July, and Justice Patrick McCarthy remanded Corbett in custody until that date.
The Court of Appeal has upheld the murder conviction of Mark Nash for the killings of two women in Grangegorman, Dublin, in 1997. A three-judge panel, led by Mr Justice Alan Mahon, dismissed all grounds of appeal on 8 May 2018. Nash was convicted in 2015 of murdering the two victims, whose bodies were discovered in sheltered accommodation two decades after the crimes. He received a mandatory life sentence. The court found the trial was conducted fairly and the verdict was justified by evidence. Nash's appeal centred on challenges to his admissions to gardaí, forensic evidence including DNA found on his jacket, and the lawfulness of evidence seizure. The judges concluded the scientific evidence did not prove contamination and that a jury could reasonably determine the DNA profiles were present from the time of the murders. Nash is already serving life imprisonment for two further murders committed in Roscommon in 1997.
An unnamed teenager, who was 15 at the time of the offence, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing serious harm to a victim on August 13, 2016. The court heard that the defendant allegedly pushed the victim, who has autism, into a headlock and punched him in the right eye, resulting in permanent blindness in that eye. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a period of detention of three and a half years, which he deferred for one year. This deferred child detention order requires the boy to be supervised by the Probation Service and to obey all their instructions and directions. Judge Nolan stated that there is no such thing in law as a suspended sentence for a child, noting that the Children Act 2001 allows for this deferral mechanism. The judge emphasized the severity of the case, telling the defendant he should be "terribly ashamed" and warning that non-compliance with probation directions would result in detention. The matter was adjourned for finalisation on May 3, 2019, at which point the judge may impose the detention, suspend part or all of it, or impose a community sanction.
Plasterer Patrick O'Reilly, 56, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to assault causing harm and unlawful production of a baseball bat. The incident occurred on August 8, 2016, at the Kiltipper Inn in Tallaght, where O'Reilly allegedly attacked Frank Shannon following a dispute over Olympic sailing. Garda Cian Steers testified that O'Reilly struck Mr. Shannon multiple times before being disarmed by others. Mr. Shannon suffered a full-depth hole in his upper lip, resulting in a permanent scar, though no bones or teeth were broken. O'Reilly handed himself in to gardai the following day. In mitigation, defense counsel Gaby Dean BL highlighted O'Reilly's remorse, his clean criminal record, and his background in sports, including two caps for Ireland in hockey. Judge Patrick Quinn acknowledged that O'Reilly made a "stupid decision" but noted his immediate admission of guilt and apologetic demeanor. The court suspended a 12-month prison sentence on the condition that O'Reilly pays €1,000 to the victim. The judge cited O'Reilly's good character and remorse as key factors in the disposal.
The trial of Freddie Thompson, 37, for the alleged murder of David Douglas on July 1, 2016, continued before the Special Criminal Court. Mr Thompson, of Maryland, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the killing of the 55-year-old shoe shop manager on Bridgefoot Street. Prosecutors allege that four vehicles operated in concert during the incident, which resulted in Mr Douglas being shot six times. While the prosecution does not argue that Mr Thompson physically fired the weapon, they seek to infer he was one of the 'many fingers on the trigger.' On the third day of the trial, witnesses Deivydas Kukanavza and Iveta Sutkote testified regarding a separate incident on Strand Road on July 4, 2016. They described a Mitsubishi repeatedly crashing into a parked silver Suzuki Swift before an occupant poured petrol over the vehicle and set it alight. Ms Sutkote identified the Mitsubishi's registration number, which was later provided to gardai. The court heard that the Mitsubishi was subsequently stopped by police, with a smell of petrol detected inside. Mr Thompson's fingerprints were found within the vehicle. The prosecution characterised the silver Suzuki as the 'ultimate getaway car,' noting it had been stolen from Greystones. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Flannan Brennan, and Judge Gerard Griffin, with proceedings scheduled to continue on Tuesday.
During the second day of the 37‑year‑old Frederick "Freddie" Thompson's murder trial, a fingerprint expert presented evidence that Thompson's prints were found on two cars the prosecution says were linked to the killing of Dublin shoe shop manager David Douglas. Thompson, who lives on Loreto Road, Maryland, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Douglas on 1 July 2016. Douglas was shot six times in the head, neck and throat while eating a curry in his partner's shop, Shoestown, on Bridgefoot Street. A semi‑automatic pistol with its serial number removed was found next to Douglas's head. The court heard that four vehicles and their occupants, including Thompson, were operating in concert that day. Detective Garda Raymond Kane testified that fingerprints from a blue Mitsubishi Mirage and a silver Ford Fiesta matched Thompson, and that a finger mark on the Mirage's rear‑view mirror was his.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a man was acquitted of 48 counts of sexual assault and 21 counts of anally raping his wheelchair‑bound step‑daughter between 2003 and 2013. The jury, after just over six hours of deliberation, returned a not‑guilty verdict on all 69 counts. The accused, who could not be named, had pleaded not guilty. The case centred on allegations that the victim, aged eight to 18 during the alleged offences, was sexually abused by the man, who began with touching and progressed to attempts at vaginal rape and regular anally rape from age 10 or 11. The victim, now 23, testified that the abuse occurred at the family home in Dublin, where her mother and other relatives also lived. The prosecution's case was based on the victim's testimony and limited evidence from family members. The defence argued inconsistencies in the evidence and a lack of specificity in the allegations.
In a Dublin court hearing, a 20‑year‑old autistic man was left blind in his right eye after a violent assault by a 17‑year‑old former friend. The attack, which took place in St Stephen's Green in 2016, was witnessed by 30‑40 friends and filmed on phones. The perpetrator, who was 15 at the time, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm on 13 August 2016. He is scheduled for sentencing at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan described the assault as vicious and tragic, noting the victim's innocence and the severe impact of losing an eye. The judge highlighted the victim's autism and the potential long‑term effects on his confidence and employment prospects. The court heard the victim's impact statement, which was not read aloud but submitted to the judge. The defendant, who has no prior convictions, had been working in a Youthreach mentoring programme and expressed remorse.
Robert Cronnolly, 29, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to assaulting Cornelia Brouder on 26 March 2017. He punched her several times, grabbed her throat and attempted to strangle her, causing her jaw to fracture in three places and requiring facial surgery. Brouder suffered ongoing pain, anxiety and nightmares. The court heard that Cronnolly had been arguing with his girlfriend when Brouder intervened to stop a potential attack on her flatmate. He was sentenced to three years in prison, with a headline sentence of four to four and a half years, reduced by his guilty plea, remorse and mitigating personal qualities. Cronnolly has 12 prior convictions, including assault, and a history of alcohol and drug addiction. The judge described the assault as vicious, reprehensible and unforgivable. The sentence was passed by Judge Martin Nolan.
The jury in the trial of an unnamed man accused of repeatedly sexually abusing his stepdaughter has retired for the night after failing to reach a verdict. He pleaded not guilty to 48 counts of sexual assault and 21 counts of anally raping the girl between 2003 and 2013, when she was aged eight to 18. The jury will resume deliberations tomorrow before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.
In the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution argued that Freddie Thompson, 36, was one of several conspirators in the carefully planned murder of David Douglas on 1 July 2016. Thompson, who lives on Loreto Road, Maryland, pleaded not guilty. The court was presented with evidence that four vehicles operated together that day, including a Mercedes that carried the shooter and was later burned, a Ford Fiesta, a Mitsubishi Mirage, and a Suzuki Swift, the latter also set on fire. Fingerprint and DNA evidence linked Thompson to the rearview mirrors of the Mirage and Fiesta, a card in the Mirage's glove box, an inhaler in the Mitsubishi, and an air freshener and hand sanitizer in the Fiesta. Witnesses described a man in black approaching the shoe shop, firing several shots, and fleeing. The trial, presided over by Justice Tony Hunt, is expected to last up to two weeks.
The Northern Irish authorities have assured a High Court judge that Raymond O'Neill, 38, will be properly assessed and cared for at Maghaberry Prison if surrendered. O'Neill faces murder and arson charges over the death of Jennifer Dornan, 30, who was stabbed and burned in her Hazel View house in August 2015. He was arrested in Dublin on February 3, 2016 under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Northern Ireland. His barrister, Caroline Cummings, opposed surrender, arguing a real risk of inhuman and degrading treatment and citing his vulnerability and threats to his life. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly sought information on conditions at Maghaberry; the State's counsel, Elva Duffy, provided documents on prisoner assessment and care for vulnerable inmates. Cummings noted a 2017 report highlighted serious deficiencies in care. Donnelly said she would consider the matter further, noting the impact of Brexit, and remanded O'Neill in custody until June 11 for related cases.
Dessie O'Hare, 61, of Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, appeared at the Special Criminal Court where his trial was scheduled for April 29 next year. He is accused of assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, and committing violent disorder by threatening to use unlawful violence at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, County Dublin. O'Hare also faces three charges of false imprisonment involving Martin Byrne, Lisa Byrne, and Brandon Byrne, as well as a charge of threatening to kill Martin Byrne or cause him serious harm. All alleged offences date from June 9, 2015. Justice Robert Eagar, sitting with Judges Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan, set the trial date. O'Hare is currently on bail. His co-accused, Donal O'Hara, 26, of Coolock, Dublin, pleaded guilty to assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, at the same address on the same date. O'Hara will be sentenced on May 30 next at the Special Criminal Court. The matter regarding O'Hare was adjourned for trial, while O'Hara's case was adjourned for sentencing.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 23‑year‑old woman accused a 44‑year‑old stepfather of repeated sexual abuse, including rape. She said the abuse began with touching after her First Holy Communion and progressed to attempted vaginal rape, which failed, followed by regular anal rape from age 10 or 11. She alleges 29 counts of rape and 31 counts of sexual assault between March 2004 and August 2013. The accused, unnamed for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty. The woman's mother testified that the man left the family home in 2013 and was capable of sexual activity. She denied that her daughter's allegations were "false and attention‑seeking," stating she had initially doubted the claims but later believed them after further evidence. The case is before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
A man from Castleblayney has been sentenced to five years in prison following his conviction for rape and assault at the Central Criminal Court. Aurelijus Kizelavicius pleaded guilty to attacking a woman in County Monaghan on 29 March 2015. The court heard that after offering the woman a lift home, Kizelavicius punched her repeatedly in the face before sexually assaulting her. The victim stated in her impact statement that the incident had caused her significant psychological harm, resulting in depression, anxiety, and a loss of confidence. Mr Justice Paul Butler described the offence as falling within the middle category of rape cases. In mitigation, the judge considered the accused's youth and his guilty plea, which the court noted the victim welcomed. A sentence of seven years was imposed, with the final two years suspended on condition of attendance at sex offender programmes designated by the Probation Service upon release.
Renato Gehlen, 36, of Dorset Square, Dublin 1, is charged with murdering his wife, Anne Colomines, 37, on 24 October 2017 at their home. His trial at the Central Criminal Court is set to begin on 25 March next year. In the same court, Gary Watson, 34, of Millbrook Avenue, Kilbarrick, Dublin 13, faces trial for the 2010 murder of Warren O'Connor at Hole in the Wall Road, Donaghmede. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy scheduled his trial for 20 May 2019.
A 15‑year‑old from south Dublin is charged with attempting to murder a 25‑year‑old woman at Seafront, Queen's Road, Dun Laoghaire, on 23 December last year. The minor, whose name cannot be disclosed, will stand trial at the Central Criminal Court, with proceedings scheduled to begin in January.
Paul Crosby, 22, of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, was charged with attempting to murder Gerard Boyle, 22, at Knockcommon, Beauparc, Slane, County Meath, on 10 November 2016. The Central Criminal Court granted him bail. His brother and sister provided sureties totalling €2,100. Conditions include living at his mother's Drogheda home, observing a 9 pm to 7 am curfew, being available to Gardaí at that address and by phone, abstaining from drugs and alcohol, signing in regularly at Drogheda Garda Station, and not contacting the alleged victim or witnesses. His trial is scheduled for February next year.
Brian Rattigan, aged 37, of Cooley Road, Drimnagh, Dublin, faces a retrial for the murder of Declan Gavin, aged 21, outside an Abrakebabra fast‑food shop in Crumlin Shopping Centre on 25 August 2001. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy of the Central Criminal Court set the retrial for 14 January 2019, with the trial expected to last up to six weeks.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the murder trial of Frederick "Freddie" Thompson, 36, to Wednesday. Thompson, who lives on Loreto Road, Maryland, is charged with the July 1, 2016 shooting death of 55‑year‑old David Douglas on Bridgefoot Street, Dublin. The court had expected the trial to last two weeks. Thompson's defence, Michael O'Higgins SC, argued that most of the case would not be disputed and that the focus would be on the implications rather than the facts, but noted a significant disclosure issue. Justice Tony Hunt granted the adjournment and remanded Thompson in custody until the new date.
In a Dublin nightclub incident, 36‑year‑old British stag tourist Mark Wragg punched a 20‑year‑old Maynooth University student on the dance floor at D2 nightclub on Harcourt Street on the night of 18 November. Wragg, who was part of a 25‑strong stag party, claimed the victim was dancing too close and had pushed him, prompting Wragg to strike him in the face, fracturing the victim's jaw and damaging his teeth. Wragg pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, was arrested after being ejected, and later paid €2,000 to the victim as a token of remorse. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the victim's initial push as provocation but not justification, imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence, finding it unjust to imprison Wragg. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 41‑year‑old woman testified that she was repeatedly raped by her older brother, a 47‑year‑old man who pleaded not guilty to 56 counts of rape and 15 counts of sexual assault. She said the abuse began when she was four and continued until she was between ten and twelve. During cross‑examination, she described feeling terrified of the accused until recently and asserted that only she and the accused know the truth. She described him as a "sexual tyrant" who acted with impunity inside and outside the home. She denied that the alleged offences were fabricated, noting that the accused had denied the allegations in police interviews and threatened to kill their mother. The trial is proceeding before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of five women and six men. The unnamed 47-year-old was found guilty.
A wheelchair user, aged about ten or eleven when the abuse began, alleges that her mother's partner, a 44‑year‑old man whose name cannot be disclosed for legal reasons, sexually abused her in the family home from March 2004 to August 2013. She says the abuse started with touching her breasts and private parts after her First Holy Communion, progressed to attempted vaginal rape, and then to regular anal rape. She claims the attacks occurred weekly or daily, depending on her mother's absence, and that she tried to record the incidents with a dictaphone, which failed to capture any audio. She has given multiple statements to Gardaí, describing flashbacks and trauma that delayed her reporting. The case is being heard before Mr Justice Peter McCarthy and a jury at the Central Criminal Court, where the accused has pleaded not guilty to 29 counts of rape and 31 counts of sexual assault.
A man with a documented history of assaulting women has had his prison sentence doubled by the Court of Appeal in Cavan, just three days before his scheduled release. Aaron Heffernan, aged 39 and residing in Cavan town, had pleaded guilty at Cavan Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of assault causing harm to his partner in October 2016. He was originally sentenced to two concurrent two-year terms in August 2017. The Court of Appeal found the original sentence unduly lenient and re-sentenced Heffernan to two consecutive two-year terms, resulting in a net four-year sentence. Mr Justice George Birmingham noted Heffernan's previous convictions for similar assaults involving other women and described a pattern of violence. The judge acknowledged the injured party's request for leniency but determined the gravity of the offending behaviour warranted the increased sentence. The new sentence was backdated to the original sentencing date.
The murder charge against 23‑year‑old Yasmin Stephens, who was accused of killing her 33‑year‑old boyfriend in Dublin three and a half years earlier, was dismissed by Mr Justice Michael White under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act. The case had been scheduled for trial at the Central Criminal Court, but her legal team successfully obtained the dismissal before the jury could hear the evidence. Stephens was then arraigned on a second count for robbing a homeless man, Hugh Gildea, on Mabbot Lane. She pleaded guilty to stealing a mobile phone, a wrist watch and €520 in cash. The judge reviewed CCTV footage of the 20‑minute assault, heard Gildea's statement and that of two witnesses, and noted that Sean Ducque delivered the violence while Stephens searched the victim's pockets. She was remanded on continuing bail pending a probation report, with sentencing expected on 29 June. The unnamed 23-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Tomas Gajowniczek, 37, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and serious harm against his partner, Alicja Kalinowska, 30, after an assault on 16 June 2016. The jury, after nearly nine hours, found him not guilty by reason of insanity on both counts. Mr Gajowniczek was committed to the Central Mental Hospital for assessment. The trial recounted that he repeatedly punched Ms Kalinowska, forced her to swallow a bottle, stuffed underwear in her mouth, held her nose to stop breathing, beat her with a hammer and gouged her eyes. Ms Kalinowska testified she passed out during the assault. Defence counsel noted psychiatrists had previously assessed Mr Gajowniczek as no longer suffering a mental disorder, but the court ordered further evaluation. The case highlighted the jury's requirement to be satisfied on the balance of probabilities that a mental disorder prevented him from controlling his actions.
A 70‑year‑old Cork man, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty to 18 counts of raping and sexually abusing his step‑daughter between 1974 and 1979, impregnating her twice. The victim, now 53, testified that the man took her from her bedroom to the landing for sexual intercourse three or four times a week, and that she feared Sunday evenings when her mother was at bingo. He was an alcoholic who drank money her mother brought into the house. The Court of Appeal upheld his 12‑year sentence, originally imposed as 14 years with the final two suspended. The appeal argued the starting point of 18 years was too high, citing the 'RK' case, but the court found no error in principle. The judge noted the offender's age and medical issues justified the suspended portion and rejected rehabilitation as a relevant concept. The man had already served four years for indecent assault of the victim's siblings.
Daniel Kane, 29, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment, with one year suspended, for false imprisonment, and three years for assault, the sentences running concurrently. Kane admitted assaulting John Roche on 9 June 2015, striking him twice on the left side of the face, and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne on the same day. The court described a "mob" that had been recruited to intimidate and evict Byrne and his family from their townhouse, The Towers, owned by Byrne's employer. Kane was said to have played a leading part in the pursuit and assault of Roche, forcibly removing him from the house and restraining him while he received multiple punches and kicks. The judge noted the event was permeated by serious intimidation and violence, and that Kane's guilty plea and lack of disguise were mitigating factors.
Don Duggan, aged 30, had 28 prior burglary convictions and pleaded guilty to burglary in Tipperary and a threat to kill on 23 December 2015. He received a ten‑year sentence with four years suspended, imposed by Judge Thomas Teehan at Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court on 11 May 2016. He also pleaded guilty to several burglaries between 18 and 24 August 2015 and was given a six‑year sentence with three years suspended, imposed by the same judge at Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court on 17 June 2016. The sentences were consecutive. Duggan appealed both sentences, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, holding the sentences were appropriate. The Court noted the victim's fear for her 10‑year‑old son, the threat of shooting, and Duggan's history of 115 convictions, including 28 for burglary, 13 for theft, and four for robbery with violence. The Court found no error of principle and affirmed the consecutive sentences.
Leon Byrne, a 21-year-old with 64 previous convictions, had his sentence doubled following a successful appeal by the Director of Public Prosecution, who argued the original term was unduly lenient. Byrne had previously pleaded guilty to robbery, aggravated burglary, assault causing harm, and unlawful taking of a vehicle in Dublin between April 2014 and April 2015. In July 2017, Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to a net three-and-a-half-year term. Today, a three-judge court presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards re-sentenced Byrne to seven years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The court noted Byrne's troubled history, including addiction and homelessness, but emphasized the need for rehabilitation. As a condition of the suspended portion, Byrne was required to enter into a good behaviour bond, which he undertook to do. The effective custody period is five years, reflecting the totality principle applied by the court.
The Court of Appeal has increased the prison sentences of cousins Michael Casey and David Casey, who pleaded guilty to a series of burglaries, including an incident at the home of John O'Donoghue in Doon on August 27, 2015, where Mr. O'Donoghue collapsed and died. The original sentence of four-and-a-half years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, imposed by Judge Tom O'Donnell at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court in December 2016, was found to be unduly lenient following a review by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, re-sentenced both men to seven years imprisonment, with the final eight months suspended. This decision was based on aggravating factors, including the pre-planned nature of the burglary spree, the ransacking of a dwelling, and the serious harm caused to the victim. The court also established new sentencing guidelines for burglary, categorizing offenses into mid-range and highest categories based on factors such as planning, violence, and previous convictions. The Caseys received concurrent terms for other related offenses, and the court emphasized the need for general deterrence in cases involving residential burglaries in rural areas.
Patrick Stokes, aged 26, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to arson, assault, false imprisonment and other offences. He set fire to his partner Louise Kavanagh's home in February 2017, causing €21,000 in damage, and later threatened to kill her, their six‑month‑old baby and himself if she left him. Stokes held Kavanagh's throat, threatened to rape her, and held a knife to the baby's chest while she tried to protect the child. He also punched her ribs and threatened to slit her and the baby's throat with a broken wine bottle. Kavanagh suffered a black eye and rib injuries and described the assault as terrifying. The judge noted Stokes' violent background, substance abuse and loss of control, and accepted his apology and desire to reform. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offences and the harm caused.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 41‑year‑old woman accused her 47‑year‑old brother of repeated rape and sexual assault from age four to about twelve. She pleaded that the abuse began in their family home and continued in fields, woodlands, school grounds, a community centre and a clubhouse. She said her brother threatened to slit her wrists and throat, and to shoot their mother with a shotgun if she reported the abuse. She claimed she was raped countless times, including at least four incidents on the grounds of an old building, one at night. She told the jury that she would not endure her "dirtiest secrets" being exposed if the abuse had never occurred, urging her brother to "stand up and admit what you've done." The trial is before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of eleven. The unnamed 47-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Four men—Alan Wilson (39), Liam Brannigan (37), Joseph Kelly (35) and Luke Wilson (23)—are charged with conspiracy to murder Gary Hanley at a State location between 15 September and 6 November last year. Wilson and Kelly also face conspiracy to murder an unknown person at Talbot Street between 11 and 15 September. Kelly and Luke are charged with possession of a Beretta handgun and fifteen rounds of ammunition with intent to endanger life on 6 November. The court ordered the case to be tried before the Special Criminal Court.
A 77‑year‑old father of six pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two charges of sexual assault against a seven‑year‑old neighbour. The court found the offences to be on the lower end of the scale and, after noting the defendant's lack of prior convictions and his expressed remorse, suspended an 18‑month sentence on strict conditions. The judge described the man as regretful and "stricken with remorse" and believed he was unlikely to re‑offend. The incidents were reported after the child told her mother that the neighbour had kissed her on the lips and patted her bottom after inviting her into his home for an ice‑cream. The defendant later admitted the acts, expressed regret, and asked the Garda to convey his apologies to the family. The court did not read the victim impact report, and the defence submitted four documents, including references and a statement about the defendant's health and loneliness.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury is deliberating the case of Tomas Gajowniczek, 37, who denies attempting to murder his partner, Alicja Kalinowska, 30, by suffocating her with underwear and beating her with a hammer. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy explained that the jury has three possible verdicts: guilty, not guilty, or not guilty by reason of insanity. He instructed the jury to first decide whether Gajowniczek assaulted Kalinowska with intent to kill, and if so, whether he was mentally disordered at the time of the alleged offence. The defence must prove their case on the balance of probabilities. Kalinowska testified that Gajowniczek punched her, stuffed underwear in her mouth, held her nose, beat her with a hammer, and poured a drink down her throat until she passed out.
A Dublin man, Declan Tynan, aged 28, had served 11 months in jail for a violent disorder conviction at a Tallaght bookmakers on 13 December 2012. The prosecution alleged he was one of three men who attacked a customer, with one attacker stabbing repeatedly. Tynan's defence argued the case relied solely on a visual identification by a Garda from CCTV footage, and that no medical or victim impact reports were produced. A jury found him guilty, sentencing him to four years with the final year suspended. After an appeal was dismissed, new evidence emerged: another man claimed to have been the third attacker. The Court of Appeal quashed Tynan's conviction under Section 2 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1993, with no opposition from the Director of Public Prosecutions. The court noted procedural failures in handling the CCTV evidence, including lack of logs and inadequate testing of the identification process. No further outcome was reported.
In a Dublin trial, 37‑year‑old Tomas Gajowniczek pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and serious harm of his partner, Alicja Kalinowska, on 16 June 2016. Psychiatrist Professor Damian Mohan testified that Gajowniczek was smoking cannabis at the time and was suffering a drug‑induced psychosis, but he did not meet the criteria for a special insanity verdict. Mohan disagreed with a colleague who had previously argued that Gajowniczek had a mental disorder. He noted that the accused had been intoxicated and angry, had locked his partner out of their apartment, and had claimed she had poisoned him. Mohan said the intoxication was not a mental disorder and that Gajowniczek's claims of poisoning were unsubstantiated. The accused remains in a drug‑free high‑support unit at Cloverhill Prison, where he has not shown psychotic symptoms since July 2017. The jury will hear closing arguments tomorrow.
In a Dublin city‑centre incident, Marcus Klug, aged 37, shouted at a 62‑year‑old care assistant as she walked past him on George's Street and then pushed her onto the road in front of oncoming traffic. The woman avoided being hit but fractured her arm. Klug pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm on 29 October 2013. He had been suffering psychiatric issues and was not fit to plead for several years. He spent 23 months in Cloverhill Prison and time in a locked ward at St Vincent's Hospital, with some community care. The court imposed a suspended two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, ordered him to remain under Probation Services for two years and to follow his psychiatrist's instructions. The woman received hospital treatment and later physiotherapy, and her arm is now fully recovered. The case was prosecuted by John Byrne BL and defended by Niall Nolan BL.
A man has been convicted and sentenced at the Central Criminal Court following a jury trial in February. He received 15 years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting his daughter at their home in County Mayo and at locations abroad between 2006 and 2010, when the victim was aged seven to eleven years old. Justice Deirdre Murphy described the offending as depraved. The court heard that since the conviction, an allegation has emerged that the complainant may have provided false evidence. A garda investigation into this matter is underway, though no evidence relating to the allegation was before the court during sentencing. The accused was convicted on three counts of rape, five counts of anal rape, and six counts of sexual assault. He maintains his innocence and has previous convictions for assault, including one involving the same victim. The unnamed 47-year-old pleaded not guilty.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 41‑year‑old woman testified that her older brother raped her on the day of her first Holy Communion. She said the abuse began when she was four and continued until she was between ten and twelve. The brother, whose name cannot be disclosed, pleaded not guilty to 56 counts of rape and 15 counts of sexual assault in County Waterford, covering incidents from December 1983 to June 1988. The woman described being raped in their family home, fields, woodlands, school grounds, a community centre and a clubhouse. She recounted nine or ten rapes at an estate near their home when she was about ten, and further assaults in wooded areas between ages seven and eleven. She also said the brother threatened to kill her mother if she disclosed the abuse. The trial is proceeding before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of five women and six men.
A 48‑year‑old Carlow man was sentenced to a net three‑year custodial term for sexually assaulting his seven‑year‑old niece over a four‑year period between 1994 and 1998. He pleaded guilty to eight counts of sexual assault. Judge Michael O'Shea imposed eight concurrent five‑year sentences, with the last two years of each suspended, resulting in the net three‑year term. The Court of Appeal, in a three‑judge panel, found the sentence to be a "very lenient outcome" and dismissed the man's appeal. The judge noted the systematic and exploitative nature of the offending, the breach of trust, and the victim's vulnerability. The man had no prior convictions, had suffered a stroke three years earlier, was unemployed, and received a disability allowance. He had accepted the allegations, cooperated with the Gardaí, apologized, and displayed insight. The appeal was rejected.
Anthony Cassidy, 34, was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment for raping and seriously assaulting a woman in her 50s in Carlow. The victim was attacked early in the morning, left unconscious on the outskirts of town, and later found with severe injuries including a multifocal brain injury. CCTV footage showed Cassidy dragging the victim to the site where she was discovered 12 hours later. Cassidy pleaded guilty to rape and assault causing serious harm on 25 June 2017. He had 34 prior convictions, including soliciting for sex in the UK and two assaults in Ireland. The judge noted the pre‑meditated nature of the attack, the victim's extreme brain injury, and her ongoing dependence on family care. Cassidy's guilty plea and expression of remorse were considered, leading to the 18‑year sentence rather than a life term. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
A 24‑year‑old Dublin woman, Yasmin Stephens of Albert College Avenue, Glasnevin, is set to go on trial tomorrow after being arraigned today at the Central Criminal Court. She faces a charge of murdering 33‑year‑old Kieran Farrelly on 26 October 2014. Stephens pleaded not guilty. An eight‑man, four‑woman jury was sworn in to hear the case.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court could not reach a verdict in the retrial of 37‑year‑old Tadhg Butler, charged with murdering Michael O'Dwyer with a butcher's knife at Butler's seaside home in Tramore on 10 January 2014. Butler had previously been sentenced to life for the murder, but that conviction was overturned on appeal. The case centred on Butler's claim that he had accidentally stabbed O'Dwyer while trying to disarm his nephew, Anthony O'Grady, who had threatened self‑harm. O'Grady, who testified but could not recall details, said he saw Butler lift a foot‑long knife and stab O'Dwyer, after which Butler returned to drinking. Butler pleaded not guilty. After six hours of deliberation, the jury failed to agree on a verdict and was discharged. The case will be re‑considered before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on 8 May.
In a Dublin court, Tomas Gajowniczek, 37, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and serious harm against his partner, Alicja Kalinowska, 30, after an assault on 16 June 2016. The prosecution argued he was angry and high on cannabis when he used a hammer. Defence psychiatrist Dr Conor O'Neill, citing evidence of Gajowniczek's behaviour and interviews, said the accused was likely intoxicated but also suffered a mental disorder, qualifying for a not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict. He noted that cannabis effects would subside once removed, so delusional beliefs persisted. Dr O'Neill maintained that intoxication does not exclude mental illness. The trial will hear Professor Damian Mohan's testimony on Monday, with the jury composed of six men and six women. The case remains at the hearing stage.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury of twelve was deliberating the murder trial of 37‑year‑old Tadhg Butler, accused of killing 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014. O'Dwyer died in hospital after a stab wound to the chest at a party in Butler's Co Waterford home. Butler, who lives in Seafield, Tramore, pleaded not guilty. He claimed he had accidentally stabbed O'Dwyer while retrieving a knife from his nephew to prevent self‑harm. The nephew, Anthony O'Grady, testified that Butler had walked over and stabbed his friend with a butcher's knife, but later said he could not remember the event, citing personality disorders and medication. After about five hours of deliberation, the jury reported to the judge that they were "stuck in this ring" and saw no prospect of reaching a verdict.
A 31‑year‑old man was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, for raping and sexually abusing an 18‑year‑old boy who was 11 at the time of the first offence. The offences, committed between July 2011 and March 2012 at the boy's family home in South West Ireland, included four counts of oral rape and four of sexual assault. The man, who has 57 prior convictions but no previous sexual offences, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. He had gained access to the boy's home by befriending the boy's older brother, providing alcohol, cigarettes and clothing, and later moving into the house. The court noted the man's behaviour was "disgraceful" and that he had supplied the boy with alcohol. The victim's impact statement described how the abuse left him feeling confused, vulnerable and in need of help, and he expressed gratitude for the support he received from Gardaí and his mother.
A 49‑year‑old man was tried at the Central Criminal Court for serial rape and sexual assault of his younger sister over a five‑year period in the 1980s. He pleaded not guilty to 56 counts of rape and 15 counts of sexual assault, with alleged offences occurring between December 1983 and June 1988. The complainant, now 41, said the abuse began when she was four and continued until she was 10 or 12. She alleged the man abused her at their family home, in fields, woodlands, school grounds, a community centre and a clubhouse. The prosecution highlighted specific incidents, including rapes on her first Holy Communion in June 1984 and the following day. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, is set to continue for at least another week.