The Central Criminal Court heard the case of Graham McEvoy, aged 19, who was found guilty of murdering 23‑year‑old Paul Curran at Seagull House, Dublin, on 16 July 2016. McEvoy pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but the plea was rejected and he faced a week‑long trial. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced him to life imprisonment. Curran's mother, Elizabeth Curran, was not present but her statement was read by prosecution counsel. She described her son as a soft‑natured, kind boy who loved Christmas and giving presents, and said she suffered mental health issues after his death. She also said McEvoy was a bully and that Curran had tried to slash him with a knife. Defence counsel Barry White SC noted McEvoy's chaotic lifestyle, drug problems and lack of prior violent convictions, and indicated an intention to appeal the verdict.
Brian Rattigan, 38, was convicted in a Special Criminal Court of directing a €1 million heroin supply from prison. He pleaded not guilty to possession of heroin and two counts of possession for sale or supply on Hughes Road South, Walkinstown, on 21 May 2008. The court found him the director of a drugs gang and sentenced him to 17 years, back‑dated to June 2008, to run concurrently with a life sentence for the murder of 21‑year‑old Declan Gavin. The murder conviction was later quashed by the Supreme Court. Rattigan's appeal against the drug conviction is scheduled for 5 June 2025. The appeal is solely against conviction; counsel expects it to finish in under a day. Rattigan was not present at the hearing. The trial relied on evidence of a €1 million heroin haul, mobile phone texts detailing drug distribution, and a diary found in his prison cell.
Trevor McDonagh, aged 19, was convicted in the Central Criminal Court of anally raping a 16‑year‑old girl, biting her breast, and engaging in a sex act with a child under 17 on 4 March 2014 in County Wicklow. He pleaded not guilty to these offences but pleaded guilty to stealing the victim's phone on the same date. The court heard that McDonagh, who was 15 at the time of the offence, lured the girl into a lane, forced her against a wall, bit her breast while she struggled, and then fled when he thought Gardaí were nearby. The victim suffered hair loss, seizures, and attempted suicide; she described the assault as "disgusting, dirty, unwanted." McDonagh was sentenced to eight years, with the final 18 months suspended, on the condition he makes no contact with the victim, stays away from her area, and behaves well.
A 22‑year‑old Clare man, Robbie Walsh of Island View, Kilrush, is charged with murdering 25‑year‑old Karl Haugh at the Marian Estate in Kilkee on 6 August. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy has set the trial for 22 October 2018 before a Central Criminal Court jury.
James Conlon, a 35-year-old from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, had his jail term reduced on appeal after pleading not guilty to two counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice. The offences occurred during the investigation into the 2012 murder of Shane Rossiter. Conlon was originally found guilty by a jury at Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to eight years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, by Judge Thomas Teehan in February 2012. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham alongside Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Edwards, quashed these sentences. The court substituted new terms of four years and three years imprisonment to run concurrently, resulting in an effective four-year term. The appeal judgment noted that Conlon and Maurice Power, who was convicted of Rossiter's murder at the Central Criminal Court in 2014, sought to remove a computer chip from a CCTV system. Conlon also allegedly sought to dissuade a potential witness from giving evidence. While the court acknowledged the seriousness of perverting justice in a murder case, it found the original sentencing range inappropriately high, noting the absence of violence, threats, or intimidation.
Warren Brennan, aged 26, was re‑sentenced to ten years' imprisonment with the final three years suspended after the Court of Appeal found his original seven‑year sentence unduly lenient. Brennan had pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, robbery and related offences at a bookmakers shop on Lombard Street in December 2014 and at Alderwood Park in October 2015. He was convicted of robbing a 71‑year‑old pensioner with a hammer, repeatedly striking him on the head and body, and also striking the victim's nephew. Brennan had previously been convicted of 54 offences, including robbery and possession of a firearm. The Court of Appeal, judging that the evidence was overwhelming and that the guilty pleas had earned excessive credit, imposed a consecutive five‑year term with the final three years suspended, requiring a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period.
A 55‑year‑old man from Wicklow was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for raping his daughter and her young cousin. The Central Criminal Court heard that the man raped his daughter after she had spent two weeks in hospital recovering from serious leg burns. Over a five‑year period from 1988 to 1995, he sexually abused her on a weekly basis, beginning when she was seven. He also pleaded guilty to two rapes and one indecent assault of his niece between June 1986 and May 1988, when she was aged eight to ten. The court described the abuse as involving digital penetration, oral sex and physical violence, and noted the victims' confusion, fear and pain. The judge, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, highlighted the aggravating factors of the victims' young ages, the physical harm inflicted and the breach of trust, and imposed a 13‑year sentence with a four‑year post‑release supervision period.
Leroy Roche AKA Dumbrell, 31, of Dun Laoghaire, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a further 14 months in prison for violent disorder. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Dumbrell pleaded guilty to the offence, which occurred on August 29, 2015, during a disturbance at Cloverhill Prison. The court heard that Dumbrell allegedly acted as a ringleader, striking riot squad officers' shields with an iron bar and threatening to take a hostage. Judge Nolan described the behaviour as disgraceful, particularly given that the offence was committed while Dumbrell was already in custody. The judge acknowledged mitigating factors, including Dumbrell's efforts to reform, evidenced by completed education courses and a drug-free status. Dumbrell's 14-month sentence will run consecutively to the six-year jail term he is currently serving for making threats to kill and violent disorder. His current sentence is due for release on July 30, 2019, and the new sentence will take effect from that date. Defence counsel Damien Colgan SC highlighted that the guilty plea spared the court a trial and presented evidence of Dumbrell's rehabilitation, including completion of an Alternative to Violence course.
A 59‑year‑old Limerick man, Desmond Coyle of Davis Street, is charged with murdering Calo Carpaci on 24 May at Roches Row. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy has set the trial for 26 November 2018 before a judge and jury at the Central Criminal Court.
A trial has been scheduled for Keith Connorton, 39, of Deerpark Avenue, Tallaght, who is charged with the murder of 32‑year‑old Graham McKeever on 18 February. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy set the trial date for 10 December 2018 before a jury at the Central Criminal Court.
Ian Kelly, a 26‑year‑old apprentice electrician, was given a suspended two‑year prison sentence for assaulting his ex‑girlfriend. He drove her to a secluded spot, repeatedly punched her in the face, head and stomach, bit her hand when she tried to retrieve her phone, and threatened to drive her into the Dublin mountains and kill her, saying she would never see her child again. Kelly has ten prior convictions, including a suspended sentence for a previous assault and a failure to report a hit‑and‑run involving a minor. He was convicted of assault causing harm on 7 May 2015. The judge noted the harm inflicted and Kelly's positive features, such as his apprenticeship and youth football coaching, and suspended the sentence. The victim reported lasting emotional trauma and fear for her safety.
A 19‑year‑old, Graham McEvoy, was found guilty of murder by a Central Criminal Court jury after admitting he stabbed his 23‑year‑old best friend, Paul "Paulie" Curran, to death on 16 July 2016 at Seagull House, Crumlin Road, Dublin. McEvoy had pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but the plea was rejected and he faced a week‑long trial. The jury reached an 11‑to‑one verdict after more than eight hours of deliberation. McEvoy will receive a mandatory life sentence. The trial heard that Curran was stabbed at least six times, with a fatal wound entering under the left armpit and penetrating the upper lobe of the left lung, causing respiratory collapse and death. McEvoy claimed he acted in self‑defence after Curran tried to slash him during a drug‑deal dispute, but the prosecution argued the force used was excessive.
During a Special Criminal Court hearing, Declan Duffy (44) and Christopher Maguire (39) pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault. Duffy admitted assaulting security guard John Roche, who was injured and forced to leave his home in the Towers complex, while Maguire pleaded guilty to false imprisonment of Lisa Byrne. The court heard that Duffy and seven men forced Martin Byrne, a former security guard, to leave his apartment at the Towers on 9 June 2015, assaulting him and threatening his life. Roche was also assaulted and a garda was called after a witness reported the incident. Duffy has prior convictions for false imprisonment, IRA membership and a 2010 murder conviction in England. Maguire had no prior convictions. The court remanded Duffy in custody and ordered Maguire to remain on bail until sentencing on 29 January.
Paul Gill, a 37‑year‑old construction worker from Naas, pleaded guilty to assaulting Patrick "Patsy" Kelly, 58, and Martin Curtis on 22 August 2015. He admitted punching Kelly in the face, dragging him eight metres from Curtis's front door and kicking him once in the head, then attacking Curtis when he arrived. Emergency services performed CPR on Kelly, who later died. Post‑mortem found Kelly died of heart disease, with the assault's minor trauma contributing. Gill had previously pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and was acquitted after a six‑day trial. Judge Melanie Greally, noting aggravating factors such as Kelly's vulnerability and intoxication, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year jail sentence for the assault on Kelly, taking the assault on Curtis into account. The sentence reflected Gill's guilty plea, admissions, remorse, and the impact on Kelly's family. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 39‑year‑old nurse, Greta Dudko, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering her 55‑year‑old mother, Anna Butautiene, on Christmas Eve 2010. Dudko admitted striking her mother's head against a wall and hitting her with a glass bottle, causing blunt‑force trauma. She pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea that was rejected, and was tried at the Central Criminal Court. A majority jury found her guilty of murder (11‑1) and Mr Justice Paul Carney imposed a mandatory life sentence on 22 October 2014. The court noted Dudko's alcohol problem, medication use, and recent suspension from nursing work. She and her family had moved out of the shared home weeks before the murder. Dudko has now lodged an appeal, arguing that the trial judge's conduct and charge were unfair and unbalanced, particularly regarding intoxication and provocation. The appeal is pending.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Donal Geoghegan, aged 37, pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting a bar woman on 21 November 2015. On the third day of trial, defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC cross‑examined Sergeant Joanne McCormack, the investigating officer. McCormack had reviewed CCTV footage showing an unidentified man, referred to as "Mr X", engaging in tactile behaviour with several women, including placing hands on arms and hair, patting a head and approaching a fourth woman's arm. She stated that Mr X's conduct could be assault but not sexual assault, and that no complaints were made against him. O'Higgins suggested that treating Mr X as a person of interest would expose the investigation as incompetent. McCormack denied this, asserting the investigation was professional and that she had not considered Mr X a suspect.
A man from Castleblaney, County Monaghan, has been sentenced to 18 years imprisonment following his conviction for sexually abusing six children and raping two of them over a period of nearly three decades. Peter Sharkey, aged 47, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to three counts of indecent assault dating from 1987 to 1990, six counts of sexual assault between 1997 and 2015, one count of rape with an object in 1998 or 1999, and one count of rape in 2014. The victims, aged between nine and sixteen at the time of the offences, reported the abuse to gardaí following a complaint made in April 2015. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy described Sharkey as "a paedophile of the dangerous kind" and imposed consecutive sentences to ensure appropriate punishment for the harm inflicted on each victim. The court heard victim impact statements describing lasting psychological damage. Sharkey was ordered to register as a sex offender and placed under probation supervision for five years following his release.
Nathan Coakley (24) has been sentenced to five years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in an armed robbery. Coakley, of Buckingham Street Upper, Dublin, pleaded guilty to possessing a kitchen knife during a hold-up at a Spar shop on Long Brook Quay on December 10, 2015. His accomplice carried an imitation firearm and assaulted a staff member when unable to access a time-locked safe. The raiders escaped with €6,114, which was never recovered. Judge Cormac Quinn imposed the five-year sentence with the final 18 months suspended, conditional on compliance with the Probation Services. The court noted that a victim, who has since relocated to Donegal, found the robbery traumatic. Coakley's previous convictions number 82, predominantly for road traffic offences, though Judge Quinn acknowledged his recent achievement in becoming drug-free and noted the absence of prior violent crime convictions.
Craig Smith, aged 20, was given an 18‑month suspended sentence for his role in a violent brawl on D'Olier Street in Dublin on 23 May 2016. Smith, who was armed with an iron bar, struck two male victims, Mr Dylan Campbell and Mr Lee Whelan, during an attempt to break up a fight between two women. CCTV footage showed Smith swinging the bar at the victims and making contact with Mr Campbell, while another man struck Mr Campbell with a hammer. Smith pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault with an offensive weapon. The judge noted his lack of prior convictions and personal circumstances, imposing a suspended sentence with strict conditions, including two years of probation supervision. The case also involved Jordan McGuinness, who received a one‑year suspended sentence for his part in the incident. Both men withdrew their complaints after initial statements to Gardaí.
A 44‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment for sexually abusing his teenage nephew between 2004 and 2006. He pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault and four counts of buggery involving a male person under 17. The abuse began as oral sex when the nephew was 15 and progressed to intercourse when he turned 16. The judge described the conduct as "horrendous" and imposed a nine‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended, directing the offender to use rehabilitation and treatment facilities while in custody. Garda Dermot English testified that the nephew was frequently at the uncle's home, especially during school holidays, and that the uncle recorded the abuse on his mobile phone. The victim's impact report detailed suicidal thoughts, nightmares, depression and a sense of being "dirty" as a result of the abuse.
A jury in the Central Criminal Court will return to deliberate on the case of 19‑year‑old Graham McEvoy, who stabbed his best friend Paul "Paulie" Curran to death. McEvoy pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He claimed he met Curran to sell cocaine, and when Curran demanded money, Curran pulled a knife and tried to slash him. McEvoy's lawyer argued self‑defence, while the prosecution contended that McEvoy stabbed Curran six times while he was trying to escape. Justice Patrick McCarthy has asked the jury to reconvene on Monday.
A trial date of 2 October 2018 has been set at the Special Criminal Court for five men charged in connection with the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly. The 35-year-old was fatally shot outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, County Meath on 6 March 2013. Books of evidence were served on the defendants during proceedings before the non-jury court. Michael McDermott of Ballinagh, County Cavan faces charges including murder, membership of an unlawful organisation, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. Kevin Braney of Tallaght, Dublin and Frank Murphy of Bettystown, County Meath face similar charges. Laurence Murphy of Bettystown and Ray Kennedy of Blanchardstown, Dublin are charged with membership of an unlawful organisation. The trial is estimated to last up to ten weeks. Additional legal representation has been approved for each defendant.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of Eamonn Cumberton, who is accused of the murder of 35-year-old Michael Barr in the Sunset House pub in Dublin's north inner city on April 25th, 2016. Mr Cumberton, of Mountjoy Street, Dublin 7, has pleaded not guilty to the charge. The court previously heard that Mr Barr was shot seven times at the bar counter. The prosecution alleges that Mr Cumberton is inextricably linked to items recovered from a partially burnt-out silver Audi, identified as the alleged getaway car, which were themselves linked to the shooting. Defence counsel Bernard Condon SC objected to the admissibility of DNA evidence found on a rubber mask recovered from the vehicle. He argued that the Forensic Science Ireland method, which uses STRMIX software to calculate likelihood ratios, improperly reduces guilt or innocence to mathematical probability. Condon submitted that this case requires special rules as it is the first criminal trial in Ireland to use STRMIX. Prosecuting counsel Dominic McGinn SC countered that likelihood ratio calculations are an established scientific practice. The court has not yet ruled on the admissibility of the evidence. The trial was adjourned until next Tuesday, when Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan, will deliver a ruling on the matter.
A 50‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for sexually abusing his partner's two sons. He pleaded guilty to ten counts of sexual assault of the older boy, aged 13 to 19 at the time, and to sexual assault, attempted sexual assault and one count of sexual exploitation of the younger boy, who was about 15. The abuse began when the older boy was 13 and continued regularly until 2013, with the accused man masturbating and touching him at various locations, including the boy's home. The younger boy was abused in 2015, with two incidents confirmed and a third attempted. The accused offered the boys money and alcohol, and the older boy eventually overdosed on tablets before revealing the abuse. Judge Martin Nolan described the conduct as "reprehensible" and noted the victims' courage in coming forward. The court did not read victim impact statements in open court.
A jury returned to the Central Criminal Court after a little less than four hours of deliberation to decide the verdict in the trial of 19‑year‑old Graham McEvoy, accused of murdering his best friend. McEvoy, of Captain's Road in Crumlin, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Paul "Paulie" Curran (23) at Seagull House on Crumlin Road in Dublin on 16 July 2016. He claimed he met Curran to sell half an ounce of cocaine, but when Curran demanded money, Curran pulled a knife and tried to slash McEvoy. McEvoy said he defended himself and that Curran suffered fatal injuries in the struggle. Justice Patrick McCarthy explained that the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that McEvoy knew the force he used was excessive. If they fail, the jury should find him not guilty of murder and guilty of manslaughter; if they succeed, they should find him guilty of murder.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 14 December 2017, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy presided over the trial of 19‑year‑old Graham McEvoy, who was charged with murder but pleaded not guilty to that charge and guilty to manslaughter. McEvoy's plea to manslaughter indicates acceptance of responsibility for the killing of 23‑year‑old Paul "Paulie" Curran, but denies intent to kill or cause serious injury. McEvoy claimed that he met Curran to sell cocaine, and that Curran drew a knife and attempted to slash him. McEvoy then stabbed Curran six times, resulting in fatal injuries. Justice McCarthy explained that a defendant may be found guilty of manslaughter if the force used was excessive, even if the defendant was not intent on killing. He instructed the jury that they must decide whether the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that McEvoy knew the force was excessive. The jury was then sent to deliberate.
The State withdrew the attempted murder charge against 26‑year‑old Dwayne Keane after the alleged victim, a 42‑year‑old man, died of natural causes. Keane had been charged in November 2016 at Dublin District Court for an incident on Raheen Drive, Cherry Orchard. Sean Gillane SC requested a nolle prosequi, and Justice Patrick McCarthy discharged Keane, who was released on bail.
Craig Mooney, 20, and Sam Mooney, 22, of Broadford Walk, Ballinteer, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to criminal damage to a garda patrol car on January 17, 2016. The court heard that the brothers, described as highly intoxicated and blood-spattered, kicked, punched, and spat at the vehicle while threatening officers. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a one-year suspended sentence on Craig, consecutive to his current two-and-a-half-year prison term for arson. The sentence was suspended for 18 months with probation supervision. Craig is currently serving his existing sentence and was due for release in October 2018. The judge adjourned Sam's sentencing until January 15, 2017, to assess his suitability for community service. Prosecution evidence detailed the brothers' abusive behavior and undressing in the street. Defense counsel highlighted Craig's ADHD, prosthetic eye, and productive custody regime, while noting Sam's intoxication, recent detoxification, and head injury from an assault. Both men have previous convictions, including affray and criminal damage. The matter regarding Sam remains pending further assessment.
In the Central Criminal Court, 19‑year‑old Graham McEvoy pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of 23‑year‑old Paul Curran. The prosecution, led by Conor Devally SC, argued that McEvoy's self‑defence claim lacked credibility. Devally cited CCTV footage showing McEvoy's movements after the stabbing, the condition of a light‑coloured hoodie, and the absence of blood on the hoodie, arguing that the hoodie could not have been slashed. He also questioned McEvoy's statements about driving a red Honda Civic, noting that CCTV showed him in a silver Hyundai. Devally further highlighted that McEvoy bought a mobile phone after the incident, suggesting he was covering his tracks. The defence, represented by Barry White SC, maintained that the incident was a drug deal gone wrong and that McEvoy acted in self‑defence, seeking a manslaughter conviction rather than murder. The trial remains ongoing.
In December 2017, Dwayne Keane, 26, of Monasterevin, was released from custody after the alleged victim of his attempted murder charge died. Keane had been charged in November 2016 at Dublin District Court for attempting to kill a 42‑year‑old man on Raheen Drive, Cherry Orchard. He was remanded until bail was granted by Justice Patrick McCarthy, requiring him to sign twice a week at Rathcoole Garda Station and post a €200 bond.
A Mulhuddart man, Andrew Gibney, who admitted stabbing Gerard Burnett three times, was sentenced to eight years in prison with one year suspended at the Central Criminal Court for manslaughter during an appeal. Gibney was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by a jury last month after deliberating for seven hours and six minutes over three days. He had pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Burnett at Castlecurragh Vale, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15 on August 21, 2012. Mr Justice Paul Butler accepted the jury's verdict, noting that Gibney did not intend to kill or cause serious injury. Gibney admitted stabbing Mr Burnett three times in the side with a knife and voluntarily went to gardaí a week after the incident. The prosecution argued that Gibney was part of a joint enterprise to murder Mr Burnett, while the defence maintained that the appropriate verdict was manslaughter. The court heard that Mr Burnett suffered 30 knife injuries, including six fatal stab wounds to his chest. Mr Justice Butler noted that Gibney's remorse was credible and that he had made progress while in custody. The sentence was backdated to August 28, 2012, when Gibney entered custody. The matter was adjourned for the sentence hearing, and Gibney was asked to enter a bond of €100 for good behaviour.
During the murder trial of Eamonn Cumberton, accused of killing 35‑year‑old Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub, a forensic scientist from Forensic Science Ireland raised concerns about the software used to calculate the likelihood that Cumberton's DNA was found on a rubber mask taken from the getaway car. The prosecution argued that the mask's mixed DNA profile, comprising two major contributors and a trace third contributor, linked Cumberton to the car and the shooting. The scientist said the probability that the DNA came from Cumberton and two unknown persons was "one in a thousand million times more likely" than from three unknown persons. Bernard Condon, Cumberton's counsel, objected to the evidence's admissibility, and the matter is being heard in a voir dire to decide whether the DNA evidence can be admitted. The trial is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge James Faughnan. Eamonn Cumberton pleaded not guilty.
A 49‑year‑old Kilkenny man, whose name is withheld to protect the identity of a 33‑year‑old man, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of 15 counts of rape and oral rape and one charge of sexual assault. He had pleaded not guilty to 35 counts, with the trial judge directing not guilty on the balance. He received a 10‑year sentence, the final year suspended by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy on 8 February 2016. On appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham quashed three counts of rape and the remaining count of sexual assault that related to periods before 1 January 1999. The quashing was based on new evidence from the Department of Social Protection showing the man began receiving rent supplement in May or November 1999, indicating he likely did not live at the rented address in 1998.
Gregory McAuley, 43, was spared jail twice for assaulting a Garda during a domestic dispute. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to an on‑duty Garda at his former partner's home in Kilbarrack on 19 February 2016. Judge Martin Nolan originally imposed 200 hours of community service instead of a three‑year custodial sentence. The Court of Appeal, citing the Director of Public Prosecutions' appeal, found the sentence unduly lenient and re‑imposed a three‑year term, suspending it in its entirety for two years. The appeal argued that assaults on Gardaí should normally result in custodial sentences, especially when children are present. The court noted McAuley's prior convictions, his intoxication at the time of arrest, and his efforts to address alcohol problems, and it required him to keep the peace and behave well during the suspension period.
A Sligo man has been convicted and sentenced to seven and a half years imprisonment following a trial at the Central Criminal Court. Clement Limen, aged 45, of North Court, Quayside, Sligo town, was found guilty of raping two women at his apartment on June 2, 2014, and one count of sexual assault. The offences occurred after he met the victims during a night out at a nightclub on the June bank holiday weekend. Mr Justice Paul Coffey imposed the sentence after hearing victim impact statements detailing the significant trauma caused by the crimes. The court noted the aggravating circumstances surrounding the attacks. Limen has indicated his intention to appeal his conviction and to mount a separate constitutional challenge regarding his detention terms. A concurrent sentence of four years was imposed on the sexual assault conviction.
The prosecution has finished presenting its evidence in the murder trial of 19‑year‑old Graham McEvoy, who was accused of stabbing his best friend, 23‑year‑old Paul "Paulie" Curran, during a drug deal on 16 July 2016. McEvoy pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The State did not accept the plea and the case is proceeding at the Central Criminal Court. Garda Julianne McNamara supplied mobile phone records showing McEvoy called Curran three times in the 42 minutes before the stabbing. McEvoy had told police he intended to meet Curran at Seagull House to buy half an ounce of cocaine. After Curran allegedly pulled a knife, McEvoy claimed he stabbed him in self‑defence. McNamara also found that McEvoy had made three calls that day to a 15‑year‑old girl who had previously testified that he was looking for Curran.
The High Court in Dublin adjourned the extradition case of Raymond O'Neill, 38, who is wanted by the PSNI for murder and arson in the 2015 killing of Jennifer Dornan, 30, in Belfast. O'Neill was arrested in Dublin in February 2016 under a European Arrest Warrant and is also sought for another unrelated matter. His barrister, Caroline Cummings, argued that surrender would expose him to inhuman and degrading treatment in Maghaberry prison, citing his medical vulnerability and threats to his life. Justice Aileen Donnelly sought further information on prison conditions and expressed concern over specific deficiencies affecting vulnerable prisoners. The court noted that the 2017 prison report did not adequately address these risks. The case, also touching on Brexit implications, will be mentioned again on 22 January after O'Neill remains in custody.
Craig May, aged 19, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Daniel Kelly on Balbriggan beach on 27 May. May, 17 at the time, was part of a group that kicked Kelly repeatedly to the head, breaking his wrist and causing significant psychological injury. The attack occurred while Kelly and his girlfriend were returning from a graduation celebration. Kelly's girlfriend identified May, who later gave a statement. Kelly suffered facial abrasions, a broken wrist that required eight weeks in a cast, and was forced to abandon his defence forces cadet training. May had seven prior convictions and was described as having a low risk of re‑offending. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years, suspended on conditions, and awarded Kelly €1,000 as a token of remorse. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin domestic‑violence case, 28‑year‑old Afghan national Muhammed Tajik pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to his pregnant wife, Susan Walmsley, after a dispute over her new job. On 8 December 2015, Tajik grabbed Walmsley's neck, punched her until she passed out, and left her with a fractured jaw, eye socket injury, neck wound and swollen neck. He drove her to A&E, where she received treatment. Walmsley, a mother of two, described the assault as brutal, stating she feared she would die that night. The court noted her ongoing trauma, including panic attacks, PTSD and suicidal thoughts. Judge Patrick McCarthy sentenced Tajik to three years' imprisonment, citing the severity of the violence and the lack of provocation. Walmsley expressed shock at the sentence length and urged other abuse victims to seek help.
Graham McEvoy, aged 19, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of his best friend Paul "Paulie" Curran, aged 23, after a drug deal at Seagull House on 16 July 2016. McEvoy told Garda Dermot English that he met Curran for a 14‑gram cocaine transaction. Curran allegedly pulled a knife and attacked McEvoy, who claimed Curran nearly stabbed him and struck him with a portable speaker. In the ensuing struggle McEvoy says he used Curran's jacket to wrest the knife from him and stabbed Curran a few times, with the knife entering below the armpit. McEvoy left the scene in his car, later bought a car, and planned to turn himself in the next day. He described the incident as self‑defence and expressed genuine distress over the death of his friend. The trial is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Paul Gill, a 37‑year‑old construction worker, pleaded guilty to assaulting Patrick "Patsy" Kelly, 58, and Martin Curtis on 22 August 2015. Gill admitted punching Kelly up to five times, dragging him to the road and kicking him once in the head, and then attacking Curtis when he arrived. Emergency services performed CPR on Kelly, who later died. A post‑mortem found Kelly died of heart disease, with the assault's minor trauma contributing. Gill had eight prior convictions, including a 2000 assault. He was acquitted of manslaughter after a six‑day trial. The judge remanded him on bail and warned that a custodial element was inevitable, with sentencing scheduled for 18 December. The case was transferred to Dublin due to Kelly's prominence in Naas. The hearing included victim impact statements and defence mitigation arguments. The court did not yet impose a sentence.
Cathal O'Sullivan, 44, of Popham's Road, Farranree, Cork, is charged with the murder of Nicola Collins at his apartment on 27 March 2017. Justice Patrick McCarthy has set a provisional trial date of 10 April 2018 for the case to commence.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, DNA matching the accused, Eamonn Cumberton, was found on a baseball cap recovered from the alleged getaway car in the murder of Michael Barr. Cumberton, 30, pleaded not guilty to the April 25, 2016 shooting of the 35‑year‑old manager of the Sunset House pub. The prosecution argued that Cumberton was "inextricably linked" to items from the partially burnt‑out silver Audi, including the cap and a rubber mask found in the rear. Forensic scientist Rodney Lakes presented a mixed DNA profile on the cap, with a major contributor matching Cumberton's DNA. A similar mixed profile on the mask was also reported. Cumberton's defence objected to the admissibility of the DNA evidence, leading to a voir‑dire hearing. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge James Faughnan.
Paul Gill, a 37‑year‑old construction worker from Naas, Kildare, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Patrick "Patsy" Kelly, aged 58, and Martin Curtis on 22 August 2015. He had earlier pleaded not guilty to unlawfully killing Kelly and was acquitted of manslaughter after a six‑day trial. Witnesses said Gill confronted Kelly outside Curtis's house, punched him in the face, dragged him eight metres from the front door, and kicked him once in the head. Gill then attacked Curtis when he arrived. Emergency services performed CPR on Kelly, but he died. Post‑mortem showed heart disease as the cause of death, with the assault's minor trauma as a contributing factor. Gill has eight prior convictions, including a 2000 assault. The case is set for sentencing next Monday, with the judge warning of a likely custodial element.
Eamon McNamee, 37, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to possessing a firearm with intent to commit assault causing harm on 19 January 2013 at Fairgreen, Saggart. The court accepted the plea, and the prosecution noted that McNamee had been on bail for over two years. The judge ordered that his bail be varied so he must sign in at a Garda station daily. McNamee was remanded on continuing bail until 29 January next year, when sentencing will take place.
Mark O'Brien, 21, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for violent disorder committed on November 21, 2015. O'Brien pleaded guilty to the charge, which involved kicking a stranger in the rear at Central Bank Plaza in Dublin city centre. The incident occurred while the victim was walking with his girlfriend, their three-week-old baby, and his brother. O'Brien remained at the scene and was arrested after the victim identified him to gardai. Prosecution evidence indicated O'Brien was highly intoxicated and homeless at the time, with CCTV showing him swaying before striking the victim. Defence counsel highlighted an "amazing transformation" in O'Brien, who is now attending a residential treatment programme called Team Challenge in Scotland. Detective Garda Shane Moriarty noted that O'Brien appeared as a "completely different person" compared to his appearance during the arrest. Judge Karen O'Connor acknowledged that such "gratuitous aggressive behaviour" would normally result in a custodial sentence. However, considering O'Brien's turbulent early life, history of substance abuse, and current motivation to rehabilitate, she imposed an 18-month sentence. This sentence was suspended in full. The conditions of the suspension require O'Brien to remain at his course at Team Challenge, abstain from drugs and alcohol, and undergo 18 months of Probation Supervision.
Five men charged with violent disorder following an alleged altercation at a public house in Finglas, Dublin, on 19 October have been refused bail by the High Court. David Mulvey, aged 35, Robert Gaynor, aged 27, and Shane Thomas, aged 25, all of addresses in Finglas, Christopher Duggan, aged 28, of no fixed address, and Scott Capper, aged 24, of Cappagh Green in Finglas, face charges relating to an incident at The Cardiff Inn on Cardiffsbridge Road. The State objected to bail applications on grounds including the O'Callaghan principles and Section 2 of the Bail Act 1997. Evidence was heard from gardaí and a Detective Chief Superintendent from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation regarding concerns about the risk of further serious offences. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy refused bail for all five accused and remanded them in custody.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Eamonn Cumberton, 30, of Mountjoy Street, Dublin 7, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 35‑year‑old Michael Barr, who was shot seven times at the counter of the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016. The prosecution argued that Cumberton was "inextricably linked" to items recovered from a silver Audi, the alleged getaway car, which was found partially burnt near the scene and whose items were also linked to the shooting. Jonathan Gallagher, a Emirates employee, testified that on 26 April Cumberton tried to board a flight to Dubai but his passport was invalid; he later returned with a new passport and attempted to board again the next day. Garda Shane Connolly presented CCTV footage showing a car driving toward the pub, parking opposite, then moving to Walsh Road where it was set on fire.
Retired consultant surgeon Michael Shine, aged 85, is seeking bail pending an appeal after being jailed for indecent assault convictions. Shine was convicted in 2017 of indecently assaulting two 15‑year‑old patients in the mid‑1970s at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and his private clinic in Drogheda, between 1964 and 1991. He faced eight charges but was acquitted on all but the two convictions. Judge Cormac Quinn described the breach of trust by a senior doctor as one of the most aggravating factors and imposed consecutive 10‑month sentences for each victim. Shine's lawyers applied for a week to manage his affairs and medication, but the judge rejected this. In the Court of Appeal, his barrister Hugh Hartnett SC requested an early bail application, citing Shine's perilous health. Judge George Birmingham set 21 December for the bail application, and Shine was not present for the procedural hearing. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
In a Court of Appeal decision dated 8 December 2017, the court held that a convicted paedophile, aged 83, was not prejudiced by a 45‑year delay before he was tried for raping a niece. The man, whose name is withheld to protect the victim, had been found guilty in 1971 of rape and sexual assault of an 11‑year‑old child in County Clare. He had denied the charges and was sentenced to seven years imprisonment in 2016. He appealed, arguing that the delay had caused prejudice, but the appeal was dismissed. The court noted that the victim's mother, the man's sister, and the victim's siblings were present during the alleged incidents, and that the victim's testimony described two separate assaults, including a rape. The court also considered the death of the man's girlfriend in 2008, who might have been an accomplice, but concluded that her absence did not create a grave prejudice sufficient to halt the trial.