In a 2017 Court of Appeal hearing, Brendan Grehan SC argued that Michael Taylor, 37, lacked sufficient evidence linking him to the 2007 murder of Paul Kelly, 26, at Winston Ville apartments. Grehan highlighted three main points: a glove found 80 m from the scene with a DNA profile matching Taylor, phone evidence showing a device linked to Taylor pinging a mast near the crime scene, and a feud between Taylor and the victim. He contended the glove's DNA was a minor profile and that a single firearm residue particle was insufficient to prove use in the shooting, arguing the evidence should have been excluded. The prosecution, represented by Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, maintained the evidence was strong and warranted a jury verdict, which had been reached after five hours. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Seán Ryan, decided to reserve judgment on the appeal. Michael Taylor pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.
Aaron Murdiff, 20, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to three counts of robbery, three counts of attempted robbery, and one count relating to the production of a knife. The offences occurred at various locations in Shankill, Dublin, on October 21, 2015. Prosecution counsel Antonia Boyle BL detailed a three-hour crime spree during which victims were robbed of wallets, phones, and headphones, while others were threatened with knives or physical violence. Defence counsel Justin McQuaid BL highlighted that Murdiff, of Dargle Heights, Bray, Co Wicklow, had no previous convictions, was under the influence of drugs, and wished to enter the Aisling Centre for addiction treatment. Judge Patricia Ryan noted the serious nature of the charges but considered Murdiff's youth, his early guilty plea, his cooperation with gardaí, and his engagement with probation services, which assessed him as a low risk of re-offending. The judge also credited his desire to address substance abuse issues. Judge Ryan sentenced Murdiff to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years. She warned that if he came to garda attention during that period, she would not hesitate to jail him.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 37‑year‑old Larry Connors was sentenced to two years and three months' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended. Connors, a father of six, pleaded guilty to assaulting his estranged wife, Margaret Connors, on 31 March 2016, after a two‑day period of violent conduct that included pulling a knife, threatening to kill her, slashing her car tyres and stealing her phone. He also breached two Safety Orders and damaged her property. Connors denied all charges but admitted the assault. The judge, citing the seriousness of the breaches and Connors' remorse, noted his completion of a 12‑week rehabilitation programme at Cuan Mhuire and his involvement in his children's lives. The sentence was back‑dated to 8 July 2017, and Connors was ordered to keep the peace and exhibit good behaviour for two years after release. The court refused to defer the sentence until after Christmas, despite Margaret's request.
A jury could not reach a verdict in the trial of 34‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll, charged with murdering 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond in Co. Louth on 7 March 2012. The case centred on a car that the two men had stolen and were attempting to sell to O'Driscoll for €700. O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including CCTV footage of the men and a stolen Mercedes S Class W221 that was later found abandoned. The defence argued that the evidence did not prove O'Driscoll's involvement or motive. After 11½ hours of deliberation over four days, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous or majority verdict and was discharged from service. O'Driscoll was remanded in custody pending further court dates.
Dave Mahon, aged 46, lost an appeal against a seven‑year prison sentence for the killing of his partner's son, Dean Fitzpatrick, aged 23. Mahon had pleaded not guilty to murder but was found guilty of manslaughter by a Central Criminal Court jury. The jury held that Mahon had not thrust a knife into Fitzpatrick, only produced it, and that the death was accidental or possibly suicide. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence, noting it was typical for knife manslaughters and that the judge had considered aggravating factors such as the production of a large knife, the failure to seek medical help and the relationship between Mahon and Fitzpatrick. The appeal was dismissed, leaving Mahon's seven‑year term in place. The case was heard on 8 December 2017.
David Shanley, aged 48, was convicted of manslaughter for killing John Lawlor, also 48, who died from a knife wound to a varicose vein after a confrontation on Christmas Eve 2014. Shanley pleaded guilty and was sentenced by Mr Justice Paul Butler on 24 October 2016 to five years' imprisonment, with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended. The judge noted Lawlor was a "much loved son, brother, father and grandfather" and that Shanley had accepted responsibility, though he had initially tried to deflect it by claiming the struggle was a "fight for survival". Shanley's sentence is now under appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who argue the tariff is unduly lenient and the 50 % mitigating discount too high. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeal. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no further outcome reported.
A 47-year-old man from County Longford has been sentenced to 11 years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction on charges relating to the sexual abuse of his teenage nephew. The jury found him guilty of 11 counts of rape, 10 counts of defilement, five counts of sexual assault, and one count of sexual exploitation of a child. The offences occurred between 2007 and 2014, spanning a period of seven years when the victim was aged 13 to 20. During trial, the accused claimed the relationship was consensual, a claim rejected by the court. Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted the defendant's use of substances and money to secure the victim's silence, describing his conduct as a grave breach of trust. The judge acknowledged the defendant's employment history and community involvement but highlighted his complete absence of remorse and failure to enter a guilty plea. The man has been directed to register as a sex offender and will be subject to five years of probation supervision following release.
A Mayo man convicted of assaulting a garda sergeant has maintained his innocence, claiming he was "set up" and "framed" by gardaí. Joseph Doocey, aged 51, from Knoxbarret in Ballina, was found guilty by jury verdict in October of eleven counts including assault causing harm to Sergeant Declan Casey, dangerous driving, and criminal damage following a hit-and-run incident on June 8, 2015 near Font Cross, Ballina. The incident involved Doocey's vehicle striking Sergeant Casey at a checkpoint, subsequently reversing over him, and driving dangerously before being abandoned near Killala. Doocey testified that gardaí had conducted a prolonged campaign against him and alleged witnesses were planted and evidence tampered with. His legal representative described him as fundamentally honest, though acknowledging his strong opinions. Sentence finalisation was adjourned at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court pending Doocey's agreement to cease any hostile conduct towards Sergeant Casey and his family. Doocey remained remanded in custody.
A 77-year-old appellant has lost his appeal against the severity of his prison sentence. The man, whose identity is protected to preserve the victim's anonymity, was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury following a retrial of 14 counts of rape and 60 counts of sexual assault committed against his daughter between 2002 and 2006. In May 2011, Mr Justice Paul Carney imposed concurrent 15-year sentences for each rape count and 10-year sentences for each sexual assault count, with the final three years suspended. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Hedigan, dismissed the appeal, finding no error in the sentencing judge's approach or conclusions. The court noted the aggravating factors, including the breach of trust, the victim's age, the duration of the offending, and the absence of genuine remorse. The appellant's primary grounds argued that the judge failed to adequately consider his good character, lack of extreme violence, and potential for rehabilitation. However, the court determined that the most significant mitigation, an early guilty plea, was unavailable. Additionally, the court could not address the appellant's successful Supreme Court challenge regarding the constitutionality of Section 249.1 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as no leave to add these grounds had been sought in this specific appeal. The three-judge panel concluded that the sentence was appropriate given the circumstances.
The jury in the trial of 34‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll, charged with murdering 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, will resume deliberations on the fourth day. O'Driscoll, who lives on Richmond Avenue, Fairview, pleaded not guilty. The case alleges the men were killed in a stolen Volkswagen Golf in Ravensdale Forest Park on 7 March 2012, with gunshot wounds to the head. Defence counsel suggested another person may have been responsible or that one victim betrayed the other. The jury, consisting of seven men and five women, must reach a unanimous verdict.
The Special Criminal Court is hearing the case of Eamonn Cumberton, 30, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Barr, 35, who was shot seven times at the Sunset House pub in Dublin on 25 April 2016. The prosecution argues that Cumberton is "inextricably linked" to items recovered from a silver Audi, the alleged getaway car, which was found partially burnt near the scene, and that those items are "inextricably linked" to the shooting. The trial will continue tomorrow before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan presiding.
Dean Byrne, aged 25, was serving an 18‑year sentence for a 2013 aggravated burglary when he climbed onto the roof of Cloverhill Prison during a riot on 29 May 2015. He remained on the roof for 13 hours, during which he threw a pole down at inmates below. Byrne pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting violent disorder. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court added six months to his sentence, to be served after the existing term, citing his actions on the roof as a nuisance during the riot. The court noted that Byrne had 122 prior convictions and that he had been in institutions for half his life. The judge refused to reduce the extension, imposing the additional six months as a separate penalty.
During a murder trial, a 15‑year‑old girl, who cannot be named, gave evidence by video link that the accused, Graham McEvoy, phoned her while Paul "Paulie" Curran lay dead in hospital. She said McEvoy called earlier that day asking where Curran was and mentioned a "stripe down his face" and that he had "got it over Paulie." In a later call he told her he had arranged to meet Curran at the flats. The girl walked to the flats, where she was told by "kids" that Paulie had been stabbed. She then went to the hospital; McEvoy called again asking what had happened to Paul. She told him he was dead, and he shouted "for fuck sake." McEvoy pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, continues tomorrow with a jury of twelve.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the trial of 36‑year‑old Eamon McNamee of Lucan, County Dublin, charged with possession of a firearm with intent to commit assault causing harm at Fairgreen, Saggart, on 19 January 2013. The trial, originally set to open on 7 December 2017, was postponed until Monday to allow the defence to complete requested forensic examinations. Prosecutor Annemarie Lawlor SC indicated the case could finish within five days if it began on Monday. Judge Isobel Kennedy, with Judges Sinead Ni Chúlacháin and Cormac Dunne, granted the adjournment and remanded McNamee on bail.
A 22‑year‑old university student, Hakim Mansour, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after striking a stranger with a bottle at Krystle nightclub on 21 February 2016. The victim suffered facial lacerations and nerve damage to his hand. Mansour, who had no prior convictions, was identified by the victim through Facebook photos. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the lack of provocation and Mansour's cooperation, imposed a two‑year custodial sentence suspended in full on the condition of good behaviour and payment of €12,500 to the victim within two years. The court considered Mansour's background, education, and employment prospects, and the financial penalty was intended to punish and compensate. Mansour's defence highlighted his early guilty plea and low risk of re‑offending, while the prosecution maintained the assault was a serious, unprovoked act. The case concluded with a suspended sentence and a financial penalty.
Derek Shevlin, 24, was jailed for two years after a violent attack on his ex‑girlfriend Ciara McGrath's family home. He entered the house on 11 September 2015, brandishing a hurley stick and an imitation handgun, demanding €400 for an iPhone he had bought for her. Shevlin smashed the front door, windows, and a Dublin City Council van, then pointed the gun at David McGrath, her father, and threatened to shoot him. He pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill David McGrath and to damaging property. The court noted the attack was the culmination of his failure to cope with the breakup and that McGrath suffered anxiety and sleep disruption. Judge Karen O'Connor, acknowledging his early guilty plea and substance abuse, sentenced him to three and a half years with eighteen months suspended, resulting in a two‑year custodial term.
In the Special Criminal Court, the trial of Eamonn Cumberton, aged 30, for the murder of Michael Barr, 35, at the Sunset House pub, has progressed to evidence about a suspected getaway vehicle. Barr was shot seven times at the bar counter on 25 April 2016. The prosecution argues that Cumberton is "inextricably linked" to a silver Audi found near the scene, partially burnt, and that items recovered from the car are "inextricably linked" to the shooting. Evidence was presented by Dublin Fire Brigade members: Brian Burke reported seeing the Audi on Walsh Road, Drumcondra, with fire damage to the front seats; Peter Conroy removed an empty petrol can from the driver's seat but did not enter the rear. Terence O'Brien noted that the crew had no reason to approach the rear doors. Detective Garda Gary McDonnell observed that no one touched the car after it arrived on a tow‑truck. Eamonn Cumberton pleaded not guilty. Sunset House pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the trial of 34‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll, charged with the murders of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, will resume deliberations tomorrow morning. The case, heard in the Central Criminal Court, concerns a car‑fire at Ravensdale Forest Park on 7 March 2012, where the two men were found with gunshot wounds to their heads. O'Driscoll denies the charges. The State alleges he participated in the killings, while the defence suggests another person may have been responsible or that one victim betrayed the other. The jury, consisting of seven men and five women, was instructed by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy to reach a unanimous verdict.
A 19‑year‑old, Graham McEvoy, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of 23‑year‑old Paul Curran at Seagull House, Dublin, on 16 July 2016. The prosecution, represented by Conor Devally SC, argued that McEvoy entered the stairwell, later re‑emerged, dropped items, and fled. Curran, fatally wounded, stumbled into a flat where the incident was reported. Devally explained that the jury must decide whether McEvoy intended to kill or cause serious injury, noting that intent is presumed unless the accused claims self‑defence or fear. Evidence presented included a map and photographs of the stairwell and balcony taken by crime examiner Garda Alan Carolan. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court before Justice Patrick McCarthy, will continue the following day with a jury of six men and six women.
Jason Whelan, 28, of Woodhazel Terrace, Ballymun, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to trespass and theft offences at Clifton Court Hotel and The Gresham Hotel in 2017. He admitted stealing a receptionist's phone and seven bottles of spirits worth €225, and burglary of €257 worth of spirits at Clifton Court. Garda Michelle Fitzpatrick reported that Whelan also took €43 worth of spirits from The Grand Central pub after leaving ten bottles in a bag behind a function room door. Whelan has 28 prior burglary convictions, ten theft convictions and other handling‑stolen‑property offences. Judge Martin Nolan remarked that Whelan "cannot stop himself from committing burglaries" and sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment, crediting time already served. His brother, Stephen Whelan, 34, pleaded guilty to the same offences and received a 16‑month sentence. No violence was reported in any incident.
The jury will resume deliberations tomorrow morning in the trial of a 34‑year‑old Dubliner, Jason O'Driscoll, who has pleaded not guilty to the murders of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond. The case concerns a car that was stolen and later sold to O'Driscoll, with the men found dead in a burning vehicle in Ravensdale Forest Park on 7 March 2012. The defence has suggested another person may have been responsible, and the jury is required to reach a unanimous verdict.
In a 2017 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Julius Jakelaitis, a 26‑year‑old Lithuanian national, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for assault causing serious harm. The offence occurred on 1 January 2010 at a New Year's party on Bancroft Avenue, Tallaght, when Jakelaitis, then 19, kicked a 19‑year‑old man to the chest and head after a scuffle. The victim suffered multiple facial fractures, a coma, memory problems, seizures and was unable to resume boxing. Jakelaitis pleaded guilty, expressed remorse and had a good work history in insurance and military service. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted the victim's injuries and the provocation but found Jakelaitis had crossed into criminality. The sentence was back‑dated to June when Jakelaitis entered custody. The victim is believed to have returned to Romania. The case was prosecuted by Lisa Dempsey BL.
Darren Gallagher, 46, was caught by Garda Dominic Downing after slashing the cheek of an acquaintance with a Stanley blade outside a supermarket at 4 pm on 22 August 2016. The victim, known to Gardaí, was left with a cut that had since healed but left a scar. Gallagher was stopped minutes later, a knife found in his tracksuit, and he later claimed the victim had threatened him and his family. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. He has three prior convictions for minor offences and had not been in Garda attention since 1990. At the original hearing Judge Karen O'Connor had adjourned the case for a probation report. She noted a positive report and a letter from the Matt Talbot Community Trust. Considering his age, personal circumstances, rehabilitation efforts and the fact his prior convictions were non‑violent, she imposed a three‑year suspended sentence in very unusual circumstances. The sentence was suspended, with no custodial term imposed.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, judges ruled that the arrest of Eamonn Cumberton, 30, accused of murdering Michael Barr, 35, at the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016, was lawful. Cumberton pleaded not guilty. The prosecution argued he was linked to items recovered from a partially burnt car near the scene, and that forensic evidence connected him to the shooting. Evidence was presented that Cumberton was arrested at Dublin Airport on an outstanding bench warrant one month after the murder and later, on 27 May, was arrested by Inspector Brian Delaney on suspicion of murder. The court found the arrest valid and proper, rejecting the defence's claim that it was a contrivance. The case continues.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal against the severity of a 15-year prison sentence imposed on Michael Maughan for aggravated burglary. Maughan, aged 24, pleaded guilty to breaking into the caravan of Martin and Winnie McDonagh on Turlough Road, Castlebar, on November 18, 2013. During the attack, Maughan allegedly used a machete to slash the occupants, including an 11-year-old child, causing severe lacerations. The original sentence was handed down by Judge Rory McCabe at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court on February 19, 2016. On appeal, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions argued the offence was among the most serious possible, while the defence compared it to a less severe Tipperary case. The three-judge panel, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, rejected this comparison, stating both cases represented the highest level of seriousness for aggravated burglary. The court noted that Maughan was also sentenced on four other bills of indictment for violent disorders and robbery committed after the caravan attack. Judge McCabe had imposed concurrent sentences for these additional offences, made consecutive to the aggravated burglary term but suspended in their entirety. The Court of Appeal found that the 15-year sentence for the aggravated burglary fell within the appropriate range and that no error in principle was identified, thereby upholding the original custodial term.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, a 42‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 13‑year‑old boy who had recently come out as gay and had been a victim of prior sexual abuse. The assault took place at the child's Dublin home on 6 November 2015. The defendant, who was aware of the boy's sexual orientation and past abuse, entered the boy's bedroom, climbed into the top bunk of the bed and attempted to force his penis into the boy's bottom. The boy's mother and stepfather witnessed the defendant leaving the bedroom, and a DNA profile from semen in the boy's underwear matched the defendant. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced the man to five years' imprisonment, placed him on the sex offender list and ordered three years of post‑release supervision.
A jury will start deliberating on the trial of 34‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll, who is charged with murdering 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond in County Louth on 7 March 2012. The case alleges that the two men were on their way to sell O'Driscoll a stolen Volkswagen Golf when they were shot in a burning car in Ravensdale Forest Park. Firefighters found the bodies with gunshot wounds to the heads. O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty. The defence suggested that another person might have been responsible or that one of the deceased betrayed the other, leading to a different shooter. Judge Patrick McCarthy explained the trial's proceedings, the legal definitions, and the jury's requirement for a unanimous verdict. He also noted that evidence of a substance found in an abandoned Mercedes in Northern Ireland was deemed unreliable and excluded from consideration. The jury will retire tomorrow morning to consider the verdict.
Sean Jackson, aged 27, was convicted of biting off part of another man's ear in the smoking area of Ardlea Inn, Dublin 5, on 23 August 2014. The victim was using the outside smoking area when Jackson, who was highly intoxicated, bent down and bit a large part of the ear off. A witness saw the ear on the ground and alerted the Gardaí. Jackson had 24 previous convictions and was found guilty by a jury. Judge Martin Nolan described the assault as serious and reprehensible, noting the victim's impact statement that the top half of one ear was now missing. The judge imposed a five‑year prison sentence, citing moderate mitigation. Jackson's defence counsel argued the offence was out of character and due to extreme intoxication. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a decision at the Central Criminal Court, the State applied for a nolle prosequi, and the court granted it, dropping the murder charges against Gary Thompson, 33, of Plunkett Drive, Finglas, and Glen McGrath, 47, of McKelvey Avenue, Finglas. The charges related to the killing of Graham McNally, 34, at Coldwinters, Finglas, on 20 January 2009. Thompson and McGrath were due to stand trial that morning, and both were present when the case was called before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy. The court agreed to the State's application, ending the prosecution against the two men.
A 30-year-old man from Sligo is to stand trial for murder at the Central Criminal Court in November 2018 following the discharge of a jury that could not reach a verdict. Keith Brady of Cartron Estate is charged with the murder of a 59-year-old musician on 2nd or 3rd August 2015 at New Apartments on Holborn Street, Sligo. Mr Brady has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The State rejected the manslaughter plea, and the case proceeded to trial at the Central Criminal Court. After nine days of evidence and several hours of deliberation, the jury was unable to reach agreement and was discharged. Justice Patrick McCarthy fixed a new trial date of 19th November 2018.
Patrick McCann, 24, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to attempted murder of 19‑year‑old Luke Wilson and to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. The incident occurred on 13 January 2013 at Liffey Gaels, Memorial Park, Inchicore, when Wilson was shot in the arm, neck and face but escaped injury because the gun jammed twice and McCann fled. In sentencing, Mr Justice Paul Carney described the case as "might as well have appeared in the Love/Hate script" and imposed a 20‑year sentence, suspending the final three years. He cited McCann's long‑standing dependence on alcohol and drugs and a dysfunctional family background as mitigating factors. McCann was due to appeal the sentence, but after a hearing in the Court of Appeal, his barrister Keith Spencer announced that McCann wished to withdraw the appeal.
A retired surgeon, Michael Shine, aged 85, was convicted by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of indecent assault on two 15‑year‑old patients in the mid‑1970s. The court found that Shine had abused the trust of patients and the hospital by groping the boys during medical examinations. He was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment, with consecutive 10‑month terms for each victim. Shine pleaded not guilty to eight charges of indecent assault at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and his private clinic in Drogheda, covering incidents from 1964 to 1991, but was acquitted on the remaining charges. The judge noted Shine's advanced age, severe angina, and risk of dementia, yet rejected a request for a suspended sentence. The case highlighted the breach of trust by a senior medical professional and the lasting impact on the teenage victims.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 48‑year‑old man pleaded not guilty to one count of sexually assaulting a woman during a massage session on 24 January 2015. The prosecution alleged that he removed her underwear, touched her vagina, kissed her bare bottom and claimed he "just couldn't help himself." Defence counsel Tara Burns SC argued that the accused was a qualified sports massage therapist, misrepresented himself as a physiotherapist to Gardaí, and that the victim's evidence was inconsistent and "unbelievable." She highlighted that the victim could not explain the duration or movement of the alleged assault and questioned the plausibility of her subsequent actions. The prosecution, led by Maurice Coffey BL, maintained that the victim was emotionally affected, that the accused had a dominant position, and urged a guilty verdict. The trial continues under Judge Karen O'Connor's charge to the jury.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 34‑year‑old Dubliner named Jason O'Driscoll is charged with the murders of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, who were found dead in a burning car in Ravensdale Forest Park on 7 March 2012. The prosecution alleges O'Driscoll participated in the killings, while the defence suggests another person may have been responsible or that one victim betrayed the other. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy charged the jury on Thursday and will resume the charge on Monday when deliberations are expected to begin. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
In December 2017, a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court convicted 85‑year‑old retired surgeon Michael Shine of indecently assaulting two 15‑year‑old patients in the mid‑1970s. Shine had pleaded not guilty to eight charges of indecent assault at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and his private clinic in Drogheda, covering incidents from 1964 to 1991. The court heard victim impact statements and medical records. One victim described being tied to a bed, restrained, and having his testicles massaged by Shine, leading to lasting anxiety, insomnia and depression. The second victim recounted being massaged at a follow‑up examination for undescended testes, feeling forced to ejaculate to end the assault. Shine denied wrongdoing during the trial but was found guilty of the two assaults; he was acquitted of four other charges. Lawyers argued that imprisonment would be fatal due to Shine's severe angina, heart stents and risk of dementia, and requested a suspended sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a man accused of sexually assaulting a female client during a massage on 24 January 2015 pleaded not guilty. The jury heard that the defendant allegedly removed the woman's underwear, touched her vagina, kissed her bare bottom and claimed he "just couldn't help himself." Prosecutor Maurice Coffey presented a text message from the defendant's phone dated 30 January 2015 that read, "hope you're not upset with me," and added that he would understand if she stopped seeing him. The defendant admitted sending the text but denied all other allegations, stating he had only hugged the woman. A friend of the victim testified that the woman called her on 24 January, described the assault, and reported it to Gardaí that night. The victim was cross‑examined by Tara Burns SC, who questioned why she did not react immediately. The trial was scheduled to continue the following day before Judge Karen O'Connor.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, judges will decide next week whether the arrest of Eamonn Cumberton, 30, of Mountjoy Street, Dublin 7, was lawful. Cumberton has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 35‑year‑old Michael Barr, who was shot in the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016. The prosecution argues that Cumberton is "inextricably linked" to items recovered from a partially burnt car near the scene and that those items were "inextricably linked" to the shooting. The defence challenges the legality of the arrest, citing that Inspector Brian Delaney's evidence was "unsatisfactory" and that the grounds for arrest were based on "inadequate information." Delaney had arrested Cumberton on 27 May 2015 on suspicion of murder, citing confidential information, forensic links to the getaway car, and his movements after the shooting. Cumberton travelled to Thailand two days after the incident.
In a double‑murder trial, defence counsel Seán Guerin SC argued that one of the deceased car thieves might have betrayed the other, leading to their deaths in a stolen car they had agreed to sell to the accused, Jason O'Driscoll. Guerin highlighted that the two men had only known each other for about a week before the incident and that they had not yet travelled north to meet O'Driscoll. He questioned whether a third party, such as witness Richie Cullinan, could have been involved or tipped off a killer. Guerin also raised the issue of an unknown phone number appearing in the victims' records that night, suggesting it could have been used to arrange the murders. He urged the jury to consider these alternative explanations before finding O'Driscoll guilty, noting that the prosecution had not investigated these possibilities. The judge has begun charging the jury for deliberation. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
Andrew Gibney, 25, of Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by a Central Criminal Court jury. The case, an appeal resulting in a retrial after his 2014 life sentence was overturned, concerned the alleged killing of Gerard Burnett, 28, at Castlecurragh Vale on August 21, 2012. Gibney had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Prosecution counsel alleged Gibney was part of a joint enterprise to murder Mr Burnett, while defence counsel argued the evidence supported a lesser intent. The jury deliberated for over seven hours before returning their verdict. Mr Justice Paul Butler adjourned sentencing until December 13 and remanded Gibney in custody until that date. Gibney had previously been convicted of the murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in January 2014, but that conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal in November last year, ordering a retrial. The court heard evidence that Gibney admitted to stabbing the deceased three times in the side. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.
In a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, a 25‑year‑old man, Andrew Gibney, is accused of killing Gerard Burnett, 28, in Mulhuddart on 21 August 2012. The jury, after seven hours and six minutes of deliberation, has been instructed by Judge Paul Butler that no juror should feel pressured to change their view. Butler reminded them that the opinion of Detective Superintendent Colm O'Malley is not a deciding factor and that each juror may hold a particular view without pressure to alter it. He outlined the three possible verdicts: not guilty; guilty of murder; or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. The prosecution alleges Gibney was part of a joint enterprise to murder Burnett, while the defence argues that if the evidence shows only a reasonable possibility of causing harm short of serious harm, manslaughter is the appropriate verdict. The jury will resume deliberations at 2.10 pm.
A jury convicted a 36‑year‑old Dublin man of sexually assaulting a 35‑year‑old woman during a Tinder‑arranged date. The woman said she believed the meeting was for coffee, but the man drove her to a secluded field on UCD campus where he allegedly became aggressive, attempted to kiss her, and then assaulted her. She reported feeling in fear of her life and that he tried to touch her and pull her dress up. The man denied the assault, claiming he was nervous after a failed kiss. The jury deliberated about 90 minutes and returned a unanimous guilty verdict on the single count. Judge Cormac Quinn declared the man a sex offender and remanded him in custody until December 15 for sentencing. No reaction was shown by either party when the verdict was delivered. The case is now pending sentencing. The unnamed 36-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a 2017 double‑murder trial, the prosecution presented CCTV footage and mobile‑phone records to the jury, arguing that the accused, 34‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll, was escorting the stolen Volkswagen Golf to its destruction. The evidence included a call from the deceased men to a phone linked to O'Driscoll, a brief period of traffic footage showing two cars near the scene, and a later sighting of O'Driscoll in a blue shirt leaving a chip shop. The prosecution claimed these strands, taken together, proved O'Driscoll's presence, participation and guilt. The defence was scheduled to present its closing argument before the judge. The case remained at the trial stage, with no verdict announced. The article does not state any outcome or further proceedings. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 48‑year‑old massage therapist was tried for a single count of sexual assault. The accused allegedly removed a client's underwear, touched her vagina, kissed her bare bottom and claimed he "just couldn't help himself." The client, who had visited the therapist's practice for sports injuries, testified that she had been treated for neck and shoulder problems and had attended the clinic four or five times. She described the session in detail, noting that she had removed her top, bra and trousers while lying face down, and that the therapist massaged her lower back before placing a hand on her vagina. She said she objected, the therapist removed his hand, but later kissed her bottom and made further remarks. The case remains before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury. The unnamed 48-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 36‑year‑old man accused of sexually assaulting a 35‑year‑old foreign national on UCD campus was found not guilty by the jury. The defendant, who cannot be named, had met the woman on Tinder and arranged to meet after several weeks of communication. He drove her in a blue BMW to a field on campus, where she alleged he became aggressive and assaulted her. The defendant claimed he believed they were meeting for a hook‑up and that the woman was hysterical, stating he tried to kiss her and that she pushed him back. Gardaí interviews were presented, with the prosecution arguing the defendant's account was self‑serving and inconsistent. The defence argued the defendant's actions were reasonable given the woman's reaction and that she was not seeking sex. The jury heard closing speeches before being sent home for deliberation. The case remains at the trial stage.
In a Mountjoy prison cell, a 25‑year‑old convicted drug dealer, Dean Reynolds, was discovered hiding heroin, cannabis and a mobile phone behind a panel above the toilet bowl. The discovery followed a search by prison officers, who found a sock containing the phone, a spare battery, €40 worth of cannabis and €360 worth of heroin. Reynolds had pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a mobile phone and heroin and cannabis for sale or supply. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment for the drug offences, with the final fifteen months suspended on the condition of good behaviour and engagement with probation services. He also received a one‑year sentence for possession of the mobile phone, with both sentences running concurrently. The case highlighted Reynolds' prior convictions for drug dealing, assault, criminal damage and firearms possession, and his history of domestic abuse and early drug use.
Emmett Kiely, 26, of Limerick, was denied bail by the High Court on 29 November 2017. He faces charges for a "slash hook" assault on Joseph Storan on 3 October 2017 at Maple Court, Kennedy Park, and for assaulting Terry Casey on 11 July 2017 at the same address. He is also charged with possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life on that day. The State objected to bail, arguing it could lead to further offences, and the court, citing Section 2A of the Bail Act, rejected the application, remanding Kiely in custody.
In 2017 a Belfast man, Francis Lanigan, 53, former republican paramilitary, was still fighting extradition to Northern Ireland for a 1998 murder and a firearms offence. He was arrested in 2013 under a European Arrest Warrant while working as a barber in Dublin, using a false name. Lanigan claims he joined the IRA at 17 and the INLA at 19, was imprisoned in 1984, and later became a significant INLA member. He alleges he was targeted by loyalists and that a 1998 incident led to the death of John Knocker. He argues that state collusion and lack of CCTV evidence undermine the warrant. The High Court ordered his surrender in 2015, but multiple High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, and European Court of Justice proceedings continue, with at least nine judges hearing the case. Lanigan remains on bail and his lawyers appeal ongoing orders. The unnamed man was convicted.
In a Dublin murder trial, a jury of five men and seven women has deliberated for two days and will return for a third day to decide the verdict against 25‑year‑old Andrew Gibney, accused of killing 28‑year‑old Gerard Burnett on 21 August 2012. Gibney pleaded not guilty. The prosecution argues he was part of a joint enterprise with four other men who entered Burnett's house that night. The defence contends that if the evidence shows Gibney intended only to cause some harm, a manslaughter verdict would be appropriate. The jury has requested to re‑hear evidence from Detective Superintendent Colm O'Malley and Chief State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy, who confirmed Burnett died from multiple stab wounds and blood loss. The judge explained that the jury could return a not guilty verdict, a guilty verdict for murder, or a guilty verdict for manslaughter. The jury will resume deliberations tomorrow at 11.15 a.m.
In the Special Criminal Court, the trial of Eamonn Cumberton, aged 30, for the murder of 35‑year‑old Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub, has progressed to the hearing of DNA evidence. The prosecution presented a full DNA profile from a cigarette butt seized at Bridewell Garda Station, where Cumberton had been taken after his arrest at Dublin Airport on a bench warrant. Forensic Science Ireland's Rodney Lakes also analysed a rubber mask recovered from the alleged getaway car, finding a mixed DNA profile of two men. The DNA from the cigarette butt could not be excluded as a contributor to the mask's mixed profile. The court is hearing legal arguments on the admissibility of this evidence, with the trial continuing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge James Faughnan. The defence is challenging the legality of Cumberton's arrest. The case remains in the voir dire stage. Eamonn Cumberton pleaded not guilty. Sunset House pleaded not guilty.
The jury is hearing closing speeches in the trial of a 34‑year‑old Dubliner charged with the double murder of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond in Louth on 7 March 2012. The accused, Jason O'Driscoll, has pleaded not guilty. The State alleges the victims were on their way to sell a stolen car to O'Driscoll and that he participated in their killings. Prosecutor Alexander Owens SC presented witness statements, mobile‑phone records and other evidence to the jury before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.