In the trial of Andrew Gibney, a 25‑year‑old accused of murdering Gerard Burnett, the jury was informed that they could return a majority verdict if unanimity could not be reached. Judge Paul Butler explained that the jury should strive for unanimity but could give a majority verdict if necessary. The forewoman reported that at least ten jurors had not agreed on a verdict after four hours and ten minutes of deliberation, and the jury was set to resume at 2 pm. The prosecution argued that Gibney was part of a joint enterprise to murder Burnett, one of five men who went to the victim's house on the night of the murder. The defence contended that if the evidence suggested Gibney intended only to cause some harm short of serious harm, the appropriate verdict would be manslaughter. Andrew Gibney pleaded not guilty.
Celina O'Driscoll, 47, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and resisting arrest after she threw an empty pint glass at Maria Delaney during a fight in the Greyhound Inn, Blanchardstown, on 31 July 2016. Delaney suffered a head injury that required three stitches. O'Driscoll, who had been intoxicated and claimed she was nervous about a night out with work colleagues, was described by the court as having behaved "disgracefully" towards Gardaí and was "extremely aggressive" when officers attempted to arrest her. She received a two‑year suspended sentence, was ordered to pay €500 to Gardaí and given one year to raise a similar amount for Delaney. O'Driscoll has seven prior convictions, including larceny and drug possession, and has two teenage children. She has worked as a cleaner and now as a gym receptionist, and has been drug‑free for seven years.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 36‑year‑old man pleaded not guilty to sexual assault of a foreign national on UCD campus on 23 July 2014. The complainant, who met the accused on Tinder, did not inform Garda Declan Ryan about the eight minutes the accused's blue BMW spent in a laneway before the alleged assault. Ryan said he interviewed the complainant twice, on 25 and 28 July, and that she identified the Nova running pitch as the assault site. He presented CCTV footage showing the car entering the laneway, leaving after about eight minutes, and then approaching the pitch before departing again. Ryan admitted he never asked the complainant about the laneway time, focusing instead on the pitch. The judge announced that evidence would finish the next day and closing arguments would begin.
The Special Criminal Court heard that the butt of a cigarette smoked by Eamonn Cumberton, 30, in a garda station was seized and sent to a forensic science laboratory for analysis. Cumberton, who is accused of murdering 35‑year‑old Michael Barr in the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution argues that Cumberton is "inextricably linked" to items recovered from a partially burnt‑out car near the scene, and that those items are "inextricably linked" to the shooting. The defence is contesting the legality of Cumberton's arrest. Evidence is being heard in a voir dire to determine its admissibility. The court noted that before being taken from the station, Cumberton smoked a cigarette in the back yard and discarded the butt, which Sergeant Michael Donnellan recovered along with a plastic cup from his cell. Both items were sent to the forensic lab for DNA analysis.
The 34‑year‑old accused in the Louth double murder trial, Jason O'Driscoll, admitted in court that he is the man shown in CCTV footage presented by the State. The admission was made by his barrister, Seán Guerin, under Section 22 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, allowing the prosecution to rely on the footage without further proof. The footage includes a man entering a Newry hotel at 7.45 pm on the night of the killings, a man in a blue jacket inside Murphy's in Meigh after 11 pm, and a man in a Eurospar shop on several days in March. Guerin confirmed that O'Driscoll was the man in each of these recordings. The trial continues with the jury awaiting further proceedings after the judge addressed a legal issue. The accused remains not guilty on the charges of murdering Anthony Burnett and Joseph Redmond.
The Court of Appeal was informed that Daniel McDonnell, aged 22, who is serving a mandatory life sentence for the murder of 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy, is medically unfit to attend court due to a psychiatric illness. McDonnell, who was 19 at the time of the offence, had pleaded not guilty and was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court on 24 January 2014, receiving a life sentence. He was due to appeal his conviction on the day the appeal hearing was scheduled, but the court was told he could not attend. Counsel Bernard Condon requested a new date to obtain an up‑to‑date psychiatric report. The appeal hearing was postponed to 18 December, when a new date will be set. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no further outcome reported in the article.
A jury in the Central Criminal Court will return tomorrow to decide the verdict in the murder trial of Andrew Gibney, a 25‑year‑old from Mulhuddart, who is accused of killing Gerard Burnett, 28, at Castlecurragh Vale on 21 August 2012. After deliberating for two hours and 16 minutes, the jury requested a re‑hear of the Chief State Pathologist's evidence. Dr Marie Cassidy explained that Burnett died from multiple stab wounds and blood loss caused by injuries to his right lung, heart and liver. Gibney had told Gardaí on 28 August that he had stabbed the victim three times on the side with a knife and had voluntarily turned himself in, saying he wanted to give the deceased peace. The prosecution argues that Gibney was part of a joint enterprise with four other men who entered Burnett's house that night, making him criminally liable. Andrew Gibney pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Cahoon, aged 44, was found guilty of murdering his ex‑girlfriend Jean Teresa Quigley, aged 30, who was ten weeks pregnant with his child. The murder took place on 26 July 2008 at Cornshell Fields, Derry. Cahoon admitted strangling Quigley but denied it was murder, claiming it occurred after consensual sex and that she was still alive when he left her home. He did not call an ambulance. The jury at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin unanimously convicted him and he received a mandatory life sentence in December 2015. The appeal focused on the admissibility of witness statements under Section 16 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. Judge Alan Mahon upheld the conviction, finding the trial judge's decision to admit the statements correct and the jury instructions fair. Cahoon was not present at the hearing.
On 23 July 2014, a 36‑year‑old Dublin man was charged with sexual assault of a foreign national at UCD campus. The trial, held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, is in its fifth day. Witness Criona Cullen, a dog walker, testified that she was walking her dogs around 10 pm when she heard a woman call for help. The woman, speaking limited English, claimed she had met a man on Tinder who had taken her to the campus and attempted to have sex with her. Cullen offered assistance, arranging a taxi and offering to pay the fare. A flatmate of the complainant later testified that the woman was frightened and that the man had taken her to an abandoned area. The case is before Judge Cormac Quinn and a jury of twelve. The accused has pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Inspector Brian Delaney was "fairly satisfied" that 30‑year‑old Eamonn Cumberton had a "significant role" in the murder of 35‑year‑old Michael Barr, the manager of the Sunset House pub, on 25 April 2016. Delaney said items recovered from a partially burnt Audi near the scene – masks, hats, firearms and ammunition – linked the car to the shooting and that Cumberton was listed as a suspect early in the investigation. On 26 May, the inspector received information that Cumberton had a baseball cap and a rubber mask from the getaway car, which further convinced him of Cumberton's involvement. Cumberton had tried to leave for Bangkok after the shooting, but his passport had expired; he later obtained an emergency passport and flew to Bangkok, returning to Dublin on 25 May. Eamonn Cumberton pleaded not guilty.
Frederick Lee, aged 53, was convicted of murder in 1994 and sentenced to life imprisonment by Leeds Crown Court. He escaped from Shelton Abbey open prison in March 2016, living with his daughter in the UK before being apprehended under a European Arrest Warrant. Lee pleaded guilty to escaping lawful custody and had previously received a one‑month sentence for a 1987 escape. On appeal, the Court of Appeal reduced his escape sentence to 10 months, citing English case law that distinguishes between personal‑pressure and professional escapees. The judge noted Lee's escape involved planning but no violence or criminal activity while at large, and that he had been at large for three‑and‑a‑half months. Lee had already served one year and four months in Wheatfield Prison, which the judge considered as having been served. The appeal decision therefore set the final imposed term at 10 months, with no suspended portion or additional custody specified.
Daniel Barrett, 23, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at a neighbour's house on 13 August 2015, armed with an imitation shotgun. He was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment by Judge Rory McCabe on 23 November 2016. Barrett had planned to appeal the severity of his sentence. During the Court of Appeal hearing, Judge George Birmingham reminded him that the court could increase sentences. Barrett's counsel, Garnet Orange SC, informed the court that Barrett had decided to withdraw the appeal. The appeal was withdrawn and Barrett was taken to continue serving his sentence.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has been discharged after failing to reach a verdict in a murder trial. Keith Brady, aged 30, of Cartron Estate, Sligo had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of Martin Kivlehan, aged 59, at New Apartments, Holborn Street, Sligo on 2nd and 3rd August 2015. The Crown rejected the manslaughter plea, and Mr Brady underwent a two-week trial. During proceedings, the jury heard that Mr Kivlehan died from two stab wounds to the neck. Mr Brady admitted inflicting the injuries. The eleven-member jury was asked to determine whether the act constituted murder or manslaughter. After indicating they could not achieve unanimity, and subsequently failing to reach a majority verdict, the jury was discharged. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded Mr Brady in custody until 4th December for potential further proceedings.
A 24‑year‑old Dublin man, Raymond Walsh, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the unexplained murder of 41‑year‑old Kevin Molloy, who lived alone in Cabra. Walsh pleaded guilty to the murder, which occurred between 23 January and 1 February 2015 at Molloy's home on Glendhu Road, Navan Road. The Central Criminal Court heard that Molloy's body was found after his father investigated a lack of contact. Detectives linked Walsh to the house through fingerprints and DNA, and he denied any explanation for being there. The Molloy family delivered a victim impact statement, describing their son as loving and innocent. Walsh, who had no prior convictions, expressed remorse and pleaded guilty, leading Judge Patrick McCarthy to impose a life sentence, backdated to 7 October 2015. The sentence was delivered in the presence of the court and the family, who left quietly.
In the murder trial of Andrew Gibney, a 25‑year‑old from Mulhuddart, the judge emphasised that the principle of joint enterprise is central to the case. Gibney pleaded not guilty to the killing of Gerard Burnett, 28, who was stabbed six times on the right side of his chest, causing fatal injuries to his lung, heart and liver. Prosecutor Vincent Heneghan argued that five men were involved and that each was guilty of murder, citing evidence that Gibney admitted to stabbing Burnett three times and that the group acted together. Defence counsel Giollaiosa O Lideadha contended that the law requires individual guilt and that Gibney may have been part of a joint enterprise but not necessarily the one who inflicted the fatal wounds. The judge instructed the jury that they could return a verdict of not guilty, guilty of murder, or guilty of manslaughter, and that a unanimous decision was required.
In Waterford, a Brazilian man, Juraci Da Silva, aged 36, was sentenced by Justice Michael White to eight years in prison for the manslaughter of James 'Jay' Banville, who died from a single stab wound to the heart on 8 October 2016. Da Silva was found not guilty of murder and not guilty of assault causing harm to Conor Hogan, but guilty of producing a knife during an altercation. He received an additional five‑year sentence for producing a knife, with both sentences running concurrently and back‑dated to the date of the offence. The judge described the killing as a "tragedy of epic proportions" and noted that Da Silva had been twice assaulted by Banville and Hogan, including racial and sexual remarks, before he armed himself with a knife and killed Banville. The sentence was deemed proportionate, taking into account Da Silva's lack of prior convictions and his limited English. The legal teams have 28 days to appeal.
A 36‑year‑old Dublin man pleaded not guilty to sexual assault of a 35‑year‑old foreign national at UCD campus on 23 July 2014. The woman, who met the man on Tinder, agreed to meet him after weeks of communication. He picked her up and drove her to a green area on campus. She testified that he became aggressive, placed his hand on her neck, touched her legs, shouted at her, and tried to restrain her. She feared for her life, thought he would rape her, and tried to open the doors, which were locked. Gardaí were informed after the alleged attack. CCTV footage showed the car was there for about one minute, a point contested by the woman. The trial is before Judge Cormac Quinn and a jury of twelve.
During the fourth day of the 25‑year‑old Andrew Gibney's trial, the court heard that he had voluntarily approached a Garda station on 28 August 2012 and told officers that he had been stabbed in the shoulder by the deceased, Gerard Burnett, with a screwdriver four years earlier. Gibney also claimed that the two men had since made amends and that he had no intention to murder Burnett, who was 28 and a father of one. He admitted stabbing Burnett three times with a knife on the night of 21 August 2012, but said he was drunk and that the incident was a "blur." Gibney said he had cleaned the knife with boiling water and that he had no knowledge of the depth of the wounds. The prosecution had charged him with murder; he had pleaded not guilty and had no prior convictions.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court is to resume deliberations on Monday in the trial of Keith Brady, aged 30 of Cartron Estate, Sligo. Mr Brady has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter following the death of 59-year-old musician Martin Kivlehan at New Apartments on Holborn Street, Sligo in August 2015. The deceased died from two stab wounds to the neck. The defence argued that Mr Brady was too intoxicated to form the necessary intent for murder, and invited the jury to consider whether he was provoked by the deceased's alleged inappropriate conduct towards his sister. Mr Justice Paul McDermott directed the jury to assess the credibility of Mr Brady's account and whether provocation may have caused him to lose control. The judge instructed jurors to consider the accused's circumstances as a drug user rather than applying the standard of a reasonable man. The jury of six women and five men must determine whether the charge should be murder or manslaughter.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of Eamonn Cumberton, 30, who is accused of murdering Michael Barr, 35, the manager of the Sunset House pub in Dublin, on 25 April 2016. Cumberton pleaded not guilty. The prosecution argues that Cumberton is "inextricably linked" to items recovered from a partially burnt-out car near the scene, and that those items are "inextricably linked" to the shooting. The court announced that the trial will resume on Monday before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan presiding.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court is to consider whether a 30-year-old man from Sligo was too intoxicated to form the intention to murder when he inflicted fatal stab wounds to the neck of a 59-year-old man in August 2015. Keith Brady of Cartron Estate has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for his role in the death of Martin Kivlehan at New Apartments, Holborn Street, Sligo. The State rejected his manslaughter plea. In closing arguments, the prosecution contended that despite evidence of severe intoxication, Mr Brady retained sufficient capacity to engage in deliberate actions before and after the stabbing, suggesting he possessed murderous intent. The defence argued that his intoxication and troubled background prevented him from forming such intention and that a manslaughter verdict was appropriate. The judge instructed the jury that they must determine whether Mr Brady was so affected by drink and drugs that he could not have intended to kill or cause serious injury. Mr Justice Paul McDermott will continue his charge to the jury today.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 36‑year‑old Dublin man pleaded not guilty to sexual assault of a 35‑year‑old foreign student on UCD campus on 23 July 2014. The student explained that she had used Tinder to meet Irish people and practice English. She had communicated with the accused for weeks, receiving explicit messages. She agreed to meet him, was taken to a secluded green area, and was sexually assaulted. She described the accused as becoming aggressive and "changing completely." She admitted she did not end the online conversation after receiving explicit texts, citing her own stupidity. She could not sleep the following night, fearing judgment for using Tinder and entering a stranger's car. The case is proceeding before Judge Cormac Quinn and a jury of twelve.
The High Court set aside two asset transfers from retired teacher Michael Byrne to his estranged wife Maureen Byrne, ruling them fraudulent and deliberately intended to frustrate Mr Cormac Walsh's recovery of a €200,000 damages award. The transfers involved Byrne's interest in the former family home and lands at Rosewell, Templerainey, Arklow, Co Wicklow, which were moved into Maureen Byrne's sole name in May 2012 and October 2015. Mr Walsh, who had been awarded the damages in 2015, had received no payment from Byrne. Byrne, aged in his 80s and living in Spain, had been convicted in 2014 of indecent assault and sentenced to eight years with four suspended. He denied the transfers were fraudulent, claiming they were made in good faith and for housekeeping reasons. The court found Byrne was aware of the civil action and the subsequent award, and therefore the transfers were set aside. The Byrnes were not present at the hearing.
During the Special Criminal Court hearing on 23 November 2017, evidence was presented linking a bullet and a mobile phone found beside a partially burnt-out car to the 2016 murder of Michael Barr, 35, at the Sunset House pub. The prosecution argued that Eamonn Cumberton, 30, was "inextricably linked" to the items recovered from the car, which was allegedly used as a getaway vehicle. Witness James Fogarty testified that a car appeared on Walsh Road, with flames on the passenger side, and that a silver car was approached by three individuals. Detective Garda Michael Harkin described finding a 9mm bullet and a ringing phone near a grey Audi, noting the bullet had not moved. Garda Emmett O'Byrne reported a single 9mm round near the Audi's rear passenger wheel. Stephen Clifford, present at the pub, described seeing masked men with a gun at Barr's head. Eamonn Cumberton pleaded not guilty. Sunset House pleaded not guilty.
Michael Power, aged 22, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for a minor role in a group fight that took place on Jervis Street Upper, Dublin 1, on 24 April 2015. Power, who had 38 previous convictions, was present at the scene with his cousin and engaged in an aggressive stance, raising his fists and fighting several men. His cousin was punched by another party and suffered a serious brain injury after falling and hitting his head. Power was not directly involved in the punch that injured his cousin. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted Power's role was not the worst but acknowledged his participation in the fight, and imposed the 18‑month sentence to run concurrently with his existing ten‑year sentence for a serious assault imposed earlier that year.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 35‑year‑old English‑language student testified that she was sexually assaulted by a 36‑year‑old Dublin man she had met on the Tinder dating app. She said she had agreed to meet him after weeks of communication, and he had driven her in his car to a secluded green area. During the encounter, she claimed he became aggressive and assaulted her. After the incident she took a taxi home, told her flatmate about the attack, but they could not contact the Gardaí because of limited English. She called the manager of the agency running her English course that night, who advised her to rest and go to the police the next morning. She expressed fear that people would judge her for getting into a stranger's car or using Tinder. The trial is proceeding before Judge Cormac Quinn and a jury of twelve. The unnamed 36-year-old pleaded not guilty.
During the Special Criminal Court trial of Eamonn Cumberton, 30, accused of murdering 35‑year‑old Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016, the court heard further witness statements. Stephen Clifford, who was organising a raffle in the pub that night, testified that he saw two men in rubbery Halloween masks approach Barr and place a gun to his head. Clifford described the men as standing "on top of him" and noted that the masks resembled an old man's face. James Fogarty also gave evidence, recalling a car that drove onto a path on Walsh Road, with three people exiting and flames appearing on the passenger side. Fogarty said one of the individuals may have dropped a shiny object near the car, and that the group ran toward a silver car. The trial continues. Eamonn Cumberton pleaded not guilty.
Keith Brady, aged 30, of Cartron Estate in Sligo, stands trial at the Central Criminal Court on a charge of murdering Martin 'Matt' Kivlehan, aged 59, at New Apartments on Holborn Street, Sligo on August 2nd or 3rd, 2015. Mr Brady has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The State rejected the manslaughter plea, and the trial proceeded. The prosecution concluded its evidence this week. During testimony, gardai recounted a statement Mr Brady made at Castlerea Prison in December 2015, in which he described being under the influence of heroin and alcohol at the time of the incident. He recalled stabbing the deceased in the neck but stated he could not remember his motivation. Mr Kivlehan died from two stab wounds to the neck. The trial, presided over by Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, continues.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Jason O'Driscoll, a 34-year-old Dublin man, continued with evidence regarding mobile phone data analysis. O'Driscoll, of Richmond Avenue, Fairview, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of 31-year-old Anthony Burnett and 25-year-old Joseph Redmond in Co Louth on March 7, 2012. The jury heard testimony from An Garda Síochána analyst Eddie McGoey, who presented charts summarising contact between eight phone numbers of interest on the day of the alleged killings. McGoey referenced CCTV footage of a Newry hotel payphone and credit purchases at Mulkerns Eurospar. Under cross-examination by Seán Guerin SC, the defence highlighted a table showing that calls between a phone attributed to Burnett and a witness were followed by contact with an unknown number, with which Burnett had no prior contact in the available six-week record. McGoey agreed that Gardaí had not provided records for this unknown number, meaning potentially significant information was excluded from his original analysis. He conceded that, in theory, the unknown number could have used the same cell sites as the phones attributed to the deceased. The trial is before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, who indicated the case is moving towards a close. The matter was adjourned and continues on Tuesday.
During the third day of the 25‑year‑old Andrew Gibney's trial, the jury heard that he admitted to stabbing Gerard Burnett, 28, three times in the side with a knife. Gibney had come to Blanchardstown Garda Station of his own free will, telling officers he was involved in the incident and that the man was dead and needed peace. Sergeant Patrick Traynor reported that Gibney had a knife on the night of the incident and used it on Burnett. Chief State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Burnett's body had 30 knife injuries, six of which were deep stab wounds to the right side of the chest, causing internal injuries to the lung, heart and liver. Gibney was arrested for assault causing serious harm. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury of five men and seven women. Andrew Gibney pleaded not guilty.
Carl Cullen, aged 30, pleaded guilty to robbery at Tolka Valley Road on 27 February 2017. He and a co‑accused entered a taxi at about 6 am, behaved drunkenly and violently, and forced the driver to stop. Cullen seized the driver's mobile phone, chased him, and attempted to punch him. CCTV showed the robbers rummaging through the taxi and taking a phone, MP3 player and coins. Garda Barry Hehir informed the court that the victim used a "find phone" app to locate Cullen and his co‑accused on St Helena's Road, Finglas. The court noted Cullen's 40 prior convictions, his guilty plea, remorse and athletic background, but also his propensity for violence. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment. The sentence was imposed in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The case involved a violent robbery of a taxi driver.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 35‑year‑old woman testified that a 36‑year‑old man she met on Tinder attacked her in his car on the UCD campus on 23 July 2014. She had come to Ireland to learn English and had been using Tinder to find people to practise with. After chatting online, the man invited her to meet and offered a drive. She agreed, and he picked her up. While parked near a green area, he turned off the engine, locked the doors and became aggressive, calling her names and attempting to touch her. She tried to resist, struck him, and managed to escape, after which he fled. The case remains before Judge Cormac Quinn and a jury. The man pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.
A 30-year-old man accused of murdering a Sligo musician told gardai he stabbed the victim in the neck but could not recall his motive, the Central Criminal Court heard today. Keith Brady of Cartron Estate, Sligo has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of Martin Kivlehan, aged 59, at New Apartments on Holborn Street on August 2nd or 3rd, 2015. The State rejected his guilty plea. Mr Kivlehan died from two stab wounds to the neck. Inspector Tom Colsh told the court that Mr Brady invited gardai to his cell in Castlerea Prison in December 2015 and provided a detailed statement about the incident. Mr Brady said he had been addicted to heroin at the time and that events unfolded after visiting the victim's apartment with his sister. He described the stabbing as a "freak moment" and stated he never intended to kill anyone. Following the incident, he said he and his sister moved the body and placed a duvet over it before leaving.
Christopher O'Reilly, a 60‑year‑old former army private, was sentenced to five years in prison for two separate offences. On 10 June 2010 he attacked a young woman on O'Connell Street with a broken glass bottle, striking her cheek and leaving her bleeding profusely; the victim suffered panic attacks, a loss of confidence, nightmares and a scar that has since faded but remains noticeable. O'Reilly pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm. He also pleaded guilty to an attempted robbery on 5 September 2013 at Wolf Tone Quay, where he approached a woman on a Dublin Bus, brandishing a hammer over her head before calmly retreating. The judge, citing the "reasonless attack" and the victim's psychological impact, gave him four years for the assault and two years for the robbery, with the final 12 months suspended. The sentences run consecutively, resulting in a total of five years' imprisonment.
Bashkim Osaj, 39, pleaded guilty to robbery and false imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, on the condition of good behaviour and keeping the peace. Osaj had fled to Belgium after informing Gardaí he would not attend his trial, but was later arrested and returned to Ireland. The robbery involved the owner of a takeaway, Nunzio Del Duca, who was bound, gagged, and stabbed with a screwdriver. Osaj was one of two men who entered the premises, and a third man had lured Del Duca to the house. Osaj had 26 prior convictions, including burglary and robbery. The judge noted the violence was "of a particular nasty nature" and considered mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, difficult background, and family responsibilities. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In the Central Criminal Court, Andrew Gibney (25) pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gerard Burnett (28) on 21 August 2012. Chief State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Burnett's body, found in his porch, suffered 30 knife injuries, including six deep, fatal stab wounds to the right side of his chest that penetrated the lung, heart and liver. She noted ten shallow wounds on his back, multiple abrasions from broken glass on his face, and injuries to his right hand suggesting a defensive struggle. Cassidy suggested the wounds were inflicted by a broad‑bladed knife with a single edge, possibly by more than one assailant, and that death was not immediate. Witnesses Anne‑Marie Corbett and her husband described hearing a commotion and seeing three men running toward the main road that night. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, is scheduled to continue for up to three weeks.
In the Louth double murder trial, the jury heard forensic evidence that partly evaporated petrol vapour was found on a sample taken during the post‑mortem of one victim. The 34‑year‑old Dublin man, Jason O'Driscoll, pleaded not guilty to the murders of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, who were shot in a burning car in Ravensdale Forest Park on 7 March 2012. Firefighters arrived before 11 o'clock, and the bodies were discovered inside the vehicle. Dr John O'Shaughnessy testified that he examined fire debris and post‑mortem samples for accelerants. He reported finding partly evaporated petrol vapour on a sample from 'Body A' and also petrol and paraffin oil vapour from a sample taken under the car. The petrol vapour was confirmed to have come from petrol.
At the Central Criminal Court, a murder trial heard that the accused claimed he had been treated unfairly and denied involvement in a fatal stabbing. Keith Brady of Cartron Estate, Sligo has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of Martin Kivlehan, aged 59, at New Apartments on Holborn Street, Sligo on 2–3 August 2015. The State rejected his manslaughter plea, and the case proceeded to trial. Detective Garda Paul Casey gave evidence that during an interview at Ballymote Garda Station in November 2015, Mr Brady stated he had not committed murder and expressed that he felt he had "been very hard done by". Mr Kivlehan died from two stab wounds to the neck. The trial continued before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of eleven members after one juror was excused.
Two men wearing "Freddie Kruger" masks entered the Sunset House pub in Dublin on the night of a shooting. Eamonn Cumberton, aged 30, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 35‑year‑old Michael Barr, who was shot dead in the pub on 25 April 2016. The prosecution argued that Cumberton was "inextricably linked" to items seized from a partially burnt‑out car near the scene, and that those items were "inextricably linked" to the shooting. Witnesses, including Theresa Smyth, described the masked men as "Freddie Kruger" or "Halloween" masks and said they entered the bar, after which a shooting occurred. Smyth said she saw Barr on the ground with blood from his head and that she "crawled over and blessed him." James Dunne, who was organising a raffle that night, recounted seeing a man with a weapon and fleeing with his daughter.
The High Court has ordered the surrender of Damien Joseph McLaughlin to Northern Ireland under a European Arrest Warrant. McLaughlin, 40, was arrested in Donegal and faces allegations that he aided and abetted the murder of prison officer David Black on November 1st, 2012. He is also charged with engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism and being a member of a proscribed organisation. These charges remain alleged or contested, with no plea, finding, or sentence recorded at this pretrial stage. His barrister, David Leonard BL, opposed the surrender, arguing McLaughlin would face inhumane treatment due to full-body searches in Maghaberry Prison. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly initially sought further information from Northern Irish authorities regarding the necessity of these searches. The Head of the Northern Irish Prison Service responded that such measures were necessary to address severe threats from dissident republicans, noting that alternative technologies had not proven equally effective. Ms Justice Donnelly accepted that full-body searches were necessary in the specific high-risk context of Northern Ireland and did not contravene Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Consequently, the court rejected the objection and ordered McLaughlin's surrender.
Martin Maughan, aged 28, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for assaulting Michael Reilly in a Nando's restaurant on 7 May 2017. Maughan used a claw hammer to strike Reilly multiple times, chased him into the car park, struck him again and sprayed pepper spray. He pleaded guilty to assault and possession of a weapon. Maughan claimed he acted because Reilly had verbally insulted his daughter, who has spina bifida, calling her legs crooked and spine twisted. The court noted Maughan's 15 prior convictions and his alcohol addiction. Judge Melanie Greally accepted his guilty plea and remorse, ordered anger‑management, offending‑behaviour and addiction programmes, and imposed a 10‑year restriction on contact with the Reilly family. The sentence was three years with 18 months suspended, leaving an effective custodial term of 18 months.
A brother and sister arrested during a murder investigation were permitted to meet while in garda custody at Sligo Garda Station, the Central Criminal Court heard. The meeting, described as highly unusual, took place in August 2015 and was supervised by gardai. During the encounter, the woman encouraged her brother to tell the truth and remarked she would be sixty years old upon release. Keith Brady, aged thirty, of Cartron Estate in Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Martin Kivlehan on August 2nd or 3rd, 2015 at New Apartments, Holborn Street, Sligo. The State rejected his manslaughter plea, and he faces trial before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. A superintendent explained he authorised the meeting after the woman expressed concern for her brother's welfare and indicated she wished to tell the truth. A garda who supervised the meeting confirmed it was unusual but stated he did not believe it would compromise the investigation. The trial continues.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard technical mobile‑phone evidence in the double murder trial of a 34‑year‑old Dublin man charged with killing 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond in Louth on 7 March 2012. The defendant, Jason O'Driscoll, pleaded not guilty. Witnesses described a fire at Ravensdale Forest Park, the discovery of the bodies with gunshot wounds to the heads, and the use of Meteor top‑ups purchased in Newry. The trial continued tomorrow before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women.
The Central Criminal Court trial of 25‑year‑old Andrew Gibney, of Dromheath Avenue, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, heard that he is accused of murdering 28‑year‑old Gerard Burnett, of Castlecurragh Vale, Mulhuddart, on 21 August 2012. The prosecution alleges that Gibney and four other men entered Burnett's home shortly before midnight, with at least two armed with knives, one being Gibney. Burnett was allegedly pulled out of the house, suffered thirty stab wounds to his head, neck and chest, including six to the right side of his chest damaging lungs and liver, and died. Burnett's partner, Denise Farrell, testified that she was in the sitting room when the doorbell rang at 11.45 pm, that she did not recognise the intruders, and that her partner was dragged outside and later died. Andrew Gibney pleaded not guilty.
A teenager who fatally stabbed a 17-year-old in Claremorris on 19 December 2015 will be sentenced as an adult when he returns to the Central Criminal Court in January 2018. The accused, who turns 18 this month, was convicted of manslaughter by jury at the court sitting in Castlebar in July following a not guilty verdict on murder. The victim, Dovydas Jenkas of Mount Street, Claremorris, died from a single stab wound. A consultant neurologist has prepared a report for sentencing, though the expert requires further consultation with colleagues before forming definitive conclusions on the defendant's prognosis and future condition. The defence has highlighted that the accused suffers from an epileptic-type condition involving frequent seizures and episodes of altered awareness. Justice Eileen Creedon noted both prosecution and defence were satisfied to proceed and adjourned sentencing to 16 January, requesting an updated probation report and medical documentation.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 34‑year‑old Dublin man, Jason O'Driscoll, is on trial for the 2012 murders of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond. The prosecution presented a statement from Crystal Jackson, Redmond's former partner, alleging that she and Redmond had tried to sell a Volkswagen Golf to O'Driscoll. Jackson said they had been at home, texting about the sale, and that O'Driscoll offered €700 for the car, which Redmond and Burnett agreed to. She claimed O'Driscoll declined to come to their house and that they eventually drove the car to him. Jackson was called to testify but refused to take the oath, leading the judge to order her imprisonment for contempt. The trial continues with the jury hearing the evidence and other witnesses. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
Paul Gill, 37, of Naas, pleaded guilty to assaulting Patrick "Patsy" Kelly and Martin Curtis on 22 August 2015. He had earlier pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and was acquitted after a six‑day trial. Judge Melanie Greally postponed his assault sentence because the Kelly family objected to the omission of parts of their victim impact statement. The prosecution argued that the Victims of Crime Act 2017 allows family members to be treated as direct victims, but the court was still operating under the 2010 Act. The family was deeply unhappy that elements of their statement were excluded, leading to an adjournment. Gill remains on bail and the sentencing hearing has been rescheduled for December. Eye witnesses described Gill grabbing Kelly by the collar, dragging him, punching and kicking him, while medical evidence indicated heart disease as the main cause of death, with alcohol and injuries as contributory factors.
In a hearing on 20 November 2017, the court considered a non‑custodial sentence for 36‑year‑old Brazilian meat‑factory worker Juraci Da Silva, who was convicted of manslaughter for the death of James 'Jay' Banville. Da Silva had been assaulted and racially abused by Banville and Conor Hogan before the fatal altercation. The victim's family, represented by his sister Marie Banville, expressed grief and demanded justice, while Da Silva's barrister, Colman Cody SC, argued that Da Silva had pleaded guilty, was a family provider, and had been provoked. Cody highlighted Da Silva's background, his early departure from school to support his family, and his isolation as a foreigner. The judge, Justice Michael White, adjourned sentencing to the following Monday, leaving the outcome pending. The case remains at the sentencing stage. Da Silva was acquitted.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Eamonn Cumberton, aged 30, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Barr, 35, the manager of the Sunset House pub in Dublin. Barr was shot on 25 April 2016 after two masked men in boiler suits entered the pub between 8:30 and 9:33 pm. Barr was shot seven times – five to the head, one to the shoulder and one to the neck – and died at 10:12 pm. Evidence will show that the shooters used a firearm found in a silver Audi, which was set on fire by three people on Walsh Road. The Audi contained loaded firearms, masks, balaclavas and boiler suits. Cumberton and another man flew to Thailand the day after the shooting. The defence will challenge all prosecution evidence, and the case will be heard in a voir dire to determine admissibility. The trial will resume tomorrow with Mr Justice Tony Hunt presiding.
The trial of Andrew Gibney, a 25-year-old man from Dromheath Avenue, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, is scheduled to begin tomorrow before the Central Criminal Court. Mr. Gibney is accused of murdering Gerard Burnett, aged 28, at Castlecurragh Vale, Mulhuddart, on August 21, 2012. When arraigned before the court this morning, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder. A jury comprising five men and seven women was sworn in to hear the proceedings under the direction of Mr. Justice Paul Butler. The trial is expected to last approximately three weeks. As the matter is currently at the trial stage, no findings, sentences, or final disposals have been recorded. The allegations remain contested, and the accused has not been convicted of the alleged offense.