In the trial of Jason O'Driscoll, a 34‑year‑old Dublin man charged with the murders of Anthony Burnett, 31, and Joseph Redmond, 25, on 7 March 2012, a CSI named Belinda Kennedy gave evidence to the Central Criminal Court. Kennedy, a crime scene investigator with the PSNI in Belfast, examined a silver Mercedes that had been abandoned on the northern side of the border the morning after the killings. She photographed the vehicle, noted damage, tested for firearms residue and DNA, lifted fibre tape, and collected soil samples. Kennedy reported that she had swept the entire car for fingerprints but found none, and that a smell of cleaning fluid suggested the car had been cleaned. She also noted that the car had been driven through Dublin City after being stolen that early morning. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction of a man sentenced for the sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl. Fergus Carson, aged 55, of The Green, Main Street in Convoy, County Donegal, was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of six counts of sexual assault between May and September 2012. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment with the final 15 months suspended in March 2016. Carson's appeal challenged the fairness of the trial, contending he was denied adequate opportunity to cross-examine his accuser due to her demeanour in the witness box. Mr Justice Alan Mahon, delivering judgment, stated the complainant gave competent and impressive evidence. The court found the trial was fair, that the complainant made herself available for comprehensive cross-examination, and that any hesitancy benefited the defence. The three-judge court dismissed the appeal.
A masked man, Francis Leahy, 58, robbed a Spar shop in Ringsend on 18 February, taking €360 in cash and using a loaded gun with 10 rounds. He was immediately recognised by a shop worker as a regular customer, who initially thought Leahy was joking until the gun was pointed at him. Leahy claimed he had gambling debts and had received threatening bullet cartridges in his letter box, prompting the robbery. He was arrested shortly after, found with the gun, cash and additional ammunition, and pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and one count of firearm possession. Leahy has 21 prior convictions, including drug possession, theft, larceny and assault, and has been in custody since the offence. The case was adjourned to 28 November. The victim expressed fear for his life during the incident. The court noted the seriousness of the offence and the presence of a live firearm and ammunition.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that Donal Colgan, 66, of Killarney Court, Dublin, murdered 45‑year‑old David Sheridan outside Luigi's chip shop on the North Strand Road on 17/18 August 2014. Colgan had pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not to murder, and the State rejected his plea. The prosecution alleged that on the evening in question, Sheridan and Gary Kinlan had purchased drinks from an off‑licence and then went to Luigi's. An altercation between Kinlan and Colgan outside the shop led Colgan to leave, return with a knife, and stab Sheridan multiple times. Sheridan was taken to hospital but died the next day. The prosecution said a post‑mortem would confirm death from stab wounds. Gardaí had reviewed CCTV, interviewed witnesses, and arrested Colgan.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, retired surgeon Michael Shine, aged 85, pleaded not guilty to eight charges of indecent assault against six patients at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and his private clinic in Drogheda between 1964 and 1991. Shine testified that he had no memory of treating four of the complainants and denied any indecent conduct. He admitted treating two patients, recalling a 1974 case of undescended testicles and a 1976 case of an infected toenail, but denied any inappropriate touching. The prosecution presented medical records linking three complainants to Shine, while the defense highlighted the absence of records for the others. Judge Cormac Quinn withdrew the charge against a 15‑year‑old boy, instructing the jury to find Shine not guilty of assaulting him. The trial's evidence phase concluded, with lawyers set to deliver closing arguments on Tuesday.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Declan Tynan, aged 27, was convicted of violent disorder for his role in a December 13, 2012 attack on a Ladbrokes bookmakers in Tallaght. The prosecution alleged that Tynan was one of three men who entered the shop, attacked a customer with a short blade, and then turned on the victim's brother when he tried to intervene. No medical or victim impact reports were produced, and the only evidence against Tynan was a Garda identification from CCTV footage. A jury found him guilty and Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, suspending the final year. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction in July. Earlier this month, Tynan's barrister claimed that another man had "came forward" and that visual identification was unreliable. On October 27, 2017, a three‑judge court granted Tynan bail pending a Garda investigation, requiring him to reside at a specified address and sign in twice weekly. Declan Tynan pleaded not guilty.
Two men convicted of murdering a 23-year-old Polish national in County Roscommon have appealed their convictions at the Court of Appeal. Leszek Sychulec, aged 35, with an address at Drinan, Ballymahon, County Longford, and Andrzej Gruchacz, aged 36, were found guilty by jury in the Central Criminal Court of the killing of Patryk Krupa on 20 June 2014 near Athlone. Both received mandatory life sentences in June 2016. The victim was assaulted, rendered unconscious, and subsequently drowned in the River Shannon. Evidence presented at trial included DNA recovered from Sychulec's belongings and witness testimony. During the appeal hearing, defence counsel for Sychulec challenged the identification procedures used by gardaí, arguing that witnesses were shown a single photograph rather than a range of images. Counsel for Gruchacz raised concerns regarding the admissibility of identification evidence and trial procedure. The prosecution contested these submissions. The three-judge panel reserved judgement. Leszek Sychulec pleaded not guilty. Andrzej Gruchacz pleaded not guilty.
Alan McNamara, 51, of Mountfune, Murroe, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Andrew O'Donoghue. Found guilty last July, McNamara was convicted of killing the Road Tramps member at the club gates on June 20, 2015, during a territorial dispute. Justice Paul McDermott imposed the mandatory life sentence, backdating it to December 1, 2015. McNamara's stepson, Robert Cusack, 28, of Abington, Murroe, pleaded guilty to impeding his stepfather's apprehension. Cusack was sentenced to six years in prison, with 18 months suspended for two years on condition he commits no further crime. The judge noted Cusack's late guilty plea and cooperation with gardai reduced the sentence from seven years. The sentence was backdated to August 14 to account for time in custody. The court heard from the victim's family, who described O'Donoghue as a hero who will never be forgotten. McNamara expressed remorse in a letter to the court. The judge considered McNamara's 11 previous convictions, including assault and drug offenses, and Cusack's three prior road traffic convictions.
In the double murder trial of Jason O'Driscoll, a 34‑year‑old Dublin man charged with killing 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond on 7 March 2012, the jury was shown footage of the alleged getaway route. The route, from Ravensdale Forest Park to Newry, was captured on the onboard camera of a Garda patrol car in July 2014. The evidence was presented to the Central Criminal Court this morning. The trial had already heard that firefighters responded to a burning car in Ravensdale shortly before 11 p.m. that night, where two bodies with gunshot wounds to the head were found. A silver Mercedes, registered in the south, failed to stop for police in Newry a short time later, was pursued in a high‑speed chase, escaped, and was later abandoned near the border. The State argued that this car was used by O'Driscoll and another man to leave Ravensdale after the killings. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
Alan McNamara, 51, of Mountfune, Murroe, Co Limerick, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Andrew O'Donoghue. Found guilty last July, McNamara was convicted of killing O'Donoghue, a member of the Road Tramps motorcycle club, at the club's gates on June 20, 2015, during a territorial dispute. Justice Paul McDermott imposed the mandatory life sentence, backdating it to December 1, 2015. Prosecutors alleged that after tensions flared between the Road Tramps and the Caballeros, McNamara drove to the clubhouse and shot O'Donoghue, claiming he believed the victim was holding a gun. McNamara has 11 previous convictions, including assault and drug offences. His stepson, Robert Cusack, 28, of Abington, Murroe, pleaded guilty to impeding his stepfather's apprehension. Cusack admitted to taking the shotgun from McNamara after the incident and concealing it in pine trees near his mother's house. He expressed remorse and complied with bail conditions. Justice McDermott stated he would pass sentence on Cusack later that afternoon. The matter regarding Cusack was adjourned for sentencing and has not yet been concluded.
The trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, aged 85, continues at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He denies eight charges of indecent assault against six teenage male patients at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and his private clinic in Drogheda between 1964 and 1991. The prosecution closed its case; Judge Cormac Quinn addressed a legal issue today. A jury of four men and eight women will return tomorrow morning, with the trial expected to finish next week.
David Clail, aged 28, admitted to breaking into his ex‑girlfriend Sharon Murphy's home on 20 September 2016. He entered the house, smashed doors and windows, damaged furniture, and threatened to kill Murphy and her family. Clail claimed he had no reason for his actions other than waking up "in a black mood" and "blanked out". He pleaded guilty to burglary armed with a flick knife, criminal damage and threatening to kill. The court heard Murphy was alone, had a toothache, and called 999 during the incident. Clail was arrested, admitted the break‑in and the violence, and was scheduled for sentencing on 14 December 2023, pending a psychiatric diagnosis. He has a prior conviction from 2008. The judge warned that any contact with Murphy would result in a court appearance. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
During a murder trial in Dublin, a jury heard that the deceased, a 34‑year‑old man named Jason O'Driscoll, had tried to sell a stolen 2011 black Golf GTI to a friend for €1,000 just hours before the car was found burned in Ravensdale Forest Park. The friend, who gave evidence to the Central Criminal Court, testified that O'Driscoll had offered the vehicle to him, and that the friend declined to purchase it, stating he did not want anything to do with the car. The friend also confirmed that the car had been stolen from a driveway in Sandymount early on March 7, 2012, the night two Dublin men, Anthony Burnett (31) and Joseph Redmond (25), were shot dead inside it. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, has already heard that the bodies were found with gunshot wounds to the head and that the incident occurred shortly before 11 o'clock that evening. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
In 2014, Dermot Griffin, aged 57, was found guilty of manslaughter after a 13‑day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for the 2001 fire that killed 12‑year‑old Stephen Hughes. The jury, composed of six men and six women, returned a verdict of guilty and Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced Griffin to 15 years' imprisonment. Griffin has now appealed his conviction to the Court of Appeal. His counsel, Bernard Condon SC, argued that the prosecution's case was a "three‑legged affair", citing inconsistent statements from three witnesses who admitted drug use and had altered their accounts over time. Condon also highlighted a partner's testimony that Griffin had spoken of burning the den, which was not corroborated by police interviews. The prosecution, represented by Mary Rose Gearty SC, countered that additional evidence, including testimony from Jason Lambe, supported the original verdict. Judge George Birmingham has reserved judgment on the appeal.
In a four‑day trial at Kilkenny County Court, Gerard Dowling, aged 40, was charged with the attempted murder of 60‑year‑old Simon Bourke, assault causing harm, and possession of a knife. The jury, after 40 minutes of deliberation, returned a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Both the prosecution and defence agreed that Dowling was insane at the time of the assault, as he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and had not taken medication for several months. He was admitted to the Central Mental Hospital under the Criminal Law Insanity Act. A doctor will report to the court on 7 November to recommend ongoing treatment. Justice Paul McDermott thanked the jurors and exempted them from further service for ten years. The case remains at the mental health treatment stage.
Peter Hilliard, 54, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of sexual assault against vulnerable residents at Bloomfield nursing home between February 2013 and June 2016. The first assault was discovered when a colleague saw a video of Hilliard touching an elderly resident's breasts on his Facebook page. Garda Shane Whelan reported that the video also showed a male present during the assault. Following a search of Hilliard's devices, investigators found a second video of a similar attack on another resident. Hilliard had no prior convictions. After his arrest he expressed remorse and mentioned suicidal thoughts. The judge noted Hilliard's loss of employment and his engagement with counselling. A suspended sentence of 18 months was imposed, conditioned on Hilliard keeping the peace, attending weekly therapy, and remaining under Probation Service supervision for 18 months.
A jury will begin deliberating the trial of Gerard Dowling, 40, of Kilkenny, who stabbed Simon Burke, 60, in the head at Market Cross Shopping Centre on 13 July 2016. Dowling, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to attempted murder, assault causing harm and producing a knife. The prosecution and defence have presented expert witnesses describing Dowling's mental illness under the Criminal Law Insanity Act. Mr Justice Paul McDermott will conclude his charge in the afternoon after the jury hears closing arguments.
In a High Court hearing on 26 October 2017, a judge reserved judgement on a bid by Eric Eoin Marques, an Irish man described by the FBI as the world's largest facilitator of child pornography, to halt his extradition to the United States. Marques, 32, is alleged to have owned and managed the anonymous hosting site Freedom Hosting, which hosted over a hundred extremely violent and graphic child‑pornographic images. He has been in custody since his arrest in August 2013 and suffers from Asperger's Syndrome. His surrender was ordered by the High Court in December 2015, and a subsequent appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal. Marques has also pursued judicial review to stop his surrender, arguing that the Minister for Justice failed to consider the Director of Public Prosecutions' reasons for not prosecuting him in Ireland.
The prosecution case in the trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, aged 85, has concluded. Shine, who denies the allegations, faced eight charges of indecent assault against teenage patients at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and his private clinic in Drogheda between 1964 and 1991. Six male witnesses testified that Shine allegedly groped their genitalia during medical examinations for various injuries. On the seventh day, expert medical witness Richard Stephens explained to the prosecution that there is no medical necessity for genital examinations in such cases, while to the defense he noted that examining the groin in a male trauma patient can be reasonable. He clarified that a brief, appropriate examination of the groin, with a sheet covering the testes, is not inherently wrong. The trial will continue before Judge Cormac Quinn and a jury of four men and eight women. Shine maintains his innocence for all alleged incidents.
A 37‑year‑old Kildare construction worker, Paul Gill, was found not guilty of manslaughter after a six‑day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The case involved an altercation on Sarto Road, Naas, on 22 August 2015, where Gill attacked Patrick "Patsy" Kelly over noise and late‑night drinking. Gill admitted assaulting Kelly and pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Kelly's friend, Martin Curtis. The jury, after just under two hours of deliberation, returned a verdict of not guilty of manslaughter. Gill remains on continuing bail and will be sentenced on 20 November for the assault charges. The trial focused on medical evidence that Kelly's death was primarily due to heart disease, with alcohol and injuries as contributory factors. Victim impact statements were scheduled for the sentencing date.
A jury has begun deliberating in the trial of Paul Gill, a 37‑year‑old construction worker from Naas, who is accused of manslaughter in the death of Patrick "Patsy" Kelly on 22 August 2015. Gill denies killing Kelly but admits assaulting him and also pleading guilty to assaulting Kelly's friend Martin Curtis. The incident followed seven years of complaints about anti‑social behaviour, late‑night drinking and noise between the neighbours. Witnesses described Gill grabbing Kelly by the collar, dragging him seven metres, repeatedly punching him and kicking him. Medical evidence presented by State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy identified heart disease and high alcohol levels as the main cause of death, with injuries from the assault being contributory. Dr Mary Sheppard discussed the possibility of a fatal arrhythmia caused by stress.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard evidence in the double murder trial of Dublin man Jason O'Driscoll, 34, charged with killing fellow Dubliners Anthony Burnett, 31, and Joseph Redmond, 25, on 7 March 2012. The prosecution presented facial composites of the alleged getaway driver, created by facial imaging specialist Lorna Heron after receiving separate descriptions from PSNI officers Stephen Downey and Niamh Mulholland. Heron explained that she input the data into a computer program, generated images, added artwork, and produced two separate composites, which were then morphed into a single composite shown to the jury. The officers described seeing the driver of a silver Mercedes for about five seconds in Newry when they attempted to stop him; the car fled after the officers activated their blue lights. A silver Mercedes was later found abandoned near the border, with a shoe print cast taken by PSNI Crime Scene Investigator Jonathan Poole. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
Gerard Dowling, aged 40, of The Sycamores, Freshford Road, Kilkenny, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to attempted murder of 60‑year‑old Simon Burke at Market Cross Shopping Centre on 13 July 2016. He also pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to assaulting Mr Burke and to producing a knife during the same incident. Dowling has a long history of paranoid schizophrenia, having been admitted to hospital on several occasions since 1998. Psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright testified that Dowling exhibited symptoms of paranoia and delusion, including grandiose beliefs about wealth and employment, and that he had sent threatening text messages to his former partner in 2015. She stated that Dowling's illness meant he did not understand that assaulting Mr Burke was morally wrong and that he had not taken his medication for many months.
The trial of Dr. Michael Shine, aged 85, continues before Judge Cormac Quinn and a jury of four men and eight women. Shine denies eight charges of indecent assault against teenage boys at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and his private clinic in Drogheda, covering incidents between 1964 and 1991. The prosecution alleges assaults at the hospital on unknown dates in 1964‑1965, 1970‑1972, 1975‑1976, and an unknown date between 1988‑1991, and at the clinic on unknown dates in 1973, 1974, and 1975. Evidence presented includes the storage of medical records related to the case.
The trial of Paul Gill, 37, a Kildare man charged with manslaughter, heard that Kildare County Council sought to exclude the deceased, Patrick "Patsy" Kelly, from a neighbour's home due to repeated late‑night drinking and noise. Gill denies killing Kelly on 22 August 2015 but admits assaulting him and pleading guilty to assault causing harm to Kelly's friend, Martin Curtis, during the same incident. The court heard that the council had drafted an exclusion order after two warning letters to Curtis and complaints from Gill's wife, Laura, spanning 2008‑2015. The prosecution presented medical evidence that Kelly's death was caused by an enlarged heart and blood vessel narrowing, with acute alcohol intoxication and minor trauma as contributory causes. Witnesses described Gill grabbing Kelly, punching him, and kicking him, while the defence argued the assault was not the substantial cause of death. Judge Melanie Greally will charge the jury tomorrow.
In a Dublin case, a 50‑year‑old man who had sexually abused four sisters in their home was sentenced to nine years and six months imprisonment with four years of post‑release supervision after an appeal. He had pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to six counts of sexual assault against the girls, who were aged between seven and thirteen at the time of the assaults, which took place between 2002 and 2004. The man, who had a prior rape conviction, was the partner of the girls' mother and lived with them when the assaults occurred. The original sentence of 12 years was reduced because the Court of Appeal found that the judge had double‑counted aggravating factors for the eldest sister's prolonged abuse and the one‑off assaults on the other three sisters. The appeal judge, Mr Justice John Hedigan, ruled that the new cumulative sentence of nine years and six months would not be suspended.
In 2015, David O'Loughlin, aged 30, was convicted of murder after he placed Liam Manley, 59, in a refuse chute at Garden City Apartments, Cork, where Manley died by asphyxiation. O'Loughlin appealed, arguing that the jury should not have visited the chute before delivering the verdict. The Court of Appeal heard that the jury, at its own request, visited the chute during deliberations and even threw a stone down it, an act the defence claimed introduced new evidence. O'Loughlin's counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, contended that the jury's visit was unlawful and that the death was not a foreseeable consequence of the act. The prosecution's counsel, Seán Gillane SC, maintained that the act was an assault and that the jury had statutory authority to visit the site. The court noted the visit occurred without either party's presence and reserved judgment. David O'Loughlin pleaded not guilty.
In Dublin City Centre, on 23 November 2016, Bernard McGrath, aged 27, punched pregnant Barbara O'Beirne, 23 weeks pregnant, in the stomach during an unprovoked attack. McGrath, who shouted at passing cars and then struck O'Beirne hard, also told her "Boo hoo, you're pregnant." O'Beirne was left in shock, unable to feel her baby, and later sought medical care at Holles Street hospital. She described the assault as a pregnant woman's worst nightmare and, despite the trauma, gave birth to a healthy baby girl a few months later. McGrath, a heroin addict with a troubled childhood and schizophrenia, had 21 prior convictions. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final nine months suspended, on the condition that he fully engage with probation services. The judge called the incident "deeply cowardly and bizarre.".
William McGlone, aged 34, was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for 21 counts of sexual assault, rape and oral rape of his twin sisters, Wendy and Stacey, between 1995 and 2001. He began abusing them at age 13, when they were eight, and continued until he was 19. McGlone admitted to raping Wendy with a shampoo bottle and a vibrator, and to assaulting Stacey when she was eight. He pleaded guilty to seven counts of assaulting Wendy, three counts of raping her, and one count of assaulting Stacey, but denied other charges. The court noted his history of alcohol and drug abuse, a personality disorder diagnosis, and claims of being abused himself. He was ordered to post‑release supervision for seven years. The sisters testified about the abuse, describing it as frequent and devastating, and expressed shame, guilt and ongoing trauma. The sentence was back‑dated to his first custody in February of the year. William McGlone was found guilty.
Gerard Dowling, 40, with paranoid schizophrenia, went to St Luke's Psychiatric Unit in Kilkenny City on the morning of 13 July 2016, claiming he could not speak to anyone. CCTV shows he entered at 10:08 and left at 10:22. Hours later he stabbed 60‑year‑old Simon Burke at Market Cross Shopping Centre. Dowling pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to attempted murder, assault causing harm and possession of a knife. He said he had stopped his medication in January and sometimes heard voices. Burke was struck in the head and shoulder; a knife fragment remains in his head and he suffered a broken finger. Dowling claimed he did not know Burke and that his actions were influenced by voices. The trial is before Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of twelve.
During the trial of Dr Michael Shine, an 85‑year‑old retired surgeon, a sixth complainant testified that he was around 15 when he first visited Shine's clinic in 1975 after a school collapse. Shine diagnosed undescended testicles and a hernia, later operating to correct them. The complainant said that during follow‑up examinations Shine occasionally touched the base of his penis. He initially did not find this unusual, but later recalled two incidents where Shine asked about erectile difficulty and then massaged the base of his penis, telling him not to worry. The complainant expressed that he tried to avoid an erection and felt the touch was inappropriate, though he had tried to convince himself otherwise. Shine denies all eight charges of indecent assault at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and his private clinic, with the trial continuing before Judge Cormac Quinn and a jury of four men and eight women. The case is expected to last two weeks.
In a double murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard details of a high‑speed police chase in Newry that followed the discovery of a burning car containing two bodies. The case concerns Jason O'Driscoll, 34, of Richmond Avenue, Fairview, who is charged with murdering Dubliners Anthony Burnett and Joseph Redmond on 7 March 2012. Firefighters responded to a blaze at Ravensdale Forest Park before 11 o'clock that night, finding two bodies with gunshot wounds to the head. Constable Simon Pringle testified that he was on duty in Newry at the time and observed a silver Mercedes, unregistered, moving toward his patrol car while being pursued by a police vehicle with blue lights. The chase, occurring in a 30 mph zone, was reportedly at 70–80 mph when the Mercedes was lost. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
Gerard Dowling, 40, of Kilkenny, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to attempted murder, assault and knife possession against 60‑year‑old Simon Burke at Market Cross Shopping Centre on 13 July 2016. The Central Criminal Court trial opened with Denis Vaughan Buckley SC presenting forensic psychiatric reports that both prosecution and defence psychiatrists agreed Dowling suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and was not taking medication at the time of the alleged assault. Buckley described Dowling's belief that voices in his head directed him to act, and that he could not refrain from striking Burke with a knife. Burke's partner tried to defend him with a handbag; Burke sustained knife injuries to his head but has fully recovered. If the jury finds Dowling insane, he will be committed to the Central Mental Hospital for assessment and treatment. The trial continues before Justice Paul McDermott.
Michael Kinsella, aged 25 and formerly of Ardkeen, County Cavan, has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment for assaulting a fellow prisoner at Wheatfield Prison on 13 April 2012. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Karen O'Connor heard that Kinsella slashed the victim's face with a weapon, causing injuries requiring nine stitches. Kinsella, who is currently serving a 15-year sentence for manslaughter in relation to the 2011 death of Adil Essahli in Dublin, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. The judge ordered the three-year sentence to run concurrently with his existing sentence, meaning no additional time will be served. The court was informed that Kinsella has engaged in educational and rehabilitative programmes while in custody and is not due for release until 2025. Michael Kinsella was convicted.
The Charleton tribunal heard evidence on October 23rd regarding threats made against Garda Keith Harrison's life in October 2013. Chief Superintendent Terry McGinn of Donegal division outlined how two anonymous 999 calls on 4th and 5th October reported threats against Garda Harrison. The first call described an overheard conversation in a Strabane bar, and the second indicated the threat originated from a relation of Martin McDermott, who was imprisoned following a manslaughter conviction. McDermott was the brother of Garda Harrison's partner. The threats were assessed as substantial, leading to security measures and restrictions on Garda Harrison's movements. A mobile phone subsequently located in Portlaoise Prison resulted in McDermott's release date being postponed. The tribunal also examined contacts between gardaí and HSE/Tusla regarding Garda Harrison. Superintendent Eugene McGovern, stationed in Buncrana, confirmed attending meetings with Tusla management but stated that individual cases were not discussed at such forums. A referral concerning Garda Harrison's partner and her children resulted in no further action pending additional information.
An autistic 33‑year‑old man from Kilkenny, Daniel O'Connell, was found not guilty by reason of insanity after attempting to murder his pregnant sister, Olivia O'Connell, in Dublin. The Central Criminal Court judge, Mr Justice Paul Butler, ordered his commitment to the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) for 14 days under the Insanity Act. The order followed a jury's special verdict and a forensic psychiatric report by Dr Anthony Kearns, who confirmed that O'Connell's autism constituted a mental disorder that negated his capacity to form the necessary intent. The judge noted a bed was available at CMH and, after reviewing the report, made the commitment. O'Connell was taken to CMH by staff, accompanied by his family, and will receive inpatient care for his disorder. The case was heard in 2017, with the trial detailing O'Connell's preparation, motive, and the violent attack on his sister, who survived after a struggle.
Michael Ferris, a 62‑year‑old farmer from Rattoo, Ballyduff, Co Kerry, is charged with the murder of his 74‑year‑old neighbour, Anthony O'Mahony, who was killed on 4 April using a teleporter agri‑machine. The trial will begin on 9 October 2018 at the Central Criminal Court in Tralee, where it is expected to last two weeks.
A 34‑year‑old woman, Laura Kenna, who has no fixed abode, is charged with attempting to murder another woman on Drumcondra Road Lower, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, on 3 January. The Central Criminal Court has set her trial for 16 July 2018, and the case is expected to last three days.
A 31‑year‑old man, Renars Veigulis, originally from Latvia and residing at Bridge Street, Freshford, Co Kilkenny, is charged with the murder of 29‑year‑old Rita Apine at that address on 14 May. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy set the trial for 5 November 2018, with the case expected to last up to three weeks.
In a Dublin Central Criminal Court trial, Egyptian national Mohamed Okda, aged 31, was found guilty of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault after a 2014 incident in a city centre flat. The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts after a seven‑day trial. Judge Michael Moriarty sentenced Okda to eleven years for each rape and five years for the assault, with all terms running concurrently and the final year suspended. The judge noted the difficulty of imprisonment for foreign nationals and acknowledged Okda's claim of threat while in custody. The victim, a married mother, described panic attacks, depression and a "broken" life in her impact statement, and the judge highlighted her ongoing struggle to rebuild her life with family support. Okda has 16 prior non‑sexual convictions in Ireland. Mohamed Okda pleaded not guilty.
David Mahon, 46, appeared before the Court of Appeal to challenge the severity of his seven-year sentence for the manslaughter of Dean Fitzpatrick, 23. Mahon had previously pleaded not guilty to the murder of Fitzpatrick, who was stabbed outside his mother's apartment in Dublin in May 2013. A Central Criminal Court jury found him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, resulting in a sentence handed down by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan in June 2016. Mahon's counsel, Seán Guerin SC, argued the sentence was excessive, contending that the jury's verdict indicated Mahon merely produced a knife rather than deliberately stabbing the victim, reflecting low culpability. He also disputed aggravating factors, noting Mahon's cooperation with gardaí. Conversely, DPP counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor SC argued the appeal was based on a fallacy, stating the jury rejected the defence of accident or self-impalement. She highlighted that Mahon committed the offence while subject to a suspended sentence for a minor offence and had disposed of the weapon. The appeal panel, comprising Mr Justice Michael Peart, Mr Justice George Birmingham, and Mr Justice Alan Mahon, reserved their judgment. Consequently, the matter was adjourned, and the outcome of the appeal remains pending.
A 29‑year‑old man, Danny Whelan, who has no fixed abode but was formerly of Thomas Street, Waterford, is charged with the murder of Samantha Walsh, a 31‑year‑old mother of four. Walsh was found dead in an apartment on Thomas Street on 28 April. The Central Criminal Court set the trial for 2 October 2018, with a two‑week duration.
Vincent Banks, aged 49, of Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin 7, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment following his conviction by the Special Criminal Court in July for membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA. The non-jury court heard that Banks purchased a Toyota Camry in a clandestine manner, which was subsequently used in the November 2012 murder of David Black, a Northern Irish prison officer shot whilst en route to Maghaberry prison. Evidence presented to the three-judge court included forensic links between Banks and the vehicle, including his fingerprint on the car's registration certificate, which he had signed under a false name. An ordnance survey map with the Leitrim page removed and bearing Banks' fingerprints was recovered from a friend's vehicle. Justice Isobel Kennedy noted Banks held a position of trust within the organisation. The sentence was backdated to April 16th 2016. Banks was previously acquitted in 2014 of withholding information related to Mr Black's death.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Patrick Kelly's death was mainly caused by severe heart disease, with an enlarged heart and narrowed vessels, while acute alcohol intoxication and minor trauma were contributory. Prof. Marie Cassidy noted Kelly's blood alcohol level was 213 mg/100 ml, a toxic range, and that his liver showed cirrhosis from chronic drinking. Minor injuries included a 5 cm forehead laceration, a skull bruise, an incomplete cervical spine fracture and rib fractures likely from resuscitation attempts. The court heard that the altercation over noise and late‑night drinking led to a fight in which Paul Gill punched Kelly and later kicked him, and that Gill also assaulted Martin Curtis. Gill denied intent to kill but admitted assault, and the trial will resume next Tuesday before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury. Paul Gill pleaded guilty.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court in Waterford found Juraci Da Silva, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian meat‑factory worker, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the death of James Banville, 28, on 8 October 2016. The jury also acquitted him of assault causing harm to Banville's friend Conor Hogan, but found him guilty of producing a knife during the fight. Da Silva had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the State. He was remanded in custody until 20 November for a sentencing hearing. The case involved a series of assaults by Hogan and Banville, who had prior convictions, and a fatal stabbing that occurred after Da Silva was provoked and had produced a knife. The court noted that Da Silva was drunk, unsteady, and had no intent to kill, leading to the manslaughter verdict.
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment in an appeal brought by Gary Flynn, who was convicted of the 2009 gangland murder of Seamus Shay O'Byrne in Tallaght. Flynn, who pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court, received a mandatory life sentence in 2016. He is the third person jailed for the crime, following the convictions of Garrett O'Brien, the gunman, and Eugene Cullen, who organised the murder and later died in custody. Flynn's counsel argued that the seizure of mobile phone data was disproportionate and violated human rights laws, claiming gardaí indiscriminately collected devices without adequate justification. Defence also contended that the trial judge failed to properly direct the jury regarding gunshot residue evidence and the prosecution's failure to prove Flynn's knowledge of the killing plan. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that the phones were linked to the crime and that privacy rights do not extend to devices used for murder. The three-judge panel, comprising Mr Justice Birmingham, Mr Justice Mahon, and Mr Justice Hedigan, heard the arguments and reserved their decision. The matter remains adjourned pending the court's final ruling on the admissibility of evidence and the trial judge's directions.
Paul Gill, 37, is on trial for manslaughter after the death of Patrick "Patsy" Kelly on 22 August 2015 at Sarto Road, Naas. Gill denies unlawful killing but admits assaulting Kelly and Martin Curtis. Prosecutor Orla Crowe SC described a dispute over late‑night drinking between the neighbours. Witness Noreen Doyle testified that Gill punched Kelly, kicked him, knocked Curtis out, then returned to kick Kelly again. Doyle also recalled hearing Gill warn Kelly that he would not be allowed into Curtis's house that night. The case is heard before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury of eight men and four women. The trial continues with the jury to decide on the manslaughter charge. The proceedings remain at the trial stage, with no verdict yet announced. Paul Gill pleaded not guilty.
A High Court judge has requested further information on strip searches in a Northern Ireland prison before deciding on the extradition of an unnamed 40-year-old defendant. The defendant, Mr Damien Joseph McLaughlin, was arrested in County Donegal last March under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Northern Ireland authorities. He is wanted in connection with the murder of prison officer David Black in 2012, as well as charges related to engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism and being a member of a proscribed organisation. The maximum penalties applicable to each of the four offences are ten years, 15 years, and two penalties of life imprisonment. The judge rejected claims that restrictions on movement or strip searches in Maghaberry prison would constitute inhuman or degrading treatment. However, she noted that the use of full-body searches may be unnecessary due to available technology, as indicated by credible evidence from a Joint Oireachtas Committee. The judge requested further information from the Minister for Justice and the UK regarding the use of such technology. A resumed hearing will take place on November 21, and Mr McLaughlin was remanded in custody until that date.
In the Central Criminal Court trial of Jason O'Driscoll, a 34‑year‑old Dublin man charged with the double murder of Anthony Burnett and Joseph Redmond, firefighters Stephen Hoey and Vincent McGuinness gave evidence about a burning car in Ravensdale Forest car park on 7 March 2012. Hoey described extinguishing the flames at the rear of the vehicle, then seeing a badly cracked skull and a ribcage on the driver's seat. He reported that McGuinness called the crew back, declared the scene a crime scene, and notified the Gardaí. A Garda ballistics officer, Shane Curran, later observed the burnt remains of two bodies in a Volkswagen Golf, noting that the bodies were fused together and that bullet fragments were recovered from both skulls. Curran testified that the fragments suggested a single firearm had discharged two bullets, but he could not confirm this without examining the weapon. The pathologist confirmed both men died from two head wounds before the fire. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
A jury is deliberating on the verdicts in the trial of Juraci Da Silva, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian resident of Park Lane Apartments, Waterford. Da Silva pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of 28‑year‑old James Banville, who was killed on 8 October 2016 at New Street. He also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Conor Hogan and to producing a knife on the same day and place. The jury has spent about four hours reviewing the evidence after a 12‑day trial and will announce its decision this afternoon.