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2017-07-17 · Dublin
Frederick "Freddie" Thompson, aged 36 and residing on Loreto Road, Maryland, Dublin 8, has applied to the Special Criminal Court to have a murder charge dismissed. The charge concerns the killing of David Douglas, 55, on Bridgefoot Street, Dublin, on 1 July last year. Mr Thompson's solicitor, Michael O'Higgins SC, presented the application under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999.
2017-07-17 · Mayo
A man from Ballina, County Mayo, has admitted killing two disabled brothers but denies murder charges relating to their deaths in Castlebar on 10 July 2013. The 30-year-old defendant is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, charged with murdering Thomas Blaine and Jack Blaine. During proceedings, gardaí testimony revealed the accused's account of the incident, including claims he inflicted injuries because he suspected the brothers were child molesters. The State Pathologist's post-mortem examination documented extensive trauma to both victims, including skull fractures, blunt force injuries, and scalding. The pathologist characterised the assault as displaying "overkill", with violence far exceeding what was necessary to cause death. Evidence suggested the initial attack occurred while one victim lay in bed, with injuries consistent with defensive attempts. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and jury.
2017-07-17 · Limerick
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, May McNamara, wife of 51‑year‑old Alan McNamara, testified that she has lived in fear for the last two years following the 2015 shooting of Andrew O'Donoghue. She described how, after a night out on 19 June 2015, she found her husband on the ground with a "big man on top of his back" and a third man holding her back. She identified the men as Kevin Ryan, Jim 'Bob' McInerney and Dermot McKenna. She recounted a later encounter when a car with three men, one armed, threatened to kill her husband and burn their house. She also mentioned that her son Robert Cusack, 28, pleaded not guilty to an offence related to her husband's case. The trial, with Mr McNamara pleading not guilty to murder, continues before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
2017-07-14 · Dublin
Alan Foley, a 46‑year‑old bouncer at Colossus Casino in Dublin, was convicted of assault causing harm after he kicked Robert O'Donnell, a casino member, during a verbal altercation. CCTV showed Foley flicking his leg at O'Donnell, who had been denied entry for his friends. Foley pleaded guilty to the assault on 16 December 2015. The judge, Karen O'Connor, deemed the offence a reckless act and imposed a one‑year sentence, which was suspended in full. Foley was ordered to pay €3,000 to O'Donnell, who suffered a ruptured left testicle and was hospitalized for pain but later recovered. Foley, who has no prior convictions and 20 years of security experience, expressed remorse and accepted the apology and payment as a token of contrition. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
2017-07-14 · Dublin
A 15-year-old boy pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of robbery committed on April 6, 2017. The prosecution alleged that the defendant, along with others, assaulted a 17-year-old victim in a churchyard, striking him with a wooden post and stealing his €350 bicycle. The boy is currently serving an eight-month detention sentence at Oberstown Children's Detention Campus for prior charges of assault, theft, and making a threat to kill. He has 24 previous convictions and spent 12 months in custody last year. Defence counsel Pieter Le Vert BL urged Judge John Aylmer to consider a suspended sentence, arguing the boy is at a "real risk of institutionalisation" and that the damage from ongoing custody outweighs the need for punishment. Le Vert highlighted the defendant's challenging home situation, history of care, and mild learning disability. The court heard the boy expressed remorse and had been aggressive during his Garda interview. The matter is at the sentencing stage, with Judge Aylmer scheduled to hand down the sentence on July 24. The boy is due for release from his current custody term in November.
2017-07-14 · Limerick
During a Garda search of a biker's clubhouse and vehicles linked to the 2015 shooting death of Andrew O'Donoghue, a cache of weapons was uncovered. The items included two shotguns, pepper spray, iron bars, axe handles, knuckle dusters and knives. The investigation was part of the murder trial of Alan McNamara, who is charged with O'Donoghue's death and has pleaded not guilty. McNamara's stepson, Robert Cusack, also pleaded not guilty to an offence of impeding the apprehension of McNamara. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, also heard testimony from Seamus Duggan, a Road Tramps member, who identified the weapons as being kept for protection at the club. Duggan's evidence, along with that of other Road Tramps members, was presented to the defence counsel, Hugh Hartnett SC, and the prosecution, Michael Delaney SC. The case continues before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
2017-07-13 · Dublin
Ethan Emmett, aged 24, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm for an incident that occurred on 31 March 2011 in Finglas. The assault took place at a chipper where Emmett, then 18, had been denied a phone charger and returned with beer bottles. He threw the bottles at the owner, threatened to kill him, and used a small knife before fleeing the premises. The owner suffered injuries and the restaurant incurred an estimated €2,000 in damage. Emmett was arrested three days later and released on bail. While on bail he fled to Australia, where he served a five‑year, eleven‑month sentence for a separate stabbing offence in 2012. He returned to Ireland in March after completing his Australian sentence and was arrested at the airport. He has 30 prior convictions, mainly for assault, criminal damage and public order offences. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned the sentencing to 28 July.
2017-07-13 · Dublin
Kassem Hamdam, 30, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment with the final nine months suspended for assault causing harm and production of a weapon after he repeatedly stabbed his ex‑wife in front of their four‑year‑old daughter. The incident occurred on Blessington Street, Dublin 7, on 23 August 2015. Hamdam pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He claimed he had wanted the woman to be left with a permanent scar and said he could not leave his child "with this bitch". He told Gardaí that the woman had "fucked my life" and that the relationship had ended because she was jealous and did not like him drinking. The court noted that Hamdam had been brought to a Lebanese refugee camp as a six‑year‑old, witnessed daily shootings and detonations, and had been diagnosed with post‑traumatic stress disorder after arriving in Ireland in 2006 to seek asylum.
2017-07-13 · Dublin
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, judges ruled that Vincent Banks's arrest on 18 December 2012 for alleged IRA membership was lawful. Banks, 47, had previously been arrested in September 2012 for the same alleged offence and released without charge. Defence lawyers challenged the legality of the second arrest under Section 30(A) of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998, arguing that a repeat arrest without a warrant was unlawful. The court, hearing evidence from the Special Detective Unit, found that the September and December investigations were separate and that the earlier release did not affect the later arrest. Justice Isobel Kennedy therefore concluded the December arrest was lawful. Following the ruling, Banks's counsel, Padraig Dwyer SC, said his client would not contest some prosecution evidence, and the trial was adjourned to Monday. Vincent Banks pleaded not guilty.
2017-07-13 · Mayo
A man is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the murder of two elderly brothers found beaten to death in their Castlebar home in July 2013. The accused, aged 30 and from Ballina, Co Mayo, has admitted killing the brothers but pleaded not guilty to murder. Evidence heard during the trial revealed that hours before the deaths, the defendant claimed to be a medical student and told people in a local public house that he worked in the mortuary and would conduct post-mortems on any bodies discovered that night. He also made allegations against another man present in the establishment, suggesting he posed a threat to his wife. Witnesses testified that the brothers were known as harmless and quiet members of the Castlebar community. One barman recalled regularly delivering tea to the brothers and witnessing the defendant in their company on the night in question. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury.
2017-07-13 · Ireland
In a Charleton tribunal hearing on 13 July 2017, lawyers for Garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe argued that the evidence of a woman who had alleged child sexual assault against him should be presented in public. The woman, identified only as Ms D, is scheduled to give evidence on Monday, and her family will also testify. The tribunal, chaired by Justice Peter Charleton, is investigating a possible smear campaign against McCabe and must decide whether Ms D's testimony will be held in private due to the sensitive nature of the matters. Ms D's counsel, Niall Buckley, requested that the press be barred from identifying her or her family, from photographing or video‑recording her movements, and that transcripts containing identifying details be redacted. Lawyers for several media outlets, including RTE, the Irish Times, The Irish Examiner, the Irish Daily Mail and The Sunday Times, stated they had no interest in identifying or photographing Ms D or her family.
2017-07-13 · Limerick
In a Limerick murder trial, Alan McNamara (50) pleaded not guilty to the 2015 shooting death of Andrew O'Donoghue (51). McNamara, a former Road Tramps member who joined the Caballeros, allegedly fired a sawn‑off shotgun at O'Donoghue during a territorial dispute between the two clubs. The incident began when McNamara, wearing Caballeros colours, was confronted by Road Tramps members in Doon, a Road Tramps area. After a confrontation, McNamara allegedly shot O'Donoghue at point‑blank range. Robert Cusack (28), McNamara's stepson, was charged with impeding his apprehension and also pleaded not guilty. Both men are being tried together at the Central Criminal Court, with the trial continuing before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. The prosecution presented evidence of the clubs' territorial conflict and the sequence of events leading to the fatal shooting.
2017-07-12 · Mayo
A carer became emotional while testifying at the Central Criminal Court as she described discovering the bloodied bodies of two elderly brothers at their Castlebar home in July 2013. Helen Maloney, who had provided care to Thomas and John Blaine for approximately nine years, told the court she found Thomas in his bedroom saturated with blood and later located John outside the rear of the property, also covered in blood. A garda witness noted that pieces of skin appeared to have been removed from John Blaine's stomach. Alan Cawley, aged 30 and of Four Winds, Corrinbla, Ballina, stands trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with their murder. He has admitted killing both men but pleads not guilty to the murder charge relating to the deaths on 10th July 2013. CCTV evidence placed him entering the brothers' home at midnight, departing approximately one hour later. The court heard Cawley had been released from prison days before the incident. The trial continues.
2017-07-12 · Dublin
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 12 July 2017, a 44‑year‑old woman from Sierra Leone, Mercy Peters, was declared unfit to stand trial for the 2014 murder of Tyrone McKenna, aged 42, in their shared home in Marley Court, Rathfarnham. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, considered evidence from two forensic psychiatrists. Dr Sally Linehan, who had interviewed Peters twice, reported that Peters had been admitted to the Central Mental Hospital since July 2014 and had a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, later revised to schizoaffective disorder. She described Peters' delusional beliefs, persecutory themes involving the Gardaí, MI5, and a belief that McKenna had a death wish, and noted her impaired insight and judgment. Dr Aiden Corvin, Peters' treating psychiatrist, confirmed her chronic mental disorder and the persistence of her delusional belief system.
2017-07-11 · Dublin
The trial in the Central Criminal Court concerns a 44‑year‑old Dublin man who pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one count of oral rape and one count of anal rape of his then‑wife on Christmas Day 2003. The wife, who has not been named, denies that any sexual activity was consensual. She says she was on the couch after putting their children to bed, had about seven glasses of wine, fell asleep and was then forced upon her. She repeatedly told the husband "No", but he allegedly replied "It's OK" and "I've waited a long time for this" before forcing himself on her. She claims she pushed him away, went to bed, and the next morning confronted him, asking why. The defence counsel argued that there was no truth to the allegation of sexual assault, that the husband had only "consensual vaginal intercourse" and that the wife had not asked for oral sex.
2017-07-11 · Dublin
Eve Doherty, a garda based in Dublin, has gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accused of harassing State solicitor Elizabeth Howlin and making false statements. The accused, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, is alleged to have sent a series of letters and emails between September 2011 and March 2013. These communications purported to describe Ms Howlin as politically corrupt and claimed she attempted to pervert the course of justice. Specifically, the charges include harassment and making false statements on March 1, 2012, and March 31, 2012. Prosecutors stated that the material contained abusive language and false allegations that Ms Howlin, who worked in the Director of Public Prosecutions office, interfered with prosecutions. Ms Howlin testified that the claims were untrue and caused her significant anxiety. The defense, represented by Michael O'Higgins SC, maintains that Ms Doherty denies authoring the letters and emails. Regarding specific allegations concerning a diving company, Ms Howlin clarified that while her brother and ex-husband were directors, the company was prosecuted under health and safety laws and fined following an accident, contradicting claims of murder. The trial is currently ongoing before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury.
2017-07-10 · Ireland
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a woman accused her husband of raping her on Christmas Day 2003. She described how, after the alleged assault, he attempted to reconcile, but she could not trust him and could not get over the incident. The accused, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one count of oral rape and one count of anal rape. The woman recounted the events of the day, including a Christmas dinner with relatives, her consumption of wine, and the alleged assault that began with her husband pulling her shoulder and forcing his penis into her mouth, then into her vagina and anus, despite her repeated refusals. She said he later backed off, she pushed him off, and no further contact occurred that night.
2017-07-10 · Dublin
Seán Ducque, 33, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Kieran Farrelly. Ducque, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted by a jury after a trial. The court imposed the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment for the murder, which occurred on 26th October 2014 at Killarney Court, Dublin. Ducque had previously pleaded guilty to robbing taxi driver David Wyer of a mobile phone, car keys, and approximately €150 in cash, and possessing a firearm with intent to commit robbery at Terrace Place on the same date. For these offences, the judge sentenced Ducque to 12 years for the robbery and seven years for the firearm possession. Additionally, Ducque admitted to robbing Hugh Gildea of a mobile phone, wristwatch, and approximately €520 in cash on 27th October 2014 at Mabbot Lane, for which he received a three-year sentence. All sentences were backdated to 5th May 2016, when Ducque entered custody for another armed robbery. The judge described the murder as cold and calculated, and noted the profound impact on the victims, including Wyer, who surrendered his PSV licence and can no longer drive a taxi.
2017-07-10 · Dublin
Gary Walsh, 35, was sentenced to eight years in prison for the manslaughter of 62‑year‑old former rugby captain Cathal Sweeney, who was beaten to death in a flat in Ashdale Gardens, Terenure. Walsh pleaded guilty, and the court reduced the original ten‑year sentence to eight, suspending the last three years on the condition of good behaviour and supervision by probation services. The killing followed a drinking session in which Walsh repeatedly punched Sweeney after an alleged accusation of sexual impropriety, which the court found unsupported by evidence. A post‑mortem revealed blunt‑force injuries to Sweeney's face and head, leading to brain injury and death. Sweeney's son, David, testified that his father was an alcoholic but a good, generous man, and that the violent death had profoundly affected the family's lives.
2017-07-10 · Limerick
A jury of eight men and four women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court to hear the trial of Alan McNamara, aged 50, and his stepson Robert Cusack, aged 28. McNamara pleaded not guilty to the murder of Andrew O'Donoghue, aged 51, which occurred in Murroe on 20 June 2015. Cusack pleaded not guilty to an offence of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of McNamara, believing him to have committed murder or another arrestable offence. The trial is set to begin on Wednesday and is expected to last between two and three weeks.
2017-07-10 · Dublin
A 34‑year‑old Dublin man, Christopher McDonald, was found guilty of murdering 36‑year‑old Keith Walker in a car park at the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club on 12 June 2015. The jury, after a little over two hours of deliberation, returned a unanimous verdict. McDonald had pleaded not guilty. He was described as having been dressed in women's clothing, carrying a handbag, a black wig and a transparent latex glove, and had been seen by witnesses in the area. CCTV footage showed a man in a handbag entering the car park at 6.01 pm, pulling a 9 mm Makarov sub‑machine gun from the handbag and firing 18 shots before escaping. The gun, found a kilometre away, bore McDonald's DNA on the wig and glove. Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced McDonald to life imprisonment. The court heard the victim's wife and sister describe the devastating impact of the murder on their family.
2017-07-08 · Dublin
Francis Rafferty, aged 68, was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of raping his young niece and sexually assaulting her older sister between 2005 and 2008. He pleaded guilty to the assault of the younger girl, aged nine to twelve, and was found guilty of two counts of rape of that victim and of assaulting the older sister. He was acquitted of two other rape charges he had denied. The court noted that Rafferty had no understanding of the hurt and trauma caused, and that he abused his family position, threatening the girls and giving their parents money to leave the house so he could attack them. He was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, ordered to undergo sex‑offender treatment, and placed under two years' post‑release supervision. The victims, now adults, gave permission for their uncle's name to be published.
2017-07-08 · Dublin
Noel Dempsey (61), of Stannaway Road, Dublin 12, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for violent disorder. The incident occurred on February 5, 2011, at Purrrfect Pets, Longmile Road, following a dispute over a parking space. Dempsey initially denied charges of assault causing harm and violent disorder but pleaded guilty to violent disorder on the second day of his trial before a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury. Judge John Aylmer described the attack on victim Mark Eagers as savage and unprovoked, noting that Dempsey entered the store with calm determination to assist his son. The court heard that Eagers suffered a broken nose and a key lodged in his thumb. In related proceedings, Vicky Dempsey (36) received a two-year suspended sentence in February 2015 after pleading guilty to violent disorder. The court noted she allegedly dragged a woman by the hair during the attack. Her brother, Karl Dempsey (38), was jailed for 20 months in May 2015 after also pleading guilty to violent disorder. The judge acknowledged Karl was the initial aggressor but stated he summoned his father and sister to seek revenge. Noel Dempsey, who has 103 previous convictions, was defended by Keith Spencer BL, who cited his client's ill-health, including heart stents and cancer remission, and argued he entered the store only to prevent his daughter from losing her temper.
2017-07-08 · Donegal
A 52-year-old man from Donegal has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the rape and sexual assault of his former partner's daughter over a five-year period. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed concurrent sentences of eight years for rape, seven years for each count of sexual assault, and seven years for producing child pornography. The man pleaded guilty on the scheduled trial date in April to one count of rape occurring in 2006 when the victim was four years old, six further counts of sexual assault between 2008 and 2011, and one count of child pornography production. A video recording discovered during a separate investigation provided evidence in the case. The now teenage victim provided a detailed account to gardaí detailing abuse that typically occurred during overnight weekend visits. The abuse came to light in 2014 following concerns raised by the victim's school principal. The man has been registered as a sex offender and is subject to five years post-release supervision with conditions prohibiting contact with the victim.
2017-07-08 · Mayo
A 30-year-old man from Ballina has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the murder of two elderly brothers who died in a violent assault at their Castlebar home in July 2013. Alan Cawley has pleaded not guilty to murdering Thomas Blaine and John Blaine at New Antrim Street, Castlebar. The State's case, opened by Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, centres on whether the deaths constitute murder or manslaughter. The brothers were discovered by their home help, with one found in his bedroom and the other in a rear courtyard. The State Pathologist found both men sustained severe blunt force trauma, with Thomas Blaine suffering extensive head, chest and facial injuries, and Jack Blaine, who had speech and hearing impairments, also receiving a scalding injury. Defence counsel subsequently admitted on the accused's behalf that he caused both deaths. The trial before Mr Justice Paul Coffey continues next week.
2017-07-08 · Dublin
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court acquitted Republic of Ireland footballer Jeff Hendrick of violent disorder after a four‑day trial. The case stemmed from a 2013 incident at Krystal nightclub where Darren McDermott alleged Hendrick pulled him from a taxi and was later chased into a laneway, where McDermott claimed he was assaulted and suffered multiple jaw fractures. Hendrick's lawyers argued he could not have run due to a leg injury and that McDermott had a civil case against him. Hendrick (25) and co‑accused Jonathan Doran (26) pleaded not guilty. The jury found Hendrick not guilty but convicted Doran of violent disorder, while Judge Martin Nolan withdrew an assault charge against Doran. Hendrick remains free pending further proceedings.
2017-07-08 · Roscommon
A 34-year-old man from Boyle, County Roscommon, has been found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. The accused was charged with the death of a 23-year-old woman in Sligo on 28 October 2015. During the two-day trial, evidence was presented that he had strangled the deceased, whom he believed he needed to kill to save her from what he perceived as an alternate reality. Two consultant forensic psychiatrists testified that the accused was suffering from schizophrenia at the time and would have been unable to refrain from his actions. The jury delivered a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity after 24 minutes of deliberation. Mr Justice Tony Hunt committed the accused to the Central Mental Hospital pending a further court appearance on 17 July, when victim impact statements are scheduled to be read and a psychiatric assessment will be considered.
2017-07-07 · Dublin
In a 2017 appeal, Declan Tynan, aged 27, was found guilty of violent disorder at a Ladbrokes bookmakers in Tallaght on 13 December 2012. He had pleaded not guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where a jury convicted him and sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended. The conviction was upheld on the basis that Tynan was identified from CCTV footage by Garda Sergeant Ciarán Loughrey and Garda Patrick McAvinue. The court rejected arguments that the identification evidence was inadmissible, noting that the footage showed the crime and the identification was made by a witness who had seen the event. The appeal was dismissed, confirming the original conviction and sentence. The case highlighted the court's view that video evidence of the crime itself is treated differently from post‑crime identification parades.
2017-07-07 · Dublin
In a High Court hearing on 7 July 2017, objections were raised to a legal 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, 30, is alleged to have owned and administered Freedom Hosting, an anonymous site hosting over a hundred extremely violent child‑pornographic images. He has been in custody since August 2013 and was ordered to surrender in December 2015, a decision he challenged in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, all of which dismissed his appeals. Marques also sought judicial review of the Minister for Justice's refusal to use discretion to stop his extradition, claiming the minister had access to records that were not disclosed. The Minister's counsel argued that discovery was unnecessary and that Marques's request was a fishing expedition.
2017-07-07 · Dublin
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Vincent Banks, 47, of Dublin, pleaded not guilty to IRA membership. The prosecution alleges he bought the car used in the 2012 murder of Northern Irish prison officer David Black, 52, who was shot while driving to work at Maghaberry prison. Banks' defence, led by Padraig Dwyer SC, challenged the legality of his arrest. Evidence was presented in a voir dire to aid the three‑judge panel in deciding the matter. The legal argument will continue on Monday before Justice Isobel Kennedy, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Gerard Haughton.
2017-07-07 · Kildare
A 24‑year‑old Kildare man, whose name is withheld to protect the 11‑year‑old victim, was originally sentenced to four years' imprisonment for two counts of sexual assault and an oral rape committed when he was 15. The offences involved blindfold games in which he forced his penis into the girl's mouth. The judge suspended the final two years, giving an 18‑month custodial term with six months suspended. On appeal the Court of Appeal found the original sentence did not adequately discount his youth and lack of maturity, and re‑sentenced him to 18 months with the final six months suspended for twelve months. The man pleaded guilty, described his actions as "experimental", expressed remorse, and had no prior convictions. He had subsequently qualified as an engineer and was considered unlikely to reoffend. The case was reported to Gardaí in 2013 and involved no violence or threat of violence.
2017-07-07 · Dublin
In February 2014, Mohamed Okda, a 30‑year‑old Egyptian national, was convicted by a jury of raping a woman who had become lost during a night out in Dublin. The woman, who was drunk and disoriented, had been staying with friends and had lost contact with them. Okda approached her, offered help, and invited her to his flat. While she was unconscious, he allegedly forced sexual acts upon her, including rape. She later testified that he had taken her glasses and phone, coerced her into oral sex, and threatened her. After the incident, she fled the flat, was found by a taxi driver, and reported the assault to Gardaí. Okda was remanded into custody for sentencing on 28 July. The trial lasted seven days, and the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all counts within just under three hours. The court rejected a bail application, citing flight risk concerns. Mohamed Okda pleaded not guilty.
2017-07-07 · Dublin
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday to decide the verdict in the trial of Christopher McDonald, 34, accused of murdering 36‑year‑old Keith Walker with a sub‑machine gun while dressed in women's clothing. The trial, described by Justice Patrick McCarthy as a 'whodunnit', focuses on whether the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that McDonald was the shooter. McDonald has pleaded not guilty. The jury's deliberation will consider whether the accused intended to kill or cause serious injury, given Walker was shot 18 times.
2017-07-07 · Mayo
A 30-year-old man from Ballina in County Mayo appeared before the Central Criminal Court to face trial on charges of murdering two elderly brothers. Alan Cawley of Four Winds, Corrinbla pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder in relation to deaths that occurred four years prior. The charges were brought on 10th July 2013 following an incident at New Antrim Street in Castlebar. Justice Isobel Kennedy empanelled a jury of four women and eight men to hear the case. The trial, scheduled to run for between ten and twelve working days, commenced before Mr Justice Paul Coffey.
2017-07-06 · Roscommon
A 34-year-old man stands charged with the murder of his girlfriend at the Central Criminal Court. The accused, with an address in Boyle, County Roscommon, is charged with strangling a 23-year-old woman at a residence in Sligo on 28 October 2015. He has pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity. The defence has admitted that the accused caused the woman's death by strangulation, with the sole issue being his mental state at the time. Detective Sergeant evidence outlined that the accused made a 999 call to emergency services, stating he had killed his girlfriend using a rear naked choke hold. Forensic psychiatrist Dr Fiona Toal testified that the accused suffered from schizophrenia and had stopped taking anti-psychotic medication months before the incident. She stated he believed he was in the Matrix and that voices instructed him to kill. Dr Toal concluded the accused was unable to refrain from the killing and did not know his actions were wrong. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
2017-07-06 · Dublin
In the violent disorder trial of Republic of Ireland footballer Jeff Hendrick, the jury was instructed to disregard his football career. Hendrick, 25, denies committing violent disorder at Harcourt Street on 12 October 2013, as does co‑accused Jonathan Doran, 26. Doran also denies assaulting Darren McDermott, who testified that Hendrick dragged him from a taxi after a verbal row at Krystle nightclub, resulting in kicks to his head, face, chest and back. In closing, Hendrick's solicitor Sean Gillane urged the jury to set aside any bias from his football background, noting that Hendrick's success stems from application and diligence rather than talent. Judge Martin Nolan also asked the jury to apply common sense and ensure a fair trial. Witnesses, including Shannon Farrell, described seeing McDermott beaten and bleeding, while Doran's statements about the incident were heard by the court. The judge will resume his charge the following morning before the jury deliberates. Jonathan Doran pleaded not guilty.
2017-07-06 · Dublin
In a Dublin court, a 30‑year‑old Laois man is on trial for two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, alleged to have occurred in February 2014 at a flat in the city centre. The defendant, who was staying in a friend's flat, met a married woman who had become lost and upset during a night out. He claims the encounter was consensual, stating the woman initiated contact and that he did not do anything she did not want. The woman testified that she was drunk, exhausted, and had blacked out after lying on a sofa bed. She said the defendant forced her to perform oral sex, was aggressive, and ultimately raped her. She attempted to leave, was disoriented, and later told a taxi driver she had been raped. The unnamed 30-year-old pleaded not guilty.
2017-07-06 · Dublin
In a Dublin court, 34‑year‑old Robert Maguire was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for assault causing harm and false imprisonment of his 30‑year‑old ex‑girlfriend on 14 January 2012. The victim, who was asleep in bed, was spied by Maguire, who spat on her, threatened to kill her, kicked her in the genitals, and beat her into unconsciousness while her children screamed. He locked the bedroom door, prevented her from reaching her baby, and kicked her until she lost consciousness. Gardaí were called but Maguire fled before they arrived. The court imposed a four‑year sentence for each offence to run concurrently, suspended the last two years on condition of peace, and ordered no contact with the victim. The sentence was delivered by Mr Justice Paul Butler. The case was heard in March 2017. Robert Maguire pleaded guilty.
2017-07-06 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Shannon Farrell, a bystander, was praised by Judge Martin Nolan for her bravery after she and a friend witnessed a violent assault on Darren McDermott on Harcourt Street on 12 October 2013. Farrell described seeing McDermott on the ground, heavily bloodied, and helped him up before speaking to Gardaí. The alleged assault involved professional footballer Jeff Hendrick (25) and co-accused Jonathan Doran (26), both of whom pleaded not guilty to violent disorder. McDermott testified that Hendrick dragged him from a taxi outside a nightclub, after a verbal altercation, and that he was subsequently kicked and punched. Doran denied striking McDermott but admitted to chasing him and sitting on him. The trial is ongoing before Judge Nolan and a jury of twelve.
2017-07-06 · Waterford
Tadgh Butler, 36, of Seafield, Tramore, was found guilty of murdering Michael O'Dwyer, 25, at Butler's home on 10 January 2014. During the trial he dismissed his legal team on day six and cross‑examined his nephew, Anthony O'Grady, presenting a new version of events that alleged Butler had accidentally stabbed O'Dwyer while trying to remove a knife from O'Grady. O'Grady denied this claim. The jury, after 2 h 26 min of deliberation, returned a unanimous guilty verdict and Butler received a mandatory life sentence on 15 May 2015. Butler appealed, arguing that the trial judge should have warned him that the new version could not be considered by the jury without sworn evidence. The Court of Appeal agreed, quashing the conviction and ordering a retrial, while noting that the trial judge had correctly instructed the jury that unsworn statements could not be treated as evidence. Butler was remanded in custody pending the retrial. Tadgh Butler pleaded not guilty.
2017-07-06 · Dublin
In a 2017 murder trial, defence counsel Bernard Condon SC argued that Gardaí had handled evidence with "great laxity," citing gaps and inconsistencies in the investigation of the 2015 shooting of 36‑year‑old Keith Walker. Condon highlighted unanswered questions, such as the absence of dark glasses that a detective claimed to have found, the four‑day gap between Walker's death and the discovery of a bag, gun, wig and glove, and conflicting witness statements about the identity of the man seen in women's clothing. He also questioned the forensic evidence linking the items to Christopher McDonald, noting that DNA from other sources was present and that McDonald's DNA on a glove was insufficient to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Condon urged the jury to consider these shortcomings and to avoid jumping to conclusions, advocating a fair verdict of not guilty.
2017-07-05 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 5 July 2017, Jeff Hendrick (25) and Jonathan Doran (26) denied charges of violent disorder at Harcourt Street on 12 October 2013. Darren McDermott testified that Hendrick dragged him from a taxi outside Krystal nightclub, where he was kicked and struck. McDermott could not recall any "slagging" of Hendrick's teammates or family, and denied shouting threats. He said Hendrick had asked him to leave the group and that he had been aggressive. McDermott also denied any intent to harm Hendrick's career, though he admitted sending hostile messages online a month later. The court heard that bouncers had tackled Hendrick and escorted him out, and that McDermott left the club after further verbal altercations outside. No verdict was reached in the article.
2017-07-05 · Dublin
In the Central Criminal Court, the trial of Christopher McDonald, 34, accused of a machine‑gun murder while dressed as a woman, is proceeding with the jury set to hear closing speeches. McDonald, from Dublin's East Wall, pleaded not guilty to the killing of 36‑year‑old Keith Walker in the car park of the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club on 12 June 2015. The court heard limited evidence today, including testimony from Superintendent Colm Murphy, who was cross‑examined by Bernard Condon SC. Murphy confirmed that a doctor had examined McDonald after his arrest and noted the loss of his front two upper teeth, and that the arrest received significant media attention. Garda Sean Kelly testified that DNA and firearms residue samples were taken from McDonald at Blanchardstown Garda Station, though no firearms residue was found on him. DNA was found on a glove and wig that gardaí say were found next to the gun used in the attack.
2017-07-05 · Sligo
Oisin Conroy, a 34-year-old man from Boyle, Co Roscommon, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Natalie McGuinness (23) at The Mews, Mail Coach Road, Sligo, on October 28, 2015. The accused was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court, where he entered a not guilty plea to the charge of murdering Ms McGuinness by reason of insanity. A jury of six men and six women was sworn in to hear the trial, which is scheduled to begin the following day and is expected to last up to two days. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy addressed the jury, noting that the case centers on the legal concept of insanity and that the factual circumstances would not be significantly in dispute. The report confirms the procedural stage as a trial, with the plea recorded as not guilty to the alleged offense of murder by reason of insanity. No findings, sentences, or final dispositions were recorded at this stage, as the matter proceeded to trial rather than being adjourned or concluded.
2017-07-04 · Dublin
Anthony Goodman, 72, a convicted sex offender with a history of sacrilege and buggery of an animal, breached a court order by travelling on public transport without notifying Gardaí. In 2012, a Cork Circuit Criminal Court order prohibited him from attending certain locations and from using public transport except one local bus route unless he gave two hours' notice. In 2015, Goodman failed to give notice before boarding buses on Westmoreland Street and to Enniskerry, leading to his arrest on 3 September 2015. He has remained in custody since. Judge Elma Sheahan backdated a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence to September 2015, suspended the final eight months, and structured the sentence so the suspended portion benefits him. Goodman has over 200 prior convictions, including sexual assault, electrical diversion, animal buggery, sacrilege, and previous transport violations. He was removed from the sex offenders register on 29 June after five years on it. Anthony Goodman pleaded guilty.
2017-07-04 · Dublin
Marcus Gantley, 23, was sentenced to a three‑year term with the final 18 months suspended after pleading guilty to obstructing a peace officer, assaulting a Garda, and two separate possession of controlled drug offences. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence, describing it as "very lenient" but not "unduly lenient." Gantley was found in possession of €700 worth of heroin after a violent struggle in a Spar shop and €17,000 worth of cocaine at Dublin Airport, where customs officers confronted him over a black bag. He was on bail for the earlier charges at the time of the cocaine offence. The judge noted Gantley's history of drug addiction, chaotic lifestyle, and high risk of reoffending, and highlighted that the offences were committed over a short period, showing a disregard for bail conditions. The Court of Appeal dismissed the Director of Public Prosecutions' application for a review, leaving the original sentence intact.
2017-07-04 · Dublin
During a trial on 4 July 2017, forensic evidence linked Christopher McDonald, 34, to a murder weapon and items found near a sub‑machine gun used to shoot Keith Walker 18 times on 12 June 2015. Dr Edward Connolly of Forensic Science Ireland reported DNA matching McDonald on a clear plastic glove and a black wig, with a probability of less than one in a thousand million that an unrelated person had the same profile. The DNA on the gun and a brown handbag was unsuitable for interpretation, and the ear plug carried a different DNA profile. Dr Thomas Hannigan confirmed firearms residue on the glove and wig, suggesting they were worn by the shooter, but found no residue on swabs from McDonald. He offered possible explanations for the absence of residue, including that McDonald may not have been the shooter or that residue was lost in the 12 hours after the shooting. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
2017-07-04 · Dublin
A Dublin man, Darren McDermott, told a jury that he suffered three fractures to his jaw and several broken teeth after an assault by a group of men led by professional footballer Jeff Hendrick. The incident occurred on 12 October 2013 at Harcourt Street, when McDermott was in a nightclub and later in a taxi that stopped at traffic lights. McDermott claimed Hendrick and his associates forced him out of the taxi, threatened him, and then attacked him, delivering kicks to his head, face, chest and back. McDermott fled, was struck by the attackers, and was later rescued by bystanders. He received emergency surgery at James's Hospital and remains under medical care. Hendrick pleaded not guilty to violent disorder and assault causing harm, while co‑accused Jonathan Doran also pleaded not guilty to the same charges. The trial is ongoing before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
2017-07-03 · Dublin
In a Dublin District Family Court hearing on 3 July 2017, a single mother was granted a five‑year safety order against her 18‑year‑old son after alleging that he had assaulted her. The mother, a hairdresser, recounted that she had previously obtained a short‑term protection order, which her son tore up and threw at her. She said the incident prompted neighbours to call the Gardaí. The son, who works in a coffee shop and was diagnosed with ADHD as a child, has a history of violent and disorderly conduct, having appeared in Children's Court on several occasions. He was absent from the hearing. The mother explained that his behaviour had strained her relationships, including ending a 12‑year partnership and alienating her parents. Judge Conal Gibbons, noting no indication the situation would de‑escalate, granted the safety order and advised the mother to seek legal counsel and support from Women's Aid.
2017-07-03 · Sligo
A 21-year-old man from Sligo has been sentenced to two years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, following his conviction for assault at the Central Criminal Court. The man was acquitted of rape but found guilty of assault causing harm related to an incident at a house party in Sligo on 26 June 2014. He pleaded not guilty to both charges. The court heard evidence that the victim was bitten during the assault. In sentencing, Mr Justice Paul Butler noted the victim's impact statement describing significant psychological harm. The judge acknowledged the man's explanation that he was heavily intoxicated and observed he has abstained from alcohol since the incident, though he carries seven previous convictions including violent disorder and public order offences. The suspended portion of the sentence is conditional on specified undertakings.