In a 2025 appeal, a 68‑year‑old man who was jailed for life for a campaign of rape against his granddaughter and nephew argues that the jury's verdict was unfairly influenced by evidence of prior violence and sexual abuse from his daughter. The defence senior counsel, Michael Bowman, contends that the prosecution's testimony about the daughter's abuse—describing beatings with sticks, tying up a brother, and habitual rape from age 11—was prejudicial and not relevant to the charges. He also claims the jury's verdict on one count was "perverse" because the caravan mentioned by a victim was in a different county than the indictment stated. The prosecution's Shane Costelloe SC maintains that the evidence was essential to illustrate intergenerational abuse and that the judge correctly allowed it. The unnamed 68-year-old was found guilty.
Michael Rooney Dignam, 44, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for a series of seven robberies committed between August and September 2024 in Dublin. The robberies involved armed threats with a broken bottle, knife and syringe, and included an incident where a teenage shopkeeper's daughter was held at knife‑point. Victims were shop staff and off‑licence workers who were threatened with stabbing or struck with a broken bottle. Rooney Dignam, who has 55 prior convictions including the manslaughter of his brother, pleaded guilty and expressed remorse. Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of 10 years, reduced to seven and a half years, and suspended the final 12 months on strict conditions, including good behaviour for two years and 12 months of probation. No money was recovered from the robberies. The court noted that the offences were carried out to fund a drug addiction following his release from prison.
In a High Court case, Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced Aidan Duffy, 44, of Gort, for a sexual assault of a 16‑year‑old girl and for engaging in a sexual act with a child under 17. The judge set a headline sentence of seven years for the latter charge, noting it might be reviewed elsewhere, and reduced it to five years due to mitigation and Duffy's guilty plea. For the sexual assault count, the headline was eight years, reduced to six years, with the final year suspended for two years; both sentences run concurrently. Duffy was ordered to probation, therapeutic programmes, no contact with the victim or her family, and a five‑year post‑release supervision. The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, described the assault, drug use, and subsequent trauma, while Duffy denied the allegations and claimed the contact was consensual. The judge highlighted the seriousness of the offences and the impact on the victim.
In a 2025 appeal, Judge Deidre Browne replaced a four‑month jail term with a fully suspended nine‑month sentence for Richard Joseph Doyle, 34, who had been convicted of two counts of assault and a threat of property damage after grabbing a woman by the neck in a Dublin house. The original sentence included four months imprisonment, a €200 fine, and €200 compensation for a damaged window. Doyle appealed on the grounds of severity. The judge, citing a probation report, expressed "very significant concerns" over Doyle's lack of insight into the seriousness of his actions and limited victim empathy. She increased the custodial term to nine months but suspended it, requiring Doyle to enter probation supervision, attend offence‑focused work, participate in a violence‑prevention program, disclose intimate relationships, and undergo drug screening or intervention as directed.
In a double‑murder trial, defence counsel Patrick Gageby SC argued that the State's case against 46‑year‑old Ruth Lawrence was weak, relying mainly on two protected witnesses, father and daughter Jason and Stacey Symes. Gageby said the Symes had downplayed their own roles and could not be trusted to convict Lawrence, who was extradited from South Africa in 2023 after the bodies of Anthony Keegan (33) and Eoin O'Connor (32) were found on a lake island in 2014. He claimed the Symes' statements about Lawrence shooting O'Connor and her boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen taking over were unreliable, and that phone evidence did not link Lawrence to the killings. Gageby urged jurors not to convict Lawrence, describing the prosecution's case as "slim" and "shaky.". Ruth Lawrence pleaded not guilty.
Ross O'Shea, a former army captain, was found guilty by a General Court Martial in October 2022 of sexually assaulting a female non‑commissioned officer at a barracks social function on 25 June 2020. He was convicted of two charges – sexual assault and a Section 2 assault under the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 – and was dismissed from the Defence Forces. A custodial sentence of six months at the Curragh Camp was imposed but suspended for one year. O'Shea had pleaded guilty to five of 18 charges, was acquitted of seven, and four were withdrawn. In a Court of Appeal hearing on 4 November 2025, Mr Justice John Edwards upheld the dismissal, noting the conduct was "corrosive of discipline" and that the psychological impact on the victims was significant. The victims welcomed the decision. The appeal argued the offences were an aberration in an otherwise glittering career, but the court found the dismissal justified.
A 32‑year‑old woman from the south west has pleaded guilty to killing a four‑year‑old boy but denies that the death was murder. She is to stand trial at the Central Criminal Court, where Mr Justice Paul McDermott swore in a jury of eight men and four women. The judge told the jury that the allegation is murder and that the child was aged four‑and‑a‑half when he died on 16 March 2021. The trial, expected to last up to five weeks, is set to begin tomorrow.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, prosecution barrister Michael O'Higgins SC argued that Ruth Lawrence (46) and her South African boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen acted as a "unit and tag team" to lure drug dealer Eoin O'Connor (32) to their home at Patricks Cottage, Ross, Mountnugent, and murder him. O'Higgins said Lawrence shot O'Connor in the stomach with intent to kill, but she did not act alone; van der Westhuizen allegedly finished him off, possibly by grappling and shooting him in the head. The prosecution also claimed that the couple killed Anthony Keegan (33) and that both bodies were later found bound and covered on Inchicup Island, Lough Sheelin. Witnesses Jason and Stacey Symes testified that Lawrence told them she had shot O'Connor but it "went wrong" and that van der Westhuizen took over. The case presented evidence of a planned, highly calculated double murder, with Lawrence and van der Westhuizen equally liable under the law. Ruth Lawrence pleaded not guilty.
Ian Healy, 68, of Drogheda, pleaded guilty to 13 counts of indecent assault, attempted rape and rape of his girlfriend's younger sister Susan Mallon, aged nine to twelve when the abuse began in 1978, and to one count of indecent assault of Mallon's younger sister Jenny Sullivan, aged six to eight, between 1981 and 1983. Healy had moved into the family home, where the girls' parents were absent and their older sister was the sole caregiver, and groomed the children by showing pornographic magazines. The abuse escalated from inappropriate touching to attempted rape and rape, ending when Mallon resisted and Healy left the room. Sullivan was forced to masturbate Healy and was told not to report the abuse. Both girls waived anonymity. Healy's sentencing was eight and a half years, with a suspended portion and conditions of probation. The judge noted Healy's insertion into a vulnerable household and his lack of remorse.
Conor O'Brien, 24, appeared at the Central Criminal Court for sentencing following his guilty plea to possession of an article in a public place with the intention of causing injury, contrary to section 9(5) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990. The offence, dated October 21, 2024, involved carrying a knife at New Oak Estate, Carlow. A further charge regarding the possession of a metal bar was taken into consideration. O'Brien is alleged to have accompanied a co-accused to the home of Darren Quigley, where Mr Quigley was allegedly stabbed to death. Prosecution evidence stated O'Brien admitted bringing the weapons to lend 'moral support' and pushing the co-accused off the victim. The co-accused is separately charged with murder. Defence counsel Kathleen Leader SC argued O'Brien was under the influence of alcohol and drugs, had cooperated with the investigation, and is a suitable candidate for probation supervision with family support. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the matter to November 17 for sentencing.
In a High Court sentencing hearing, Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a three‑year global sentence on an unnamed defendant who had been convicted of assault causing harm and coercive control. The defendant, who had no prior convictions, had abused his wife over a 12‑year period, including a 2010 incident where he pushed a hot plate of food into her face, causing burns. He also engaged in controlling behaviour such as monitoring her spending, threatening suicide, and removing shower fixtures. The judge noted that the defendant's lack of previous convictions might carry less weight in mitigation, but still considered the prolonged abuse. The final sentence was two years suspended for three years on strict conditions, with one year custodial. The judge described the case as "very sad" and highlighted the enduring impact on the victim and children.
A 22-year-old man has been sentenced to three years in custody at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for the violent robbery of an off-duty garda in the Camden Road area on 22 January 2024. Evan Ward of Navan Road, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to the offence. CCTV footage presented at sentencing showed Ward and a juvenile accomplice attacking the garda in the early morning hours, with Ward delivering multiple punches to the victim's head before both assailants stole items including the garda's official identification badge, two passports, bank cards, mobile phones, and car keys. The victim was left unconscious on the ground. Ward admitted he was under the influence of cocaine at the time. He has 57 previous convictions. The court heard evidence of significant childhood mental health difficulties and recent diagnosis of schizophrenic spectrum disorder. The judge imposed a four-year sentence with the final year suspended on condition of continued psychiatric care. The juvenile co-accused received a deferred 22-month detention sentence earlier this year.
Florea Hoza, 57, was jailed for two years after assaulting a woman he was having an extra‑marital affair with. Hoza first claimed the woman, a cleaner at his company, was acting provocatively, but a Probation Service report revealed the affair. He pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm on 23 February 2024 at Harold's Cross Road. The court heard that Hoza slapped the woman twice in the workplace canteen, then tried to hit her with a hard hat. Later that evening, he lay in wait for her on the street, punched her repeatedly, head‑butted her and pursued her across a busy road. The woman suffered facial injuries, blurred vision and nasal pain. Hoza denied the pre‑planned attack and claimed accidental contact. He had no prior convictions and was given a €5,000 token of remorse, which the woman refused.
In a sentence hearing for 24‑year‑old Valeriu Melnic, the court heard a victim impact statement from the mother of the deceased, Mr. Ion Daghi, who described the loss as "irreplaceable" and said it would always stain her heart. Melnic, who admitted to being "so drunk" that he could not remember stabbing Daghi with a kitchen knife, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by a jury in July. The hearing reiterated that Melnic's intoxication and the fact that he had no intent to kill were key defence arguments. The court noted that Melnic's relationship with his sister was "somewhat gone" and that he had tried to write to her but could not find the words. The judge remanded Melnic in custody until his sentencing on 17 November.
Mark McCourt (34) of Edenreive, Newry, Co Down, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court today. Having pleaded guilty in July to participating in a criminal organisation's efforts to import restricted weapons between February 2023 and July 2024, and possessing firearms, McCourt was jailed for 12 years for arms smuggling. This sentence was based on a 15-year headline term, reduced by 20% for his early guilty plea. He was concurrently sentenced to 10 years on four firearms possession charges, reduced from 12.5 years on the same basis. The remaining 20 counts on the indictment were taken into account. The court noted McCourt was caught red-handed with military-grade weapons, including parts for six assault rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition seized in a Co Louth raid. Det Insp Shane McCartan stated McCourt controlled the importation of firearms components from the USA for reassembly and distribution. McCourt's jail term has been backdated to his arrest on 19 July 2024. The report also notes a separate conviction for criminal damage, where McCourt was jailed for three years, with 18 months suspended, for ramming an off-duty garda's car. No adjournments were recorded; the matter was finalised with sentencing.
Two men, Stephen Mulvey (34) and Jamie Berry (30), pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder a Dublin teenager on February 23‑24, 2021. They were arraigned before the Central Criminal Court and remanded on bail until January 19 next year. Their guilty pleas follow a Court of Appeal order to retrial, overturning a 2023 Central Criminal Court decision that had acquitted them due to insufficient evidence. The State had alleged Berry was the shooter and Mulvey assisted, while the teenager gave testimony but could not recall the day's events and was on medication.
Declan Daly, aged 54, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for a series of sexual offences spanning three decades. He pleaded guilty before trial to 12 counts of sexual and indecent assault against three women between 1982 and 2002, and was convicted at trial of three rapes committed in 2022. The court heard that the later rapes occurred after a victim disclosed she had been abused by another man, whose case had already resulted in a 13‑year sentence. In his victim impact statements, the four women described lasting shame, low self‑worth, anger and the abuse's enduring effects. One victim called Daly a "monster" and a "coward," urging others to speak out. The judge, Mr Justice Patrick McGrath, imposed a 22‑year sentence, suspended the final two years for five years, and noted the most serious offence warranted 15 years to life. The sentencing reflected the severity of the crimes and the victims' testimonies.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a victim was forced to sell his Audi S8 after a criminal, Stuart Tighe, attempted to hijack the car twice within five days. The first attempt occurred outside the victim's workplace on 29 January 2024, when Tighe and a companion tried to steal the vehicle but were thwarted. The second, more violent, attack took place on 3 February 2024, when Tighe entered the victim's home with a meat cleaver, causing the victim to lose part of his ear and sustain other injuries. Tighe pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, assault causing harm, and attempted theft. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a headline sentence of 12 years, reduced to nine years with a one‑year suspension, citing the victim's impact statement and the evidence presented. The case highlighted the severity of the assaults and the court's focus on rehabilitation.
A 24‑year‑old man was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for assault, threats to kill, coercive control and threatening to publish intimate images of a 20‑year‑old woman. He moved into her rented home within weeks of meeting her, forced her younger brother to leave, and controlled her food, clothing, money and communications. He sent almost 5,000 abusive text messages over a four‑day period, threatening to cut her head off, to show her vagina on Facebook and to publish intimate images. He also threatened to dance on her face and to "fuck her up". The judge noted his guilty plea, cooperation with Gardaí, apology letter and a reference from an employer, but the victim declined to accept the apology. A probation report placed him at high risk of re‑offending for emotional abuse and coercive control. The case was heard in the Circuit Court.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 31 October 2025, Maxwell Itumelang Mosia, aged 34, was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment for a 2019 assault causing harm on his former partner. Mosia pleaded guilty to the charge. The court heard that the attack began downstairs and continued upstairs, during which Mosia punched the woman in the face, arms, shoulders and legs, struck her repeatedly in the face, forced her into the bathroom, undressed her, slapped her ears and sprayed her with the shower hose, especially around her genital area. The victim was treated at The Rotunda Hospital for a burst lip, pain to her right ear, right upper jaw and a mild concussion. Mosia had 29 prior convictions, including 24 for traffic offences, public order and theft. Justice Karen O'Connor set a headline sentence of 30 months, reduced to 20 months, and backdated it to the week he entered custody.
A 61-year-old man has appealed his conviction for repeatedly sexually abusing his teenage sister-in-law, arguing that evidence regarding his temper created undue prejudice. The appellant, identified as Barry McDonagh, was found guilty by a jury of 17 counts of rape and one count of sexual assault following a Central Criminal Court trial in June 2024. He was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison by Ms Justice Caroline Biggs in October 2024. The abuse occurred between 1999 and 2000 when the victim, who waived anonymity, was aged 15 to 16. In the Court of Appeal, counsel for the appellant argued that testimony about the man's violent temper, including allegations he broke his wife's ribs, was irrelevant and highly prejudicial. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that this evidence was necessary to explain the victim's fear and lack of resistance. The appellant also claimed the judge erred in failing to discharge the jury after a question referencing a holiday to Tunisia. The three-judge court, led by Mr Justice Peter Charleton, reserved its judgment, meaning the matter was adjourned and not concluded.
Ruth Lawrence, aged 46 and originally from Clontarf, Dublin, is on trial in Ireland for the murders of Anthony Keegan (33) and Eoin O'Connor (32). She was extradited from South Africa nearly a decade after the bodies were found on Lough Sheelin. Lawrence denies the charges. Her defence cites testimony from Pastor Robert Roger Brazelle, who says Lawrence worked in safehouses for trafficking victims in Pretoria and Bloemfontein, and Pastor Andre Lombard, who confirms her involvement in feeding schemes for the poor. The prosecution alleges that Lawrence shot O'Connor and, with boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen, killed both men. Van der Westhuizen is serving a 15‑year sentence in South Africa for kidnapping, attempted murder and murder; extradition to Ireland is pending after his sentence ends. The trial is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of twelve.
James Meehan, 56, a convicted murderer sentenced to life with a 14‑year minimum for the 2007 murder of Jim McFadden, fled from Magilligan prison in Derry during a day‑release in December 2024 and was arrested by Gardaí in August 2025 on extradition warrants issued under the Trade and Co‑operation Agreement. He had previously been extradited to Northern Ireland after being described as unlawfully at large. In 2017 he applied to transfer his life sentence from the North to the Republic, a request he reiterated in court. Defence counsel Brian Storan argued that Meehan's temporary release was granted by both Irish and Northern Irish authorities and that he sought a stay on the surrender to allow authorities to consider his transfer application. Judge Paul McDermott adjourned the case to 14 November to allow the defence to present evidence of correspondence regarding the transfer request.
A former garda has been remanded for sentencing assessment following his guilty plea to assaulting his then wife, also a member of An Garda Síochána, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Trevor Bolger, aged 48, previously stationed at Ballymun, pleaded guilty to the assault on Margaret Loftus on 25 October 2012. The incident occurred during a family visit to Balla, County Mayo. Judge Martina Baxter adjourned sentencing to allow completion of an intervention program assessment referenced in a probation report, with proceedings to resume on 16 January 2026. Ms Loftus delivered a victim impact statement describing lasting effects of the assault and the subsequent stigma she experienced within the force. Bolger, who has no previous convictions, was represented by defence counsel who highlighted his mental health treatment, compensation of €6,000 offered to the court, and testimonials to his character. The maximum penalty under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act is six months imprisonment or a fine.
In a Dublin murder case, Josip Strok and his friend David Druzinec were attacked after a 17‑year‑old boy at a bus stop was denied a lighter. The boy later warned other teenagers, who then boarded a bus and were followed by Mark Lee (44) and Anthony Delappe (19). Lee and Delappe, who had been in Lee's house smoking cannabis, pursued Strok and Druzinec, striking them with a pickaxe handle and a half‑crutch. Strok suffered a fatal brain injury after falling and was pronounced dead four days later. Lee and Delappe pleaded not guilty to murder but were found guilty by an 11‑to‑1 majority. Connor Rafferty (21) was acquitted of murder after claiming he only delivered light smacks. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court on 30 March 2024. The verdicts were delivered on 30 October 2025.
Two men, Mark Lee (44) and Anthony Delappe (19), were found guilty by a majority verdict of 11–1 of the murder of Josip Strok (31) in Dublin. Both had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Connor Rafferty (21) was found not guilty of murder after pleading not guilty. All three pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Strok's friend, David Druzinec (29). The jury heard that on 30 March 2024 Lee had been told of an alleged assault on a teenage boy at a bus stop near his home in Clondalkin and alerted Delappe and Rafferty. The prosecution alleged that Lee and Delappe followed Strok and Druzinec and assaulted them in the street; Strok died four days later from blunt‑force injuries.
Frank Kelly, 40, was jailed for two years and three months after a mess fight with his childhood friend Darren Sherlock escalated into violence. The pair had been socialising and drinking at Kelly's home when Kelly suggested a fight. Sherlock recorded the altercation on his phone. According to the prosecution, the fight began with grappling and shoving but turned darker when Kelly grabbed a bottle of whiskey and struck Sherlock. Garda Diane Byrne reported that Kelly then took a knife and threatened to stab Sherlock. Kelly stabbed Sherlock nine times, causing superficial wounds to the back and a suspected punctured lung. Sherlock later collapsed on the road, was treated in hospital, and has since recovered. Kelly pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan, who noted the escalation from a "mess fight" to a criminal act.
Anthony Locke, 48, of Ballyfermot, was sentenced to eight years in prison with the last two years suspended after pleading guilty to assaulting a woman and threatening to drown her. The incident occurred in a Dublin flat where Locke, experiencing a psychiatric episode, smashed objects, threatened the victim with "holy water," and dragged her by the wrists. He had previously been jailed for manslaughter in 1998 and had a conviction for impeding the apprehension of a murderer. The victim suffered bruises and bite marks. The judge noted Locke's mental health issues and lack of medication compliance, and warned that he remains a danger to society. The suspended portion of the sentence is conditional on good behaviour and compliance with probation for 18 months after release.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a jury has begun deliberations over the murder of Croatian national Josip Strok, who died four days after an assault in Dublin. The accused are Mark Lee (44), Anthony Delappe (19) and Connor Rafferty (21). Lee and Delappe have pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, while Rafferty has not entered a plea. All three pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Strok's friend, David Druzinec. The prosecution alleges the trio followed Strok and Druzinec and attacked them, with Lee using kicks and punches, Delappe striking with a plastic pickaxe handle, and Rafferty striking with a crutch. The judge instructed the jury to consider each accused individually, noting that verdicts may differ and must be unanimous. The jury will continue tomorrow.
Ryan Craig, a 25-year-old man from Clondalkin, appeared at the Central Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm and endangerment. The court heard that on October 20, 2024, Craig struck Dillon Gilligan with his van on Cloverhill Road, dragging him for up to 30 feet. The victim suffered critical injuries, including a fractured skull, arm, chest, pelvis, and ankle, as well as internal bleeding. Evidence indicated the attack was opportunistic rather than pre-planned, arising from a long-standing feud in the Ronanstown area. Craig was arrested at Dublin Port and recorded on CCTV stating he had "smashed" the victim. Although originally charged with attempted murder, Craig admitted to the lesser offences in July. The court noted Craig has four previous convictions and that the victim, who was previously convicted of carrying a firearm, has since left a rehabilitation facility. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the matter to November 14 for finalisation. Separately, the report references a prior sentencing where Judge Ronan Munro sentenced John Gilligan to six and a half years, with the final 18 months suspended, for offences committed in 2019.
Daniel Ryan, 24, of Clondalkin, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for two offences. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on May 1 2023 after striking Garda Mark Walsh and Garda Grace Lumsden during a stop of a Kia Sportage in Clondalkin. He also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply on January 8 2019, after fingerprints matched a discarded lunchbox containing 24.6 g of crack cocaine and heroin. Ryan was on bail at the time of the assault and had 36 prior convictions. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a one‑year term for the drug offence and a two‑and‑a‑half‑year term for the assault, to run consecutively, totalling three and a half years. The final 18 months were suspended on strict conditions, including engagement with the Probation Service. Ryan is currently serving five and a half years, with his sentence expiring in November 2028.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jake Emmet, aged 23, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for a series of violent offences. Emmet pleaded guilty to demanding money with menace on 15 September 2024, assault causing harm on 25 September 2024, and three counts of producing a knife in a manner likely to intimidate. He threatened a woman with a knife, sent her WhatsApp messages, and, with accomplices, attacked her partner with a knife while shouting "kill him, finish him." The court noted that Emmet's threats were ignored and that the victim had called Gardaí. Judge Nolan, citing the intent to seriously harm the victim and Emmet's prior blackmail conviction, imposed the custodial sentence, backdating it to January. The case involved no further appeals or subsequent proceedings as reported.
In a Dublin murder trial, Justice Mary Ellen Ring instructed a jury that to secure murder convictions against Mark Lee (44), Anthony Delappe (19) and Connor Rafferty (21), the jury must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that each intended to cause serious injury to Josip Strok (31). The judge explained that mere presence at the scene is insufficient; the accused must have acted concretely in the killing and intended serious harm. If intent is not proven, the jury may consider manslaughter, where the accused caused death with intent to cause more than trivial harm. The prosecution alleges the trio assaulted Strok and his friend David Druzinec (29) on Grangeview Way, Clondalkin, on 3 April 2024, with Strok dying four days later from blunt‑force injuries. All three pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and assault. The judge will give a final charge tomorrow before deliberations begin.
A Mayo man received a suspended sentence at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court on 17 October for harassment spanning over a year. Brendan Rowland, aged 30, pleaded guilty to sending 14 malicious greeting cards to a couple in Swinford between December 2018 and December 2019. Judge Eoin Garavan noted that whilst 40 sinister cards were received in total, forensic evidence attributed only 14 to Rowland, suggesting an orchestrated campaign involving others. The cards included Mothers' Day and Christmas greetings, alongside messages signed "Joey" referencing the murder of Joe Deacy, aged 21, whose body was discovered at the recipients' home in August 2017. Judge Garavan imposed an 18-month sentence, suspended in full for two years, citing Rowland's guilty plea, apology, and rehabilitation efforts. Rowland was prohibited from approaching the Byrnes' residence or either individual within 500 metres for ten years. The judge expressed hope the matter would end the distress following Deacy's death.
A witness at the Central Criminal Court has testified that a fire was burning at a house in Mountnugent, County Meath, the day after two men went missing in April 2014. Vytautis Bitaris told the court he was present at Patricks Cottage on the morning of April 23, 2014, when he observed the fire near the property's outbuildings. Later that evening, the witness said he assisted in loading four large blocks into a vehicle belonging to Neville van der Westhuizen, the boyfriend of Ruth Lawrence, who denies murdering Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor. The trial heard that the two men were last seen on April 22, 2014. A second witness, Marzena Miduchoska, testified that van der Westhuizen asked her to store two tool boxes at her home around midnight in April 2014, stating the items would only remain for one day. When Ms Miduchoska opened one box the following day, she observed foil-wrapped items and a device resembling a tattoo implement. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Anthony Keegan pleaded not guilty. Eoin O'Connor pleaded not guilty. Ruth Lawrence pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, barrister Michael Bowman SC warned a jury that comments made by murder accused Mark Lee (44) about "illegal immigrants" and "invaders" to gardai should not prejudice their verdict. Bowman said Lee's remarks, though "objectionable and unsavoury", must not influence the jury's assessment of the evidence. He noted that the prosecution had alleged Lee and co‑accused Anthony Delappe and Connor Rafferty had known the deceased, Josip Strok, was a foreigner, yet there was no evidence Lee or the others had spoken about foreigners before the assault. Bowman challenged the prosecution's claim that the nature of the assault proved intent to cause serious injury, pointing out that Strok's fatal skull fracture was likely caused by a fall. He urged the jury to consider Lee's guilty plea to manslaughter and to avoid prejudice based on his views, concluding that a manslaughter verdict was appropriate. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring will charge the jury next Tuesday. Mark Lee pleaded not guilty. Connor Rafferty pleaded not guilty. Anthony Delappe pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Court hearing, a 31‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and contravening a protection order after an incident in May 2022. The victim, a 31‑year‑old woman, had a protection order against him and described the assault as a "blessing in disguise" that led him to address his addiction and mental health issues. Judge Jonathan Dunphy imposed a suspended prison sentence of two years and six months, suspended for four years under strict conditions, citing the woman's plea for leniency and the potential impact on their family. The court noted the man's remorse, his engagement with addiction and mental health services, and his low risk of re‑offending. The couple are now engaged and the man remains under probation supervision for 18 months.
A key witness has told the Central Criminal Court that he feared Ruth Lawrence, who is accused of murdering two men in April or May 2014. The 45-year-old from Mountnugent in Co Meath has pleaded not guilty to killing Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor. Jason Symes gave evidence via video-link, stating he witnessed Lawrence carrying a firearm on multiple occasions. He recalled that on Good Friday 2014, Lawrence and her boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen borrowed his daughter's car while he waited in Dublin. Upon their return to Patrick's Cottage in Meath, Symes said the couple removed numerous bags from the vehicle. He testified that he later heard Lawrence mention a headlock and a twist in connection with the deceased men. Symes said he fled Ireland fearing for his family's safety but returned to provide testimony. The trial continues before Justice Tony Hunt and a jury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the Director of Public Prosecutions asked a jury to consider whether a statement made by accused Mark Lee to Gardaí—claiming it was "terrible the way the homeless are treated" while illegal immigrants "run amok"—constituted a motive or justification for the attack on Croatian national Josip Strok. The prosecution alleged that Lee, Anthony Delappe and Connor Rafferty jointly assaulted Strok on 3 April 2024, using a pickaxe handle, a crutch and kicks, causing fatal blunt‑force injuries. Lee and Delappe pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter; Rafferty pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to assault. Defence counsel argued that the evidence did not prove intent to cause serious injury and urged a manslaughter verdict for each accused. The case remains at the jury stage, with the prosecution's closing speech pending.
A man accused of repeatedly breaching a protection order by contacting his former partner on social media was granted bail by Judge Alan Mitchell at Cloverhill District Court. He faces six charges under the Domestic Violence Act 2018 for alleged Facebook messages and an Instagram follow request between June and July. The complainant, who shared a home with him and is the mother of his children, said she feared him and had to cancel her child's birthday party. She claimed he had contacted neighbours and could appear unexpectedly. Defence counsel argued the messages contained no physical threats and that the man had not been arrested until late October. Judge Mitchell noted the alleged breaches dated back to June and July but the man had only been charged on 20 October, with no contact since. He said the order allowed no contact except text, and the alleged communications were not prohibited.
In a Dún Laoghaire District Court hearing on 22 October 2025, Corey Plunkett, aged 32, pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Sergeant Cara O'Sullivan on 23 May 2021. While in custody for a public order offence, Plunkett kicked the sergeant in the back, causing a jolt and ongoing back pain. He is already serving a four‑year prison term, with the final year suspended, for assault and possession of a weapon. Defence counsel highlighted Plunkett's history of drug misuse, including cocaine addiction. Judge Anne Watkin described the incident as a "very serious assault" on a garda, noting the injuries were not necessarily deliberate but had serious consequences. The maximum sentence available was 12 months; the judge imposed an eight‑month imprisonment sentence to run concurrently with Plunkett's existing term.
Five members of Jozef Puska's family were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for withholding or destroying evidence of the murder of Ashling Murphy. Puska's brothers Marek (36) and Lubomir (37) received 30‑month prison terms each. Lubomir's wife Viera Gaziova (40) was sentenced to 30 months, and Marek's wife Jozefina Grundzova (27 months) with the last six months suspended. Puska's partner and mother of his children, Lucia Istokova (36), received a 26‑month sentence, also with the final six months suspended. The judge, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, cited psychological reports on Roma women's roles to justify the suspensions. The sentences reflect the defendants' collective decision to conceal information and destroy evidence, including burning clothes that may have contained forensic evidence. The court noted that the offences were committed to protect a family member rather than for personal gain. Viera Gaziova pleaded not guilty. Lucia Istokova pleaded not guilty.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Michael Tuite and Patrick Morgan for their roles in the burglary of six commercial units at Premier Business Park, Ballycoolin, and a subsequent high-speed chase. Both men entered signed guilty pleas to six counts of burglary and possession of an implement with intent. Tuite additionally pleaded guilty to endangerment, unauthorised taking of a vehicle, and unlawful escape from custody, while Morgan pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and allowing himself to be carried in a vehicle without consent. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Tuite to six years' imprisonment and disqualified him from driving for six years. The judge noted Morgan was less culpable and imposed a five-year sentence. Both defendants were directed to receive credit for time spent in custody. The court heard that Tuite escaped custody by climbing a wall at Blanchardstown District Court, dropping 15ft, before being apprehended nearby. Morgan's detention was suspended due to his level of intoxication. The judge described Tuite's driving as "pretty disgraceful" and noted both men were aggressive during arrest. Mitigation included their guilty pleas, expressions of remorse, and efforts to address addiction issues.
Philip Ogbewe, a 61-year-old man from Drogheda, Co Louth, appeared at the Court of Appeal to challenge his sentence for performing illegal circumcisions on seven boys between January 2018 and October 2019. Ogbewe pleaded guilty to seven counts of endangerment and seven counts of assault causing harm. In July 2024, Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a four-and-a-half-year sentence on each endangerment count, with one running consecutively and the rest concurrently. After applying the principles of totality, the effective sentence was reduced to seven and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended. Ogbewe's counsel, Giollaosa Ó Lidheada SC, argued the headline sentence was too high and that Ogbewe was not given sufficient credit for his remorse and reformation after "seeing the light." He contended that Ogbewe's prior three-year sentence for a separate 2015 offence, which expired just before these charges were laid, should have influenced the totality calculation. The Director of Public Prosecutions, represented by Shane Costelloe SC, maintained the sentence was sound, citing grave aggravating factors including the number of victims and Ogbewe's knowledge that his actions were illegal. The court reserved its judgment, meaning the matter was adjourned and not concluded.
A man suffered life-threatening injuries when stabbed multiple times during an assault on Austin Friars Street in Mullingar on August 2nd, 2024, arising from an ongoing feud between Traveller families. The Central Criminal Court heard that Anthony Dinnegan Jnr sustained serious wounds to his head, chest and leg, with doctors confirming a perforated liver that required immediate surgery and transfusions. He spent twenty-four hours in critical condition at Midlands Regional Hospital. Christopher Nevin, aged 31, and Michael Nevin, aged 41, both from Mullingar, faced charges of attempted murder. Michael Nevin pleaded guilty to causing serious harm, whilst Christopher Nevin pleaded guilty to violent disorder. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted both pleas. Detective Gardaí presented evidence of prior threatening incidents between the families and CCTV footage showing Michael Nevin carrying a knife during the assault. Both families have since engaged with the Traveller Mediation Service to resolve their differences. Mr Justice David Keane adjourned sentencing to October 31st.
A witness has told the Central Criminal Court that Ruth Lawrence, the accused in a double murder trial, admitted to shooting drug dealer Eoin O'Connor but said the killing "went wrong" and her boyfriend "took over". Stacey Symes testified that Lawrence said Anthony Keegan died for O'Connor "because they were friends". Ms Symes, who grew up in Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, said she and her father were asked to help move the bodies of both men. Lawrence, aged 45, with an address at Patricks Cottage, Ross, Mountnugent, Co Meath, has pleaded not guilty to murdering O'Connor and Keegan between 22 April and 26 May 2014. The court heard the bodies were later discovered on Inchicup Island on Lough Sheelin. The trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt continues, with the defence due to cross-examine the witness.
John Hoey, a 24‑year‑old carpet fitter, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to assaulting his pregnant partner and threatening her with a Stanley knife. The court heard that Hoey repeatedly beat his partner, pushed her head under running water, struck her with a toilet brush, and threatened to kill her if she sent any more Snapchat messages. He also smashed their patio door and a mirror, and grabbed her by the throat, causing her to pass out. Hoey admitted the assault, expressed remorse, and has no prior convictions. The judge noted the sustained violent attack and ordered Hoey to engage with the Probation Service and attend intimate partner violence programmes for 12 months upon release. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the domestic violence but acknowledges his lack of previous convictions and his willingness to seek help.
A 44‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment for a series of sexual offences against his daughter, aged five to eight during 2020‑2022, and for a prolonged assault on his former partner on 28 September 2023. The court found him guilty of five counts of sexual assault, four counts of rape, one count of exposing the child to pornography, one count of false imprisonment of the partner and one count of threatening to kill her. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the partner. The judge imposed six years for the partner's offences and 13 years for the child's offences, to run consecutively, suspending the final year on conditions including probation supervision for three years. The sentence reflected the domestic violence provisions and the severe impact on the victimised daughter, who remains a child. The man continues to deny the charges.
Ruth Lawrence, 45, is on trial for the alleged murder of Anthony Keegan, 33, and Eoin O'Connor, 32, at an unknown location in the State between April 22 and May 26, 2014. Ms Lawrence has pleaded not guilty to both charges. The trial is currently ongoing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury. In evidence, former Chief State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified regarding the post-mortem examination of Mr O'Connor, whose remains were found wrapped in nylon on May 27, 2014. She identified three gunshot wounds: one to the head, one to the abdomen, and one to the left hand. Cassidy stated the head wound was the cause of death, while the abdominal injury was potentially fatal. She opined it was likely the abdominal shot occurred before the fatal headshot. Separately, retired Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that Mr Keegan died from two gunshot wounds to the head and neck. The prosecution alleges Ms Lawrence shot Mr O'Connor and acted with her boyfriend, Neville van der Westhuizen, to kill both men. The trial continues.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a woman in her 50s was found guilty of facilitating the rape of her six‑year‑old daughter by the child's uncle and of sexually assaulting the child when she was four. The court also heard that the uncle, in his 40s, was convicted of raping the child after the mother had brought him into a bedroom where the child was lying on a bed watching television. The mother remained in the room during the rape, lifted her daughter from the bed, and returned her to her own bed in another room. She had denied 14 charges, including 13 of sexual assault and one of rape, but was convicted in July 2025 after an 18‑day trial. The uncle had denied six charges of rape and was convicted of one charge in March 2023. A third defendant, accused of oral rape, was nolle prosequi.