A woman who endured sexual abuse as a child has described feeling imprisoned by the trauma throughout her life. The victim gave evidence at the Central Criminal Court following the conviction of a 66-year-old man on five offences committed in county Donegal and Dublin between 1992 and 1994. The man was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault and two counts of rape after a jury trial. In her victim impact statement, the woman outlined how the abuse began when she was approximately ten years old and escalated to rape when she was twelve. She told the court of enduring panic attacks, anxiety, depression and flashbacks in adulthood, which have affected her relationships and employment. The woman also described becoming hypervigilant regarding her own children's safety. Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan adjourned the case to 19 May for sentencing. The defence presented character references and highlighted the defendant's lack of previous convictions and his wife's health dependence on him. The unnamed 66-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a 2017 murder trial, a 35‑year‑old Dublin man, Eric Locke, was accused of strangling 31‑year‑old Sonia Blount in a Plaza Hotel room in Tallaght on 16 February 2014. Locke had assumed a false identity, presenting himself as Shane Cully, to meet Blount after their brief relationship ended. He brought cable ties, masking tape and a realistic‑looking airgun to the room, items he claimed were intended to overpower her. Blount was found lying on the floor with a garment in her mouth, having died of asphyxiation and strangulation. Locke pleaded not guilty but his defence admitted he caused her death. The prosecution argued he strangled her after panicking when she saw the items, while the defence sought to establish diminished responsibility. The jury was instructed to consider Locke's mental state and the evidence of their communications. The trial was scheduled to last about two weeks.
A pig farmer from County Longford has appealed his conviction for false imprisonment and related offences, alleging interference with a juror during his trial. Donal Connaughton, aged 58, from Elfeet, Newtowncashel, was convicted in 2013 following an incident at his farm in April 2010 when he directed two repossession agents into a pen with an agitated boar. He was found guilty on charges of false imprisonment, threatening serious harm, and assault, and was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment. His barrister argued before the Court of Appeal that the trial did not proceed in accordance with law due to alleged contact between a juror and third parties. The prosecution contended the allegation lacked evidential foundation, noting that eleven of twelve jurors confirmed no interference occurred. The three-judge court reserved judgement on the appeal. Connaughton remains on bail pending the determination of the case. Donal Connaughton pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
In a Dublin court, Vesel Jahiri, 35, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Anna Finnegan, 25, who had fled to a women's refuge after enduring abuse. Jahiri also received a four‑year sentence for assaulting Anna's brother Karl. The trial highlighted Jahiri's violent conduct, including an assault on the prosecution lawyer, and his refusal to listen to the victim impact statement. Lisa Finnegan, Anna's sister, delivered a powerful statement about the terror her family endured and called for stronger legal protection for women in abusive relationships. The judge, Paul Coffey, noted the severity of the crime and the need for safety measures for victims. The sentencing underscored the court's commitment to holding perpetrators accountable for violent domestic abuse. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.
Darren Goodwin, who was sentenced to life in prison at 16 for the 2003 murder of 14‑year‑old Darragh Conroy, was released last year after a psychiatric review. At a Central Criminal Court hearing on 8 May 2017, Goodwin gave an undertaking not to travel within an eight‑kilometre zone centred on Mountmellick unless he receives verbal permission from probation services. He agreed to this condition when his barrister, Patrick Gageby SC, explained that his parents live near Mountmellick and that he might wish to visit them. Goodwin's statement was "I agree to that." The court noted that the family had wanted to move out of the area but found it impractical. The hearing reaffirmed the conditions of Goodwin's release and his commitment to remain outside the specified zone unless authorised.
A 35‑year‑old man, Eric Locke, is set to go on trial for the murder of Sonia Blount, who was found dead in a room at the Plaza Hotel in Tallaght on 16 February 2014. Locke was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court, pleaded not guilty, and a jury of eight men and four women was sworn in. The case will be heard by Mr Justice Michael Moriarty and is expected to last about two weeks.
Dublin woman Hazel Waters, 46, pleaded guilty to manslaughter of her two‑year‑old son, Muhammad Hassan Khan, who was found dead with stab wounds in their home on 16 October 2014. She denied murder but admitted manslaughter. The plea was accepted by the State. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC noted psychiatric reports would be submitted and issues of diminished responsibility considered. Justice Patrick McCarthy adjourned sentencing to 23 May.
In the trial of Dylan Hayes (22) and Ger Hogan (33) for the murder of 26‑year‑old Shane Murphy, former partner Jodie Byrnes testified that she witnessed Hayes stab Murphy during a fight at Sharon Kelly's house in Pallasgreen. Byrnes, who had ended her relationship with Hayes in October 2014, was in bed the night before Murphy's death when she was awakened by a man who had removed her clothing. She described seeing Hayes, visibly angry, with a knife in his pants, and later pulling the knife out to stab Murphy twice in the chest and stomach. Byrnes also reported that Hogan was present and allegedly stabbed Murphy at the same time. She claimed to have tried to intervene, but Hayes struck her above the elbow before withdrawing. The case remains pending before a jury and Justice Patrick McCarthy. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
A jury could not reach a verdict in the trial of 34‑year‑old Gary Walsh, who was charged with murdering 62‑year‑old Cathal Sweeney. Walsh had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in February 2014. The case centred on an incident in a mutual friend's flat where Walsh punched Sweeney repeatedly after Sweeney denied a sexual assault allegation. The assault left Sweeney with blunt‑force trauma to the head and face, leading to his death. The pathologist attributed the fatal injuries to the punches, noting Sweeney's warfarin therapy and other health issues. The prosecution argued that the blows were intended to cause serious injury, warranting a murder conviction, while the defence contended Walsh could not have known of Sweeney's medical conditions. After five hours of deliberation over two days, the jury was unable to agree on a verdict, and the judge recorded an "Unable to agree" decision, returning the case for further consideration.
In 2012, Garrett O'Brien, 39, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment for the killing of Seamus O'Byrne, 27, in Tallaght. O'Brien's lawyers argue that his fair‑trial rights were violated because the jury never clarified whether he was found guilty as the gunman or merely a "gopher" in a joint enterprise. They claim the prosecution presented a dual case—first as a joint enterprise, then as a triggerman—creating a procedural flaw. The appeal, lodged in the Court of Appeal, contends that if the jury had reasonable doubt about O'Brien's role as the gunman, he should have been acquitted. The defense also challenges the judge's directions regarding the necessity of a search warrant and the legality of data obtained from a third‑party subcontractor. The prosecution maintains that all evidence pointed to O'Brien as the gunman and that the jury's lack of specificity should not affect the conviction. The Court of Appeal has reserved its decision. Garrett O'Brien pleaded not guilty.
During the murder trial of Dylan Hayes and Ger Hogan, witness Jodie Byrnes testified that she could not recall the events of the night Shane Murphy was stabbed because she was "stoned" on prescribed tablets and alcohol. Byrnes, who had a former relationship with Hayes, was staying at Sharon Kelly's home in Pallasgreen the weekend before Murphy's death. She described drinking and taking tablets, going to bed early, and being awakened by an unknown man who attempted to pull her pants down, prompting her to scream. She claimed the man was "out of it" and was later thrown out of the house. Byrnes said she could not remember speaking to Hayes or seeing any interaction between the accused and Murphy, and she could not recall seeing Murphy being stabbed. The judge instructed the jury to return the next day. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty. Dylan Hayes pleaded not guilty. Ger Hogan pleaded not guilty.
An unnamed 53-year-old father of five, who pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court, had his sentencing adjourned until May 24 by Mr Justice Paul Butler. The court heard that the man raped his then heavily pregnant partner twice at their home in December 2014. The jury found him guilty following a three-week trial. In a separate December 2016 conviction, the man was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault against the same victim, for which Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy sentenced him to seven and a half years, with the final six months suspended. The current proceedings concern the two rape charges. The victim, who gave birth three days after the first rape, described being left stunned and suffering a nervous breakdown. She stated she believed the accused should never be released. The defense, represented by Blaise O'Carroll SC, argued the relationship had initially been loving and that the accused was the primary carer for their child. The man has not started a sex offenders course in prison as directed by Ms Justice Murphy. The matter was adjourned and is not concluded.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Dylan Hayes (22) and Ger Hogan (33) pleaded not guilty to the murder of 26‑year‑old Shane Murphy on 30 April 2015. Witness Graham Kelly testified that Murphy had head‑butted Hogan during an argument before the fatal fight, noting Hogan's nose was bleeding. Kelly also recounted that the accused men shouted, "Give it to him, give it to him," during the attack. Ailish Flood, who had stayed at the house that night, described a chaotic scene with drinking and shouting. She said the accused men, including Hayes who had a plastic toy gun, were in a bad state and that they began attacking Murphy. Flood claimed she saw Hayes holding a knife and Hogan holding a screwdriver, and that they stabbed Murphy. The trial will continue before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
The Central Criminal Court jury resumed deliberations on the murder trial of 34‑year‑old Gary Walsh, who is charged with killing 62‑year‑old Cathal Sweeney in Ashdale Gardens, Terenure. Sweeney died from blunt‑force trauma after being punched in the face while watching rugby in a friend's flat. Walsh, a father‑of‑one living in Templeogue, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in 2014. The jury heard arguments from both sides on Tuesday, spent nearly two hours today, and adjourned for the evening.
In December 2015, 29‑year‑old Damien Klasinski, a Polish native, was driving on Eyre Street, Newbridge, when he struck and killed 56‑year‑old Kildare councillor Willie Crowley. Klasinski was speeding, did not brake or sound his horn, and fled the scene. He was later arrested after hiding in a friend's house. Crowley died from head injuries at Naas Hospital a few days later. Klasinski pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and faces a custodial sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court heard that Klasinski had 13 prior traffic convictions, had been disqualified from driving in 2016, and had a history of drunk driving. Witnesses described the impact as sending Crowley airborne, and the road was wet with poor lighting. The judge noted Klasinski's speed was far above the 50 km/h limit, possibly up to 80 km/h, and adjourned sentencing to 12 May.
In a 2015 incident in Darndale, Dublin, 20‑year‑old Glen Lieghio, part of a group of 20‑30 youths, threw stones, bottles and other objects at Gardaí who were attempting to investigate a dangerously driven stolen car. Lieghio addressed one officer by name, threatening, "Next time you are in Darndale, you are dead." A rock thrown at another Garda struck his mobile phone. Lieghio was arrested a few days later and pleaded guilty to violent disorder and criminal damage. He had no prior convictions. Judge Karen O'Connor, noting the extreme violence and the lack of injuries, found the behaviour unacceptable but also acknowledged Lieghio's remorse and acceptance of responsibility. She imposed an 18‑month sentence, suspended in full, conditioned on a good‑behaviour bond and one year of probation supervision. No jail time was imposed. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The Gardaí involved were Sergeant Brendan Bergin and Garda James Mulhern.
William Mannion, 49, of Clygeen, Legan, Co Longford, appeared at the Central Criminal Court for sentencing. He pleaded guilty to seven charges, including three counts of anal rape and one sexual assault of a niece aged seven between June and August 2006. He also admitted to sexually assaulting her older sister three years prior, when she was seven, and two charges each of sexually assaulting their then nine-year-old and 16-year-old cousins between October 2001 and June 2010. Prosecution counsel Gerard Clarke SC noted the victims consented to Mannion's identification but requested anonymity for themselves. Defence counsel Mary Rose Gearty SC highlighted Mannion's low intellectual functioning, unemployment, and inability to read or write. She also referenced his 1997 conviction for unlawful carnal knowledge of a 14-year-old. Although the validated stage is sentence, Mr Justice McCarthy remanded Mannion in continuing custody until May 11 for sentence. The court heard detailed allegations regarding the nature of the assaults, including instances where Mannion allegedly covered victims' mouths or threatened them. Victim impact reports were submitted but not read. The matter was adjourned to May 11 for the final sentencing hearing.
During a murder trial, a witness claimed he pulled Dylan Hayes (22) and Ger Hogan (33) away from Shane Murphy (26) at a house in Pallasgreen, Co. Limerick, on 30 April 2015. The witness, who was heavily intoxicated and had taken tablets, said he had seen Hayes with a toy gun and told him to throw it out the window. He described arriving at the house, where the accused, the victim, the victim's girlfriend Sharon Kelly, Jodie Byrnes, and another girl were present. He heard screaming, entered the sitting room, and saw a fight between the victim and the two accused. He said he broke up the fight, pulled the men apart, and struck them. After the men left, he opened the victim's top, saw he was bleeding, and attempted to resuscitate him while a woman was on a 999 call. He admitted he could not remember details due to intoxication and drugs. Dylan Hayes pleaded not guilty. Ger Hogan pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard closing speeches in the trial of 34‑year‑old Gary Walsh, charged with murdering 62‑year‑old Cathal Sweeney. Walsh, a father‑of‑one, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter on 8 February 2014. Prosecutor Patrick McCarthy SC argued that Walsh's intent to cause serious injury, evidenced by multiple punches that fractured Sweeney's nose and cheekbone, warranted a murder conviction. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC highlighted Sweeney's pre‑existing medical conditions, including warfarin use and liver problems, suggesting that these contributed to the fatal bleeding and that the injuries alone may not have been the natural and probable cause of death. Grehan urged the jury to find Walsh not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, noting the possibility of neglect and the lack of immediate medical intervention. Judge Michael Moriarty instructed the jury of twelve, with proceedings to continue the following morning.
Thomas Fox, 29, of Rutland Court, Dublin, was charged with the murder of Gareth Hutch, who was shot dead outside his home on North Cumberland Street, Dublin 1, on 24 May 2016. Fox had previously applied for bail on 10 February 2016, which was refused by Justice Isobel Kennedy under the "O'Callaghan" principles and section 2 of the Bail Act 1997. He applied again in the High Court on 2 May 2017. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Eoghan Cole BL, argued that there had been no sufficient change of circumstances to justify bail, citing Fox's claim of asthma and the fact that he received three stab wounds while in custody. Fox's counsel, Dean Kelly BL, contended that the assault represented a change in circumstances. Justice Paul Coffey rejected the bail application, stating the matter had been "substantially considered" previously by Justice Kennedy. The High Court therefore refused bail for a second time.
Dwayne Keane, 25, of Raheen Drive, Ballyfermot, was charged with attempted murder of Jason Williams, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and assault causing harm. The High Court refused his bail application, citing Chief Superintendent Lorraine Wheatley's evidence under Section 2(A) of the Bail Act that bail would risk a serious offence. Justice Paul Coffey applied the "O'Callaghan" principles and Section 2 of the Bail Act 1997 to reject the application. Keane was remanded in custody until the trial, expected to start on 9 April next year.
Angelique Arundel, 31, of Shannon Lawn, Mayfield, Co Cork, and John O'Donnell were convicted of aggravated burglary at a home in Churchtown, Mallow, on 28 and 29 August 2015. Arundel pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years' imprisonment by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on 2 February 2016. She appealed the sentence, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal today, holding that a five‑year term was appropriate for an aggravated burglary involving an armed intrusion into a family bedroom. The Court noted that the victim, a man in his 70s, his partner and a two‑year‑old son, awoke to glass breaking; a man with a sledgehammer and Arundel with an iron bar entered the bedroom. The co‑accused demanded €3,000 the next day and threatened the victim with violence and a gun. Arundel had 63 prior convictions, mainly for public order and road traffic offences.
John Devereux, a 52‑year‑old former HSE paramedic and volunteer ambulance driver, was convicted of three counts of sexual assault against a nine‑year‑old girl. He had denied ten alleged assaults in 2012 and 2013; a jury acquitted him of seven counts but found him guilty of three. The court noted his previous roles as an ambulance driver with the Order of Malta and a scout leader, and that he is now a registered sex offender who will lose his job and cannot continue in voluntary organisations. Devereux maintains his innocence and intends to appeal. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to a three‑and‑a‑half‑year term, suspending the last year on the condition of community‑based and in‑house treatment for sex offenders upon release. The sentence reflects the court's view that the offences involved sexual touching and rubbing of the child, and that Devereux had not expressed remorse.
During a trial for the murder of 26‑year‑old Shane Murphy, Dylan Hayes (22) and Ger Hogan (33) pleaded not guilty. The case centers on an argument that occurred moments before the fatal stabbing at The Grove, Pallasgreen, on 30 April 2015. Sharon Kelly, who had been dating the victim for three months, testified that a group was drinking at her home that night and that she had refused entry to Hayes, calling him "out of his head." She claimed Hayes believed a previous night's alleged rape attempt on her girlfriend, Jodie Byrnes, and that she herself had called Hayes a "junkie," an insult she said had inflamed him. Kelly also alleged that she saw Hogan and Hayes stab Murphy repeatedly with a knife and a screwdriver, a claim Hogan's counsel disputed, insisting his client was punching. The trial continues before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of five women and seven men.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Jonathan Dowdall and his father, Patrick Dowdall, admitted to falsely imprisoning and threatening to kill Alexander Hurley at their Navan Road, Dublin 7, home on January 15, 2015. Both defendants pleaded guilty to these charges. The court viewed mobile phone footage showing Jonathan Dowdall, wearing a balaclava, holding a tea-towel to Mr. Hurley's face and pouring water over his head. Prosecutors stated the Dowdalls believed Mr. Hurley was attempting to defraud them by seeking bank details under the guise of being a barrister. Mr. Hurley, who has two prior fraud convictions, was bound to a chair for three hours and subjected to threats of violence. In a victim impact statement, Mr. Hurley described the incident as brutal, noting he lost his job and friends and that his psychological injuries would never fully heal. Defense counsel apologized on behalf of the defendants, who have no previous convictions. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan, remanded the Dowdalls in custody until May 19, when they will be sentenced.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 34‑year‑old Gary Walsh, of The Watercourse, Orwell Park, Templeogue, was charged with murdering 62‑year‑old former rugby captain Cathal Sweeney in Ashdale Gardens, Terenure. Walsh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter on 8 February 2014. He told Gardaí that he had punched Sweeney several times after an argument that began while they were watching a rugby match between Ireland and Wales in a friend's flat. Walsh claimed he struck Sweeney until the latter admitted he had sexually assaulted another man, a claim he said Sweeney denied. Walsh said he had no intention of killing Sweeney and called an ambulance after finding him slumped. The court heard that Sweeney died of blunt‑force trauma to the head and face. The trial continued with jury instructions given by Justice Michael Moriarty.
Martin O'Hara, a 31-year-old defendant with a previous conviction for rape, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting his former girlfriend in Tallaght on July 28, 2016. O'Hara pleaded guilty to the charge of assaulting the woman causing her harm. Judge Karen O'Connor described the incident as violent and aggressive behaviour that occurred in the presence of the couple's six-month-old baby. The judge noted that while the physical effects were at the lower end of the scale, the victim suffered psychological trauma. O'Connor acknowledged O'Hara's remorse and recent efforts at rehabilitation and counselling. The court imposed a 12-month prison term. Prosecution evidence detailed that O'Hara punched the woman after an argument, subsequently left with the baby without her consent, and assaulted her sister and partner while they attempted to retrieve the child. The baby was returned uninjured. Defence counsel highlighted O'Hara's history of anger issues and drug abuse, noting he had taken steps towards rehabilitation for the first time. The judge considered his guilty plea and remorse when determining the sentence.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, evidence was presented that 62‑year‑old Cathal Sweeney died from blunt force trauma to the head and face after being repeatedly punched by his friend, 34‑year‑old Gary Walsh, while watching a rugby match on television. Dr Michael Curtis, the Deputy State Pathologist, testified that Sweeney's nose and left cheekbone were broken, with lacerations and a deep gash on his forehead. He described extensive bruising on the face, scalp, mouth, body and all four limbs, including tearing of muscle in the back. The injuries caused brain swelling, impaired breathing, and blood in the nostrils, which, combined with Sweeney's warfarin therapy, prevented clotting and increased bleeding. Sweeney also had coronary artery disease and an enlarged heart. The cause of death was stated as blunt force trauma to the head and face with profuse hemorrhage on a background of coronary artery atheroma, an enlarged heart and warfarin therapy.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Tanaiste Joan Burton recounted a frightening encounter with anti‑water‑charge protesters on 15 November 2014 in Tallaght. She said she and her adviser, Karen O'Connell, were moved from a garda car to a waiting jeep amid a hostile crowd that shouted abuse and threw eggs. Burton described being struck twice in the back of the neck—first by a ball‑like object and later by a water bomb that drenched her hair and jacket. She recalled the crowd's violent surge, the loss of her shoe, and the fear of nearby children. The incident led to charges of false imprisonment against Paul Murphy, Kieran Mahon, Michael Murphy and four others, all of whom denied the allegations. The trial, presided over by Judge Melanie Greally, is ongoing.
A jury was discharged in the Limerick murder trial of Dylan Hayes, 22, and Ger Hogan, 33, who had pleaded not guilty to the killing of 26‑year‑old Shane Murphy on 30 April 2015. Justice Patrick McCarthy, sitting at the Central Criminal Court, thanked the five women and seven men for their service and exempted them from further jury duty for ten years. He explained that a legal issue had arisen preventing the trial from continuing. A new jury of seven men and five women will begin hearing evidence this afternoon.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Gary Walsh, 34, has heard evidence regarding the condition of the deceased, Cathal Sweeney, hours before his fatal assault. Walsh, of Templeogue, Dublin, is charged with murdering Sweeney in Ashdale Gardens, Terenure, on 8th February 2014. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Witness Michael McGuinness, a taxi driver, testified that Sweeney, a 62-year-old former rugby captain, was injured, shaking, and using a crutch when he flagged him down that morning. McGuinness noted Sweeney had difficulty entering the vehicle and appeared in bad condition, with a graze on his face. Sweeney stated he had fainted at a bus stop the previous night and been taken to James's Hospital. The driver assisted Sweeney in withdrawing €200 from a bank machine and purchasing items from a shop before driving him to the flat in Terenure between 10:30 and 11:00 am. McGuinness described Sweeney as an apologetic and conversational passenger who mentioned he was going to watch a rugby match with friends. The witness also noted Sweeney's history with alcohol and his pride in his sons' rugby achievements. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael Moriarty and a jury of six women and six men.
In the Central Criminal Court trial of Gary Walsh, the barrister Brendan Grehan SC cross‑examined witness Colm Campbell. Campbell testified that he saw Walsh punching and kicking Cathal Sweeney in his bedroom, but he could not recall the assault in the living room, even after hypnosis. He suggested he might have been in a blackout or had suppressed the memory. Grehan challenged Campbell's account, proposing that he might be a manipulative liar trying to distance himself from the events. Campbell denied this, insisting he was not conveniently forgetting or lying. The case remains before Mr Justice Michael Moriarty and a jury of twelve. The trial concerns Walsh's murder charge of Sweeney, who was killed on 8 February 2014 at Walsh's flat in Ashdale Gardens, Terenure. Walsh has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The proceedings continue.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 31‑year‑old Latvian man, Andrejs Krauze, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his 30‑year‑old brother, Juris Buls, who was strangled in July 2011 in Galway. The jury, after nearly five hours of deliberation, found Krauze guilty of murder. The prosecution argued that Krauze killed Buls after the victim refused to withdraw an assault complaint. Victim impact statements were read by the court, detailing Buls's role as a hardworking family provider who had moved to Ireland for better opportunities. The judge, Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan, imposed the mandatory life sentence, back‑dated to January 2016. The case highlighted the discovery of Buls's body in a drain and the subsequent investigation that led to Krauze's arrest and extradition. The sentencing was conducted without the presence of Buls's relatives, who were unable to attend in Ireland. Andrejs Krauze pleaded not guilty.
In a 2017 trial, Sharon Kelly testified that she tried to stop her boyfriend Shane Murphy's murder by two men, Dylan Hayes and Ger Hogan, on 30 April 2015. Kelly, who had been with Murphy for about three months, was at her home with two women and Hogan when Hayes arrived with a gun and another man. Kelly said she told the men to leave, but they entered and began stabbing Murphy. She attempted to intervene, was pushed aside, and was stabbed in the hands and back. Hayes used a screwdriver and Hogan a knife. The attack lasted about four to five minutes, leaving Murphy blood‑covered on the floor. Kelly called emergency services; by the time they arrived, Murphy was dead. She will continue to give evidence before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury. Dylan Hayes pleaded not guilty. Ger Hogan pleaded not guilty.
Michael Daly, aged 18, was sentenced to 18 months in jail for his role in an unprovoked attack on Jack Serole, who was stabbed 20 times and pushed into the Royal Canal on 18 May 2015. The court found that Daly pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. He was one of three teenagers charged; the other two received 18 months and three‑and‑a‑half years respectively. Serole, originally from Botswana, suffered 20 stab wounds, hypothermia and broken front teeth, and later reported anxiety and bodily pains. CCTV footage identified Daly as one of the assailants; he admitted to hitting and kicking Serole but denied pushing him into the canal. Daly had four prior convictions and was in custody for two weeks before sentencing. Judge Martin Nolan described the offence as gravely reprehensible and extremely serious. The final nine months of the sentence were suspended.
During a murder trial, witness Colm Campbell testified that he had attempted hypnosis to recall the start of a fatal assault on rugby captain Cathal Sweeney. Campbell, an alcoholic, described the evening of 8 February 2014 when he, Gary Walsh, and Sweeney were drinking and watching a rugby match at Walsh's flat. He recalled hearing noise from the bedroom, an argument, and slaps or thumps. He said he saw Walsh punching Sweeney, using elbows, and kicking him in the head. Sweeney was left motionless, unconscious, with a swollen, bruised face and cuts. Campbell claimed he shouted for Walsh to stop, but could not remember how the initial assault began. He has since sought hypnosis to recover any missing details, but remains uncertain of the exact trigger of the violence.
During a house party at The Grove, Pallasgreen, a 31‑year‑old man named Shane Murphy was stabbed and died from a heart wound. Dylan Hayes (22) and Ger Hogan (33) were charged with murder and pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, represented by Paul Burns SC, argued that Hayes and Hogan attacked Murphy with intent to kill or cause serious injury. The trial began with the prosecution outlining the events: a birthday celebration at the home of Murphy's girlfriend, Sharon Kelly, where a drunken man named Wayne was found beside a guest, Jodie Byrnes, who fled the bed. The next day, after a gathering at Kelly's house, Hayes was called by a partygoer and arrived shortly thereafter, leading to an altercation. The prosecution claimed that Hayes and Hogan then attacked Murphy, resulting in multiple stab wounds to his arms, abdomen and chest, with a fatal wound to the heart. Resuscitation attempts failed and Murphy died at the scene.
In a 2015 incident at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Blanchardstown, a 28‑year‑old man named Keith Hearne tied up and raped a 24‑year‑old woman who was volunteering at the ArcadeCon gaming convention. Hearne threatened her with a prop knife, bound her hands with a tie, and forced her to submit to sexual assault. He was arrested on the scene after a conference worker entered the room with a key card. Hearne pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, one count of oral rape and one count of false imprisonment. He also admitted to possessing a bag containing a prop knife, handcuffs, condoms, a mask and sadomasochistic items, which was found at the scene. The Central Criminal Court adjourned sentencing to June 19 to obtain further medical reports. The victim, who has suffered ongoing depression, PTSD, self‑harm and suicidal thoughts, has chosen to waive her anonymity.
Two men, Dylan Hayes, 22, of The Crescent, Kilteragh, Dooradoyle, and Ger Hogan, 33, of Raheen Square, Ballinacurra Weston, will stand trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 31‑year‑old Shane Murphy. The alleged killing took place at The Grove, Pallasgreen, on 30 April 2015. Both pleaded not guilty. Justice Patrick McCarthy has sworn a jury of seven men and five women to hear the case, which is expected to last three weeks.
A 33‑year‑old Wexford man was convicted of orally raping his partner's seven‑year‑old son between 1 March and 30 September 2013 after the boy's mother had gone on an errand. The offence took place at the man's rented home. He denied the charge and has no remorse. The Central Criminal Court found him guilty of one count of oral rape. Mr Justice Paul Butler sentenced him to seven and a half years, suspending the final two and a half years on conditions including no contact with the victim. The judge noted the offence was a single incident, not a pattern of abuse, and that the man had a prior burglary conviction. The victim's mother described the child's emotional and academic decline following the assault. The boy, aged eight at the time of a Garda interview, reported the man's abusive language and forced sexual act. The mother's impact statement highlighted the child's trauma and loss of safety.
Trevor Noone, aged 29 and resident of Blanchardstown, was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for his role in the brutal manslaughter of teenager Daniel McAnaspie, who was stabbed to death on 26 February 2010 at Tolka Valley Park. Noone pleaded guilty in February. Daniel's body was found in a drainage ditch in County Meath almost three months after the murder. Noone and Richard Dekker lured Daniel to a secluded area of the park under the pretense of confronting "some lads from Corduff"; instead, Daniel was stabbed multiple times with garden shears. Justice Patrick McCarthy described the offence as "quite a horrific nature" and noted that Daniel, an orphan in HSE care, had done nothing to deserve the violence. Noone's prior criminal history and psychological profile were considered, and his guilty plea and remorse led to a reduced sentence of 13 years, back‑dated for time already served.
A 35‑year‑old woman, Monika Matracka, was sentenced to six years in prison for manslaughter after she stabbed her former partner, 38‑year‑old Michal Rejmer, to death. The killing occurred between 8 pm on 30 December and midnight on 31 December 2015 at their shared home in The Pines, Briarfield, Castletroy, Limerick. After the murder, Matracka hid Rejmer's body in the back garden and attempted to destroy evidence. She pleaded not guilty to murder but was found guilty of manslaughter by a majority jury. The judge noted her lack of prior convictions, her early remorse and the mitigating circumstances, and decided on a six‑year term, suspended for two years, but reduced to a straight six years due to complications with potential transfer to Poland. The sentence was back‑dated to her arrest on 8 January 2016. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court. The unnamed 35-year-old was acquitted.
Gary Walsh, 34, of The Watercourse, Orwell Park, Templeogue, admitted killing 62‑year‑old Cathal Sweeney in a flat in Ashdale Gardens, Terenure, on 8 February 2014 while they were watching an Ireland‑England rugby match. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The prosecution, led by Patrick McCarthy SC, argued that an assault began after Walsh confronted Sweeney over a previously withdrawn sexual‑assault allegation. Walsh allegedly struck Sweeney six or seven times, causing blunt‑force trauma to the head and face. Paramedics found Sweeney unresponsive with no pulse; he was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. The case is being heard by Mr Justice Michael Moriarty with a jury of twelve, and the trial is expected to last about seven days.
In a 2017 trial, John Joseph Malone, aged 53, was found guilty of murdering 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on 11 September 1987. The Central Criminal Court jury, after 3 hours 26 minutes of deliberation, returned a unanimous verdict. Malone strangled Smyth before setting her Wolfe Tone Street home on fire. He had been on bail when the trial began, but his bail was revoked after he shouted abuse at 81‑year‑old Eileen Kelly, who later testified. The court delayed sentencing to allow Smyth's family to speak. Justice Patrick McCarthy imposed a life imprisonment sentence, exempting the jury from further service for ten years. The case was reopened in 2012 when witnesses, including members of a Presbyterian Bible group, came forward with statements that Malone had confessed to the murder and the fire. The trial relied on witness testimony and a pathologist's report showing strangulation before the fire. No forensic evidence was presented.
A jury has begun deliberating on the verdict in a cold case murder trial. The accused, John Joseph Malone, 53, of Newpark, Kilkenny City, pleaded not guilty to the strangulation and subsequent arson that killed 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on 11 September 1987 at Wolfe Tone Street. Justice Patrick McCarthy delivered a charge to the jury at the Central Criminal Court, stressing that a unanimous verdict is required and that the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that Malone caused Ms Smyth's death.
In a court‑martial held at the Military Justice Centre in Dublin, Sergeant Martin Dougan was found not guilty of assaulting Corporal Niall McShane during a night out in Lebanon. The incident was alleged to have taken place in a pub on the morning of 9 March 2014, after the men had visited Naqoura the previous evening. McShane claimed he was struck in the left eye by Dougan, while Dougan denied the assault. The board of officers, acting like a jury, deliberated for 90 minutes and returned a verdict of not guilty on both the civil and Defence Forces Act charges. A separate charge that Dougan was intoxicated on the day of the alleged assault was dismissed due to lack of evidence. Dougan had denied all accusations during the hearing. The trial concluded with Dougan acquitted of the assault allegations.
In a cold‑case murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Judge Patrick McCarthy delivered a six‑hour charge to a jury of seven men and five women. The case concerns John Joseph Malone, aged 53, who has pleaded not guilty to the 1987 strangulation and subsequent arson that killed 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on Wolfe Tone Street, Kilkenny City. The judge paused the proceedings before 5 pm and promised to resume the next morning.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Vesel Jahiri was found guilty by a unanimous jury of murdering his former partner Anna Finnegan, aged 25, and of assaulting her brother Karl Finnegan. The trial, lasting eight weeks, included testimony that Jahiri had threatened Finnegan on a phone call and that he stabbed her in her own home on 21 September 2012. Witnesses described a violent confrontation in which Jahiri forced the door, stabbed Finnegan and Karl, and fled in his car. Jahiri represented himself, was removed from court multiple times, and was escorted by riot police when the verdicts were announced. The judge set a sentencing date for 8 May, remanded Jahiri in custody, and thanked the jury for their service. The case concluded with the jury's decision and the court's adjournment for sentencing. Anna Finnegan pleaded not guilty. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.
A military court at the Military Justice Centre in McKee Barracks, Dublin, has begun deliberations in the trial of Sergeant Martin Dougan, who is accused of assaulting Corporal Niall McShane. The alleged incident occurred on 9 March 2014 in a pub in Naqoura, Lebanon, while both men were serving with the Irish Defence Forces. Sgt Dougan, represented by Gerard Humphreys BL and Patricia McKenna BL, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecution, led by Colonel Gerry Lane, argued that the board could trust Cpl McShane's evidence, noting that his memory of the assault was recovered after sessions with a Defence Forces psychologist, despite the complaint being made a year later. In closing remarks, the defence counsel highlighted gaps in the prosecution's case, asserting that reasonable doubt remained regarding whether Sgt Dougan was the assailant. A separate charge alleging Sgt Dougan was under the influence of an intoxicant was previously thrown out by military judge Colonel Michael Campion due to a lack of evidence. The board of officers is now set to determine the outcome of the trial.
In a 2017 murder trial, a 69‑year‑old woman was killed in a "callous and violent death" when she was strangled and her house set on fire. The prosecution, led by Sean Gillane SC, argued that the victim's injuries were consistent with strangulation and blows to the head and mouth, and that the accused, 53‑year‑old John Joseph Malone, had confessed to the crime to church members. Witnesses placed Malone at the victim's home around 12:30 am, where he allegedly argued with her and was seen acting suspiciously. Malone denied the killing and the arson. The defence, represented by Colman Cody SC, contended that the case was pursued because of later confessions, not because of forensic evidence, and that the police had focused on Malone for years. The jury was instructed to decide only whether the prosecution proved Malone's guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The judge would give his charge the following day. John Joseph Malone pleaded not guilty.