Richard Dekker, aged 30, was found guilty of murdering 17‑year‑old Daniel McAnaspie, who was in the care of the HSE when he was killed. The boy's body was discovered on 13 May 2010 in a drainage ditch in Rathfeigh, Co Meath, after a search that began when he was reported missing. Dekker was convicted by a unanimous jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court on 26 February 2010, following a week‑long trial and more than eight hours of deliberation. The conviction was the first under the Criminal Justice Procedure Act 2010, which allowed the State to retry Dekker after his 2013 acquittal. He faces a mandatory life sentence. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for 3 April 2016. The case involved allegations that Dekker lured Daniel to Tolka Valley Park, where Trevor Noone stabbed him with garden shears. Noone pleaded guilty to manslaughter last month.
Karl Finnegan, brother of the deceased Anna Finnegan, gave evidence in the Central Criminal Court trial of Vesel Jahiri. Finnegan described a violent incident on 21 September 2012 at the Finnegan home in Clonsilla, where Jahiri allegedly forced the front door, attacked Anna and Finnegan, and used a knife. Finnegan said he was struck, fell, and blacked out, later waking with stab wounds to his head and chest. He recounted seeing Jahiri with a knife, hearing a loud bang, and being unable to recall Anna's whereabouts. Finnegan also testified that he was injured, had difficulty breathing, and was hospitalized for three days. He denied that he had seen Jahiri hold a knife when entering the house and stated he was as truthful as possible. The trial continues before Mr Justice Coffey and a jury of nine men and three women, expected to last four to five weeks. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Ciprian Grozavu, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jonathan Duke, aged 27, who was found strangled and "trussed up" in the River Bandon on 13 November 2011. The prosecution presented evidence that Duke was seen alive that evening at Bridge House, Bandon, and later discovered dead in the river. Witnesses from apartments 2 and 3 reported a serious commotion, with one individual stepping into the hallway to investigate. The court heard that Grozavu, Duke, and Catherine O'Connor—who had previously been convicted of Duke's murder—were together that night, had consumed alcohol, and that Grozavu and O'Connor were involved in assaulting and disposing of Duke. Gardaí testimony included attempts to enter apartment 3 and blood patches on the stairs. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, is expected to last two weeks.
In a Family Court hearing on 6 March 2017, a husband applied for an emergency protection order against his wife, claiming she had made his life a "total nightmare" through alleged domestic abuse. He presented a video in which their three young children said, "Daddy hits Mummy every day," and that they intended to become doctors and gardai to protect their mother. The husband denied ever striking his wife, stating, "I never hit her. She is trying to destroy me," and expressed fear of her future actions. He also alleged that his wife threatened to have him jailed, claiming that in Ireland a woman is believed even if she lies. Judge Brendan Furlong rejected the application, noting the husband had not alleged violence and therefore could not be granted an emergency protection order. The judge set a date for a hearing on a separate matter. The husband's request was denied.
Stephen McKeever, an 18‑year‑old teenager, called the local Garda station from a public phone box on Tyrconnell Road, claiming a bomb had been planted at his friend's house on Thomas Davis Street, Inchicore. The call was made out of curiosity about the phone boxes and a mischief motive, not malice. Garda Shane Cahill dispatched eight officers to investigate; after a thorough search, the house was cleared as a hoax. McKeever pleaded guilty to knowingly making a false report on 13 December 2015. He has 14 prior convictions for assault, theft and handling stolen property, all dealt with in the District Court. Judge Melanie Greally, noting his status as a father to a three‑month‑old baby and his lack of recent offences, sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years in prison, suspended in full on strict conditions, including 12 months of engagement with the Probation Service.
In 2015, Jamie O'Brien (21) and Eddie Murphy (26) assaulted Mark Lahive at a Cork business park, using an iron bar to severely beat him for about four minutes. The attack left Lahive with life‑changing injuries, including a comminuted skull fracture, multiple limb fractures, and brain bruising that caused weakness in both limbs. Both men pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm, and Murphy also pleaded guilty to robbery. Judge David Riordan originally sentenced Murphy to eight‑and‑a‑half years (18 months suspended) and O'Brien to six years (one year suspended). The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentences were unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice George Birmingham, increased Murphy's term to eight‑and‑a‑half years and O'Brien's to six‑and‑a‑half years, citing the severity of the assault and the need for a more substantial penalty.
A 20‑year‑old woman pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after inviting a 54‑year‑old man she had been in a sexual relationship with to her apartment so her boyfriend could beat him. The assault took place on 11 August 2015 at her Dublin home. The victim, a father of six, was punched, kicked, stabbed, and suffered broken bones and a wired jaw. The woman was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, which was fully suspended. She was not the ringleader but was prosecuted under joint enterprise for facilitating the attack. The court noted that the garda had given sympathetic evidence, citing her difficult past. The case is separate from a defilement case the Director of Public Prosecutions is considering against the victim. The woman has no prior convictions. The co‑accused in the assault is unnamed and will stand trial on similar charges. The victim's name is withheld for legal reasons.
A Latvian man, Andresj Krauze, 31, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of fellow Latvian Juris Buls, 30, in Galway on 7 or 8 July 2011. Krauze, who lives at Dudley Heights, Glenamaddy, is accused of the killing. At the Central Criminal Court a jury of six men and six women was sworn in, and Justice Patrick McCarthy announced the trial would commence on Wednesday before Justice Margaret Heneghan.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented what it described as "overwhelming evidence" that Thomas O'Connor, aged 29, killed John O'Brien, aged 22, by repeatedly striking him on the head with a rock on 4 June 2010. O'Connor, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, admitted striking O'Brien with a rock and claimed the blows were part of a fight. The prosecution argued that the force used was excessive and that O'Connor's admissions, including that he had "gone too far," supported a murder conviction. Defence counsel noted a partial self‑defence claim and highlighted that no witness saw O'Brien moving after the attack. The trial was ongoing, with defence counsel scheduled to address the jury the following day.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 34‑year‑old man, Robert Maguire, was found to have falsely imprisoned and violently assaulted his 30‑year‑old ex‑girlfriend after learning she had a new partner. The court heard that the woman woke to find Maguire standing over her, spitting and threatening to kill her, before he kicked her in the genitals and beat her until she became unconscious. She and her nine‑year‑old son were left severely traumatised, and she expressed a need for safety and trust in the law. Maguire pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and false imprisonment on 14 January 2012. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Butler, ordered the Probation Service to assess whether Maguire is suitable for community service, noting the false imprisonment was at the lower end of the scale. He remanded Maguire on continuing bail until 22 May, when a sentence will be imposed.
A 71‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to six years in prison for indecent and sexual assault of his nephew between 1989 and 1991, when the boy was aged 15 to 17. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on five counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault. He is already serving an eight‑year sentence for similar offences against another boy during the same period and has 42 prior convictions, including rape and indecent assault. The judge, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, noted that the uncle's high family standing and grooming—showing pornography and attempting anal intercourse—made the conduct exceptionally obnoxious. The sentence was reduced to eight years with the final two years suspended, a decision influenced by the defendant's advanced age. The nephew, now 42, described the abuse as traumatic and the uncle's attempts to silence him during the trial. The unnamed 71-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Roy Webster, a 39-year-old man from Ashbree, Ashford, Co Wicklow, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anne Shortall but guilty to her manslaughter. The prosecution rejected the manslaughter plea, and the matter will proceed to trial on the murder charge. Mr Webster is accused of killing Ms Shortall on April 3, 2015, at The Murrough, Co Wicklow. At the Central Criminal Court, Justice Patrick McCarthy swore in a jury of five women and seven men. The judge indicated that the trial is likely to last two weeks. The jury is scheduled to return on Wednesday morning. This report reflects the procedural stage of trial, where the accused's plea was not accepted, resulting in a full trial on the original murder charge rather than a finalised disposal.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 6 March 2017, Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced Cluskey, aged 25, to nine years' imprisonment for manslaughter after he killed Christopher Nevin with an axe outside a house on Tailteann Road, Navan, on 19 November 2015. Cluskey had been found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. The judge reduced the recommended 12‑year term to nine years, citing Cluskey's early guilty plea and his claim of reasonable self‑defence. The sentence was back‑dated to 23 November 2015, the date Cluskey entered custody. Lisa Nevin, Nevin's wife, was removed from the courtroom after becoming emotional and shouting that she would never see her husband's face again. The case also involved co‑accused Josh Turner, who was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. The judge noted the confrontation between Turner and Nevin, the use of an axe, and the impact statements from Nevin's family.
A jury of eight men and four women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Ciprian Grozavu, a 42‑year‑old Romanian, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jonathan Duke, 27, at Bridge House, Sean Hales Place, Bandon, Co Cork, on 13 November 2011. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, is scheduled to begin that afternoon and is expected to last two weeks.
In the Central Criminal Court, the trial of Vesel Jahiri (35) for the murder of Anna Finnegan (26) and assault on Karl Finnegan was interrupted when Jahiri, standing before the jury, claimed evidence had been tampered with and that the knife used in the alleged murder had its fingerprints wiped. He also demanded to represent himself and accused the court of illegal detention. Judge Paul Coffey asked the jury to leave the courtroom, after which they returned following a half‑hour break. The case, which began with a jury hearing on Wednesday, is expected to continue for four to five weeks. Karl Finnegan, the deceased's brother, had testified that Jahiri and Anna had been in a relationship for about ten years, had two children, and that their relationship had deteriorated in the months leading up to the September 2012 incident. Jahiri has pleaded not guilty to both the murder and the assault.
The 66‑year‑old man, who had previously been convicted of sexual assault, was sentenced by Judge Patricia Ryan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after admitting he had breached a Section 16 sex‑offender order by attempting to talk to children while intoxicated. The order, issued by Judge Martin Nolan in February 2015, prohibited any interaction with children for five years and required the offender to remain unidentified. The man pleaded guilty to the breach on 11 August 2016 and has been in custody since. Judge Ryan imposed an 18‑month sentence, back‑dated to the offence, and suspended the balance on the condition that he complies with all directions of the Probation Service and remains abstinent from non‑prescription intoxicants. He will access a multidisciplinary treatment programme in the community rather than in custody, as outlined in a probation and welfare report presented to the court.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of Christopher McNamara, a 24‑year‑old from Limerick, who had been convicted of murdering a 71‑year‑old retired soldier, James Boyce, in March 2011. The two‑week trial in January 2014 heard that McNamara had confessed to the killing to his mother and that the victim and the accused were friendly, with the younger man tending to the older man's property. The jury found McNamara guilty of murder after an hour‑and‑a‑half of deliberations, and he was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan on 24 January 2014. The prosecution argued the case was a robbery that went wrong, noting that Boyce was a frugal man who kept his savings at home. The Court of Appeal focused on the trial judge's brief explanation of the distinction between murder and manslaughter, concluding that the judge's charge was adequate and the appeal was dismissed.
Martin Stokes, 25, of Corkhill, Kinnegad, was convicted of defilement of a child under 15 and of raping a 14‑year‑old girl in Westmeath on 3 June 2011. He denied the rape and assault, claiming the contact was consensual. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on all counts and sentenced him to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended by Mr Justice Carroll Moran on 7 August 2015. Stokes' appeal against conviction was dismissed in December. On appeal, the Court of Appeal re‑sentenced him to 10 years' imprisonment, suspending the final three years. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan noted that the original judge had given undue weight to Stokes' lies, leading to an error in the starting point of the sentence. The Court of Appeal considered the four‑year delay, Stokes' age at the time of the offence, and the need for rehabilitation, and imposed a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period. Martin Stokes pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the application of an unnamed 77-year-old former professional soccer player to extend the time limit for appealing his convictions. The appellant, who cannot be named to protect his victim, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury in May 2011 on 60 counts of sexual abuse and 14 charges of rape. The alleged offences occurred between January 2002 and September 2006 in Galway and Roscommon, when his daughter was aged between nine and fourteen. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan rejected the request for an extension to appeal the convictions, noting the appellant's failure to lodge the appeal within the standard 28-day window. The judge stated that the appellant failed to establish that the interests of justice required an extension, emphasizing the daughter's "right to closure." Although the court considered a psychological report suggesting the appellant suffers from compulsive obsessive personality disorder, Mr Justice Sheehan deemed it of "extremely limited value." However, the court granted a 21-day extension from the date of the ruling for the appellant to lodge an appeal against his sentence. In May 2011, he was sentenced to ten years in prison on each sexual assault count and fifteen years on each rape count, with the final three years of each sentence suspended. The matter regarding the conviction appeal was dismissed, while the sentence appeal timeline was extended.
A man arrested in County Donegal on a European Arrest Warrant appeared at the High Court in Dublin in connection with the murder of David Black, a Northern Ireland prison officer shot dead on the M1 motorway in November 2012. Damien Joseph McLaughlin, aged 40 and with an address in Belfast, faces charges of aiding and abetting the murder and possession of an article suspected for use in the killing. He is also charged with engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism and membership of a proscribed organisation. Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce of the Special Detective Unit outlined the arrest made in Donegal on Thursday. The defence argued excessive force was used during apprehension and challenged the validity of the arrest. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly rejected the application, noting the serious nature of the terrorism allegations and that the accused had previously breached bail conditions in Northern Ireland. She found the arrest lawful and proportionate. Mr McLaughlin was remanded in custody with the case listed for mention on 20th March.
In a Dublin city centre brawl on 23 May 2016, 19‑year‑old Jordan McGuinness and 20‑year‑old Craig Smith, along with two other men, attacked two students who were walking by. McGuinness punched Lee Whelan, knocking him to the ground, while Smith and another man struck Dylan Campbell with an iron bar and a hammer. CCTV footage showed the assaults and the use of the weapons. Both McGuinness and Smith pleaded guilty to violent disorder at D'Olier Street and were scheduled for sentencing in April 2017. They were also charged with assault causing harm to the victims and, for Smith, production of an offensive weapon. The court noted their remorse and the offers of compensation, but the final sentencing was pending at the time of the report.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Gary Kearney, aged 25, admitted to robbing a man on Millennium Bridge in the early hours of 11 September 2016. Kearney, who has 160 prior convictions including assault, robbery, theft, burglary, criminal damage and public order offences, claimed to be an undercover Garda before handcuffing and robbing the victim. He and an accomplice used handcuffs and quoted sections of law to intimidate the man, who feared being pushed into the Liffey. They removed his phone, travel and bank cards, returned the cards after the victim demanded them back, but re‑handcuffed him when he asked for his phone. Kearney pleaded guilty to robbery, false imprisonment and theft. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to May to allow Kearney to attend a 12‑week residential treatment programme at Cuan Mhuire. The accomplice fled and has not been charged.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 2 March 2017, Mario White, aged 20, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after he threw a glass bottle into the smoking area outside La Fayette bar on 28 March 2015. The bottle struck Warren McKeown, who sustained tendon damage to his left thumb and forearm, impairing his plumbing work and requiring surgery. Judge Gerard Griffin described White's conduct as reckless and gratuitously violent, but, citing his early guilty plea and remorse, suspended an 18‑month prison sentence for two years. White was ordered to pay €2,500 to McKeown. The court noted that White had been on bail for a robbery offence committed on 25 November 2013, when he was still a juvenile. Security staff had restrained White until Gardaí arrived, and McKeown received eight stitches in hospital. The judge warned that any future offence would result in imprisonment.
During a trial, a witness testified that on 21 September 2012, murder accused Vesel Jahiri, 35, threatened former partner Anna Finnegan, 25, over a phone call. The witness heard Jahiri say, "I know where you fucking are, I'll come and kill yous," after a heated argument about seeing their children and financial matters. Finnegan, who had a protection order and had recently taken an overdose, was frightened and called the Garda station. The witness confirmed that Jahiri had previously threatened to kill Finnegan's sister Lisa and had a history of violence, including stabbing Finnegan at Allendale Glen. The case is being heard by Mr Justice Paul Coffey with a jury, and the trial is expected to last four to five weeks. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.
In the murder trial of Richard Dekker, 30, the prosecution argued that Dekker lured 17‑year‑old Daniel McAnaspie to an isolated riverbank where Trevor Noone, armed with garden shears, stabbed the boy. Dekker allegedly knew Noone's violent history and that he intended serious harm. The prosecution claimed Dekker's assistance, knowing Noone carried a lethal weapon, made him guilty of murder. Dekker denied knowledge of the killing until shown Noone's statement accusing him. Defence counsel Sean Gillane SC contended that Dekker had no intent to kill, had tried to stop Noone, and had no knowledge of Noone's murderous intent. He urged the jury to consider that Noone, not Dekker, was the actual killer. The case was presented to a jury of twelve on 2 March 2017. Richard Dekker pleaded not guilty.
Munir Ghariani, 26, of Dun Laoghaire, pleaded guilty to the robbery of a Chinese national on Granville Road, Cabinteely, on March 21, 2016. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Ghariani, who has 34 previous convictions including sexual assault, indecency, burglary, and theft, was registered as a sex offender. He was on bail for a similar offence at the time of the incident. During the sentencing stage, Ghariani asked Judge Melanie Greally if there was any chance of a suspended sentence, promising to stay home and take medication. The court noted he admitted to the theft but denied biting the victim, claiming her thumb hit his teeth, while stating he acted "for the thrill." Defence counsel described the act as a spontaneous attempt and highlighted Ghariani's complex mental health issues and personal background. Judge Greally rejected a defence application for temporary bail. The matter was adjourned to later this month to hear evidence from medical professionals treating Ghariani for his complex mental health problems.
Ian Sheridan, 32, of Bray, was given a suspended three‑year sentence after a judge found that a custodial sentence was not necessary. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 21 February 2015 after beating his girlfriend, Patricia Rodriguez, for over an hour and biting her face twice. The assault took place in their home after an argument; Sheridan had been drinking and had a history of drug and alcohol problems. He had previously been convicted of theft, public order and road traffic offences. Sheridan offered Rodriguez €1,600 as a token of remorse, which she declined, and the money was directed to a women's refuge. The judge required Sheridan to keep the peace and participate in a restorative justice programme as conditions of the suspended sentence. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, prosecutors argue that Vesel Jahiri, 35, stabbed his former partner Anna Finnegan, 25, after their relationship soured. Jahiri, originally from Kosovo and a mechanic, has pleaded not guilty to both murder and assaulting Anna's brother Karl. The prosecution claims Jahiri entered the Allendale Glen home armed with a knife, attacked Karl twice—causing a fractured eye orbit and a chest stab wound—and then stabbed Anna. They assert Jahiri immediately regretted the act, drove Anna to hospital, and later called 999. Jahiri allegedly handed himself in the next day, surrendering the knife he claimed to have taken from Karl. The case will proceed before a jury, with the trial expected to last four to five weeks.
In a murder trial held on 1 March 2017, Richard Dekker, aged 30, pleaded not guilty to the February 2010 stabbing death of 17‑year‑old Daniel McAnaspie at Tolka Valley Park, Blanchardstown. Dekker was interviewed by Garda Patrick McDonagh on 24 and 25 May 2010, during which he initially denied any knowledge of the killing. He later claimed that Trevor Noone, who had a garden shears blade, stabbed McAnaspie after a confrontation. Dekker said he begged Noone to stop and that McAnaspie pleaded for his life as he fell toward the river. Dekker admitted he feared Noone might use the blade on him. Forensic evidence from Dr David Casey and Dr Khalid Jaber identified multiple stab cuts on McAnaspie's clothing and body, consistent with a garden shears blade. The trial continued the following day before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of twelve.
In the Wicklow murder trial, Thomas O'Connor, 29, charged with killing John O'Brien, 22, on 4 June 2010, testified that he had spent the afternoon of that day caring for snakes and other animals at a pet shop on Albert Walk in Bray. Adam Lally, a shopkeeper, confirmed that O'Connor entered the shop around midday and remained until about 4 or 5 pm, feeding the pets, especially the snakes, which O'Connor had an interest in. O'Connor's partner also testified that he had a pet snake in his hands later that night. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court, has heard that O'Connor pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, admitting he struck O'Brien over the head with a rock. The judge has instructed the jury that no further witnesses will testify until Monday. The case remains at the trial stage.
Jonathan Turley, 35, of Clandeboye Drive, Belfast, surrendered to Northern Ireland authorities after being wanted for kidnapping and assaulting his ex‑partner. He was arrested in May last year under a European Arrest Warrant and appeared briefly at the High Court in Dublin. Turley admitted awareness of the allegations, including kidnapping, assault, and a dangerous driving charge. The judge confirmed his voluntary surrender, noted his legal advice, and ordered his extradition within twenty days, following an eight‑month prison sentence backdated to April.
The trial of Richard Dekker, 30, accused of murdering 17‑year‑old Daniel McAnaspie, will resume tomorrow. Dekker, who lives in Blanchardstown, has pleaded not guilty. The murder took place at Tolka Valley Park on 26 February 2010, where McAnaspie's decomposed body was found in a drainage ditch. Justice Patrick McCarthy informed the jury that legal matters had been discussed in their absence and requested a short delay for further preparation.
In the Wicklow murder trial, Thomas O'Connor (29) is charged with killing John O'Brien (22) on 4 June 2010. Paramedic Francoise Coussay testified that O'Brien was found semi‑prone on his right side, without pulse, and that his skull appeared deformed. Advanced paramedic Claire McCann noted blood‑covered head and face, fractures to the left ear, possible brain matter in hair, and a flat cardiac monitor line. Dr Diane Daly examined a heavily blood‑stained rock from the scene and clothes from O'Brien's house, finding DNA from the deceased on the rock, door handles, and tracksuit bottoms, while the tracksuit's waistband matched O'Connor's DNA. The trial is proceeding before Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan and a twelve‑person jury.
Four new jurors were sworn into the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Vesel Jahiri, a 35‑year‑old man from Kosovo with no fixed abode, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anna Finnegan, 25, and to assaulting Karl Finnegan on 21 September 2012 at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla, Dublin 15. The trial, to be presided over by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, will commence tomorrow before a jury of nine men and three women and is expected to last between four and five weeks.
Judges in the Special Criminal Court will deliver a verdict on March 9th in the murder trial of Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old dissident republican shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, on March 6th, 2013. Two Dublin men, Edward McGrath (35) of Springfield, Tallaght, and Sharif Kelly (47) of Balbriggan, are charged with the murder and have pleaded not guilty. McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24) of Raheny, failed to appear and has not been located. The court heard evidence from a protected witness, David Cullen, who was originally accused of the murder and implicated McGrath and Kelly. The trial also considered surveillance testimony and DNA evidence found on a vehicle near the scene. Both accused remain on continuing bail until the verdict.
A 71‑year‑old Dublin man, whose name is withheld for legal reasons, was found guilty by a jury of five counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault against his nephew, aged 15 to 17, between 1989 and 1991. The nephew, now 42 and a father of two, testified that the uncle used his high family status and education to "silence and belittle" him during the trial, claiming the allegations were fabricated. The uncle had previously been convicted of 42 offences, including rape and indecent assault, and was serving a 10‑year sentence for similar crimes. The nephew described the abuse as traumatic, noting that the uncle's respected position in the family prevented him from speaking out for years. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court, with sentencing scheduled for March 6 by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy. The unnamed 71-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a house on Tailteann Road in Navan, Josh Turner (24) was found guilty of murdering 27‑year‑old Christopher Nevin during a dispute over a pedigree chihuahua. Turner was sentenced to life imprisonment, the mandatory sentence for murder, at the Central Criminal Court. Wayne Cluskey (25), who was also present, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for his part in Nevin's death. Cluskey will be sentenced next Monday. The trial, lasting eight days, relied heavily on CCTV footage and testimony from close friends, including Wayne Casserly, who described the confrontation as savage. Nevin was struck with a hatchet and an axe, leading to his death. Both accused voluntarily admitted their roles four days after the incident. The court heard statements from Nevin's mother and wife, who expressed deep grief and described Turner as a monster. Cluskey's defence highlighted his lack of intent to kill and his claim of defending Turner.
Paul Moore, 51, who has received six jail sentences for rape and sexual assault over the last 25 years, was again released on bail pending sentence for sexually assaulting a woman on the DART. The case was adjourned to allow his case manager to give evidence on how he can safely live in the community. Judge Melanie Greally remanded him on continuing bail until 16 March 2017, stating the court should be alerted if any concerns arise. Moore assaulted an au pair in 2014, was not recognised on CCTV until two years later, and had previously sexually assaulted two women in the city centre in 2015, for which he received 15 months' imprisonment. Earlier convictions include raping a musician in 2001 (ten years) and another woman in 1995 (seven years). He pleaded guilty to the DART assault and his defence counsel highlighted conflicting psychiatric reports and his isolated life.
At the Central Criminal Court, the State entered a Nolle Prosequi in the case against a 53-year-old man from Magherennan, Raphoe, County Donegal, discontinuing a murder charge. The defendant had been accused of the murder of a 67-year-old man at a residential address in Churchill, Donegal on 16 and 17 June 2012. The case was scheduled for trial before Justice Patrick McCarthy when the prosecution, represented by Brendan Grehan SC, formally withdrew the charge, indicating the State would not proceed further with the prosecution.
In the Special Criminal Court, two Dublin men, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47), pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Butterly (35), who was shot outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, on 6 March 2013. McGrath also denied firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), was absent. The court accepted evidence from protected witness David Cullen, who implicated McGrath and Kelly. Prosecutor Paul O'Higgins highlighted extensive evidence against McGrath, including DNA on a silver Toyota Corolla and gun residue on his jacket, and evidence against Kelly, such as his arrest in a green Opel Zafira and a bag of clothes with Evans' fingerprints. Defence counsel Giollaíosa Ó'Lideadha dismissed Cullen's testimony as unreliable, citing contradictions and lack of independent corroboration. The trial's closing speeches concluded before a hearing on Monday before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Ann Ryan.
In 2016 a 48‑year‑old Latvian man pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault, anal rape, oral rape and false imprisonment of a 40‑year‑old Lithuanian woman in her Tipperary flat. He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment, but the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal re‑sentenced him to nine years imprisonment. The judge described the assault as vicious, noting the victim was unable to lock her bedroom, was attacked for about 25 minutes, had her clothing torn off and was threatened with violence and sexual assault. The victim had recently lost her boyfriend to suicide and was in financial hardship. The judge acknowledged the offender's limited English and fatherhood but found the offence at the high end of the range, reducing the sentence by one year from the minimum of ten years. The final sentence was nine years imprisonment.
In February 2017, Richard Dekker, aged 30, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 17‑year‑old Daniel McAnaspie, who was stabbed to death at Tolka Valley Park on 26 February 2010. Dekker was among the last people to see Daniel. On 7 March 2010, he gave a statement under caution. He described spending the evening with friends, including Trevor Noone, and meeting Daniel and two girls. Dekker said Daniel was talking about fights in Finglas and that Noone punched Daniel after a confrontation. Dekker claimed he later told his mother that Noone had punched Daniel, and that Daniel had stayed with them for a few minutes before walking away. The prosecution alleges Dekker and Noone lured Daniel to a secluded area by the Tolka River and stabbed him with a garden shears. Dekker's lawyer accepted the legality of his arrest and the preservation of the crime scene.
During a murder trial, witness Cian Wood testified that the deceased, John O'Brien, was aggressive and wanted to fight everyone he encountered that night. Wood, who was drinking with two Wicklow men at Superquinn, described how O'Brien, who was intoxicated, threw a punch at Wood and later punched him in the face. Wood said O'Brien threatened to "slice up" people and that he felt intimidated. He also recounted that O'Brien had been shouting at Thomas O'Connor, the accused, and that O'Brien ran at O'Connor, who then pinned him down. Wood agreed that O'Brien's aggression could have escalated the situation. The court heard additional testimony from O'Connor's partner and O'Brien's family, but the focus remained on O'Brien's hostile conduct that night.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 23 February 2017, Christopher Coleman, aged 27, received an additional nine‑month custodial sentence for the fatal collision with 62‑year‑old cyclist Eugene Maher in June 2015. Coleman, who had been banned from driving for six years and was driving without insurance at reckless speeds, was described by Maher's family as having acted recklessly and carelessly. Eugene Maher's daughter Lisa urged that the offence be treated as vehicular manslaughter, equating it with a gun or fist killing, and said the family would continue to lobby for a harsher charge. Maher's widow Marie reflected on her husband's long‑standing safe driving habits and the profound loss she feels, while Lisa expressed a desire to forgive Coleman and hope he learns from his mistakes. The court's decision added to the existing sentence, extending Coleman's imprisonment by nine months.
During a Wicklow murder trial, witness Paul Duffy testified that he saw a man, Thomas O'Connor, beating another man, John O'Brien, on the side of a road. Duffy, his wife and 11‑year‑old daughter were returning from a birthday party when they passed the scene. He described O'Connor standing over O'Brien, striking him about four times with a rock, and not seeing O'Brien move. Duffy claimed to have seen brain matter, describing a mixture of grey and blood. The Deputy State Pathologist later presented a 1,655‑gram rock as the likely weapon that shattered O'Brien's skull, causing catastrophic brain injury. Dr Michael Curtis, the post‑mortem examiner, confirmed O'Brien died from a severe head injury with a comminuted skull fracture and lacerated meninges. The trial continues before Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury.
In a murder trial, the prosecution presented evidence that 17‑year‑old Daniel McAnaspie was found dead in a ditch near Tolka Valley Park, Blanchardstown, with multiple stab wounds to the heart, lungs, stomach and throat. A post‑mortem by Dr Khalid Jaber confirmed the wounds and noted extensive insect damage and decomposition, but identified sharp penetrating injuries as the cause of death. The pathologist stated the injuries would have caused pain before death and suggested the boy was dragged to the ditch after dying. The prosecution alleged that garden shears were used to kill Daniel, and witnesses described a night of drinking with friends, culminating in a confrontation that led to the fatal attack. Richard Dekker, aged 30, pleaded not guilty to the murder. The trial was set to continue the following day before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
The Special Criminal Court has heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, who are accused of the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly and associated firearms offences. Both men have pleaded not guilty to all charges. A third accused, Dean Evans, failed to appear and has not been located; the non-jury court decided to proceed with the trial for McGrath and Kelly in his absence. Forensic scientist Sandra McGrath testified that DNA samples matching the profiles of the two accused were found on a balaclava and a black wig seized from a Toyota Corolla stopped near the scene of the shooting. The court heard that the car was being monitored by the National Surveillance Unit. The witness stated that DNA matching Evans' profile was found on the balaclava, gloves, and clothing recovered from a second vehicle, an Opel Zafira. Conversely, DNA matching McGrath's profile was identified on the black wig. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Anne Ryan. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded for the accused to date.
Three jurors were discharged from the trial of Vesel Jahiri, a 35‑year‑old man from Kosovo with no fixed abode, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anna Finnegan, 25, and to assaulting Karl Finnegan on 21 September 2012 at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla, Dublin 15. The trial, scheduled to last five weeks, was delayed by the jurors' availability issues. Justice Paul Coffey announced the discharge and indicated that the trial would resume next Tuesday, with three additional jurors to be sworn in.
Richard Dekker, 30, has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court, pleading not guilty to the alleged murder of 17-year-old Daniel McAnaspie. The prosecution alleges that on February 26, 2010, Dekker participated in a ruse to lure McAnaspie to an isolated area in Blanchardstown, knowing another man intended to assault him with half garden shears. Although Dekker claims he did not wield the weapon, the state contends he is guilty of murder. McAnaspie, who was in the care of the HSE, went missing after being dropped off in Finglas by former social care worker Keith Homan. His decomposed remains were discovered three months later in a ditch in Rathfeigh, Co Meath, identified via DNA matching. During police interviews, Dekker admitted knowing of McAnaspie's death and led gardai to the scene by the Tolka River, alleging the other man killed the teenager. The trial, presided over by Justice Patrick McCarthy, continues tomorrow.
In a Wicklow murder case, Thomas O'Connor, aged 29, was accused of killing his best friend, John O'Brien, 22, on 4 June 2010. O'Connor told Gardaí that he did not intend to kill O'Brien when he struck him with a rock during a fight that escalated "for no reason." He claimed the altercation began after a night of drinking, during which he had consumed three litres of cider and half a bottle of wine. O'Connor said he had been hit by O'Brien, then grabbed a rock and struck him a few times before fleeing. He admitted to throwing the rock into a ditch, washing his hands at a friend's house, and burning his blood‑stained jumper in a field. O'Connor pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and the trial is proceeding before Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury.