In a 2017 court hearing, detectives investigating the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly denied that any offer was made to drop a murder charge against an accused who later became a prosecution witness. The case involves Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and a missing third accused, Dean Evans. McGrath and Kelly have pleaded not guilty to murder and firearms offences. The Special Criminal Court proceeded with McGrath and Kelly after Evans' absence. Lawyers challenge the admissibility of evidence from state witness David Cullen, who was originally accused of the murder. Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire testified that he received a call from Cullen's solicitor on 6 June 2014, who sought immunity, witness protection, and financial assistance for Cullen. No commitment was made, and the detectives reported the matter to authorities. Subsequent meetings with Cullen's solicitor and the DPP were held, but no formal deal was confirmed. The judge requested details of any decision to drop the charge.
A murder trial has heard that 27-year-old Christopher Nevin, who was allegedly beaten to death with a hatchet during a dispute over a chihuahua, had a previous conviction for stamping on a man's head. Wayne Cluskey (25) and Josh Turner (24), both of Mooretown, Ratoath, Co Meath, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Christopher Nevin at Tailteann Road, Navan on November 19, 2015, as well as assault causing serious harm and possession of an article with intent to cause injury. Michael Fitzpatrick, a garda, stated that in 2007, Christopher Nevin pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and was jailed for five and a half years. He was also convicted of possession of an article with intent to cause injury. Lisa Nevin, Christopher Nevin's wife, testified that she married him in 2011 and that they were very happy. She stated that Wayne Cluskey and Josh Turner were friends of her husband and that Turner had provided a male chihuahua to breed with her husband's dogs. On the day of the incident, Christopher Nevin received a phone call from the council informing them they were to get a house. The last time Lisa Nevin saw her husband alive was when he left the caravan with his friend, Wayne Casserly, to walk to Casserly's home on Tailteann Road. Wayne Casserly testified that he and Christopher Nevin arrived at the house on Tailteann Road at about 1.20pm. Moments later, Turner and Cluskey arrived in Cluskey's girlfriend's car. Turner knocked on the living room window, and Nevin went to the door. A commotion ensued, and Cluskey took something out of the back seat of the car, which Casserly later identified as a hatchet or axe. Cluskey struck Nevin on the shoulder with the weapon, and the three men scuffled until Nevin ended up on the ground. Casserly said that Cluskey was on top of Nevin and Turner was standing over him with the axe. Casserly tried to intervene but was struck on the back of the head with the weapon. He said he heard Cluskey say, 'You have gone and done it now, you have killed him.' When he regained his senses, he saw Nevin lying on the ground, bleeding, and went inside to get his phone and call an ambulance. Casserly said that Turner told him to keep his mouth shut and that the two men checked to see if Nevin was breathing before leaving. About half an hour later, Casserly received a phone call from Turner who asked about Nevin. Casserly told him, 'I think you are after killing him.' Turner again told him to keep his mouth shut. Casserly agreed with Turner's defence counsel, Patrick Marrinan SC, that he believed the two men were concerned for Nevin before they left. The trial is continuing tomorrow in front of Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of nine men and three women.
In the Peter Butterly murder trial at the Special Criminal Court, the admissibility of evidence from state witness David Cullen was contested. The trial, now in its second session after the original collapsed, heard cross‑examination of former chief superintendent John Gilligan, who oversaw the Witness Protection Program. Gilligan was questioned about a June 2014 meeting with Detective Superintendent Alf Martin and other Gardaí, during which it was alleged that Cullen might plead guilty to a lesser charge and that the murder charge could be dropped. Gilligan denied any deliberate omission of that possibility, stating he only noted Cullen's desire to provide information. The court considered whether the notes from that meeting, previously privileged, could be used to assess Cullen's evidence. The case continues under Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly still pleading not guilty to the murder and firearms offences. Dean Evans, the third accused, remains missing and was not present at the hearing.
A 65‑year‑old priest, whose name is withheld for legal reasons, received a suspended two‑year sentence for sexual assault after a court found he had been placed under effective house arrest by his order. The court heard that the priest had molested a boy in his early teens after Mass in a Dublin church in September 2015, an act that lasted about 15 seconds. The boy's mother reported the incident to Gardaí, leading to the priest's admission and subsequent registration as a sex offender. The priest is now confined to a house run by his order, prohibited from celebrating Mass, wearing priestly garb, leaving the house alone, or having unsupervised contact with children or vulnerable adults. The regime is to continue indefinitely, and the suspended sentence will take effect only if the priest completes a sex‑offender programme. The judge noted the priest's early guilty plea, remorse, and prior good work in missions worldwide.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a prosecution barrister presented evidence that two men, Wayne Cluskey, 25, and Josh Turner, 24, from Mooretown, Ratoath, were involved in a joint enterprise that led to the murder of 27‑year‑old Christopher Nevin on 19 November 2015. Nevin, who owned several dogs including three female chihuahuas, had obtained a male chihuahua from Turner to breed with the females. After only one of the chihuahuas became pregnant, a dispute arose over Turner's expected benefit. CCTV footage showed Turner arriving in a silver Honda Civic, knocking on Nevin's door, and a brief conversation. Cluskey then entered and struck Nevin with a hatchet, causing fatal injuries. The men left the scene in a car, later voluntarily turned themselves in at Navan Garda Station. The trial, presided over by Justice Patrick McCarthy, will continue with a jury of nine men and three women. The prosecution described the footage as distressing. The men have pleaded not guilty.
Irish international footballer Anthony Stokes, aged 28, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm after head‑butting Anthony Bradley, aged 53, in the VIP lounge of Buck Whaleys nightclub on 8 June 2013. The court heard Bradley was bleeding from a fractured nose and two broken teeth, and that he had suffered chronic neck pain and required extensive dental work costing €13,500. Stokes was fined €30,000 for Bradley's medical costs and was given a two‑year suspended sentence, with strict conditions. The judge noted the seriousness of the assault and accepted Stokes' apology and the fine as a practical expression of remorse. Civil proceedings are continuing in the High Court. The case was set down for trial twice before Stokes pleaded guilty in November 2016.
The trial of Arnis Labunskis, 57, who is accused of murdering his flatmate Dainius Burba, 39, at their Wolfe Tone Street, Limerick City, flat on 21st or 22nd April 2015, continued at the Central Criminal Court. Labunskis has pleaded not guilty. Witness William Neville testified that he heard an "awful noise" and a verbal argument from the house around 12.30am on the night of the alleged incident. The jury reviewed CCTV footage showing an individual carrying a white item, similar to a bag, which was deposited into a wheelie bin shortly before 5am. Detective Garda Nicholas Jones also presented evidence regarding the movement of an individual and a car earlier that morning. The prosecution highlighted a discrepancy in Labunskis's accounts, noting that while he told gardai he arrived home to find his flatmate injured by potential intruders, he had previously told his daughter that he had fought with the deceased. The trial is presided over by Ms Justice Deirdre McCarthy and a jury of three women and nine men. The matter is ongoing and is expected to continue until the end of next week.
In 2014, Gerard Brown, aged 34, assaulted fellow inmate Stephen Cooper in the Midlands Prison. Cooper, an ex‑garda serving a fraud and perverting the course of justice sentence, was being escorted to the gym when Brown struck him on the head with a mug hidden in a sock. Brown admitted the assault but claimed Cooper had asked him to do it to help orchestrate Cooper's early release on safety grounds, and that Cooper had agreed to provide documents, information and €1,000 in return. Cooper denied any consent or agreement. Brown was convicted by a jury at Portlaoise Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to three years' imprisonment, consecutive to his existing term. He has appealed the sentence, arguing the judge erred in treating the offence as aggravated because it occurred in prison, and that the consecutive sentencing provisions were a "double loading." The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeal.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, who have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Peter Butterly and firearms offences, continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. A third accused, Dean Evans, failed to appear and has not been located, prompting the non-jury court to proceed with the two co-accused. The proceedings currently focus on a voir dire, or trial within a trial, to determine the admissibility of evidence from state witness David Cullen, who was originally accused of the murder. Defence counsel for Mr Kelly challenged Detective Superintendent Alf Martin, the senior investigating officer, suggesting he deliberately withheld information regarding how Cullen became a prosecution witness. The detective denied deliberately concealing facts, stating there was no deal to drop charges, though he acknowledged a phone call where a solicitor's notes referenced a dropped murder charge. Former Witness Protection Program chief superintendent John Gilligan testified that he was informed of Cullen's potential application in June 2014 and arranged his transfer for safety. The court is assessing these testimonies to decide whether Cullen's evidence should be admitted. The trial remains ongoing, with no final verdict or sentence issued.
An ex‑soldier, aged 42, was convicted by a military court of sexual assault and four charges of conduct contrary to good order and discipline at Aiken Barracks, Dundalk, on 30 October 2013. He was sentenced to twelve weeks' detention, with the final eight weeks suspended, and was also reprimanded, fined, demoted from Corporal to Private and discharged. The Court of Appeal held that the military judge had no authority to impose discharge or rank reduction because the soldier had already been granted a discharge before sentencing. The judge found no error in the detention order but ruled that the rank reduction was an error in principle, as it would affect his pension. The soldier was re‑sentenced to one month imprisonment suspended for six months on conditions, six months imprisonment suspended for twelve months on conditions, and fined €500. The appeal rejected the claim that the punishment was excessive.
In a Limerick murder trial, 57‑year‑old Arnis Labunskis is charged with killing his 39‑year‑old flatmate, Dainius Burba, on 21 or 22 April 2015. Labunskis pleaded not guilty. During the opening speech, the prosecution presented evidence that Labunskis had told his daughter that he had fought with Burba and that she had seen blood on his clothing. The daughter drove him to her brother's house, where the brother also noticed blood on Labunskis's shoes. A man was sent to check the flat, and Labunskis allowed him in, where he saw blood on the wall and on Labunskis's hoodie and was shown Burba's body. Labunskis later told gardai he had returned home to find Burba badly injured, was alarmed by possible intruders, and had taken a table leg to defend himself. The prosecution suggested the table leg could be the murder weapon, a point for the jury to consider.
The Court of Appeal has rejected claims that prosecutors improperly handled plea negotiations during the murder trial of Darren Wynne. Wynne, aged 23 from Ballyroe, Athy, County Kildare, was convicted of murdering Jamie Lindsay at Coney Green, Athy on 6 April 2013 and received a mandatory life sentence in July 2014. Two co-accused, Quentin Monaghan and James Seery, both aged 23, pleaded guilty to manslaughter during proceedings and received eight and seven years' imprisonment respectively, with portions suspended. Wynne's appeal argued that the timing of his co-accuseds' pleas—entered after gardaí interview memos were admitted—prejudiced his defence and warranted a retrial. Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with two colleagues, dismissed the appeal, characterising the allegations of prosecution misconduct as an "unsupported assertion". The court found no evidence of improper conduct and upheld the conviction.
Warren Brennan, 25, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for robbing a 71‑year‑old pensioner at Alderwood Park, Tallaght, on 27 October 2015. Brennan, wearing a motorcycle helmet and armed with a claw hammer, demanded €5,000 from the victim after the man had withdrawn the cash from a bank. When the pensioner refused and called him a "scumbag", Brennan struck him repeatedly with the hammer, punched him, bit his thumb, and then fled with the money. The victim was knocked to the ground, suffered a broken thumb and later reported flashbacks whenever he saw a hammer or helmet. Brennan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has 54 prior convictions, including firearms possession, theft, burglary and assault, and was previously jailed for three years in 2011 for an attempted robbery involving a gun. The court noted that Brennan had been given many chances to reform but had not changed his criminal behaviour.
In a dissident republican murder trial, defence counsel for Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and the absent Dean Evans challenged the admissibility of evidence from State witness David Cullen, who had originally been an accused. Cullen, a 35‑year‑old former suspect, agreed to testify for the prosecution in exchange for immunity from the murder charge and a lesser offence. He provided information on the car, gun, and planning of the shooting, and also on another high‑profile murder. Cullen was in Portlaoise Prison when the deal was struck, later moved to Midlands Prison, and gave a statement on 27 June 2014. He was sentenced on 2 July 2014 to seven years' imprisonment for possession of a firearm, with three and a half years suspended. Defence argued that procedural failures made Cullen's testimony unreliable, and the court will decide on its admissibility. The trial is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Edward McGrath pleaded not guilty. Sharif Kelly pleaded not guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy set a trial date of November 13, 2017, for Keith Brady, 29, of Cartron Estate, Sligo, and his sister Janice Brady, 32, of Maryville Hostel, Finisklin, Sligo. Keith Brady is charged with murdering Martin Kivlehan, 59, on August 3, 2015, at Holbron Street, Sligo. He is also charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of another for murder. Janice Brady is charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of another for murder. Both defendants are accused of these offences, and the charges remain alleged or contested. No plea, finding, sentence, or finalisation has been recorded at this procedural stage. The matter was adjourned to the set trial date, and it has not been concluded or finalised. All allegations are attributed to the charges brought against the accused, and no conviction has been established. The court proceedings are at the charge or pretrial stage, with no suspended portions, effective custody, conditions, or additional adjournments noted beyond the trial date setting.
A 57‑year‑old man, Arnis Labunskis of Wolfe Tone Street, is set to go on trial for the murder of 39‑year‑old Dainius Burba, who was killed at that address on 21 or 22 April 2015. He was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court today and pleaded not guilty. A jury of three women and nine men was sworn in; the trial began today and is expected to run until the end of next week.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 27 January 2017, the legality of the detention of two men accused of murdering dissident republican Peter Butterly was contested. The 35‑year‑old victim was shot outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanstown, Co. Meath, on 6 March 2013. Edward McGrath (35) of Springfield, Tallaght, and Sharif Kelly (46) of Balbriggan pleaded not guilty to the murder charge; McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24) of Raheny, Dublin, failed to appear and has not been located. The court proceeded with McGrath and Kelly in Evans's absence. Defence counsel argued the men were unlawfully detained by the National Surveillance Unit, citing an unacceptable delay and questioning the invocation of Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. Prosecution counsel countered that Garda evidence and CCTV showed the men understood the reasons for their arrest and that Section 30 was properly invoked.
Christopher McNamara, aged 24, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment for the killing of James Boyce, a 71‑year‑old retired soldier, in Limerick in March 2011. McNamara had previously pleaded not guilty and had admitted the killing to his mother. He had been responsible for Boyce's domestic needs, including lighting his fire. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of murder after an hour‑and‑a‑half of deliberations, and Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan imposed the mandatory life sentence on 24 January 2014. McNamara has now lodged an appeal against conviction. His barrister, Michael Bowman SC, argues that the jury should have considered a broader range of legal concepts such as recklessness, subjectivity and intent, and that the medical evidence showed unpredictable injuries. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel maintains that the jury was properly instructed on the mental element of murder and that any grey area should favour the accused.
A 54-year-old man, whose identity is protected to safeguard his victims, is appealing his conviction and 12-year sentence for sexually abusing his step-children. The Court of Appeal heard arguments regarding his conviction for abusing two of his three step-children, for which he was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy on June 20, 2016. In a separate trial, he was convicted of four counts of rape, ten counts of sexual assault, one offence of oral rape, and two charges of using an object to penetrate his step-daughter between 2001 and 2005. Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan imposed a concurrent 12-year sentence for abusing the eldest child in July 2016. The appellant, represented by Paddy McGrath SC, argued that the trial judge erred by refusing to sever the indictment for separate trials, failed to discharge the jury after accidental evidence of other allegations was introduced, and that the verdict was perverse. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Timothy O'Leary SC, countered that sufficient similarities, including the step-parent relationship and the offering of money, justified joint trials. The three-judge panel, comprising Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice Alan Mahon, and Mr Justice John Edwards, reserved judgment. Consequently, the matter was adjourned, and the outcome of the appeal remains pending.
In a High Court hearing on 27 January 2017, counsel for the Minister for Justice argued that Dutch citizen Naoufal Fassih, aged 36 and of Moroccan origin, should be extradited to the Netherlands to face three European Arrest Warrants. The first charge concerns an attempted murder and assault at a Dutch nightclub on 5 October 2012, where Fassih allegedly participated in a fight that left several injured. The second charge involves possession of over €10,000 in cash found on him in 2012, which Dutch prosecutors say could constitute money‑laundering under Dutch law. The third charge alleges possession of a false passport.
Bill O'Driscoll and Damien Fitzgerald, both of Cork, have appealed their convictions for assault causing serious harm and robbery against Karol O'Keefe, allegedly committed on November 25, 2013, at the Quarry Steps, Windsor Cottages, St Luke's. The men, who pleaded not guilty, were found guilty by a jury and sentenced to eight years' imprisonment by Judge David Riordan on June 15, 2015. In their appeal before a three-judge court, their lawyers argued that the trial judge erred by failing to direct an acquittal due to insufficient evidence. Counsel Elizabeth O'Connell SC submitted that while blood evidence linked the men to the scene, there was no proof they struck the victim, noting another man had pleaded guilty to the counts. Vincent Heneghan SC added that there was no evidence O'Driscoll made contact with the victim or the stolen phone. Prosecuting counsel Dermot Sheehan BL countered that the blood evidence and CCTV footage of Fitzgerald possessing the phone were sufficient to go to the jury. The court, comprising Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice Alan Mahon, and Mr Justice John Edwards, reserved its judgment, indicating it hopes to deliver its decision as soon as possible. The matter remains pending and has not been finalised.
Gary Fitzgerald, aged 19, received a three‑year sentence for arson at Green Hills Court Apartments, Tallaght, on 26 March 2015. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had seven prior convictions, including road traffic and assault. The fire, which caused €45,000 in damage, occurred in an unoccupied bedroom; Gardaí could not determine the cause. Gary lived next door to the burning apartment with his cousin Graham Fitzgerald, who also pleaded guilty to arson on the same occasion and to attempted robbery in February 2016. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned Graham's case for two weeks and imposed a suspended six‑month portion on Gary's sentence, ordering one year of post‑release supervision. The court noted Gary's extreme youth and drug use but accepted his early plea. No residents were in immediate danger, and the complex was evacuated. The case was heard with evidence from CCTV and police reports.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the barristers for Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly argued that the two men, accused of murdering 35‑year‑old Peter Butterly outside The Huntsman Inn in 2013, were unlawfully detained on the side of the road. The men were allegedly held by National Surveillance Unit officers before being formally arrested. Mr Kelly's barrister, Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha, claimed an unacceptable delay and that the officers failed to take contemporaneous notes, questioning whether Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act was invoked. He argued the prosecution had not proved the delay was justified and that Mr Kelly should have been arrested within minutes of Garda arrival. Paul Greene, representing Mr McGrath, agreed, citing a policy that led to unconstitutional roadside detention. The case is the second trial for both men, following a collapsed first trial in 2015. The court is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges John O'Hagan and Anne Ryan. Edward McGrath pleaded not guilty. Sharif Kelly pleaded not guilty.
Two Cork men, Jamie O'Brien, aged 20, and Eddie Murphy, aged 26, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and robbery on Mark Lahive in April 2015. Judge David Riordan sentenced Murphy to eight‑and‑a‑half years, with 18 months suspended, and O'Brien to six years, with one year suspended, on 20 November 2015. The Director of Public Prosecutions has appealed, arguing the sentences were unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, a three‑judge panel, has reserved judgment. During the hearing, counsel highlighted the severity of the assault, the victims' lifelong injuries, and the defendants' admissions and remorse. The court will decide whether to increase the sentences after the appeal is considered.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 25 January 2017, evidence was presented regarding the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old who was shot dead in the carpark of The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston. Two men, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46), were on trial for his murder and had pleaded not guilty. McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and was not located. The court proceeded with the two co‑accused in Evans's absence. Detective Sergeant Daniel O'Driscoll of the Special Detective Unit testified that he had been part of a surveillance operation that day. He discovered a silver Toyota Corolla involved in the shooting, stopped it and another car on Flemington Lane, and found a white plastic bag containing a black semiautomatic pistol, which he left in situ.
Brian Clarke, 31, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for robbery of American tourist Ryan Dillon at Swords Town Park on 2 May 2015. Clarke, who posed for photographs with the tourists, acted as a "distraction" while other accomplices stole the camera bag, wallet, cash, camera and mobile phone. Dillon was attacked by a group of youths who punched and kicked him; his partner was punched in the gut and Dillon suffered a broken scapula. Clarke had 55 prior convictions and had not cooperated with the Probation Service. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final year of a four‑year sentence, citing a favourable probation report that was not positive and Clarke's lack of cooperation. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with Garda Mairead Murray and prosecutor Caroline Cummings BL presenting evidence of the robbery and the assault on the tourists. Brian Clarke pleaded guilty.
Norma Phillips, 46, of Phibsboro, Dublin, was found guilty of manslaughter after stabbing her boyfriend, 36‑year‑old Stefan Neanu, during a drunken argument on 12 April 2015. The jury, composed of seven women and four men, deliberated for seven hours and returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty of murder and guilty of manslaughter. Justice Margaret Heneghan explained that if the jury believed Phillips acted in self‑defence but used more force than reasonably necessary, a manslaughter verdict was appropriate. Phillips had initially called emergency services, claiming a man had stabbed Neanu, but later changed her story, stating Neanu had pulled a knife on her and she pushed it away in self‑defence, turning the blade toward him. The single stab wound to the heart was deemed consistent with her account. Phillips remains on bail until the sentencing hearing on 13 February.
The High Court has ordered the extradition of Hughie Patrick McGinley to the UK on alleged charges of blackmail, conspiracy to commit blackmail, and possession of criminal property. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly granted the State's application, rejecting arguments regarding the respondent's family rights. The court noted the offences were of considerable gravity, citing custodial sentences of 54 to 88 months imposed on co-accused in the UK. In Teeside Crown Court, Dennis McGinley and Bernard McGinley pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit blackmail and possessing criminal property. Christy Stokes pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit blackmail. Bianca McGinley initially pleaded not guilty but later pleaded guilty to possessing criminal property. The allegations involve a complainant, Gerald Richardson, who allegedly paid £196,000 to Dennis McGinley after being threatened with violence. Hughie Patrick McGinley, a father of seven, was arrested in Sligo in August 2016 and admitted to bail. The High Court directed that he be surrendered to UK authorities to face trial.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Mohammed Abduljabbar, a 29‑year‑old Saudi Arabian master's student, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and two counts of criminal damage after breaking into student accommodation at the Gateway Student Village in Ballymun on 25 June. He used a nunchuck to assault a fellow student, whom he claimed had damaged his car, and smashed two glass doors. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, suspending 21 months on conditions that included payment of €2,000 in damages to the doors within 28 days. The Saudi Arabian embassy, represented in court, agreed to pay the damages. Abduljabbar admitted guilt, expressed remorse, and was noted to have a low risk of re‑offending by Probation Services. The victim suffered superficial injuries and declined to give an impact statement. The case highlighted Abduljabbar's prior convictions and his status as a foreign student facing educational disruption.
The Special Criminal Court is currently hearing the second trial of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, who have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Butterly and, in McGrath's case, firearms offences on the same occasion. The court is proceeding with the two accused in the absence of co-accused Dean Evans, who failed to appear and remains unlocated. Evidence presented during a voir dire, or trial within a trial, includes testimony from Garda Damien Broughall regarding the arrest of Evans and McGrath on Flemington Road following the shooting at The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co Meath, on March 6, 2013. Broughall described stopping a silver Toyota Corolla, where surveillance officers had detained the occupants. He alleged that Evans was involved in the shooting and was arrested for IRA membership and firearm possession, while McGrath was dealt with by a colleague. Items found in the vehicle included a petrol can, gloves, a wig, and glasses. This evidence will assist the judges in deciding a legal issue. The original trial collapsed after 55 days in January 2015, leading to this retrial. The proceedings continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Anne Ryan.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Dubliner Patrick Anderson, 22, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to cousins Graham and Paul Dunne at the Wright venue in Swords on February 15, 2015. Prosecution evidence alleged that Anderson punched Graham Dunne in the mouth and head, then struck Paul Dunne multiple times in the head inside the nightclub. Security staff reportedly restrained and ejected all three men, describing them as aggressive. Outside the venue, Anderson allegedly continued the attack, kicking Graham Dunne to the ground and punching Paul Dunne, who suffered a fractured jaw. Graham Dunne sustained a broken knee cap from his fall and requires further treatment. The court heard that all three men had consumed alcohol, and security staff noted Graham Dunne was highly aggressive towards Anderson. Defence counsel Ray Boland BL stated Anderson has no previous convictions and that an offer of compensation was refused by the victims. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to March, when she will hear a plea of mitigation on behalf of Anderson. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
In a murder trial held at the Central Criminal Court, the jury was asked by Justice Margaret Heneghan whether they could return a majority verdict instead of a unanimous one. The case concerns Norma Phillips, 46, who is accused of stabbing her partner, 36‑year‑old Romanian Stefan Neanu, to death with a kitchen carving knife on 12 April 2015 at her former home on Phibsboro Road, Dublin 7. Phillips has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleges that Neanu pointed the knife at her during a drunken argument and that she killed him when she pushed the weapon away in self‑defence. Justice Heneghan explained that the jury has three possible verdicts: guilty of murder if the prosecution proves intent and lack of self‑defence; guilty of manslaughter if she acted in self‑defence but used excessive force; or not guilty if she acted in self‑defence with reasonable force.
In a 2017 trial in Offaly, a 53‑year‑old man was found guilty of sexually abusing his 10‑year‑old daughter on six occasions between 1994 and 1996. He pleaded not guilty to three counts of assault and three counts of oral rape, but a jury convicted him on all six charges. The abuse occurred while the mother was away for work; the father would wake his daughter at night, take her to his bed, and force her to undress before abusing her. He left a £50 note after each incident, which the daughter later returned. The daughter, now 32, testified that she had remained silent for 20 years and only came forward in 2014 after learning her father had a new partner with young daughters. She said she had to break her silence to protect others and that the abuse had a profound effect on her trust in people.
In January 2015 a Dublin man, aged 53, was arrested after a jury found him guilty of three counts of sexual assault in November 2014, involving the touching of his heavily‑pregnant partner's anal area while she slept. The jury could not reach a verdict on two additional rape allegations from December 2014, and the man will face a retrial on those charges. Garda Brendan Harte revealed that police had discovered three video clips, each 31 to 57 seconds long, showing the man inserting a finger into the woman's anus while she slept, illuminated by a torch. The victim, aged 40, identified herself in the footage and claimed the acts were consensual, though she later stated she felt humiliated and degraded. She has since become a single mother and is taking antidepressants. The man has three prior convictions, including burglary and careless driving, but denies any history of abusive or threatening behaviour. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court murder trial, a Garda National Surveillance Unit officer recited the Act of Contrition to Peter Butterly, who was found with massive gunshot injuries to his head in a Meath carpark on 6 March 2013. Butterly, a dissident republican, was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanstown. The trial excluded the public while the officer and colleagues gave anonymous evidence. The accused, Edward McGrath (35) of Springfield, Tallaght, and Sharif Kelly (46) of Balbriggan, pleaded not guilty to Butterly's murder and to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24) of Raheny, failed to appear and was not located. The court heard that the gunman's car was monitored by the National Surveillance Unit; an officer, identified only as Member B, described spotting a suspicious black Laguna in the carpark, finding Butterly lying on the ground, and holding his hand while reciting an act of contrition.
Blake Tobin, 32, of Whitechapel Lawns, Blanchardstown, Dublin, was found guilty in February 2016 of multiple dangerous driving offences, including drink driving, driving without insurance, and driving while disqualified. The jury imposed four consecutive six‑month sentences and a life‑long driving ban, with Judge Pat McCartan stating Tobin "should never ever be allowed behind the wheel of a motor car". On appeal, the Court of Appeal upheld all other aspects of the judgment but reduced the driving ban to forty years, citing the absence of serious injury or death. The appeal court noted Tobin's history of 54 convictions, including road traffic offences, knife possession, drug possession, and assault, and described the case as "appalling" due to his high‑speed, reckless driving and attempts to evade detection. The Court of Appeal also found the original life‑long ban excessive in the circumstances. Blake Tobin pleaded not guilty.
A 16‑year‑old man sexually abused his eight‑year‑old nephew in a deeply dysfunctional household. He also had an inappropriate sexual relationship with an adult in the house. The nephew testified that the abuse began when he was about eight, involving fondling, mouth contact, and forced sexual acts, escalating to anal rape. He reported physical assault, threats of death, and being told to have sex "like an adult." The abuse occurred at various times and places, and the victim was threatened with harm if he disclosed it. The nephew first complained in 2011; the accused denied the allegations when interviewed by Gardaí. He was convicted in November of eight counts of indecent assault, one count of anal rape and one count of sexual assault covering 1988‑1991. Sentencing was adjourned to 20 February.
In a case heard at the Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court, Romanian national Duku Popovici, aged 43, was found guilty of aggravated burglary at the home of James and Sarah Quigley in Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary, on 26 September 2013. The jury convicted him of aggravated burglary, and Judge Tom Teehan sentenced him to 12 years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years. The Court of Appeal, hearing the appeal on 23 January 2017, reduced the headline sentence to nine years' imprisonment, again suspending the final two years. The appeal was based on the judge's error in setting the headline sentence and in imposing a sentence twice that of the co‑accused. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction and the revised sentence, dismissing the appeal for conviction. The case involved a violent confrontation in the Quigley home, with Popovici allegedly threatening the occupants with a spanner and a second intruder striking the victim. Duku Popovici pleaded not guilty.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberating the case of Norma Phillips, a 46‑year‑old Zimbabwean woman, who is accused of murdering her partner, 36‑year‑old Romanian national Stefan Neanu, with a knife on 12 April 2015. Phillips, who lives on Phibsboro Road, Dublin 7, pleaded not guilty. Justice Margaret Heneghan explained that the jury has three possible verdicts: guilty of murder if the prosecution proves beyond reasonable doubt that Phillips intended to kill or seriously injure Neanu and was not acting in self‑defence; guilty of manslaughter if the jury believes she acted in self‑defence but used more force than reasonably necessary; or not guilty if the jury believes she acted in self‑defence and used reasonable force. Over four days of evidence, the jury heard that Neanu died from a single stab wound that penetrated his lungs and heart.
A mother‑of‑one, Aisling Burke, originally charged with murdering Dale Creighton, began a one‑year jail term for violent disorder during the fatal attack on a Tallaght footbridge. The 14‑minute assault on the 20‑year‑old Creighton started after Burke's mobile phone was stolen as she walked home from a night club. Burke had been sentenced to five years with four suspended last week, but was given a week to arrange care for her child. She returned to the Central Criminal Court today. The court found that Burke did not inflict any physical violence on Creighton and sentenced her to five years in prison, suspending the final four years for two years on condition of good behaviour, keeping the peace and probation supervision. She was not required to enter a bond in court but will do so before the governor or a deputy of the governor in prison.
In a Special Criminal Court murder trial, the public was excluded while three Garda National Surveillance Unit members gave anonymous evidence. The case concerns the 2013 shooting of dissident republican Peter Butterly outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanstown, Co. Meath. The accused, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46), plead not guilty to the murder and McGrath also pleads not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and remains missing. The court proceeded with McGrath and Kelly in Evans's absence. The trial is a retrial after the original collapsed in 2015. Evidence from the surveillance unit involved tracking a silver Toyota Corolla and a green Opel Zafira, with witnesses identifying Kelly and describing the pursuit and arrest. The trial continues before Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges.
In January 2017, a 19‑year‑old kick‑boxing trainee, Jordan Montgomery, was jailed after he kicked an elderly man, Sean Sheehy Snr, in the head, leaving the victim with a brain injury. The incident occurred on Sallynoggin Road when the Sheehys were returning home from a pub. A verbal altercation began after Sheehy Jr. joked about Montgomery's beard, comparing him to Conor McGregor. Montgomery, who was topless and wearing a cast on his arm, struck the victim's head from a standing position. Gardaí found the victim lying in a laneway with blood. Montgomery pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted the victim's mild‑to‑moderate traumatic brain injury, memory and sleep disturbances, and anxiety. Montgomery received a two‑year sentence with the final 15 months suspended, under strict conditions, and was ordered to pay €720 to the victim. The court also acknowledged a letter of apology from Montgomery.
In 2016, a 66‑year‑old man from the UK was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of nine counts of raping his son from the age of six and one count of child cruelty, with an additional acquittal for a separate alleged rape with a poker. His 38‑year‑old partner was convicted of child cruelty but found not guilty of sexual assault allegations involving the child between ages six and seven. The parents had pleaded not guilty to 82 charges, of which 60 were withdrawn. The judge sentenced the man to 15 years' imprisonment, suspending the final year. In January 2017, the Court of Appeal granted the man an extension of time to appeal his conviction and sentence, with no objection from the State. The appeal was filed two‑and‑a‑half weeks late, and the man was not present for the procedural hearing.
Jonathan Coyle, 33, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for recklessly colliding with Philip Woodcock's car, an act that caused both vehicles to be damaged. The collision followed a violent altercation between the occupants of the two cars, during which Woodcock punched Coyle and an unidentified man stabbed a man who had been with Woodcock's group, killing former soldier Warren O'Connor, 24. Coyle pleaded guilty to endangerment and was already under a ten‑year driving disqualification. Judge Cormac Quinn imposed the sentence, suspended the final 18 months, ordered 18 months of probation supervision from release, and disqualified Coyle from driving for ten years. The court noted Coyle's prior convictions, including five‑year and ten‑year driving bans, robbery, assault and burglary. The hearing was held in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the O'Connor family present. The case did not involve any charges against Woodcock or others for the killing.
Declan Tynan, 27, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in a violent disorder incident at a Ladbrokes bookmakers in Tallaght, Dublin, on December 13, 2012. Tynan was found guilty by a jury of one count of violent disorder after three men attacked a customer and his brother, with one assailant using a blade. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a four-year sentence, suspending the final year on strict conditions. Tynan, who has 25 previous convictions, maintained his innocence through defence barrister Eoghan Cole, BL, who argued Tynan did not possess the knife. Co-accused Jamie Griffin, 20, pleaded guilty to affray and received a three-year sentence with the final year suspended. A third co-accused received a four-year sentence with the last two years suspended. The court noted that victims refused to cooperate with gardaí, meaning there was no evidence regarding the extent of their injuries. Prosecution barrister Maurice Coffey, BL, highlighted that staff continued serving customers during the attack. The sentencing concluded the procedural stage for these named defendants.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution argued that Norma Phillips, 46, could not have acted in self‑defence when she stabbed Romanian national Stefan Neanu, 36, at her former home on 12 April 2015. Prosecutor Denis Vaughan Buckley SC described Phillips' account as "not believable," citing repeated lies to emergency services and Gardaí, including claims that a balaclava‑wearing intruder had stabbed Neanu. He highlighted that Phillips delayed calling 999 for five to ten minutes, left the knife on a rubbish pile, and later told Gardaí she had pulled the knife out and thrown it away. Buckley urged the jury to use common sense and find Phillips guilty of murder. Defence counsel Sean Gillane SC countered that Neanu was awake and able to walk when the emergency crew arrived, that Phillips' statements were made after learning of Neanu's death, and that she had given a voluntary statement. Norma Phillips pleaded not guilty.
A 26‑year‑old heroin addict, Keith Smith, was jailed for 18 months after attempting to stab a man outside the Courts of Criminal Justice building. Smith, who was experiencing withdrawal symptoms, believed he had been sold poor‑quality heroin in a previous transaction and launched the attack on February 20, 2015. He pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit bodily harm at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally noted Smith's motivation was to obtain "bad or bogus" heroin and that he was "full of adrenaline" on the day. The judge imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months. Smith had 11 prior convictions and was on methadone at the time of the offence. The victim sustained no injuries. The incident occurred in a CCTV‑covered area and was stopped by Gardaí. The court heard that Smith had a long history of homelessness and heroin addiction.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence that Peter Butterly, 35, died of multiple gunshot wounds in a Meath car park on 6 March 2013. The post‑mortem report, read by Caroline Cummings BL, described entry wounds to his neck and trunk and exit wounds to his neck and head, a sternal fracture, cardiac tamponade and traumatic brain injuries. Two witnesses, Sean Brennan and Francesco Macari, described seeing a silver vehicle, a chase, a gunshot and a bang from the Huntsman Inn area. The trial concerns two Dubliners, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46), who pleaded not guilty to murder and firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and has not been located. The court proceeded with McGrath and Kelly in Evans's absence. The case is the second trial for the pair after the original collapsed in 2015. The hearing is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Anne Ryan.
In a 2017 trial, 46‑year‑old Zimbabwean Norma Phillips pleaded not guilty to the murder of 36‑year‑old Stefan Neanu, who died on 12 April 2015 from a knife wound during an altercation at Phillips' former home on Phibsboro Road. During a police interview on the day of the incident, Phillips told detectives that Neanu had waved a knife at her and that she had pushed the knife away, after which he was stabbed. She described the knife as a 19‑cm kitchen carving knife and claimed she had not held it. Phillips said Neanu's death would haunt her for the rest of her life and expressed shock at his passing. The state pathologist presented a video of Phillips demonstrating the knife's use and described the fatal wound as requiring moderate force. The prosecution's evidence concluded, and the jury was instructed to return the next day.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 24‑year‑old William Gilsenan was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for manslaughter after killing 29‑year‑old Edward Fitzgerald during a dispute over a €100 debt. The incident occurred on 17 October 2014 in a car park outside Gilsenan's home. Witnesses reported that Fitzgerald threatened to damage Gilsenan's property, and after a confrontation Gilsenan entered his apartment, returned armed with a knife, and stabbed Fitzgerald twice—once through the leg and once through the heart, the latter causing death. Gilsenan pleaded not guilty to murder but was found not guilty of murder and guilty of manslaughter. The judge noted Gilsenan's lack of prior violence but cited the presence of a knife as an aggravating factor. The sentence was four years, with two years suspended, and the judge expressed that Gilsenan had no intention to kill. The victim's sister, Nicola O'Dea, expressed disappointment at the sentence, noting the impact on her family.