In a 2017 hearing, the Special Criminal Court heard the second trial of Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46) for the murder of Peter Butterly (35) on 6 March 2013 at The Huntsman Inn car park, Gormanstown, Co. Meath. Both pleaded not guilty to the murder and to firearm offences at the same address. The trial proceeded after the third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and was not located by the gardai. The court considered prosecution claims of privilege over information relating to a protected witness. A secondary school student, Sean Brennan, testified that he saw a man raise his arm and shoot another man while waiting for a bus opposite the Inn, and that he later called 999. The hearing continued under Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges John O'Hagan and Anne Ryan.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 46‑year‑old Zimbabwean Norma Phillips pleaded not guilty to the murder of her Romanian partner, Stefan Neanu, 36, on 12 April 2015. Phillips, who lived on Phibsboro Road, claimed she acted in self‑defence after Neanu allegedly waved a knife at her. She described their relationship as "on and off" and said they had been together for about four months, sharing meals and drinks but not living together. On the day of the incident, after a party at Neanu's aunt's house, the couple returned to Phillips's home where an argument escalated. Phillips said Neanu went to the kitchen upstairs, returned with a knife, and she pushed it away, inadvertently striking him. She called 999, and a recorded emergency call was read in court. The jury, reduced to eleven, will continue the trial the following day before Justice Margaret Heneghan.
Michael McDermott, 43, was arrested for burglary in Coolock, Dublin, after a house was broken into on 23 January 2016. He was found asleep on the homeowner's bed after piling up items he intended to steal, having fallen asleep in the box room. McDermott had been heavily intoxicated, having taken a large number of tablets, and was described by the homeowner's sons as "out of his mind." He had cut himself when smashing a front window to gain entry. Garda Richard Carroll reported that McDermott's condition warranted medical treatment and an ambulance was called. McDermott pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by Judge Melanie Greally. He has 95 prior convictions, including assault, burglary, robbery and drug offences. The court noted his history of drug use and a 30‑year addiction that he claimed to have overcome in 2013.
Northern Irish authorities are seeking the surrender of Declan Duffy, 43, after his arrest in the Republic on suspicion of false imprisonment. Duffy, who lives on Hannover Street West in Dublin, is due to stand trial at the non‑jury Special Criminal Court on three counts of false imprisonment at The Towers, Garters Lane in Saggart on 9 June 2015, and a charge of violent disorder on the same occasion. His trial is scheduled for October. The High Court heard that Duffy had been serving a life sentence for the murder of British army sergeant Michael Newman in Derby City in 1992, but was released on licence by a Northern Irish parole board in March 2013. He was arrested by Gardai on 5 December 2015 on suspicion of the offences charged in the Special Criminal Court. On 6 June 2016 the Under Secretary of State for Northern Ireland revoked his licence and recalled him to prison.
After a day of evidence, the jury in Norma Phillips' murder trial was reduced to eleven members when one juror withdrew, citing a personal matter she preferred to keep private. Justice Margaret Heneghan discharged the juror. Phillips, a 46‑year‑old Zimbabwean, remains not guilty of the April 12, 2015 murder of 36‑year‑old Stefan Neanu at her former Phibsboro home. The trial will resume with the remaining eleven jurors.
In the Central Criminal Court, Norma Phillips, 46, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 36‑year‑old Stefan Neanu on 12 April 2015. She first told Gardaí that a man had run into her Phibsboro flat, stabbed Neanu, and fled, later claiming self‑defence. Garda Niall Cadden described her as hyper and anxious; she could not identify the assailant, only that he was Irish. Garda Stephen Rooney noted she repeatedly asked if Neanu was OK, and Garda Cadden agreed her statements about a man running in were untrue. Dublin Fire Brigade officer Ciaran Wilson found Neanu with a bleeding chin wound and a small chest wound, but no extensive blood. State Pathologist Marie Cassidy testified Neanu died from a stab wound that pierced his heart. Detective Garda Seamus O'Donnell identified a carving knife, 200 mm blade, as the alleged murder weapon. The trial continues tomorrow before Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury of twelve.
Norma Phillips, 46, a Zimbabwean national, is on trial for the murder of Stefan Neanu, 36, who was stabbed on 12 April 2015 at her former home on Phibsboro Road. She pleaded not guilty and claimed she acted in self‑defence. Prosecutor Denis Vaughan Buckley said that when Gardaí and paramedics arrived, they found Neanu injured but conscious, and that Phillips initially reported an Irish man in a balaclava had stabbed him. In later interviews she said she had defended herself. The trial is proceeding before Justice Margaret Heneghan with a jury of four men and eight women.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled that evidence from eleven Garda National Surveillance Unit members in the retrial of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly must be given anonymously with the public excluded. McGrath (35) and Kelly (46) have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly, a 35-year-old father of three, who was shot dead in Gormanston, Co Meath, in March 2013. McGrath also denied unlawful possession of a Beretta pistol and ammunition. The court is proceeding with the trial in the absence of third accused Dean Evans, who has not been located. This is the second trial for McGrath and Kelly, following the collapse of the original proceedings in January 2015. Prosecuting counsel stated that protected witness David Cullen would testify that Kelly instructed him to collect and hide the gun, and that Kelly's role was to pick up McGrath and Evans after the deed was done. Cullen was previously sentenced to seven years imprisonment, with three and a half years suspended, after pleading guilty to firearms charges in July 2014. The court accepted that surveillance of alleged paramilitaries is a dangerous aspect of policing, justifying the exclusion of the public and the use of initials for witness identities. The trial is continuing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges John O'Hagan and Anne Ryan.
Five men were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the killing of Dale Creighton, who died from blunt force injuries after a 14-minute assault at a Tallaght footbridge in 2014. The defendants, originally charged with murder, changed their pleas to guilty of manslaughter. Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy described the attack as prolonged and vicious, noting that the victims were 'pretty normal, average young people.' Graham Palmer (26) was jailed for five years; Ross Callery (23) and Jason Beresford (23) each received six-year sentences; David Burke (28) was sentenced to seven and a half years; and Gerard Stevens (27) received three years. Aisling Burke (23), who pleaded guilty to violent disorder, was given a five-year sentence with the final four years suspended for two years, though the imposition of this sentence was adjourned for one week to allow her to arrange childcare. James Reid (26), who pleaded guilty to possession of a knife, received a fully suspended two-year sentence and entered a €1,000 bond to be of good behaviour for two years. The victim's family expressed disappointment at the leniency of the sentences, particularly regarding the suspended portions.
Patrick Davis Snr, 52, was convicted of assault causing harm to Brian Dunphy and Garda Kieran Byrne during an incident on Thomas Street, Dublin, in February 2014. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan on 18 July 2016. Davis Snr's appeal against the severity of the sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, which held that the sentence fell within the range available. The Court of Appeal noted that Davis Snr was not involved in the initial altercation but joined the confrontation after the Dunphy family had left a chip shop, and that he was highly intoxicated when he assaulted the garda, who suffered a fractured eye socket. Davis Snr had 14 prior convictions, including one for assaulting a garda, and had paid €600 in compensation to the court. The appeal was dismissed by a three‑judge panel.
The Special Criminal Court will decide tomorrow whether eleven Garda National Surveillance Unit members can give evidence anonymously and whether the public must be excluded from the re‑trial of Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46) for the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly. The court has been told that the gun used was monitored by the unit and that a protected witness will testify against the two men. McGrath denies unlawful possession of a Beretta pistol and ammunition and denies intent to endanger life. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), was absent and not located, so the trial will proceed without him. The case is the second trial for McGrath and Kelly after the original collapsed in 2015. Prosecuting counsel said David Cullen, a protected witness, will testify that Kelly instructed him to collect and hide the gun, and that Cullen was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with three and a half years suspended for firearms charges. Edward McGrath pleaded not guilty. Sharif Kelly pleaded not guilty.
Dylan Brophy, 19, was given a suspended three‑year sentence after pleading guilty to robbing two students on Reuben Street on 12 March 2015. The robbery involved a steel mop handle that struck one victim, Bronte Kavanagh, and a metal object that struck the other, Ryan Donnelly. Kavanagh was dragged to the ground, had her bag ripped from her hands, and suffered a mild concussion; Donnelly was punched in the face, bruised and had swelling on his cheek, arms, legs and ribs. Brophy had 21 prior convictions for traffic, public order and drug offences and had spent six months in custody for the robbery last year. He denied threats, claimed he was defending a friend, and was described as extremely remorseful. The judge noted his upbringing in a broken home and drug‑related activity at the time of the offence. The sentence was suspended, with no custodial time imposed.
Edward Walshe, aged 23, was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended, for a series of offences committed in October 2015. He pleaded guilty to possession of a Winchester double‑barrel shotgun, dangerous driving, and assaulting Detective Sergeant Declan O'Connell. The assault occurred when Walshe, fleeing after a high‑speed pursuit, grabbed the garda's hand and twisted it, fracturing the officer's hand and requiring a bar to fuse the bone. Walshe also caused a head‑on collision that injured a passenger, and his vehicle was found to contain a sawn‑off shotgun and four unspent cartridges in a Lucozade bottle. He was ordered to pay €2,500 to the victim. The judge noted his youth, remorse, and family background in determining the sentence.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 16 January 2017, Colm Deely, aged 44, admitted to manslaughter in the death of Deirdre McCarthy, 43, whose body was found on Fanore Beach on 31 March 2011. Deely had originally pleaded not guilty to murder and was convicted in June 2013, receiving a life sentence. The conviction was quashed in December 2016 after the Court of Appeal discovered that the state pathologist Dr Khalid Jabbar's evidence had not been peer‑reviewed, a procedural flaw highlighted by Deely's defence lawyer Gearoid Geraghty. The court ordered a retrial, and Deely pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The plea was accepted by the State, sentencing was adjourned until 13 March, and Deely was remanded in custody until that date. The case underscores the impact of unreviewed forensic evidence on criminal proceedings.
A 46‑year‑old Zimbabwean woman, Norma Phillips, will be tried at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 36‑year‑old Stefan Neanu, a Romanian man, on 12 April 2015 in a flat on Phibsboro Road, Dublin 7. Phillips pleaded not guilty. Justice Patrick McCarthy has sworn a jury of seven women and five men, who will begin the two‑week trial tomorrow.
Martin Stokes, a 25-year-old man from Kinnegad, Westmeath, appeared before the Court of Appeal to challenge the severity of his sentence. He had previously pleaded not guilty to the defilement of a child under 15 in Westmeath on June 3, 2011, as well as rape and sexual assault. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on all counts, and he was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, by Mr Justice Carroll Moran in August 2015. Stokes's earlier appeal against conviction was dismissed in December. In today's hearing, his barrister, Padraig Dwyer SC, argued that the sentence was excessive, noting the absence of additional violence or threats. Dwyer contended that the trial judge placed undue emphasis on Stokes's denials and the resulting trauma to the victim, while also highlighting the personal impact on Stokes, including the end of his marriage and separation from his child. Conversely, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Pauline Walley SC, maintained the sentence was proportionate, citing the victim's severe depression, anxiety, and the disruption to her education caused by multiple trial dates. The court, comprising Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, and Mr Justice Alan Mahon, reserved its judgment, indicating it hopes to deliver its decision as soon as possible. The matter remains adjourned pending this final ruling.
Paul Smyth, aged 64, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for failing to pay nearly €500,000 in tax on rental income from 15 properties between 2007 and 2009. The court found the total loss to the Revenue Commissioners at €848,444, including €498,949 in unpaid income tax and additional interest. Smyth had been collecting rent from HSE tenants and cash payments, and had used three identities—Paul Smyth, Paul Jones, and Daniel Smyth—to acquire the properties. In 2009, Revenue officers discovered forged driver licences and evidence of €599,760 deposited into three accounts owned by Smyth. He had previously been convicted for failing to file tax returns for 2003‑2006 and for larceny and assault. All his properties were repossessed. The sentence was back‑dated to September 2016, when he was arrested in Spain, and the judge noted a significant level of dishonesty in his conduct. Paul Smyth pleaded guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard that the car used by the gunman in the murder of Peter Butterly was under Garda surveillance. Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, who have pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 35-year-old father of three, are currently on trial. The prosecution alleged that McGrath drove a silver Toyota Corolla into the Huntsman Inn car park in Gormanston, Co Meath, on March 6, 2013, where Butterly was shot dead. A third accused, Dean Evans, who allegedly fired the shots, failed to appear and has not been located; the court proceeded with the trial in his absence. Prosecution counsel stated that a protected witness, David Cullen, would testify that Kelly directed him to dispose of the weapon and that Kelly's role was to pick up McGrath and Evans after the incident. Cullen was previously sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with three and a half years suspended, after pleading guilty to firearms charges in July 2014. The court was told that surveillance units intercepted the vehicle, leading to the arrest of McGrath and Evans, while Kelly was arrested upon arrival in another car. The trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt continues on Monday.
Marta Herda, 29, was convicted of murder after driving a Volkswagen Passat into a deep harbour in Arklow on 26 March 2013, causing the drowning of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsos. The Central Criminal Court found that Herda had driven the car through the crash barriers at South Quay, applied the handbrake before entering the water, and that the only open window was the driver's. Orsos's body was recovered from a nearby beach; a post‑mortem confirmed death by drowning, not by crash injuries. Herda pleaded not guilty, was found guilty by a jury, and received a mandatory life sentence on 28 July 2016. She has lodged an appeal and is seeking bail pending the appeal hearing, arguing a "discrete, clear ground" that could give her a strong chance of success. The bail application is scheduled for 5 April. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no further verdicts announced.
Eamon McNamee, a 34-year-old man from Larkfield Square, Lucan, County Dublin, appeared in court facing a charge of possessing a firearm with the intent to commit an indictable offence, specifically assault causing harm. The alleged incident occurred at Fairgreen, Saggart, Co. Dublin, on January 19, 2013. The matter is currently at the pre-trial stage, with the court fixing a trial date for December 12 at the Special Criminal Court. The trial is expected to last six days. Presiding Judge Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy remanded Mr McNamee on continuing bail until October 23, when his case is listed for mention again. The court did not record a plea, finding, or sentence at this stage, as the proceedings remain in the pre-trial phase. The accused is alleged to have committed the offence, but no conviction has been established. The next procedural step is the mention hearing scheduled for October 23, after which the trial will proceed in December. No other case subjects, pleas, or disposals were recorded in this report.
The High Court ordered the extradition of Oliver Hurley, a 63‑year‑old former Garda living in the UK, to face a manslaughter charge in England. The case stems from the death of Manolito Chando on 9 April 2016 after an assault at a Salvation Army hostel in London. CCTV footage allegedly shows Hurley pushing Chando with considerable force, causing a head injury and a brain bleed that led to a coma and death. Hurley, who was homeless at the time, claimed he was defending himself and that Chando was intoxicated. He voluntarily presented himself to Gardaí in Ireland after seeing his image on RTE's Crimecall programme. The court granted the State's extradition application, noting the seriousness of the alleged offence and the lack of justification for the force used. The order directs Hurley's surrender to the UK for trial.
William Gilsenan, aged 24, appeared for sentencing at the Central Criminal Court following his December conviction for manslaughter in the death of Edward Fitzgerald. The incident occurred on 17 October 2014 in a car park at The Green, Larch Hill, Oscar Traynor Road, Santry, Dublin. Mr Gilsenan was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. A dispute over a €100 debt preceded the stabbing, during which Mr Gilsenan inflicted two knife wounds, one of which proved fatal. The defence counsel sought a sentence not exceeding four years, citing Mr Gilsenan's previously good character, lack of violence history, and evidence that the attack was provoked and reactionary rather than premeditated. A psychological report indicated depression and cannabis use for self-medication. The victim's family provided an impact statement describing ongoing trauma. Justice Paul Butler adjourned sentencing to 19 January, remanding Mr Gilsenan in custody pending that date.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing in Dublin, three men—Dean Evans (26), Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46)—were scheduled to stand trial for the murder of Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old father of two, who was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co. Meath, on 6 March 2013. McGrath and Kelly appeared in court and were remanded on continuing bail until Friday. Evans, however, failed to attend the hearing. The court noted that Evans had not been seen since Sunday and that his family were "concerned" about his whereabouts. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges John O'Hagan and Anne Ryan, issued a warrant for Evans's arrest and remanded Kelly and McGrath on continuing bail until the following day. The case remains at the trial stage, with no further outcomes reported in the article.
A man from Carrigallen, County Leitrim, has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment following his conviction for the sexual abuse of a boy in his community. Damien Reilly, aged 39, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexual assault, oral rape, and anal rape. The offences occurred between 1994 and 2000, when the victim was aged between nine and fourteen years old and Reilly was between seventeen and twenty-two. The court heard that the victim came forward to gardaí in 2014 after an encounter with Reilly in a local public house. During sentencing, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy described the offences as grave and noted their serious impact on the complainant. The judge acknowledged Reilly's early guilty plea and early medical reports relating to a childhood stroke. Three years post-release supervision was also imposed.
Michael Murray, 46, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for rape, attempted rape, oral rape, aggravated sexual assault, child abduction, threats, false imprisonment and theft during a Dublin apartment incident in February 2010. He lured a woman by claiming an elderly woman needed help, tied her up, assaulted her, abducted her son, and later drugged and raped her. Murray denied the charges but was found guilty on all counts by a unanimous jury. He filed an appeal against his conviction, initially through his legal team led by Vincent Heneghan SC. After the court was informed that Murray had lost confidence in his team, he advanced the appeal himself. The Court of Appeal noted that Murray had been deemed unfit for police interview due to intoxication and that the state could not rely on the initial interview data.
A 33‑year‑old Latvian man, Dzintars Sacklausks, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, for assaulting his ill friend, Aigar Sildars, during a drinking party in Graigowen, Tullow, Co. Carlow. The assault occurred on the morning of 16 September 2014, the same day a third man, Gints Intembergs, was murdered. Sacklausks had pleaded not guilty to both the assault and murder charges, but the murder charge was dropped early in the trial and he later pleaded guilty to assault. The court noted that Sildars was drunk and injured, with facial bruising, and that Sacklausks had admitted the assault and left a blood spot on his shoe. Sildars, who has a reduced mobility illness, declined a victim impact statement but sent a letter to the judge expressing forgiveness and no ill will toward Sacklausks. The unnamed 33-year-old was found guilty.
Larry McCarthy, 37, of Limerick, was denied compassionate bail by the Special Criminal Court to attend his grandmother's funeral. McCarthy faces multiple charges: threatening to kill Noel Moore and to damage Moore's house on 28 July 2015, and threatening unlawful violence with two others and assaulting David Foran on 25 November 2014. The court had previously set trial dates for these offences. The State objected to the bail application, citing McCarthy as a serious flight risk and the potential to interfere with witnesses. Detective Sergeant John Cleary and defence counsel Mark Thompson BL argued for bail, but no conditions were offered to satisfy the court's concerns. Judge Paul Butler, with Judges Robert Eagar and Sinead Ni Chulachain, upheld the refusal, noting no change in circumstances since the prior denial under Section 2A of the Bail Act. The decision was made on Friday, 30 December 2016.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former soldier Jonathan McSherry (34) was jailed for a brutal assault on his ex‑partner, Jessica Bowes. McSherry, who was high on cocaine, breached a barring order and attacked Bowes at her home, repeatedly punching and kicking her until she lost consciousness twice. The attack left Bowes with fractures to her skull, eye sockets and cheekbone, permanent scarring, nerve damage and a metal plate in her face. She described the violence as "merciless" and said she feared for her life. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced McSherry to three and a half years, suspended the final year on the condition of sobriety, drug‑treatment participation and no contact with Bowes. The sentence was back‑dated to March to account for time spent in custody and treatment. McSherry had previously been remanded on bail to attend a drug‑treatment programme. Jonathan McSherry pleaded guilty.
Seven defendants appeared before the Central Criminal Court for sentencing following the death of Dale Creighton, who died from blunt force injuries sustained during an assault on a Tallaght footbridge on New Year's Day 2014. Originally charged with murder, the group pleaded guilty to lesser offences on the 15th day of their trial. Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, Gerard Stevens, Jason Beresford, and David Burke each pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Jason Beresford also pleaded guilty to violent disorder, as did Aisling Burke. James Reid pleaded guilty to possession of a knife with a blade or sharp point. The court heard victim impact statements from Creighton's parents, who expressed their enduring grief and stated they would never forgive those responsible. Counsel for the defendants submitted mitigation, noting that most expressed remorse and had no prior convictions. Aisling Burke's counsel highlighted her status as a mother and her early plea. Graham Palmer's counsel noted his cooperation with Gardaí and admission of involvement in punching and slapping the deceased. David Burke's counsel argued he did not cause serious harm and attempted to stop others. The judge is now considering appropriate sentences for these admitted offences.
Patrick Hutch, 24, from Champions Avenue, was denied bail by the Central Criminal Court after being charged with the murder of David Byrne, 34, at the Regency Hotel in Dublin. Byrne was shot dead during a boxing weigh‑in on 5 February by a gang of heavily armed raiders. Hutch also faces two Firearms Act charges for unlawfully possessing three assault rifles. The court, citing Section 2A of the Bail Act, remanded him in custody pending a trial in the Special Criminal Court expected to last three to four weeks.
A man has been convicted of kidnapping the mother of his children at the Central Criminal Court following a two-week trial. The jury returned a guilty verdict after deliberating for over five hours. However, jurors could not reach agreement on charges of rape and extreme domestic abuse during their five-year relationship. Justice Carmel Stewart remanded the accused in custody pending a prosecution decision next month on whether to seek a retrial on the outstanding counts. The woman, aged 29, had obtained a barring order against the man before the November 2014 incident in Longford. She alleged he forcibly removed her from her sister's house, drove recklessly along country roads, and held her at his friend's residence while threatening her. The accused pleaded not guilty to rape, false imprisonment, and production of an article. He also faced multiple assault charges spanning 2011 to 2015, though one assault charge and a breach of barring order were not proceeded with.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 21 December 2016, Terence 'Terry' Connors, aged 42, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the death of Peter Conroy, aged 25, at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. Connors had pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter, but the prosecution rejected his plea. The jury, composed of seven women and five men, deliberated over five hours and returned a verdict by a 10‑to‑two majority. Connors was also convicted of a second count of assaulting Elaine Blunt on the same night. The court experienced violent scenes as family and friends of the deceased shouted and surged toward Connors; police and Gardaí in stab vests contained the crowd. The case was adjourned for mention on 17 January. The prosecution's case relied on CCTV footage and a witness statement from Blunt, who claimed to have seen Connors stab Conroy.
Anvar Ghambari, 39, was sentenced to a suspended three‑year prison term after stabbing Majid Suhrabi four times in the head during a school run in Tallaght on 1 March 2016. The attack, carried out with a metal stabiliser from a child's bicycle, was motivated by alleged comments about Ghambari's wife. School children witnessed the assault and were frightened. Ghambari pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. He had spent almost two weeks in custody before the sentencing. The judge, Martin Nolan, deemed the incident a one‑off lapse, noting no prior convictions and a positive probation report, and therefore suspended the custodial sentence in full. The court ordered that neither man bring their sons to school to avoid a repeat incident. No further incidents have been reported since the assault.
A 33‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to raping his former partner in a Dublin suburb on 26 January 2014. The victim, who suffered severe physical and psychological harm, gave a victim impact statement describing nightmares, loss of motherhood and suicidal thoughts. The court adjourned sentencing to January 2020 to allow consideration of potential significant compensation. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy noted the adjournment would not affect the sentence and remanded the accused in custody until 16 January. The prosecution highlighted the couple's long relationship, the rape's violent nature, and the victim's post‑incident trauma. The defence, represented by Caroline Biggs SC, presented evidence of the accused's remorse, counselling, and family support, requesting the court consider these factors in sentencing.
During a Court of Appeal hearing on 21 December 2016, Gerard Brown, aged 34, was found guilty of assaulting fellow inmate Stephen Cooper, an ex‑garda, on 20 May 2014 at Midlands Prison. Brown had been sentenced to three years' imprisonment, consecutive to a term already served, after a jury at Portlaoise Circuit Criminal Court convicted him of assault causing harm. Brown claimed that Cooper had requested the assault to facilitate his early release on safety grounds, alleging that Cooper had instructed him to "not hold back" and to "just make sure there is blood", and that Cooper had offered documentation, information and €1,000 in return. Cooper denied any consent and insisted there was no agreement.
A man convicted of murder in connection with a fatal shooting in County Donegal has had his conviction upheld by the Court of Appeal. Martin Kelly, aged 42, from Strabane, County Tyrone, was found guilty of the murder of Andrew Burns at Donnyloop, Castlefin on 12 February 2008. The non-jury Special Criminal Court imposed a mandatory life sentence in January 2012. Mr Burns was shot twice in the back in a church car park by a gunman associated with a dissident republican organisation. Kelly's legal team argued he had agreed only to facilitate a punishment shooting, unaware the incident was planned as a deliberate execution. Mr Justice George Birmingham rejected this argument, finding Kelly guilty of murder based on his intention to cause serious harm, even without proof of intent to kill. The court noted that Irish law has long established that intention to cause serious injury resulting in death constitutes murder. The judgment acknowledged the appeal raised novel legal questions of clear importance. An application to the Supreme Court is being considered. Martin Kelly pleaded not guilty.
James Walsh, aged 30, pleaded guilty to possession of a pistol with intent to endanger life after a shooting at the Church of the Transfiguration in Clondalkin on 26 March 2014. He shot himself in the leg while escaping the scene. The prosecution sought a nolle prosequi on a separate attempted murder charge against Michael Frazer, 37, who was shot twice and later sought sanctuary at a Garda station. On 1 December 2016, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced Walsh to ten years' imprisonment, backdated to his initial custody on 5 December 2014. The judge highlighted strong circumstantial evidence, including a black jacket, a mobile phone, and a spent bullet found in Walsh's car, linking him to the shooting. Walsh had spent two years in custody awaiting trial and had prior convictions. The sentence reflected the seriousness of using a firearm to endanger life.
A 75‑year‑old man, previously jailed in the UK for raping his step‑children, was convicted in Ireland for repeatedly raping his daughter. After being released in the mid‑1990s, he travelled to Asia, married, and later settled in Dublin where he and his wife had two daughters in 2003 and 2005. He began molesting the youngest daughter when she was six, escalating to oral rape when she was seven, and continued to rape her for the next two years. The abuse came to light in December 2013 when his terminally ill wife reported concerns to hospital staff. Gardaí discovered his prior convictions and that he had left the daughters unattended in a library. A search of his flat revealed passports in the daughters' names. He pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual assault and four counts of oral rape between January 2012 and December 2013.
The Court of Appeal heard an appeal by Darren Wynne, who was found guilty by a jury of murdering Jamie Lindsay at Coney Green, Athy, on April 6, 2013, and sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan in July 2014. Wynne's counsel, Damien Colgan SC, alleged that the Director of Public Prosecutions ambushed his client by allowing co-accused Quentin Monaghan and James Seery to plead guilty to manslaughter only after key evidence was admitted. Colgan argued this timing prejudiced Wynne's provocation defence and requested the conviction be quashed for a retrial. Monaghan was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment with two suspended, while Seery received seven years with three suspended. Counsel for the DPP, Alex Owens SC, rejected these claims as wild allegations, stating there was no evidence of misconduct and that the evidence against Wynne was overwhelming. The court, comprising Mr Justice John Edwards, Mr Justice George Birmingham, and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, reserved its judgment. The matter was adjourned pending the decision.
Zhen Dong Zhao, an internet café manager, was sentenced to six years in prison for the manslaughter of Noel Fegan. The matter reached this stage following an appeal where Zhao's original murder conviction and life sentence, imposed in December 2012, were overturned by the Court of Appeal earlier this year, resulting in a retrial order. At the Central Criminal Court last month, the State accepted Zhao's plea of not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The court heard that Zhao kicked Fegan to death outside a shop on Lower Wellington Quay in Dublin in May 2011 during a dispute over a 70-cent phone call. An autopsy attributed Fegan's death to a subarachnoid haemorrhage caused by blunt-force trauma to the head and neck. Justice Patrick McCarthy stated the appropriate sentence was nine years but reduced it by three years due to mitigating factors, including Zhao's remorse, early plea, and low risk of reoffending. Zhao received credit for two years and eight months already spent in custody. The victim's family criticised the sentence, with his niece expressing disappointment that the term was shorter than expected, noting the profound impact on Fegan's two children.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal against conviction lodged by Duku Popovici, a 43-year-old Romanian national from Cabra Park, Dublin 7. Popovici had pleaded not guilty to aggravated burglary at the home of James and Sarah Quigley in Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary, on September 26, 2013. He was previously found guilty by a jury at Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, by Judge Tom Teehan on July 23, 2015. During the appeal, Popovici's legal team argued that the trial judge failed to properly direct the jury on the lesser charge of attempted burglary, asserting that the defence case was that Popovici was never inside the house. However, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, sitting with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice Alan Mahon, rejected this argument. The court noted that the trial judge's charge was succinct and that it would have been perverse not to convict of attempted burglary if the jury were not satisfied of aggravated burglary. The appeal was dismissed on all grounds, upholding the original conviction and sentence.
A 45‑year‑old Laois man was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for raping and violently assaulting his wife in their marital bed after she declined to hold his hand. The judge described the case as tragic and noted the victim's emotional impact statement, in which she said she felt like a ghost and that her life and family relationships were destroyed. The man's two adult sons testified in support of him, describing him as a good father. He has pleaded guilty to assault causing harm but denies the rape conviction. The court considered that he had no prior convictions and had led a blameless life before the incident. The sentencing hearing took place in the Central Criminal Court, where the judge highlighted the severity of the victim's suffering and the man's remorse as expressed in a letter to the judge.
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow to decide the verdict in the trial of Terence 'Terry' Connors, 42, of Drumcairn Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin 24. Connors has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Peter Conroy, 27, at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. His manslaughter plea was not accepted by the State. He also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Elaine Blunt on the same date at the same location. Justice Paul Butler explained that the jury has three possible verdicts: not guilty if he acted in self‑defence with no more force than necessary; not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter if he used more force than necessary; or guilty of murder if the prosecution proves beyond reasonable doubt that he was not acting in self‑defence and intended to kill or cause serious injury.
Terence 'Terry' Connors, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Peter Conroy, 27, at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. He also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Elaine Blunt on the same day. Defence argued Connors was defending his partner Brigid when he used a knife after being provoked by a vodka bottle thrown at him or his son. The barrister highlighted CCTV showing a fight in the hallway and Connors' involvement only after the provocation. Prosecutor Paul Carroll countered that Connors brought a concealed knife, used it to stab Conroy, and that the natural consequence of such an act is death. He urged the jury to consider Connors' claim of self‑defence and to decide on the appropriate charge. The case was presented to a jury of twelve at the Central Criminal Court, with the judge to charge them tomorrow.
The sentence hearing for seven accused in the 2014 death of Dale Creighton was adjourned, with Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy indicating sentences will be announced in January. The accused, originally charged with murder, pleaded guilty to lesser offences after their initial not-guilty pleas were withdrawn during trial. Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, Gerard Stevens, Jason Beresford, and David Burke pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Jason Beresford and Aisling Burke pleaded guilty to violent disorder. James Reid pleaded guilty to possession of a knife. Evidence presented included CCTV footage and testimony from Sergeant Brian Cagney, who stated Creighton was found unconscious on a Tallaght footbridge without a mobile phone, despite an allegation he had stolen one. Creighton died from blunt force injuries. The court noted prior convictions for David Burke, James Reid, and Gerard Stevens. A letter from Beresford, read by counsel, apologized to the Creighton family. The matter remains pending final sentencing.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberating in the trial of a man accused of raping his former partner from Longford following her alleged kidnapping. Justice Carmel Stewart charged the jury on the legal test for consent, directing them that an honest but unreasonable belief in consent may constitute a defence to rape, provided such belief was genuinely held and not based on self-deceit. The judge instructed the jury to consider whether any claimed belief in consent could have been genuinely held given the circumstances the woman described. The accused has pleaded not guilty to rape, false imprisonment, and production of an article in November 2015, and to three counts of assault causing harm between 2011 and 2015. He faces additional allegations of false imprisonment of the woman and their children in unsuitable accommodation, and various assaults throughout their relationship. Two charges have been withdrawn.
Diarmuid Manning, 21, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after admitting he raped a 19‑year‑old college student at a house party in Cork on 24 June 2014. The victim, who was unconscious and later treated at Cork University Hospital, described the assault in a victim impact report read at the Central Criminal Court. Manning, a business studies student from Stuke, Donoughmore, pleaded guilty to rape and oral rape. He apologized, claiming he had overdone it while drinking, and expressed hope that the victim would recover and forgive him. The judge noted the victim's compassion and the seriousness of the crime, remanding Manning to custody after hearing the evidence.
Paul Wells Jnr, aged 30, faces trial for impeding a murder investigation by disposing of a chainsaw. He is charged with obstructing the apprehension or prosecution of his father, Paul Wells Snr, 48, who is alleged to have killed Kenneth O'Brien, 33, in Finglas on 15 or 16 January 2016. The Central Criminal Court set the trial for 19 February 2018.
In a sentencing hearing that began on 19 December 2016, five Dublin men who had admitted killing a 20‑year‑old on a Tallaght footbridge on New Year's Morning 2014 were sentenced. The men, all in their twenties and from Tallaght, had originally been charged with murder but the charges were dropped on the 15th day of the trial after they pleaded guilty to lesser offences. The victims' death was caused by blunt force injury to the head and face. The defendants – Aisling Burke (23), David Burke (28), Graham Palmer (26), Ross Callery (23), James Reid (26), Jason Beresford (23) and Gerard Stevens (27) – had all pleaded not guilty to murder but later pleaded guilty to manslaughter, violent disorder or possession of a knife. The court heard CCTV footage and Garda interview memos during the hearing.
A 35‑year‑old man, Juraci Da Silva, originally from Brazil, has been charged with the murder of 28‑year‑old James Banville on 8 October 2016 at New Street, Waterford. The Central Criminal Court has set his trial for 2 October 2017.