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2016-12-19 · Dublin
A 43‑year‑old woman, Mercy Peters, originally from Sierra Leone, faces trial for the murder of her former partner, Tyrone McKenna, aged 42, who was killed on 17 July 2014 at their shared home in Marlay Court, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14. The Central Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, has set the trial for 3 July 2017.
2016-12-19 · Dublin
A 65‑year‑old man, Donal Colgan, has been charged with the murder of David Sheridan, 45, who was killed outside a chip shop on North Strand Road, Dublin 1, on 17 or 18 August 2014. The Central Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, has set the trial for 31 October 2017.
2016-12-16 · Longford
A witness has testified at the Central Criminal Court that an alleged kidnapping and rape victim did not appear distressed when she visited her home on the night in question. The accused man, from Longford, has pleaded not guilty to rape, false imprisonment, and production of an article in November 2015, as well as three counts of assault causing harm between 2011 and 2015. The prosecution alleges he kidnapped the woman after she obtained a barring order against him, and subjected her to violence and degradation over a five-year relationship. The defence witness stated the woman drank cider at her home that evening and exhibited no signs of upset. However, prosecuting counsel suggested the alleged victim had told the witness she was there against her will and questioned why she left at 3am in a distressed state. The trial will resume on Monday with closing speeches before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart.
2016-12-16 · Dublin
Stephen McGrath, a 25‑year‑old veterinarian from Tullamore, was convicted of two counts of assault causing harm after he smashed a glass into the face of accountant Mark Relihan in Dublin's No Name Bar on Fade Street. The attack left Relihan with lifelong scarring and 17 stitches, and also injured a nearby man. McGrath pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Petria McDonnell sentenced him to a suspended three‑year prison term, imposed 200 hours of community service, and accepted his remorse and apology. The sentence was suspended for two years. McGrath was also ordered to pay €10,000 to Relihan as a token of remorse, though the victim declined the payment and is considering civil action. The case highlighted the severe impact of the assault on Relihan's personal and professional life.
2016-12-16 · Dublin
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Terence 'Terry' Connors, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Peter Conroy, 27, at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. The State did not accept the manslaughter plea. Connors also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Elaine Blunt on the same day. He testified that he had been at the B&B with his partner Brigid, had taken a small amount of cocaine and been drinking, and that men were "roaring and shouting" at his children. He claimed he "blanked" when he heard his boys and took a knife he had bought a week earlier, saying he did not intend to kill anyone and was sorry the incident occurred. CCTV footage was cited by both sides, with defence arguing it showed Connors only intervening after a glass was thrown at his children. The trial continues before a jury of twelve.
2016-12-16 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Keith Byrne, aged 32 and with 44 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to possession of €300 worth of cannabis and to making threats to kill or seriously harm staff at Bewleys Hotel, Sandyford, on 15 February 2014. Byrne, who had threatened staff with a screwdriver and said he would "murder" them, is now in a residential rehabilitation program at New Hope in Tallaght. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the matter to 3 October 2017, stating that if Byrne continues to make progress in treatment and engages in services, the court would consider a non‑custodial resolution. The judge noted Byrne's current rehabilitation and the possibility of a non‑custodial outcome if he maintains his progress. The case remains pending, with no jail sentence imposed at this stage.
2016-12-16 · Offaly
Bernadette Scully, after being found not guilty of the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old daughter Emily Barut, used her post‑verdict statement to highlight the lack of services for people with disabilities. She said that she had been in a very dark place four years ago, feeling she had no reason to live after Emily's death, but with the help of family, friends and professional support she found the strength to go on. Scully urged anyone with mental health difficulties or who has considered self‑harm to reach out for help. She thanked her partner, her daughter, her mother, siblings, the judge, jury, court officials, gardai, her legal team and medical staff for their support. She also thanked the kindness of family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, the people of Tullamore and Edenderry, and strangers who sent messages, cards, flowers and Mass bouquets.
2016-12-16 · Dublin
Aaron O'Donoughoe, a 21-year-old from Greystones, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing serious harm in Temple Bar on April 20, 2014. The court heard that O'Donoughoe punched Gerard McManus, who subsequently suffered bleeding and swelling on the brain, resulting in lifelong injuries including balance issues and impaired cognitive processing. O'Donoughoe admitted to striking the victim again while he was on the ground. Judge Martin Nolan noted that the Court of Appeal had previously judged this specific offence as deserving of a sentence of up to twelve-and-a-half years. However, considering O'Donoughoe's difficult background, his remorse, and the fact that he did not intend to cause a brain injury, the judge imposed a five-year custodial sentence. The prosecution argued the offence was on the upper end of the seriousness scale. O'Donoughoe stated he reacted after the victim allegedly used a racial slur and threatened him. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the five-year term.
2016-12-16 · Ireland
A 25‑year‑old man from the midlands was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for raping his niece over a seven‑year period. He began molesting the seven‑year‑old when he was 15, and the abuse escalated to rape and anal rape. The assaults occurred in a relative's house, a treehouse in the grandparents' garden, and the girl's home while her uncle was babysitting her and her younger sister. He pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault and seven counts of rape between January 2007 and August 2014. The judge, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, noted the evidence was "disgusting" and that the accused had full moral culpability, but also acknowledged his remorse and participation in risk‑management therapy. The sentence was reduced from an initial 15‑year recommendation to ten years, with five years of post‑release supervision.
2016-12-16 · Dublin
A 32‑year‑old man, Fionn Braidwood, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for stabbing his retired psychiatrist mother, Jane Braidwood, to death with a kitchen knife on 20 January 2015 at their Clarinda Park East home. He was also charged with assault causing harm to Ceili Braidwood and Anthony Maguire on the same day. After a 32‑minute deliberation, a jury returned the special verdict on all three counts. The Central Criminal Court, hearing evidence from Dr Sally Linehan, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, noted that Mr Braidwood has been under care at the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) since January 2015 and suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and depression. Dr Linehan reported partial improvement but ongoing low mood, social withdrawal and lack of motivation, and recommended continued inpatient treatment. Justice Carmel Stewart ordered Mr Braidwood to be committed to the CMH for ongoing care.
2016-12-16 · Offaly
An Offaly GP, Bernadette Scully, was tried for the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old daughter, Emily Barut, who had severe epilepsy and microcephaly. The prosecution alleged that Scully had given Emily an excessive dose of chloral hydrate on 15 September 2012, leading to intoxication and death. Scully claimed she had administered the drug when Emily became upset at 2 am and 6 am, and again after a seizure at 11 am, stating she had given more than double the usual amount in nine hours. Laboratory tests found Emily's blood contained ten times the therapeutic level of the drug's metabolite, and a post‑mortem confirmed death by chloral hydrate intoxication. The jury deliberated for four hours and two minutes and returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty. The judge discharged the jury and the case concluded with Scully's release.
2016-12-15 · Dublin
In a McDonald's on Grafton Street, Dublin, 25‑year‑old James Thornton struck trainee firefighter Cian McNally on the head with a chair, causing a wound that required ten stitches. Thornton claimed he had not intended to hit McNally but was aiming at McNally's friend, whom he described as "looking like a little faggot" and who had given him a "bad vibe." He told Gardaí that he had taken heroin that morning and was under a drug‑induced psychosis. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Thornton pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Martin Nolan accepted the psychosis explanation and, after noting Thornton had been in custody for five months, sentenced him to a three‑year term suspended in full. No custodial time was imposed. The case was described as an unprovoked attack with no further motive offered. The victim, who had begun training with the Dublin Fire Brigade the following week, later completed his training.
2016-12-15 · Dublin
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Terence 'Terry' Connors, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Peter Conroy, 27, who was stabbed at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Conroy suffered four knife wounds, including one to the neck that severed a major artery. Connors also faced a not‑guilty plea for assaulting Elaine Blunt at the same address. During the trial, Blunt was warned by Judge Paul Butler that she could be removed and held if she did not behave after a confrontation with defence counsel Garnet Orange SC. Blunt testified that she had been at a wedding that night, that she had a fight with Connors' partner Brigid over stolen jeans, and that she saw Connors stab Conroy with a knife. The trial continues before Justice Butler and a jury.
2016-12-15 · Dublin
The sentencing of Irish international footballer Anthony Stokes, aged 27, for an assault charge has been postponed until next year. Stokes pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Anthony Bradley on June 8, 2013, at Buck Whaleys on Leeson Street. Judge Melanie Greally had originally set a sentencing date of December 20, but after an application by his defence lawyer, the date was moved to February 1, 2017. Stokes, who lives in Glasgow, was not present at the hearing and remains on continuing bail until the new sentencing date.
2016-12-15 · Dublin
James Walsh, 30, pleaded guilty to possession of a pistol firearm with intent to endanger life at the Church of the Transfiguration, Clondalkin, on 26 March 2014. The offence arose from a shooting that occurred at the church that evening. Walsh's plea was accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions and a nolle prosequi was entered on a count of attempted murder of Michael Frazer, 37, who was shot and later presented to Clondain Garda Station bleeding and distressed. Walsh had a prior firearms offence in 2006, for which he was convicted in 2007. Counsel for the DPP argued that a mandatory minimum of 10 years applies to a second firearms offence under legislation enacted 1 November 2006. Counsel for Walsh contended that the court was not bound to impose the minimum and urged consideration of his guilty plea and rehabilitation efforts. Judge Patrick McCarthy noted the seriousness of firearms offences and the limited discretion in sentencing.
2016-12-15 · Offaly
The jury will resume deliberations on Friday morning in the trial of a 58‑year‑old Offaly GP charged with the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old daughter, Emily Barut, who was profoundly disabled with microcephaly, severe epilepsy and was unable to speak or move. The GP is accused of unlawfully killing Emily by giving her an excessive quantity of chloral hydrate on 15 September 2012. She pleaded not guilty and the case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court. The judge explained that the jury must be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the GP's conduct was a substantial cause of death and that she had a duty of care to the deceased. He also explained the legal test for manslaughter, noting that a doctor may be found negligent only if her conduct deviates from accepted medical practice. The jury must reach a unanimous verdict.
2016-12-14 · Dublin
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 14 December 2016, Terry (Terence) Connors, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Peter Conroy, 27, who was stabbed at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. Connors also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Elaine Blunt, Conroy's partner, at the same address. The prosecution presented mainly oral evidence and CCTV footage from the B&B, showing the early‑morning events, a fight between two women, and Connors' presence on the premises. The court heard from Garda Sharon Hanly, who described the scene with Conroy lying on the footpath and a male holding a towel to his neck, and from Chief State Pathologist Marie Cassidy, who attributed Conroy's death to hemorrhage and shock from a knife wound to the neck and stab wounds to the head and neck. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, was expected to last three to four days.
2016-12-14 · Dublin
Noel Murtagh, 29, pleaded guilty to assaulting Christopher and Joseph Lennon on Camden Street, Dublin, on 26 June 2014. The assault was unprovoked and involved punching and kicking the brothers. Joseph Lennon suffered a badly broken jaw, requiring metal plates and still cannot fully open his mouth. Murtagh's co‑accused, Michael Coleman, was found to have caused the more serious injuries, including punching and kicking Joseph Lennon while he was on the ground. Coleman was jailed for 18 months in July 2015. Judge Melanie Greally accepted evidence that Coleman was the instigator and that Murtagh's role was less violent. She sentenced Murtagh to a three‑year prison term, suspended in full, and ordered 240 hours of community service within 12 months. The court noted a probation report indicating Murtagh was at low risk of re‑offending and had shown appropriate shame for his actions.
2016-12-14 · Dublin
A 24‑year‑old, William Gilsenan, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for killing drug dealer Edward Fitzgerald (29) during a €100 debt dispute. The trial, lasting ten days at the Central Criminal Court, ended with a unanimous verdict after 2 h 35 min of jury deliberation. Gilsenan had pleaded not guilty to murder; defence counsel sought bail, but Justice Paul Butler ruled that bail would only be granted under extraordinary circumstances following a manslaughter conviction. He remanded Gilsenan in custody until a sentencing hearing on 12 January. The case involved an argument in a car park where Fitzgerald demanded money; Gilsenan claimed self‑defence after being struck, but the jury concluded he used excessive force. The verdict was delivered after the judge explained the possible outcomes and the conditions for each. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for 12 January.
2016-12-14 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 19‑year‑old Ross Behan pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, attempted robbery and possession of a knife after stabbing a Brazilian man on a Luas tram on 6 May. The victim, who had tried to defend himself with a fake taser, suffered a one‑inch laceration and was taken to St James's Hospital. Behan also pleaded guilty to breaking and entering a house in Inchicore and stealing two cars, which he crashed and abandoned. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to six years' imprisonment, suspending the final three years, and ordered drug treatment on release. Behan had 27 prior convictions, including burglary and theft, and had pleaded guilty to the earlier offences. The court heard he was on drugs at the time of the attacks and that his childhood was marked by hardship. The judge noted that a prolonged incarceration would not best serve the community.
2016-12-14 · Offaly
Bernadette Scully, a 58-year-old Offaly GP, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the alleged manslaughter of her profoundly disabled 11-year-old daughter, Emily Barut. The prosecution alleges that Scully unlawfully killed Barut at their home in Tullamore on September 15, 2012, through an act of gross negligence involving the administration of an excessive quantity of chloral hydrate. Scully has pleaded not guilty. The case centers on allegations that she administered the sedative multiple times after Barut, who suffered from microcephaly and severe epilepsy, experienced distress and a seizure following a medical procedure. During closing speeches, both the prosecution and defence acknowledged the emotional nature of the case. Judge Patrick McCarthy charged the jury to set aside all emotion and apply the law objectively. He explained that the State must prove beyond reasonable doubt that Scully's conduct was a substantial cause of death and that she failed to observe the ordinary and necessary care expected of a professional, resulting in negligence to a very high degree. The judge clarified that while the test is objective, a doctor following approved medical practice is generally protected from negligence findings unless the practice is obviously defective. The jury, comprising seven women and five men, was instructed that their verdict must be unanimous and that they may take as long as necessary to deliberate. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with the jury set to begin deliberations.
2016-12-14 · Dublin
A jury has begun deliberations in the trial of William Gilsenan, 24, accused of murdering drug dealer Edward Fitzgerald, 29, during a dispute over a €100 debt. The incident occurred on 17 October 2014 in a car park outside Gilsenan's home. Gilsenan pleaded not guilty. Justice Paul Butler instructed the jury that they could return a verdict of guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. He stated that the prosecution had accepted that Gilsenan stabbed Fitzgerald in the heart, causing death, but that a not‑guilty verdict could be reached if the jury believed Gilsenan acted in self‑defence and used only necessary force. He also noted that the defence claimed Gilsenan was provoked and lost self‑control after Fitzgerald threatened him and his family. The jury began deliberations shortly after 11 a.m. this morning.
2016-12-13 · Longford
A Longford man has pleaded not guilty to charges including rape, false imprisonment, breaching a barring order, and assault causing harm at the Central Criminal Court. The prosecution alleges he abducted and assaulted a woman following her obtaining a barring order against him. A witness testified that he answered his door in the early hours of Sunday, 8 November 2015, to find a woman in severe distress who reported being pursued. The witness told prosecuting counsel Brendan Grehan SC that the woman was crying, trembling, and bore visible marks on her neck. She stated she had been held overnight at a neighbouring property and said she had pretended compliance with her former partner due to threats to her life. The witness confirmed he contacted gardaí, who confirmed they were searching for the woman. The trial before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury continues.
2016-12-13 · Ireland
The High Court ordered the extradition of a 72‑year‑old man to Britain on a sexual assault charge that carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison. The alleged assault took place at The Royal Liverpool University Hospital on 9 August 2014. A second charge concerns his failure to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on 5 November 2014. The man was arrested following a European Arrest Warrant issued by British authorities on 7 October 2016. Counsel for the Minister for Justice and Equality argued that the man had no reasonable excuse for missing the court date and that there were no grounds to refuse surrender. Defence counsel raised concerns about the man's significant heart problems and the risk to his health if incarcerated in the UK.
2016-12-13 · Offaly
In the 2016 Central Criminal Court trial, the prosecution argued that Offaly GP Bernadette Scully unlawfully killed her 11‑year‑old daughter, Emily Barut, by administering excessive chloral hydrate. Scully, 58, faced manslaughter charges for gross negligence on 15 September 2012. The prosecution, led by Tara Burns SC, highlighted that Scully had exceeded her own dosing rules—giving 17 ml by 6 am and 34 ml by 11 am—while the therapeutic limit was 15 ml in 24 hours and an absolute limit of 20 ml. The State Pathologist cited chloral hydrate intoxication as the cause of death, and Professor Marie Cassidy acknowledged it as a substantial cause despite Emily's pre‑existing conditions. Burns urged the jury to consider that Scully's actions were not the sole cause but constituted gross negligence, and to return a guilty verdict. The case remains pending before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a 12‑person jury. Bernadette Scully pleaded not guilty.
2016-12-13 · Dublin
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, William Gilsenan, 24, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 29‑year‑old Edward Fitzgerald, who was stabbed in a car park outside Gilsenan's home on 17 October 2014. Prosecutor Orla Crowe SC argued that Gilsenan was the aggressor, having entered the scene with a knife and choosing to confront Fitzgerald after the latter shouted at him. Crowe said Gilsenan could have retreated but did not, and that he stabbed Fitzgerald twice, killing him. Defence counsel Caroline Biggs SC urged the jury to consider Gilsenan's state of mind, noting that Fitzgerald, a drug dealer, had threatened Gilsenan's home and family and that Gilsenan had expressed fear to the Gardaí.
2016-12-13 · Dublin
Declan Duffy, 43, of Hannover Street West, Dublin, faces charges of false imprisonment and violent disorder for incidents at The Towers, Garters Lane in Saggart on 9 June 2015. The Special Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne, refused bail. Garda objections were based on the risk of flight and Section 2A of the Bail Act, with evidence from Detective Inspector Colm O'Malley and Detective Chief Superintendent Lorraine Wheatley. Duffy remains in custody until 3 October next year, when his trial is expected to commence.
2016-12-12 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Thomas Knox, 64, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Garda Shane Buckley and to criminal damage after a dispute with his neighbour. The incident began when Knox, highly intoxicated, pulled down part of his neighbour's back‑garden fence and then assaulted the garda who was called to the scene. During the confrontation, Knox grabbed Buckley's arm and attempted to pull him over a shoulder‑high wall, causing Buckley to suffer a significant tear to his shoulder cartilage that required surgery, a sling for four weeks, and extensive physiotherapy. Buckley reported the assault as traumatising and frightening, noting ongoing mental‑health leave. Knox, who has three prior drink‑driving convictions and has been on disability benefit for 17 years, was adjourned for three months to work with Probation Services on his alcohol issues, with sentencing scheduled for March 20 next year.
2016-12-12 · Longford
A trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard how gardaí were obliged to prepare meals and change nappies for multiple children after their mother was allegedly abducted from her Longford home in November 2015. The woman alleged she was taken by her partner shortly after obtaining a barring order against him. A local sergeant testified that upon arrival at the property, gardaí encountered numerous distressed children with no adult supervision. The officer and his colleagues cared for the children until the woman's sister, whose phone battery had depleted, returned home. The accused, who is the father of the children, has pleaded not guilty to rape, false imprisonment, breaching the barring order, and producing an article, along with four counts of assault causing harm between 2011 and 2015. The complainant told the court she fled to safety during the alleged incident. The trial before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury continues.
2016-12-12 · Ireland
In a 2016 hearing, a 57‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to four counts of rape and four counts of indecent assault against his four‑year‑old sister between December 1971 and October 1973. He claimed the acts were consensual, a claim the court rejected. The sister, now 49, testified that the abuse occurred two or three times a week, describing it as a "waiting game" that left her feeling imprisoned in her own body and mind. She recounted specific incidents, including being forced to perform oral sex during a family wedding and being raped while her mother was speaking to a neighbour. The court adjourned sentencing to the following Tuesday. The defendant, father of seven, had no prior convictions and was not interviewed by Gardaí after the abuse was reported to health authorities in 1994. The defense argued his juvenile status and remorse should be considered, but the court did not impose a custodial sentence at that time.
2016-12-12 · Wexford
A 73‑year‑old Wexford man was sentenced to an indeterminate life term for raping his nine‑year‑old step‑granddaughter, who had helped him recover from a stroke. The victim was the fifth of the accused's victims. He already serves a 13‑year sentence for abusing his two daughters in the 1970s and 1980s and a separate term for abusing his two sons. In court the judge described how the man "groomed" the girl by showing her pornographic playing cards and giving her money before molesting and orally raping her between 2006 and 2008. He pleaded guilty to ten counts of sexual assault and oral rape. The judge noted the victim's fear of disbelief and her eventual placement in foster care, and he accepted the man's claim of being abused as a child. The life sentence will run alongside his existing 13‑year term. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court.
2016-12-12 · Ireland
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 45‑year‑old Laois man was found guilty of raping his wife on 8 January 2015. He had previously pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. During sentencing, he denied the rape verdict, claiming the woman had consented after being physically assaulted. The court heard that the attack began when the wife refused to hold his hand on the couch, leading him to punch her face and then force her into sex. The wife's victim impact statement described the assault as more traumatic than the rape, stating she felt like a ghost and had moved to a new home. The judge noted the jury's unanimous guilty verdict and the woman's profound shock. The case was adjourned for sentencing on 20 December. The defendant had no prior convictions and was described as remorseful.
2016-12-12 · Dublin
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Declan Duffy, aged 43, faces a bail application while charged with three counts of false imprisonment and violent disorder linked to an incident at The Towers, Garters Lane, Saggart, on 9 June 2015. The bail hearing, held at Cloverhill District Court, included objections from Gardaí citing Duffy as a flight risk, and from Detective Chief Superintendent Lorraine Wheatley, who invoked Section 2A of the Bail Act to argue that denying bail was necessary to prevent a serious offence. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne, will decide the application tomorrow morning.
2016-12-12 · Dublin
A jury of five men and seven women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Terry (Terence) Connors, 42, of Drumcairn Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin 24. Connors pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Conroy, 25, at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. The trial is set to begin Wednesday afternoon and is expected to last three to four days.
2016-12-12 · Dublin
In December 2016, Judge Tony Hunt sentenced 57‑year‑old Richard O'Brien to 15 years' imprisonment for raping a grandmother in Dublin on 19 March 2011. O'Brien lured the victim to a caravan, assaulted her, bit her and raped her, then fled to the UK before being extradited in 2013. He had earlier been convicted of rape and false imprisonment in 2015, receiving a six‑year sentence back‑dated to his extradition. At the 2016 sentencing, O'Brien repeatedly disrupted proceedings, calling the victim a "filthy prostitute". The judge described the harm as "very very great indeed" with long‑term damage, noting the victim's nightmares, relationship breakdown and suicidal thoughts. O'Brien's sentence was back‑dated to August 2015, with post‑release supervision for three years and a requirement to notify authorities of his address under the Sex Offenders Act. The victim's impact statement highlighted the lasting psychological and familial effects of the attack.
2016-12-09 · Dublin
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 40‑year‑old Zhen Dong Zhao pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the death of 39‑year‑old Noel Fegan outside the e‑Times internet café in Dublin on 20 May 2011. Zhao, who had lived in Ireland since 2003, was originally convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2012, but that conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal and a retrial was ordered. The court heard that a brief altercation over a 70‑cent phone call escalated into a physical fight lasting seven to ten seconds, during which Zhao repeatedly kicked Fegan, causing a subarachnoid haemorrhage that led to his death. CCTV footage showed the incident lasted three minutes and 36 seconds. Zhao had been in custody for two years and eight months before the hearing and had met all bail conditions.
2016-12-09 · Dublin
Thomas Kinsella, 37, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by reason of self‑defence after stabbing John Murdoch in Tallaght on 27 August 2011. The Central Criminal Court jury accepted that Kinsella believed he was acting in self‑defence and used no more force than he thought necessary. He was originally sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment, with the final five years suspended. On appeal the Court of Appeal held that the 14‑year starting point was "seriously out of line" with comparable manslaughter cases and re‑sentenced him to 11 years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years. The judge noted Kinsella's progress in custody, including attendance at AA meetings and being free of drugs and alcohol, and expressed hope that he will avoid re‑offending after release.
2016-12-09 · Ireland
A 29‑year‑old woman went to the Central Criminal Court to testify that her partner, the father of their children, had subjected her to five years of extreme abuse, including beatings, confinement, and threats of death. She said he had repeatedly beaten her, locked her and the children in their apartment, flooded the premises, and urinated on her and their son. She alleged that on the night of the alleged kidnapping he drove her at speed on the wrong side of the road, threatened to kill her, and forced her into a bathtub where he threatened to drown her. The woman also claimed he had threatened to kill her and make it look like suicide, held a knife to her throat, and given her a black eye while pregnant. She obtained a barring order against him and has pleaded not guilty to rape, false imprisonment, breaching the barring order, and four counts of assault.
2016-12-09 · Tipperary
A woman who had been sexually abused by her uncle between 1986 and 1988, when she was aged seven to nine, had her appeal against a 10‑year conviction dismissed in its entirety. The uncle, a Tipperary man in his forties at the time, had pleaded not guilty to eight counts of indecent assault and three counts of rape. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty and Justice Margaret Heneghan sentenced him to 10 years in prison on 23 October 2015. In the appeal hearing, Justice Alan Mahon noted that the complainant had delayed reporting the abuse because she thought it was normal, a belief she later questioned after watching a television programme. The court rejected the appeal, stating that any inadmissible evidence regarding the complainant's conversation with a school friend had no effect on the jury's verdict. The appeal was dismissed.
2016-12-09 · Offaly
A doctor charged with the manslaughter of her disabled daughter provided her with '100 per cent plus' care, but was finding it difficult to keep going, a leading consultant nurse testified at her trial. Offaly GP Bernadette Scully (58) is accused of unlawfully killing her 11-year-old daughter Emily Barut, who was profoundly disabled, by administering an excessive quantity of the sedative chloral hydrate on September 15th, 2012. She has pleaded not guilty and is on trial at the Central Criminal Court. Noreen Roche, a nurse with 40 years of experience, stated that Emily's care was exemplary and that her survival was due to the high level of care provided by her mother. Roche noted that Ms Scully, who was 51 at the time, was working long hours and had no help with administration or paperwork, which contributed to her difficulty in maintaining the care level.
2016-12-08 · Louth
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 8 December 2016, the court rejected a defence application to exclude evidence from the arrest and search of Philip McKevitt, a 62‑year‑old accused of possessing explosives. McKevitt had claimed that during the raid on his shed at Aghaboys, Mount Pleasant, Dundalk, a Garda struck him on the head with the butt of a gun and later kicked him as he fell. Defence counsel Diarmaid McGuinness argued that such alleged assault violated McKevitt's constitutional rights and should render the evidence inadmissible. The court considered testimony from a Special Detective Unit member who said McKevitt had slipped on plastic sheeting, causing his injury. Justice Isobel Kennedy found the injury was not caused by the alleged assault and therefore allowed the evidence to be admitted. The trial continues. Philip McKevitt pleaded not guilty.
2016-12-08 · Dublin
The prosecution has finished giving evidence in the trial of William Gilsenan, 24, accused of stabbing 29‑year‑old Edward Fitzgerald in a car park outside Gilsenan's home on 17 October 2014. Gilsenan pleaded not guilty. Prosecution counsel Orla Crowe SC announced the evidence was complete, and Vincent Heneghan SC said the defence would not call witnesses. Justice Paul Butler informed the jury that the trial was moving into legal argument, instructed them to return on Tuesday for closing statements and the judge's charge, and warned them not to discuss the case with anyone.
2016-12-08 · Offaly
The 58‑year‑old GP, Bernadette Scully, is on trial for the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old profoundly disabled daughter, Emily Barut, who died after an excessive dose of chloral hydrate on 15 September 2012. Scully denies that a suicide note she wrote after Emily's death acknowledges her responsibility for the death, saying she had lost her reason for living. She claims she gave the drug in an attempt to stop a seizure, citing medical literature that documents its use in children with epilepsy. During cross‑examination, she explained that she had administered the drug while the child was in a fit and that she had not normally given two doses at once. She also described her emotional state after Emily's passing, stating she had tried to take her own life twice and that she could not bear the pain of watching Emily suffer. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of twelve. Bernadette Scully pleaded not guilty.
2016-12-07 · Offaly
Bernadette Scully, a 58‑year‑old GP from Offaly, is on trial for the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old profoundly disabled daughter, Emily Barut, who died on 15 September 2012 after receiving an excessive dose of chloral hydrate. Scully denies writing a suicide note before Emily's death, saying she wrote it only after the child passed. She testified that she had been off work for six months but had returned to work the Friday before Emily's death. Scully described the night of the death, stating she gave Emily a 10‑ml dose of chloral hydrate, then later an additional 5‑ml dose, and that Emily's seizures continued. She claimed she was overwhelmed and could not help her daughter, and that she had attempted suicide twice after Emily's death. The trial is being heard at the Central Criminal Court, with Tara Burns SC cross‑examining her.
2016-12-07 · Dublin
In December 2016, 21‑year‑old Carl McGuiness was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for robbing a taxi driver, Harry Boland, to obtain money for drugs. McGuiness and an accomplice, who had been in the back seat, seized Boland's vehicle on Glasnevin Avenue, threatening him with a syringe and demanding cash. After the robbery, McGuiness drove the taxi, crashed into a woman's car in Blanchardstown, and was later arrested in Dublin's IFSC. He pleaded guilty to robbery, damaging a car and leaving the scene of an accident. The judge, Melanie Greally, noted his 48 prior convictions and the escalation of violence after a 2013 prison term. McGuiness's final 18 months of the sentence were suspended, and he was placed on a methadone programme in custody. Boland has since quit taxi driving due to the risk.
2016-12-07 · Dublin
Judge Melanie Greally addressed legal teams at a pre-trial hearing in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding the upcoming trial of Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy, Dublin Councillor Kieran Mahon, and four other men. The defendants face charges arising from the alleged false imprisonment of then Tánaiste Joan Burton during a water protest in Jobstown on November 15, 2014. The judge warned that jury selection would be a "difficult exercise" due to potential sympathies for either side, instructing counsel to identify unsuitable jurors by the next pre-trial hearing on January 26. Prosecuting counsel Tony McGillicuddy noted that all defendants sought a second pre-trial hearing to reach consensus on these matters. The trial is scheduled to proceed as planned on April 24. The accused include Michael Murphy, Frank Donaghy, Ken Purcell, Michael Banks, and Scott Masterson. Additionally, the court noted that a second trial of six people accused of false imprisonment is due for October 2, 2017, with a pre-trial hearing on June 8, 2017. A final trial of five people accused of violent disorder is set for April 9, 2018, with a pre-trial date of December 13, 2017. The matter was adjourned to the next pre-trial date.
2016-12-07 · Offaly
Bernadette Scully, a 58‑year‑old GP from Offaly, is on trial for the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old daughter Emily Barut, who was profoundly disabled. Scully was charged with unlawfully killing Emily by giving her an excessive dose of chloral hydrate on 15 September 2012. She pleaded not guilty and is being tried at the Central Criminal Court. In her testimony, Scully described the emotional impact of learning that her baby had severe mental retardation after IVF treatment and two miscarriages. She recounted that Emily was born without crying, had feeding difficulties, fell asleep at two weeks old, and was taken to a Dublin hospital where doctors warned of severe mental retardation, possible epilepsy, and other developmental problems. Scully expressed that her world fell apart after receiving these diagnoses. She will continue her evidence before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of seven women and five men.
2016-12-07 · Dublin
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, William Gilsenan, aged 24, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 29‑year‑old Edward Fitzgerald. Gilsenan told Garda Fiona Divilly that he had taken a knife from his home to scare Fitzgerald, who had threatened to smash his house and had been calling him for a debt of €100. Gilsenan claimed he was terrified and had no intention of using the knife. He said he had tried to resolve the debt but Fitzgerald demanded payment immediately and threatened violence. On 17 October 2014, Gilsenan met Fitzgerald outside his home; a scuffle ensued, and Gilsenan struck Fitzgerald in the legs with the knife. Deputy state pathologist Dr Michael Curtis confirmed Fitzgerald died from a knife wound to the heart. The trial continues tomorrow before Justice Paul Butler and a jury.
2016-12-07 · Wicklow
The jury for the trial of Thomas O'Connor, a 29‑year‑old from Greystones, Wicklow, accused of murdering 22‑year‑old John O'Brien on 4 June 2010, was discharged. O'Connor pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the State. Justice Carmel Stewart informed the jurors that one member was absent and could not return, and therefore discharged the jury. The case will resume on 20 February 2017.
2016-12-06 · Wicklow
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Thomas O'Connor, aged 29, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of John O'Brien on 4 June 2010. Prosecutors presented evidence that O'Brien and O'Connor were drinking in an underground carpark of Superquinn in Greystones, then driving around with O'Brien's brother, Jimmy O'Brien. O'Brien struck two younger men and was restrained by Jimmy. O'Connor allegedly struck O'Brien on the head with a 1.6‑kg rock, which was heavily blood‑stained. The prosecution argued the rock caused a catastrophic head injury leading to O'Brien's death. Witnesses described O'Connor, wearing a grey hoody, standing over O'Brien and striking him repeatedly. O'Connor was arrested on 5 June 2010 and told Gardaí he did not intend to kill O'Brien. The trial continues before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart.