In a Cork case, Hungarian national Tamas Vecernyes, aged 29, was found guilty of raping a woman in her apartment on 9 September 2009. The original 11‑year sentence, with three years suspended, was reduced to eight years with the same suspension after an appeal. The victim, a woman in her 20s, had invited Vecernyes for drinks; after she went to bed, he followed her and raped her while she was intoxicated. She described being unable to breathe and feeling paralyzed. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, ruled that the original 11‑year headline was "unusual" and "out of kilter" with similar offences, citing the lack of premeditation and extra violence. The judge noted Vecernyes' good behaviour in prison and a positive letter from authorities, and imposed an eight‑year term with a three‑year suspension, requiring a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period. Tamas Vecernyes pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Silviu Voivod, 31, to 18 months imprisonment, suspended, for glassing a lounge‑boy, Robert McMickan, at Dandelion Bar & Nightclub on 12 October 2014. Voivod, a first‑time offender with no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. The victim, a first‑year college student, suffered the loss of two front teeth, facial scarring, and medical costs exceeding €5,000, and missed two weeks of college. Voivod's defence argued his blameless life before and after the incident, while the prosecution highlighted the violent nature of the attack. Judge Greally emphasised the need for deterrence in glassing cases, citing the "horrific glassing culture" that has emerged, and noted Voivod's remorse and role as sole family earner. Voivod shook his head after the sentence was handed down.
Michael Kinsella, aged 24, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after admitting he intimidated a witness in a criminal investigation. Kinsella, formerly of addresses in Tallaght, Dublin and Ardkeen, Cavan, pleaded guilty to sending a threatening text message to a woman who had provided statements to gardaí investigating a murder inquiry in October 2011. The message contained references to violence and named a relative with whom the witness was residing. Detective Garda Brendan O'Hora gave evidence that the text would have been understood as a threat. Judge Terence O'Sullivan noted the seriousness with which he regarded witness intimidation and imposed the sentence to run concurrently with Kinsella's existing 15-year prison term for manslaughter.
A 32‑year‑old man, Fionn Braidwood, was found not guilty of murder and assault by reason of insanity after stabbing his 65‑year‑old mother, Jane Braidwood, with a kitchen knife on 20 January 2015. He also attacked his sister Ceili Braidwood and passer‑by Anthony Maguire at the same address. Two consultant psychiatrists testified that Braidwood suffered from schizophrenia and could not control his actions. The jury returned a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity after 32 minutes of deliberation. Justice Carmel Stewart ordered Braidwood to be committed to the Central Mental Hospital and to appear again on 16 December. The judge exempted the jury from further service for ten years and expressed sympathy to the Braidwood family. The prosecution had argued that Braidwood's non‑compliance with medication and severe psychiatric symptoms made him incapable of restraint at the time of the offence.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, William Gilsenan, aged 24, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Edward Fitzgerald, aged 29, who died from a stab wound to the heart after an altercation in a car park outside Gilsenan's home on 17 October 2014. Gilsenan told Garda Sgt Aidan Delaney that he had been threatened by Fitzgerald, who allegedly threatened to harm his mother and others, prompting Gilsenan to take a small kitchen knife from his apartment. Gilsenan claimed he stabbed Fitzgerald in the legs and that the force used was moderate. He stated he acted in self‑defence and had no intention to kill. The trial, presided over by Justice Paul Butler, will continue tomorrow with a jury of twelve.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, a second psychiatrist testified that 32‑year‑old Fionn Braidwood, who stabbed his 65‑year‑old mother Jane Braidwood to death on 20 January 2015, was suffering from schizophrenia and would have been unable to control his actions at the time. The psychiatrist, Dr Ronan Mullaney, had assessed Braidwood in October and November of the same year and found evidence of a long‑standing illness, first manifesting in 2006, with symptoms including persecutory delusions, hallucinations and disorganised speech. He noted that Braidwood had not taken strong anti‑psychotic medication from autumn 2014 until the offence and had refused depot injections for several months. Dr Mullaney agreed that Braidwood was "very very unwell" on the day of the murder and would have needed ongoing treatment at the Central Mental Hospital. Fionn Braidwood pleaded not guilty and was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
A forensic psychiatrist testified that 32‑year‑old Fionn Braidwood, charged with stabbing his 65‑year‑old mother Jane Braidwood to death on 20 January 2015, suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and would have been unable to refrain from his actions at the time. Braidwood pleaded not guilty to the murder and to assault charges against Ceili Braidwood and Anthony Maguire. The prosecution argued for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Witness Anthony Maguire described hearing Ceili call for help, seeing Braidwood standing passively, and later being punched and attacked. The court heard a post‑mortem showing three stab wounds to Jane Braidwood's chest. Dr Brenda Wright, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, presented a report detailing Braidwood's history of psychiatric admissions, medication non‑compliance, and a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, concluding he was acutely mentally unwell at the time of the offence. The trial proceeded before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart.
The trial of Thomas O'Connor, aged 29, of Burnaby Court, Greystones, Co Wicklow, will commence this week. He is accused of murdering 22‑year‑old John O'Brien on 4 June 2010 at Farrankelly Road, Delgany, Co Wicklow. O'Connor pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder; the State did not accept the plea. A jury of eight men and four women was sworn in by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, who said the trial could start tomorrow or on Wednesday, depending on a judge's availability, and expected to last two weeks.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, William Gilsenan, aged 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. Gilsenan was described by a neighbour, John Curry, as "distraught and upset" when he was taken to the scene by Garda Emily Carr. Curry, who had spoken to Gilsenan's father, William Kinsella, about the incident, reported that Gilsenan had accepted that he must hand himself over to the gardai. Garda Carr found a knife blade and a black handle near the driver's side door of the car, which were presented as evidence. Dillon Mahady, a friend of the deceased, testified that Gilsenan owed him €100 for cannabis and that a fight over the money led to the stabbing. The trial will continue the following day before Justice Paul Butler and a jury of seven women and five men.
A 16-year-old boy was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting a victim and causing criminal damage on the Luas. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three-year detention order, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions. The defendant pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting the then 16-year-old boy and criminal damage, dated January 23 and February 28, 2015. Prosecution evidence detailed an unprovoked assault in a Tallaght park where the victim was hit, kicked, and stabbed, followed by the incident on the tram where black paint was thrown at the victim and other passengers, including an elderly woman whose coat was destroyed. The court noted the defendant had 34 previous convictions and had breached bail conditions. Judge Greally described the assaults as violent and vicious, causing disruption to the Luas service. She accepted the defendant's later admissions and cooperation with the Garda investigation. The judge warned that failure to change his behavior would result in a life behind bars. The matter was finalized with this sentence, which includes the suspended portion and strict conditions.
John Prior, a 68‑year‑old former guesthouse owner, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment after an appeal reduced his original 18‑month term. He had been found guilty of two counts of indecent assault on his 10‑year‑old niece in 1985, with three other counts unresolved. The appeal argued that the custodial sentence had caused significant financial loss, including the loss of insurance for his hospitality properties, which were used for short‑term rentals. The Court of Appeal considered the impact of the sentence on his business and, noting his charitable work, decided a 12‑month term was appropriate. Prior had accepted the jury's verdict, and the court re‑sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment. The hearing was brief and focused on the seriousness of the offences and the defendant's circumstances. John Prior pleaded not guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court, Zhen Dong Zhao, 40, of Jervis Street, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to the murder but guilty to the manslaughter of 39-year-old Noel Fegan. The plea was accepted by the State. The incident occurred on May 20, 2011, outside the e-Times internet café in Dublin city centre, following a dispute over a 70-cent phone call. Prosecution counsel Pauline Walley SC alleged that Zhao "savagely" kicked Fegan, who was on the ground, multiple times to the head and body before delivering a final blow. Witnesses described Zhao's demeanor as "casual" and noted he gave a "two-finger salute" as Fegan lay dying. A post-mortem attributed Fegan's death to a subarachnoid haemorrhage caused by blunt-force trauma. Zhao had previously been convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2012, but that conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal earlier this year, resulting in a retrial. During the proceedings, victim impact statements were read, including from Fegan's daughter, son, and sister, who expressed their grief. The court heard that Zhao initially claimed self-defense but later admitted to being angry and wanting to "teach them not to do this again." Sentencing was adjourned until December 9, and Zhao was remanded on continuing bail until that date.
In December 2016, a 76‑year‑old Wexford man was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court for raping a teenage girl for two years, resulting in her pregnancy at age 13. The court heard that the man also sexually molested the girl's three younger sisters, who had developmental problems. The abuse began in 2004 when the victim was 11, and the man's conduct was reported by her teacher in 2006 after noticing weight gain. The victim described being raped both at the family home and in a field, and she was threatened with violence if she disclosed the abuse. The man faced 18 counts of rape and sexual assault, pleaded guilty to a sample count of rape and to sample counts of assault on the sisters, and was given concurrent sentences totaling eleven years. The judge noted the victims' vulnerability and the shocking nature of the pregnancy at age 13.
A jury heard that Fionn Braidwood, aged 32, stabbed his retired psychiatrist mother, Jane Braidwood, to death with a kitchen knife on 20 January 2015 at their Dun Laoghaire home. He also punched his sister Ceili Braidwood and assaulted Anthony Maguire on the same day. Mr Braidwood pleaded not guilty to murder and the assault charges. The prosecution, led by Alex Owens SC, presented evidence that the accused had long‑standing mental health problems, had stopped his medication in November 2014, and had been experiencing severe psychiatric symptoms for years. Witnesses, including Ceili Braidwood via video link, described the brother's tense behaviour, his decision to take a knife from the drawer, the stabbing of his mother, and subsequent assault on Ceili. The court heard that the accused was under care at Cluain Mhuire but was not receiving assistance at the time. The trial is proceeding before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart.
On the fourth day of the trial, 58‑year‑old GP Bernadette Scully, charged with the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old daughter Emily Barut, gave a voluntary statement to the court. She described the daily hardships of caring for a severely disabled child with epilepsy, microcephaly and cerebral palsy, and explained that she had administered chloral hydrate to relieve pain and stop seizures on the night of Emily's death. Scully admitted she had given more than the normal dose, noting that Emily stopped breathing after a fit. She also recounted two failed suicide attempts that day and expressed that she had never intended to harm her daughter. The statement was read into evidence, and the case remains in the Central Criminal Court. Bernadette Scully pleaded not guilty.
Mark McCowen, aged 40, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing a man with cerebral palsy on 31 March 2014. He admitted he was heavily intoxicated, had no knowledge of the victim's disability, and had previously been convicted 66 times, including a five‑year manslaughter sentence in 1996. McCowen claimed he had stopped drinking, attends Alcoholic Anonymous, and expressed remorse. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to 15 February next year, ordering a probation report and a condition that he abstain from alcohol over the adjourned period, with potential custody if he is found drunk. He was arrested after Gardaí received CCTV footage; he sold the stolen phone for €100 and spent it on alcohol. The victim suffered a cut from a kick but declined to give a victim impact statement. The court noted McCowen's long‑term addiction and health issues.
The trial of 58‑year‑old Offaly GP Bernadette Scully, charged with the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old profoundly disabled daughter Emily Barut, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Scully is accused of unlawfully killing Emily on 15 September 2012 by administering an excessive quantity of chloral hydrate. She has pleaded not guilty. Pharmacist Paddy Carragher of Quirke's Medical Hall testified that Emily received chloral hydrate from the pharmacy on 27 July and 13 August 2010, with a dosage of 5 ml at night, expected to last 40 nights. Carragher described Scully's care of Emily as "superb" and "phenomenal", noting that it was a frequent topic of conversation in the pharmacy. The trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of twelve.
Paul Mason, 28, was sentenced to two years in prison with eight months suspended after pleading guilty to assaulting Keith Lynch at Lynch's home in County Louth. The offence, committed on 16 February 2014, stemmed from a 2013 campaign in Ardee that listed Lynch's name among alleged drug dealers. On the night of the assault, Mason and two others confronted Lynch at his front door, claiming to be INLA members and demanding money. They punched, kicked and kicked Lynch to the ground, striking his face and eyes. Lynch later reported that the attackers threatened him with a deadline to pay a ransom. Mason was on bail for a prior theft conviction at the time of the assault. The Special Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, found aggravating factors in the pre‑planned nature of the attack and the extortion threat, but noted mitigating factors such as Mason's lack of prior convictions and his apology.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, William Gilsenan, aged 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. Gilsenan's mother, Marie Gilsenan, testified that she received a call from her son that afternoon, in which he admitted to a fight over a €100 debt and that he had stabbed Fitzgerald in the leg before turning himself in to the gardai. She described how she had offered to pay €50 of the debt, but he could not afford the balance. Gilsenan's father, William Kinsella, also testified that his son appeared panicked and confused after the stabbing. The trial, presided over by Justice Paul Butler, will continue on Monday with a jury of twelve.
Patrick O'Rourke, aged 63, was sentenced by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy at the Central Criminal Court to nine years' imprisonment for attempting to murder his partner, Donna Foster, on 11 August 2015. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of his arrest. O'Rourke also received a concurrent three and a half year term for assault causing harm to a minor who witnessed the attack. The judge described the assault as an extremely serious attack, noting that Foster had suffered two serious lacerations and a severe wound to her ribs with her intestine protruding, and that a minor was injured while intervening. O'Rourke pleaded guilty, was described as cooperative and remorseful, and was considered a well‑behaved prisoner. Foster expressed relief that the case was concluded and that she could move on with her life.
Shoaib Hamid, aged 44, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm after a dispute over prayer etiquette outside the Fonthill Retail Park mosque in June 2015. He attacked an elderly man who had walked in front of a person praying, leading to a brief argument. Hamid then punched the man, striking him on the head and later using a carpet knife to hit him on the back of the head, causing cuts and a permanent scar. Hamid expressed remorse, citing fasting for Ramadan as a possible factor, and has since apologized to his Imam and moved to a different mosque. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to two and a half years, which she suspended in full, noting the seriousness of the knife assault and that it was out of character for him.
The Central Criminal Court heard that 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. The prosecution argued that Walsh shot himself in the leg while escaping the scene, an act supported by circumstantial evidence including CCTV, ballistic and DNA findings linking a blue Fiat Stilo to the crime scene and to Walsh. Witnesses described a man in black and a Mini Cooper involved in the incident. Walsh was arrested on 5 December 2014 and remanded in custody pending the remainder of his sentence hearing on 14 December. The court noted his prior convictions, including a Firearms Act offence that could impose a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison. The case also involved a nolle prosequi on a separate attempted murder count against Walsh.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, witness Charlie Brodigan recounted a confrontation that led to the murder of Edward Fitzgerald (29) on 17 October 2014. Brodigan, a college friend of William Gilsenan (24), described how Gilsenan and Fitzgerald argued over a €100 drug debt. Gilsenan left the scene, later returning to the accused's home where a fight erupted. Brodigan claimed Fitzgerald threatened to burn down Gilsenan's house and his mother's house, and that Gilsenan was "shaken" and "white in the face" after the first altercation. He also said he heard Fitzgerald threaten Gilsenan. Shane Cullen testified that he witnessed the fight from his balcony and that Gilsenan had been punched and kicked repeatedly. The trial, with Justice Paul Butler and a jury, continues tomorrow. The article does not state any verdict or sentencing. William Gilsenan pleaded not guilty.
The trial of 58‑year‑old Offaly GP Bernadette Scully, charged with the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old profoundly disabled daughter Emily Barut, heard evidence on the third day of proceedings. The jury listened to a 999 call made by Scully's partner, Andrius Kozlovskis, after finding Emily cold in her bed and her mother unconscious. They also heard a call from the National Poisons Information Centre in which a woman identifying herself as Dr Scully asked for the lethal dose of Prothiaden tablets for an adult female who had taken 15 75‑mg tablets. The call was recorded and played in court. Scully has pleaded not guilty. The case is before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of seven women and five men at the Central Criminal Court.
The partner of GP Bernadette Scully, charged with the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old profoundly disabled daughter Emily Barut, gave evidence at the Central Criminal Court. He described the horror of finding Emily cold in bed and his inability to wake Scully. He said there was never any suggestion of suicide or that their lives would be better without Emily. He recounted living with Scully and caring for Emily, noting the child's pain and the mother's severe pressure and burnout in the months before the death. He detailed the events of the Saturday night of 15 September 2012, including Scully's attempts to administer medicine, her exhaustion, and his attempts to keep watch over both. He also described the bag of stones he later gave to the Gardaí. The trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury. Bernadette Scully pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Paul Brennan, aged 29, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Prison Officer Michael Delaney at Mountjoy Prison on 23 April 2011. Brennan, who had 56 prior convictions, threw a punch that ignited a violent attack by ten inmates on Delaney, who was head‑butted, punched, kicked and dragged to the ground. Delaney described lasting physical injuries, flashbacks and post‑traumatic stress, and said the assault robbed him of his career and sporting life. Brennan's counsel said he had turned his life around after release in 2012, citing his wife and family as stabilising influences. Judge Melanie Greally noted the incident was serious but limited to a single punch, and adjourned the case for a community service report, indicating a possible two‑year suspended sentence with one year probation and 240 hours community service. The case will return on 16 January 2017.
In a murder trial, William Gilsenan, aged 24, pleaded not guilty to the killing of 29‑year‑old Edward Fitzgerald, who was described by Gilsenan's friend as a "big brother." The incident occurred on 17 October 2014 in a carpark outside Fitzgerald's home. Prosecutor Dillon Mahady alleged that Gilsenan owed Fitzgerald €100 for marijuana. The parties were in a car when a verbal dispute escalated. Gilsenan allegedly approached the vehicle, and Fitzgerald claimed Gilsenan swung a kitchen knife with a black handle, striking him. Fitzgerald was unable to escape and was later taken to the hospital, where he died. Gilsenan was seen wiping the knife and discarding it. The trial is set to continue before Justice Paul Butler and a jury.
In the Central Criminal Court, 58‑year‑old Offaly GP Bernadette Scully faces a manslaughter charge for the death of her 11‑year‑old daughter, Emily Barut, who had microcephaly. Teresa Scully, Bernadette's sister, testified that Bernadette had used her medical expertise to try to improve Emily's life, including feeding attempts and seeking specialist advice in England. Teresa described Bernadette's devotion and the family's IVF history, noting that Emily's condition had been diagnosed after birth. She also recounted that Emily had undergone surgery two weeks before her death and suffered from pain and seizures. Bernadette has pleaded not guilty. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of twelve.
In a 2016 case, a witness in a murder trial involving a UK citizen who killed an Irish citizen was sought by UK authorities for her medical records. The witness, whose identity is protected, had previously testified in a UK trial that was aborted and was set to testify again in a retrial. UK defence lawyers argued her evidence might not be fully reliable, prompting a request for her medical records. The Irish Minister for Justice received a letter for mutual assistance and nominated a District Court judge to order the records. Three witnesses, including a nun, the witness's GP, and an HSE patient services officer, were summoned to provide the records. The witness challenged the orders. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, found the District Court judge acted beyond his powers, noting insufficient consideration of the witness's constitutional right to privacy and lack of evidence of countervailing interests.
Thomas Lennon, aged 24, was one of eight inmates who caused a riot at Cloverhill Prison on 29 July 2015. During the disturbance, a 21‑year‑old Afghan inmate was held hostage, punched, kicked and stabbed with a broken piece of Perspex, suffering superficial cuts to his face, hands and arms. Lennon was heard threatening staff and shouting, "You think Isis are bad? We are going to behead him." A female prison officer was also kicked and forced to the ground. Lennon pleaded guilty to violent disorder, false imprisonment, assault causing harm and criminal damage. He had a three‑year robbery sentence pending, set for release in May 2018, and 34 prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a concurrent four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions, including good behaviour for four years.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a mother recounted the profound family rupture caused by her daughter's rape by her uncle over seven years. The victim, now 17, described how the abuse began with inappropriate touching at age seven and escalated to rape and anal rape, occurring in various family homes and a treehouse. The uncle, aged 25, pleaded guilty to three sexual assault and seven rape charges spanning 2007 to 2014. He admitted feeling guilt and contemplated suicide after each incident. The mother's statement highlighted the lasting emotional damage, noting the family's fractured relationships, especially with her grandmother. The uncle's parents supported him, while the court adjourned sentencing to December 16, with the defendant expressing a desire to be taken into custody immediately. The case underscored the enduring impact of the abuse on the victim and her family.
In a manslaughter trial, 58‑year‑old Bernadette Scully was charged with unlawfully killing her 11‑year‑old daughter, Emily Barut, by gross negligence. The prosecution alleged that Scully, who acted as Emily's GP, administered an excessive dose of chloral hydrate on 15 September 2012. Emily, who had microcephaly, epilepsy and other severe disabilities, had recently undergone a surgical procedure and was in pain. Scully's partner was sent to the pharmacy for sedatives, but Emily was not seen until later that day. Emily was found dead in hospital with a blood level of 200 micrograms per milliliter of chloral hydrate, far above the therapeutic range. The post‑mortem confirmed chloral hydrate intoxication as the cause of death, with contributory factors including her disabilities and a hypoxic episode. Scully pleaded not guilty and the case was heard by a jury in the Central Criminal Court.
On 29 November 2016, William Gilsenan, aged 24, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 29‑year‑old Edward Fitzgerald, who was killed on 17 October 2014 at The Green, Larch Hill. The trial, scheduled to begin the following day, had a jury of seven women and five men selected the previous day. Justice Paul Butler instructed the jury to view CCTV footage in their absence and to avoid discussing the case with anyone. The trial was expected to last two weeks.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a 42‑year‑old man was convicted by a jury of raping his wife in May 2014 and of threatening to cut her face and to kill her the next day over the phone. He was also found guilty of attempting to cause serious harm to the woman and assaulting her mother during a hammer attack outside the mother's Dublin home on 7 August 2014. The jury could not reach a verdict on other assault and threat counts. Justice Isobel Kennedy sentenced him to 12 years for the rape, suspending the final two years, and imposed lesser concurrent sentences for the other convictions. The DPP is seeking a new trial date for the remaining assault and threat charges, which was adjourned to May 2017 to allow the accused to appeal the rape conviction. The appeal is scheduled to be heard in the same court. The case remains at the appeal stage.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a bar manager was acquitted of rape and sexual assault after a woman claimed she was incapacitated by ketamine she mistakenly took at a party. The accused, who denied the allegations, testified that the encounter was consensual and that he did not strike the woman with his penis. The woman, who had snorted a line of ketamine thinking it was cocaine, described being unable to speak or move and later being sexually assaulted for about twenty seconds. She reported that the accused pulled down her jeans and that she was left in a comatose state. The jury deliberated for just over two hours before finding the accused not guilty of both charges. The judge thanked the jurors and released them from future service for ten years. The case had originally involved a plea of not guilty to rape and sexual assault in a Dublin apartment in November 2013.
In a court hearing on 28 November 2016, Justice Aileen Donnelly was informed that Raymond O'Neill, 37, who is wanted in Northern Ireland for the murder and arson connected with the death of Jennifer Dornan, 30, remains in critical condition in prison. Dornan was found stabbed to death in her burning house in Hazel View, west Belfast, in August 2015. O'Neill was arrested in Dublin in February on a European Arrest Warrant and had previously been held in a Midlands prison where he overdosed on drugs, leading to an adjournment of an extradition hearing at the High Court. The court was told that O'Neill could not attend in person due to health reasons, and his solicitor, Caroline Cummings BL, confirmed his critical state but had not received any medical evidence. Judge Donnelly expressed frustration at the lack of a medical report, which she had ordered to assess O'Neill's capacity to give instructions.
A 23‑year‑old Kildare man, who was 15 when he committed the offences, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and to oral rape, all involving an 11‑year‑old girl who was blindfolded during the acts. The victim, now 19, said the abuse made her feel sick, destroyed her self‑confidence and took away her childhood. The judge noted the offender's immaturity and lack of judgment, but also that he had deliberately planned a continuous campaign of abuse. He was remorseful, had no other convictions, and had not been in contact with Gardaí since his arrest. The sentencing reflected the offender's young age and the judge's view that a longer term would have been imposed had he not been a minor at the time of the offence.
George Crombie, aged 47, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to eight counts of sexually assaulting his stepdaughter, Laura Johnston, between February 2004 and December 2006. The assaults took place in their Ringsend home and involved Crombie placing a dog lead around Johnston's neck and a knife in his pyjama waistband. He threatened her that "murder in this flat" would occur if she disclosed the abuse. Johnston, now in her twenties, gave a victim impact statement condemning Crombie for betraying her trust and love. Judge Melanie Greally noted the abuse was "unrelenting" and "predictable," occurring every Thursday and Saturday, and described it as a breach of trust that would leave a lasting impact. The court imposed concurrent sentences totaling two and a half years.
A 58‑year‑old Offaly woman, Bernadette Scully of Emvale, Bachelor's Walk, Tullamore, is set to begin a trial tomorrow in the Central Criminal Court. She is charged with the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old daughter, Emily Barut, by allegedly giving her an excessive amount of chloral hydrate on 15 September 2012. Scully pleaded not guilty. A jury of seven women and five men has been sworn in, and the trial is expected to last up to three weeks.
During a sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court, Richard O'Brien, 57, was removed after repeatedly interrupting proceedings, attempting to sack his barrister and calling the victim a "filthy prostitute." O'Brien, convicted of rape, attempted rape, false imprisonment and assault causing harm, had lured the victim—a grandmother in her fifties—to a caravan in Dublin on 19 March 2011, where he raped, assaulted and bit her. He fled to the UK and was extradited in 2013. The victim, who cannot be named, described the attack as lasting for a long time, ending when two men entered the caravan and stopped O'Brien. She was later taken to a sexual assault treatment unit and gave a victim impact statement about nightmares, relationship breakdown and suicidal thoughts. The judge adjourned sentencing to 12 December, noting O'Brien's disruptive court behaviour and difficulty restraining himself. The hearing continued with his defence barrister, Damien Colgan SC, after O'Brien was removed. The case remains pending sentencing.
William Gilsenan, a 24-year-old man from Larch Hill, Santry, Dublin, is set to stand trial at the Central Criminal Court for the alleged murder of 29-year-old Edward Fitzgerald. The incident is alleged to have occurred at The Green, Larch Hill, on October 17, 2014. Gilsenan pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder. A jury comprising seven women and five men will begin hearing evidence tomorrow. The trial is expected to last two weeks. This report reflects the procedural stage of the trial, where the defendant's plea has been recorded and the case is proceeding to a full hearing before the court. No findings, sentences, or final dispositions have been issued at this stage, as the matter is currently in the trial phase. The allegations remain contested, and the court will determine the outcome based on the evidence presented during the upcoming proceedings.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a man accused of raping a woman at a party is under jury deliberation. The woman, who had mistakenly taken ketamine thinking it was cocaine, claims she was incapacitated and unable to speak or see. She alleges the accused struck her face with his penis before raping her while she lay in his bed. The accused, a bar manager, denies the assault and claims consensual sex. He has previously pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault. The jury, composed of eight men and four women, has heard all evidence and begun deliberations, which will resume after a recap of the woman's testimony. No verdict has been reached yet.
Two men, Declan Duffy, 43, and Daniel Kane, 27, are set to be tried at the Special Criminal Court on 3 October next year for three counts of false imprisonment at The Towers, Garters Lane in Saggart, and for violent disorder. The trial, scheduled by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne, is expected to last four weeks. Both men remain in custody awaiting the hearing. Their co‑accused, Christopher Maguire, 37, who has been ill, was not present at the hearing and his case is to be mentioned on 29 November.
On 11 August 2015, Patrick O'Rourke, aged 63, attempted to murder his former partner Donna Foster at their home in Cooline Drive, Ballyvoloon, Cobh, Co Cork. He pleaded guilty to the attempted murder and to assault causing harm to a minor on the same day. At a hearing in the Central Criminal Court, Justice Patrick McCarthy heard evidence and adjourned sentencing until the following Friday. Foster delivered a victim impact statement, describing the "continuous, vicious and frenzied attack" that left her with serious stab wounds, ongoing medical supervision, loss of her hairdressing business, fatigue, concentration difficulties, panic attacks and a changed outlook on life. She credited the intervention of the minor who was also injured for her survival. The court also heard from Detective Garda Michael Dillane, who noted that the relationship had broken down two weeks before the attack and that there had been no prior violence. The hearing concluded with the judge postponing sentencing to the next Friday.
John Prior, 68, a retired guesthouse owner from Ballsbridge, had his conviction for molesting his niece in 1985 upheld by the Court of Appeal. The niece, aged 10 at the time, was visiting from America and stayed with Prior in a B&B in Dublin 4. In the original trial, a jury found him guilty on two of five counts of indecent assault; the remaining three counts were not agreed upon. He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. Prior appealed on grounds including delay and the absence of a corroboration warning to the jury. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, dismissed all appeal grounds, affirmed the conviction, and noted that the trial judge's discretion in not issuing a corroboration warning was lawful. Prior is scheduled to appeal his sentence the following day. John Prior pleaded not guilty.
A jury was discharged after discovering a 29‑second gap in CCTV footage used in the murder trial of Donal Colgan, who was accused of killing 45‑year‑old David Sheridan outside Luigi's chip shop on North Strand Road on 17/18 August 2014. Justice Carmel Stewart explained that the missing footage had not been noticed by either the prosecution or defence counsel and that it could be significant. The jury had spent about three hours deliberating before returning to court to ask about the gap. After the judge confirmed the missing portion and deemed it a mistake, she informed the jury that counsel for the defence had applied to discharge them. She noted that the defence and prosecution had questioned witnesses under the assumption that the footage was continuous, and that fair procedure required the jury to be discharged. The judge thanked the jury for their diligence and exempted them from further duty for ten years. Donal Colgan pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment in an appeal concerning a request to transmit the medical records of an unnamed witness to UK authorities. The witness, who cannot be identified by court order, is involved in the retrial of a UK citizen accused of murdering an Irish citizen whose body has never been recovered. She previously testified in a UK trial that was aborted for unrelated reasons. The accused's defence lawyers have suggested her evidence may not be entirely reliable, prompting their interest in obtaining her medical records to assist the Crown Prosecution Service in its disclosure process. On May 13, a mutual assistance letter was received by the Minister for Justice, leading to the nomination of a District Court judge to take evidence. Three witnesses, including a nun, the woman's GP, and an HSE patient services officer, were summoned to appear with the relevant medical records. The woman's lawyers subsequently sought leave to apply for judicial review of the District Court judge's orders, which Mr Justice Richard Humphrey refused on November 18. In the Court of Appeal, her barrister, Tara Burns SC, argued that the Director of Public Prosecutions in Ireland could not receive the medical records of a witness in this jurisdiction, questioning how the DPP in England could. The three-judge panel reserved its judgment on the matter.
James Kennedy, 34, from Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty to arson on Westland Row on 12 September 2015. He set a motorbike on fire, causing a passing woman and child to flee for safety. CCTV shows Kennedy moving the bike, tampering with the petrol tank, placing lottery slips under it, and then setting them alight in a nearby café. The bike, worth €3,000, was completely destroyed. Kennedy had 40 prior convictions, including criminal damage, theft, public order and violent behaviour. He admits alcohol problems, stating he was "full of alcohol" after drinking a bottle of vodka that day, and does not recall the incident. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to allow assessment for residential drug treatment and ordered a probation report. Kennedy will be sentenced next February.
A 17‑year‑old Dublin teenager was sentenced to a four‑year detention term that was fully suspended and ordered to complete 240 hours of community service within 12 months. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and violent disorder at a local park on 19 September 2015. The victim, a 17‑year‑old boy, was stabbed multiple times in the back, hit with a crutch and a baton, and suffered severe injuries that required hospital treatment and caused post‑traumatic stress disorder. The victim had failed his Leaving Cert and lost a soccer scholarship to the US. The court noted the victim's bright prospects and the attackers' misguided retaliation, and accepted that the teenager had shown remorse and had no prior convictions. The suspended sentence was imposed as the last resort for a minor offender.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 23 November 2016, Justice Carmel Stewart instructed a jury of nine men and three women that the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that Donal Colgan, 65, committed murder. Colgan had pleaded not guilty to the killing of David Sheridan, 45, outside Luigi's chip shop on North Strand Road on 17/18 August 2014. The judge noted that Colgan admitted stabbing Sheridan and that the defence accepted the killing was unlawful. Colgan claimed he was attacked by Sheridan and that he "lost it" and had no intention to use the knife until provoked. Justice Stewart explained that the defence of provocation applies when a sudden, unforeseen onset of passion deprives the accused of self‑control, and that self‑defence may be considered if the force used was more than necessary.