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2016-10-24 · Dublin
Paul Wells, 48, of Barnamore Park, Finglas, Dublin, is charged with the murder of 33‑year‑old Kenneth O'Brien, whose dismembered body was found in a suitcase in a canal. Justice Patrick McCarthy of the Central Criminal Court set the trial date for Wells for 2 October 2017.
2016-10-21 · Dublin
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 21 October 2016, Mark Relihan, an Offaly veterinarian, confronted his attacker Stephen McGrath (25) with a photograph of his severe facial injuries after McGrath had glassed him in a city‑centre cocktail bar. Relihan had just delivered an emotional victim‑impact statement when he held up the picture and said, "This is what you've done to me. You see this? This is what you ran away from." McGrath showed no reaction. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the case to 16 December 2016 for a probation report and suggested community service. She had originally planned sentencing for 21 December but McGrath's counsel argued it would cause work difficulties. McGrath, from Carmarthen but originally from Tullamore, had pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm on 6 September 2015.
2016-10-21 · Dublin
A 53‑year‑old man was sentenced to four years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexually assaulting two of his son's young friends on 14 occasions between 2011 and 2014. The abuse was uncovered when a parent saw Viber messages from the accused in which he said he loved the boy. After a meeting with the families, the man knelt and asked the boys for forgiveness. The families decided he would return to India until the youngest victim finished his Junior Certificate, but he returned a month early and was reported to gardaí. He pleaded guilty to 14 counts of sexual assault; the victims were aged 11 to 17. The judge noted his remorse and lack of prior convictions but condemned the repeated abuse.
2016-10-21 · Cork
During a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, a witness testified that on 16 May 2015, in the kitchen of Cork Prison, an argument over television channels escalated between Brian Veale (31) and Graham Johnson. Johnson, who wanted to watch a horse race, threatened Veale that he would "batter" him and told him to leave. Veale allegedly approached Johnson with a kitchen knife, inserted it into Johnson's chest, causing a 6‑cm stab wound that penetrated the sternum, sliced the heart and aorta, and resulted in fatal haemorrhage. The knife was then thrown onto the counter. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy confirmed the post‑mortem findings, describing the wound trajectory and the heart's perforation. The case is proceeding before Justice Isobel Kennedy with a jury of twelve, and the trial is expected to last five days. Brian Veale pleaded not guilty.
2016-10-21 · Cork
Seamus Buckley, aged 57, was jailed for 12 months for 26 counts of indecent assault on a girl aged 6‑13 in the early 1980s. The sentence was imposed by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin on 2 February 2016 at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. The Director of Public Prosecutions applied for a review, arguing the term was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case on 21 October 2016, decided not to extend Buckley's custody. Justice George Birmingham noted Buckley's relationship with the victim's family, his lack of prior convictions, and his cooperation after the complaint in July 2014. He also cited mitigating factors and the fact that Buckley had already served most of his term. The court therefore substituted the original sentence with a new term of three years imprisonment, of which two years were suspended, leaving the effective custodial period unchanged. The decision was made by Justices Birmingham, Seán Ryan and Garrett Sheehan. Seamus Buckley pleaded guilty.
2016-10-21 · Dublin
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven Dubliners accused of murdering Dale Creighton, who died after being assaulted on New Year's Morning 2014 at a Tallaght footbridge, continues before Justice Deirdre Murphy. The accused are Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens. All initially pleaded not guilty to murder and violent disorder; however, Jason Beresford later changed his plea to guilty for violent disorder. The others maintain their not guilty pleas to both charges. Evidence heard included garda interviews with Graham Palmer, who alleged the victim was already injured before he arrived. Palmer admitted punching the victim in the stomach and face, stating he did so to get his attention, while denying causing the fatal injuries. He expressed regret for his actions. The trial is ongoing and was adjourned to continue on Monday.
2016-10-21 · Kildare
James 'Jimmy' Lammon, aged 44, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jason Doogue, 22, in Athy on 21 August 2015. At the Central Criminal Court, Lammon told the court that Gardaí would never be able to charge him and that they had "nothing" to prove. He claimed that the shooter was a fully covered rider on a bike who matched his height and build, and that the bullet was intended for Jamie Quinn. Lammon also denied being in the Green Hills area that day and said he had used latex gloves to pick up a dead dog, not to conceal a crime. The trial heard that a witness would not be available until Monday afternoon, and the prosecution's evidence was nearly finished. The case remains at the trial stage.
2016-10-21 · Cork
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Brian Veale, aged 31, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Graham Johnson, a 42‑year‑old inmate, at Cork Prison on 16 May 2015. Chief State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Johnson died from a single stab wound to the front of his chest, which penetrated the sternum, sliced through the ribs, and went straight through the heart from front to back, causing haemorrhages to the heart and aorta. The wound was 12 cm below the breastbone, 6 cm wide, and extended onto the left side of the chest. Veale and Johnson were known to each other and were working in the prison kitchen when a verbal altercation over a television channel occurred around 3 pm. After the quarrel ended, Veale allegedly returned to the kitchen with a knife and stabbed Johnson sometime after 5 pm.
2016-10-20 · Cork
Brian Veale, 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Graham Johnson, 31, at Cork Prison on 16 May 2015. The prosecution alleged an altercation over a television channel in the kitchen, after which Veale allegedly obtained a knife and stabbed Johnson in the chest. Witness Ming Feng Chen, an inmate, testified that Veale approached Johnson, stabbed him, then smiled and said, "If I get a life sentence it doesn't matter." Chen also claimed he feared Veale might harm him and picked up the knife. Prison officer Brian Forde recounted hearing a heated argument about the channel, seeing Johnson in distress, and observing a knife with blood on it. The case is before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy with a jury of seven men and five women.
2016-10-20 · Cork
In a Cork Prison kitchen on 16 May 2015, Brian Veale (31) allegedly stabbed fellow inmate Graham Johnson after a verbal altercation over switching television channels. Prosecutors told a Central Criminal Court jury that the dispute arose around 3 pm between the two men while they were preparing food. After the quarrel ended, Veale reportedly entered a kitchen area with a knife and stabbed Johnson in the chest. State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy described the wound as a single downward thrust that perforated the heart, sliced the aorta and oesophagus, and caused rapid death. Witnesses were to testify about the incident, the kitchen staff's observations, and forensic evidence linking blood on Veale's clothing to Johnson. Veale pleaded not guilty to murder, and the trial was set to continue before Justice Isobel Kennedy and a jury.
2016-10-19 · Dublin
Patrick O'Brien, a former Church of Ireland lay worker, was sentenced for raping and molesting 14 boys over 30 years. He pleaded guilty to 48 counts of indecent assault, including anal penetration, and three counts of sexual assault between 1977 and 2010 at locations such as Kildare, Westmeath, a boat in Loughrea, and St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. O'Brien, aged 76, had a prior one‑year suspended sentence for a 1989 sex assault. The sentencing hearing, held over two days, included victim impact reports from 14 men, some of whom described long‑term emotional and social harm. The court noted O'Brien's guilty plea, his completion of 312 hours of group psychotherapy, and his voluntary apology. He was remanded in continuing custody until the next hearing on 10 November. The victims remain anonymous. The case highlights the prolonged abuse and its lasting effects on the survivors.
2016-10-19 · Dublin
Patricia Fortune, 35, was found not guilty by reason of insanity after she attacked Sean Hogan with scissors, leaving him blind in one eye. The incident occurred on 28 May 2013 at the Granby Centre, a Dublin homeless shelter for people with mental health issues. Fortune pleaded not guilty to one count of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm. The jury, after hearing psychiatric evidence, returned a verdict in 21 minutes. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned the case to 1 November to allow for an assessment of Fortune's future care. Prosecutor Ronan Kennedy argued that while there was no dispute that Fortune carried out the assault, the key issue was her mental state at the time. The court heard that Fortune had a long history of violence and severe epilepsy, with an IQ of 68, and that she had an organic personality disorder linked to her epileptic condition.
2016-10-19 · Dublin
Jonathan Nolan, aged 22, avoided jail after attacking shopkeeper Aaron Anglim with a paint roller on 13 May 2014 at Decies Mini Market, Ballyfermot. Nolan claimed he believed Anglim had assaulted his mother, who had earlier confronted Anglim in the shop, slapping, pushing and kicking him before being asked to leave. Nolan entered the shop armed with a paint roller whose plastic cap had been removed, exposing a metal bar, and stabbed Anglim's head. Anglim defended himself with a golf club left in the shop. Anglim suffered a 1‑cm cut below his hairline and was treated at St James's Hospital. Nolan pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Melanie Greally suspended a two‑and‑a‑half‑year jail term on strict conditions, noting Nolan and his mother had since reconciled with the victim and expressed remorse.
2016-10-19 · Dublin
In a Dublin nightclub, Silviu Voivod (31) was charged with assault causing harm after he tried to stop a woman from being grabbed by a first‑year college student, Robert McMickan, at Dandelion Bar & Nightclub on 12 October 2014. Voivod was glassed in the face, losing two front teeth, and then punched in the back, side and head. McMickan was taken to Tallaght hospital, suffered severe facial injuries and had to miss two weeks of college. Voivod pleaded guilty, offered €500 to McMickan as an expression of remorse, and did not seek a trial date. The court heard that Voivod had no prior convictions and was in a relationship with a young son. Judge Melanie Greally noted the need for a custodial sentence to send a strong message against such "glassing incidents" and announced a custodial sentence would be imposed on 6 December.
2016-10-19 · Kildare
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 22‑year‑old man named Jason Doogue died of blood loss after being shot on 21 August 2015 in the Green Hills area of Athy. State pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Doogue had four bullet wounds: two that entered his chest and back, damaging his heart, liver, lungs and a subclavian artery; a third that entered his forearm, fracturing bones; and a fourth graze across his buttocks, possibly from the same bullet that entered his arm. Cassidy noted Doogue was healthy before the shooting and that his death resulted from the combined injuries to his vital organs and the artery. The accused, James 'Jimmy' Lammon, 44, of Cardington Way, Athy, pleaded not guilty. The judge instructed the jury to consider the evidence in their absence and to refrain from discussing the case with anyone.
2016-10-18 · Dublin
Patrick O'Brien, 76, a former lay worker with the Church of Ireland, is due to be sentenced for the rape and molestation of 14 boys over 30 years. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 48 counts of indecent assault, including anal penetration and three counts of sexual assault between 1977 and 2010 at various locations such as Kildare, Westmeath, a boat in Loughrea, and St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin where he volunteered. The sentencing hearing, held over two days, included victim impact reports from four men, some of whom chose not to have their statements read. The court heard that O'Brien abused the boys in cars, at his yacht, and in his office, often after visiting their parents. He also performed oral sex and forced victims to perform it on him. The hearing will continue tomorrow before Judge Melanie Greally.
2016-10-18 · Dublin
Aoife Molloy, aged 25, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Noel O'Rourke on a Luas tram on 11 December 2014. She was originally sentenced to four years' imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended. On appeal the Court of Appeal reduced her jail term by six months, citing that her sentence should have been on par with that of her co‑accused, who received four years with two years suspended. The judge noted that the incident involved Molloy and a group of young people who were drinking on the tram, that Molloy struck O'Rourke twice with a bottle and then jabbed him in the lip. O'Rourke suffered a fractured jaw‑eye bone and required stitches. Molloy had seven prior convictions for road‑traffic offences and was under the influence of alcohol and prescription drugs at the time of the assault. The final sentence imposed was four years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended.
2016-10-18 · Dublin
A Dublin teenager was given a three‑year suspended sentence for his role in a violent assault that left a 17‑year‑old boy with serious injuries. The victim, who is a juvenile, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault causing harm on 19 September 2015. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the prison term on strict conditions, including 240 hours of community service. She noted that the accused repeatedly struck the victim with a baton and had a misguided sense of justification. The judge also highlighted that the victim's promising sporting career was denied because of the assault. The teenager was found to be at low risk of re‑offending, had expressed regret, and had distanced himself from the peer group. The court accepted a favourable report from the Probation Service and concluded that the suspended sentence was appropriate. The victim suffered multiple wounds, required hospital treatment, and later developed post‑traumatic stress disorder.
2016-10-18 · Kildare
During the Central Criminal Court trial of James 'Jimmy' Lammon, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jason Doogue, Garda Mairead Lacey testified that she was part of a search team that located a handgun with a silencer and a magazine in a wooded area near Mr. Lammon's home. She described following a foot‑worn trail from a gap in the hedge at the back of the garden, through a field and into Shaw's Wood, where she found a small circular hole containing a navy bag with a handgun, a magazine holding three bullets, and a silver silencer. Lacey noted the distance from the house to the discovery site was about 750 metres. She also reported finding plastic pipes with pills, a pipe with rifles, and two leaves she believed were stained with blood during subsequent searches.
2016-10-18 · Dublin
In September 2015, Neven Vukovic, a 40‑year‑old Croatian man, attacked his ex‑partner Fionnuala Ní Mhartín at her Dublin home. After the couple had split two days earlier, Vukovic entered the house, attempted to hug her, and when she refused, he slapped her on the head and then repeatedly punched and kicked her. The assault left her with a fractured eye socket and other injuries. Vukovic later sent harassing text and Facebook messages, including threats, for weeks. Gardaí arrested him and he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He was charged with assault and harassment, placed on bail with strict conditions, and a sentencing hearing was adjourned to April. He has since attended anger‑management and counselling courses.
2016-10-17 · Dublin
A 49‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for six counts of sexual assault against four sisters aged 12 to 13 and 7, committed between 2002 and 2004 while living with their mother in the family home. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court and had a prior rape conviction from 1995. The judge, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, noted his guilty pleas and remorse, the severe impact on the victims, and imposed consecutive sentences totalling 12 years with a four‑year probation supervision order. The accused had lived in the home since 2001, abused the eldest sister almost daily for a year and a half, threatened her with death if she reported the abuse, and was arrested in April 2005 but not charged. The case involved victim impact reports from all four girls, each describing lasting trauma and disrupted family relationships.
2016-10-17 · Mayo
A 55-year-old Mayo man has been sentenced to three years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, following his conviction on seven counts of indecent assault against two of his sisters committed between 1977 and 1984. The Central Criminal Court sitting in Castlebar heard that the assaults occurred when the victims were aged between 15 and 22 years old. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was convicted by jury in July. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed concurrent sentences ranging from three months to three years, suspending the final year on condition that no further sexual offence is committed. The judge noted that while the offending may be at the lower end of the spectrum, considerable harm had been caused to the victims. The man will be subject to the sex offenders register. The complaints were made to gardaí in 2011, approximately three decades after the alleged incidents occurred.
2016-10-17 · Dublin
The trial of seven Dubliners charged with the murder of Dale Creighton and violent disorder is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Creighton, a 20-year-old Tallaght native, died in hospital on January 2, 2014, after being assaulted on New Year's Morning 2014 at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass. The accused are Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens. All pleaded not guilty to murder. While all initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford later changed his plea to guilty for that specific charge. During cross-examination, Beresford admitted to kicking Creighton in the head and punching him in the stomach, stating he was "stupidly drunk and furious." He denied stamping on the victim. The court also heard that James O'Brien, who was seen on CCTV punching and kicking Creighton, was charged with the lesser offence of assault causing harm. O'Brien pleaded not guilty to this charge. The jury was dismissed to allow the court to address a legal issue, with proceedings scheduled to resume on Wednesday.
2016-10-17 · Kildare
During a murder trial, a witness, Eva Maher, testified that she heard the accused, James Lammon, threaten another man less than two hours after the shooting that killed Jason Doogue. Maher, who was at a house in Castle Park, Athy, said she heard Lammon shout "tell Jamie he's next" at about 6.30pm. Another witness, Stacey Flynn, confirmed that Lammon's green van had pulled into the estate and that he was shouting about Jamie Quinn. A third witness, a minor, also heard Lammon say "Tell Jamie Quinn I'm coming for him next." Garda Paul O'Shea reported that after seeing two men near Lammon's home, he waited for an armed unit and later arrested Lammon at 7.34pm on suspicion of Doogue's murder. No firearms were found on Lammon or in his van. The trial continues before Justice Paul Butler and a jury at the Central Criminal Court. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
2016-10-17 · Cork
A jury of six men and six women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Brian Veale, 31, who is accused of murdering 41‑year‑old Graham Johnson in Cork Prison on 16 May 2015. Veale pleaded not guilty. The trial is scheduled to begin the following day and is expected to last five days.
2016-10-17 · Waterford
A mother was sentenced to 18 months in prison for failing to protect her six‑year‑old son from extreme sexual violence by his father. The father, convicted of raping the child and locking him in a wooden box, received a 14‑year sentence. The mother was convicted of a single count of child cruelty. Judge Robert Eagar noted she was aware of the abuse but did not alert authorities or protect the child. She has a history of sexual abuse and a mild to significant intellectual disability. She remains in contact with the father and prison staff worry she is being manipulated. The judge imposed a three‑year sentence with 18 months suspended, requiring no contact with the father during that period. The mother did not react to the sentence. The case highlights the mother's failure to act despite knowledge of the abuse. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
2016-10-14 · Dublin
Bernard McDonagh, 30, a "talented musician" from Dublin, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after punching a Croatian man on Dame Lane on 17 June 2015. The victim was knocked unconscious, suffered a broken jaw and dental damage, and required costly dental surgery. McDonagh fled the scene but later turned himself in at Pearse Street Garda station, admitting full responsibility. He has 19 prior convictions, mainly for public order offences. Judge Melanie Greally, after reviewing a psychologist's report, adjourned the case to 27 March 2017 to allow a probation report and to give McDonagh time to arrange compensation for the victim. The court noted McDonagh's apology and his role as a caring father, but emphasized the seriousness of the assault. The case will be sentenced early next year.
2016-10-14 · Dublin
In 2016, David Mahon, aged 45, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for manslaughter after killing Dean Fitzpatrick, 23, the older brother of missing teenager Amy Fitzpatrick. The incident occurred on 26 May 2013 when Mahon, who had been in a 12‑year relationship with Dean's mother Audrey Fitzpatrick, stabbed Dean in the abdomen outside the apartment they shared on Burnell Square, Northern Cross, Malahide Road. Mahon claimed the death was accidental or a possible suicide, asserting that Dean had walked into the knife during an argument. A jury at the Central Criminal Court found him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. On 13 June 2016, Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan imposed the seven‑year sentence. Mahon has now applied for legal aid to appeal the severity of that sentence in the Court of Appeal, where the application was granted without contest. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no further outcome reported. David Mahon was found guilty.
2016-10-14 · Waterford
The High Court ordered the extradition of Robert Donovan, a 57‑year‑old convicted murderer, to the United Kingdom. Donovan had been serving a life sentence for the 1974 murder of Mr. Thornley on a London bridge and had been temporarily released from a UK prison in June 2010 with a duty to return by 19.30 hours. He failed to return, was considered unlawfully at large, and was believed to be residing in Waterford. Gardai arrested him on the basis of a European Arrest Warrant issued by UK authorities in November 2014. The judge, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, found no basis for concern that his rights would be violated if surrendered and dismissed the claim that the UK's exit from the EU posed a threat to his ECHR rights. Donovan was remanded in custody until the expected surrender date of 21 October.
2016-10-14 · Kildare
During a murder trial, a witness reported hearing the accused, James 'Jimmy' Lammon, threaten Jason Doogue hours before Doogue's death. Lammon, 44, pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 22‑year‑old in Athy's Green Hills on 21 August 2015. Witness Calvin Cullen, then 17, described an argument at Emily Square where Lammon, in a green van, shouted threats such as "You're getting whacked tonight." Doogue responded, "I'll get you before you get me." After the confrontation, a cyclist in a black hoodie with a balaclava approached the group, pulled a handgun with a silver silencer, and shot Doogue twice, killing him. The trial is ongoing before a jury and Justice Paul Butler at the Central Criminal Court.
2016-10-14 · Dublin
The trial of seven accused individuals for the murder of Dale Creighton and violent disorder is ongoing before the Central Criminal Court. The defendants, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens, all pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. While all initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford changed his plea to guilty on Wednesday. The court heard evidence that the deceased, who died on January 2, 2014, sustained a penetrating stab wound to his right leg in addition to being beaten. James Reid identified himself in CCTV footage holding a knife, claiming he took it from the deceased after it was swung at him, while denying any involvement in the assault. He described the footage as "horrific" and stated he regretted being present. Garda testimony confirmed Reid was arrested and interviewed, where he denied kicking, punching, or stabbing the victim. The trial continues under the direction of Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy.
2016-10-13 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old was found guilty of assault causing serious harm after slashing the face of actor Andrew Cusack with a broken glass bottle. The incident occurred on May 2 2016 at Dame Lane, following a dispute over alleged fake ecstasy tablets purchased by Cusack. CCTV showed the youth becoming enraged, leaving the scene, and later returning to attack Cusack with a broken pint glass. Cusack suffered four wounds, including a large C‑shaped scar across his lower lip and cheek, and may endure permanent numbness and weakness of his lower lip. He has been receiving psychological support and may need further surgery. The judge sentenced the youth to four years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, and imposed two years of probation to address substance‑abuse issues. The court noted the attack's life‑changing and catastrophic consequences for Cusack.
2016-10-13 · Ireland
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 45‑year‑old Laois man was convicted of rape after a week‑long hearing. He had previously admitted assaulting his wife by punching her in the face. During the assault he shouted "no God is going to help you" and threatened to rape her, claiming she had insulted him about his ability to attract women. He said he had punched her five or six times before she begged for mercy. He then asked for sex, which she consented to, describing it as a way to escape the situation. The man pleaded not guilty to the rape charge but guilty to assault. Mr Justice Paul Butler refused bail, citing the seriousness of the offence and the victim's fragile character, and remanded the defendant in custody until sentencing on 12 December.
2016-10-13 · Kildare
During a murder trial, a jury was shown photographs taken by Detective Garda Caroline Hughes of a semi‑automatic pistol with a silencer, a striped bag, and an ammunition magazine with three rounds removed. The images were taken at Shaw's Wood in Athy, Co Kildare, where a 22‑year‑old man was shot dead. The photographs were part of the evidence presented against James 'Jimmy' Lammon, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jason Doogue. The judge informed the jury of pending legal matters and sent them home, with a return scheduled for the next day.
2016-10-13 · Cork
Kevin Mulcahy, a 57‑year‑old GP from Creggan, Lombardstown, Mallow, Co Cork, was found guilty of indecently assaulting a 15‑year‑old female patient on 23 December 1989. He pleaded not guilty to the single charge, but a jury convicted him after 39 minutes of deliberation at the Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin sentenced him to two years' imprisonment on 25 November 2015. Mulcahy had been granted bail in December 2015 pending an appeal against conviction, which was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on 13 October 2016. Justice John Edwards ruled that Mulcahy had regularly visited the patient's home to treat her mother, who had terminal cancer, and that during one visit he touched the patient's vagina on the outside of her clothing. He was arrested and interviewed in 2011 following a complaint of indecent assault.
2016-10-13 · Dublin
The trial of seven Dubliners charged with the murder of 20‑year‑old Dale Creighton began on 13 October 2016. The defendants – Aisling Burke (23), David Burke (28), Graham Palmer (26), Ross Callery (23), James Reid (26), Jason Beresford (23) and Gerard Stevens (27) – all pleaded not guilty to murder and violent disorder, though Beresford later pleaded guilty to the disorder charge. Evidence from Garda Jennifer Walsh and Garda Avril Sharpe described a New Year's Day incident at the Tallaght footbridge where Creighton was found unconscious and badly beaten. The garda saw blood on the clothing of Palmer and Burke, and the footage showed the group leaving the bridge. The trial, before Justice Deirdre Murphy and a balanced jury, will continue on Friday morning. The court heard that Palmer was arrested at the scene and Reid was arrested the next day in Tallaght. The case remains at the Central Criminal Court.
2016-10-12 · Kildare
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that James 'Jimmy' Lammon (44) of Cardington Way, Athy, was the gunman who killed 22‑year‑old Jason Doogue in Greenhills on 21 August 2015. According to the prosecution barrister Kerida Naidoo SC, Doogue was sitting on a wall with friends outside a house at about 5 pm when a hooded individual on a bicycle approached. The attacker, wearing a balaclava and hood, drew a gun from his waistband, possibly with a silencer, and fired twice at Doogue's chest. Doogue attempted to flee toward the house, but the attacker shot him a third time in the back before leaving on the same bicycle. Lammon has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The trial will continue the following day before the jury and Mr Justice Paul Butler.
2016-10-12 · Waterford
Robert Donovan, 57, a London-born convicted murderer, was arrested in Waterford on a European Arrest Warrant issued by UK authorities in November 2014. He had been serving a life sentence for the 1974 murder of Mr. Thornley on a London bridge, a case tried at Bow Street Magistrates Court. Donovan had been temporarily released from prison on 19 June 2010 with a duty to return by 19:30, but he failed to do so and was believed to be residing in Waterford. The warrant details that on 14 May 1974, Donovan, his brother and a friend were out early in the morning when they met Thornley, who invited them for a drink. Donovan then used a flick‑knife to stab Thornley in the throat, killing him, and stole his watch and golden bracelet. Gardaí arrested him in Waterford and he was taken to the High Court where extradition proceedings are ongoing.
2016-10-12 · Dublin
The trial of seven Dubliners accused of murdering 20-year-old Dale Creighton is ongoing before the Central Criminal Court. Creighton died on January 2, 2014, following an incident at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass on New Year's Day. While all seven defendants initially pleaded not guilty to murder and violent disorder, Jason Beresford (23) pleaded guilty to violent disorder on January 1, 2014, during the trial. The remaining six accused—Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, and Gerard Stevens—maintain their not guilty pleas to both murder and violent disorder. The matter was not adjourned; the trial proceeded as normal. Witness Carl O'Leary testified that he saw Creighton holding a knife on the footbridge after hearing a commotion about a phone robbery. His girlfriend, Shannon Downes, identified a white jacket belonging to a woman who claimed she was assaulted and robbed. Another witness, Sophie Percy, described seeing men at the bottom of the bridge, with footage showing one passenger punching a man not before the court. The trial continues with the jury hearing further evidence.
2016-10-11 · Dublin
Gerard Hughes, 19, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, for a series of drug‑induced offences including assault, property damage, unlawful car taking and dangerous driving. He pleaded guilty to assaulting a hotel manager at The Maldron Hotel in Tallaght on 20 November 2015, damaging property, unlawfully taking a Nissan Qashqai on 13 December 2015 and two counts of dangerous driving on the same day. The assault involved Hughes entering the manager's office with a fire extinguisher, demanding money, grabbing her around the mouth, shoving her to the ground and fleeing. The victim suffered a split lip, facial bruising and leg injury. Hughes was identified by CCTV, had no memory of the incident due to drug use, and was arrested after a chase that involved driving the stolen car the wrong way around a roundabout. He has 47 prior convictions and was banned from driving for 10 years.
2016-10-11 · Wexford
James Connors, aged 30, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment for the killing of Jason Ryan, aged 27, in Wexford on 25 January 2012. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty by a 10‑2 majority, and Justice Margaret Heneghan imposed the mandatory life sentence on 17 December 2015. Connors has now applied to appeal his conviction on several grounds. His barrister, Michael Delaney SC, argued that the defence had admitted Connors was on temporary release over Christmas 2011 and failed to return, making it undesirable that a jury would know he had been in custody. Delaney also contended that prejudicial material, including testimony from Samantha Hore and a phone call from Connors while in prison, should not have been admitted. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel, Gerard Clarke SC, described the case as simple and maintained that the alleged threats were relevant to motive. James Connors pleaded not guilty.
2016-10-11 · Dublin
Michael Brennan, 29, was given a three‑year suspended sentence in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of a knife at Cromcastle Drive, Kilmore, on 7 January 2016. The court heard that he had chased a group of people to a parked car, appeared to try to open the door or stab the car, and was ordered by Gardaí to drop the knives. The incident stemmed from a family dispute and occurred while Brennan was relapsing into drug addiction. He has 67 previous convictions, including attempted murder, intimidation of a witness and threats to kill, and was released from a ten‑year attempted murder sentence in May 2015. The judge, Melanie Greally, suspended the sentence on the condition that Brennan complete a residential drug treatment programme and remain under probation supervision for 18 months.
2016-10-11 · Dublin
The trial of seven Dubliners charged with the murder of 20-year-old Dale Creighton is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. All defendants, including Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens, have pleaded not guilty to murder and violent disorder. Prosecution counsel Seán Gillane SC alleged the group acted together to inflict serious injury or death during a 'vicious, prolonged' attack on New Year's Day 2014. Evidence presented includes CCTV footage and testimony from witness Síle McCarthy, who described seeing six or seven individuals surround, kick, and punch Creighton on the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass. The prosecution stated Creighton was thrown 'like a rag doll' down steps before being returned to the bridge, suffering blunt force injuries to the head and face that caused his death on January 2, 2014. The matter is currently at the trial stage before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury; it has not been finalised and is expected to last approximately six weeks.
2016-10-10 · Ireland
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, 38‑year‑old Andrzej Wawrzyniak, who had no fixed address, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the death of 44‑year‑old Jacek Kozakiewicz in an abandoned pub on Dublin's North Wall Quay on 26 February 2014. Wawrzyniak also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Filip Talaj, another occupant of the squat. The court heard that the pub was a daily drinking spot and that on the night of the killing a Luas driver noticed blood on Wawrzyniak's hands and prevented him from boarding a tram. Wawrzyniak told the driver he had killed a man and led Gardaí to the squat, where they found three people, one of whom was injured. Jacek's body was discovered on the floor of a makeshift kitchen with more than twenty stab wounds, mainly to the neck and face.
2016-10-10 · Dublin
Mark Carlyle, 27, of Derry Park, Crumlin, Dublin 12, pleaded guilty to violent disorder outside a Harcourt Street nightclub on 23 September 2014 after being refused entry. He was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, on 15 December 2015. Carlyle's appeal against the severity of the sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on 10 October 2016. Mr Justice Alan Mahon, sitting with Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan and Mr Justice John Edwards, upheld the sentence as a "substantial sentence" justified by the circumstances. The Court noted that Carlyle had initiated a violent altercation with security staff, pulling one member away from colleagues and punching him eight or nine times, and had thrown a security barrier in a crowded area.
2016-10-10 · Cork
Anthony Kelleher, 42, was given an eight‑year sentence for seriously assaulting his wife, Siobhán, in Macroom on 12 June 2014. He pleaded not guilty, but a jury found him guilty of assault causing serious harm. Kelleher was released after a successful appeal, but the Court of Appeal ruled he did not receive a fair trial and ordered a retrial. The appeal focused on the admission of two statements made by Siobhán while she was a patient in hospital, which were allowed under an exceptional provision of the Criminal Justice Act. The Court found that the trial judge failed to intervene when Siobhán refused to answer questions, preventing effective cross‑examination, and that the presentation of Prof. Cusack's evidence was unfair. Kelleher remains on bail and is due to appear again on 25 October at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
2016-10-10 · Dublin
Lisa Blake, 38, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Michelle Lowry on 30 July 2013 while staying in emergency accommodation at the Regency Hotel, Drumcondra. Blake used a chisel to strike Lowry, who now bears a permanent scar on her nose. Blake had no prior convictions and had previously lived in her own home before losing it due to the economic downturn and heroin addiction. In a victim impact report, Lowry expressed sympathy for Blake's circumstances. Judge Elma Sheahan described the assault as unprovoked and noted Blake's apology and the likelihood that she would not return to court. Blake received an 18‑month suspended sentence, was ordered to engage with probation services, drug treatment and work programmes, and was required to stay with her former partner and children. The court also heard that Blake had been drinking and that the alcohol interacted poorly with her medication.
2016-10-10 · Wexford
In a Central Criminal Court sentence hearing, a 48‑year‑old father of three was found to have died from a knife wound to a varicose vein in his leg on Christmas Eve 2014. The victim, John Lawlor, was stabbed by David Shanley, 47, who had pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Shanley, who was in a relationship with Lawlor's ex‑wife, claimed a struggle and that the knife fell from his pocket during an altercation. A post‑mortem confirmed death by hemorrhage and shock from the incised vein. The court heard victim impact statements from Lawlor's family, who described the loss and the emotional toll. Justice Paul Butler remanded Shanley in custody pending sentencing in two weeks. David Shanley pleaded not guilty.
2016-10-10 · Dublin
The trial of seven accused individuals for the murder of Dale Creighton is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy addressed the jury, warning them against conducting internet searches or discussing the case, emphasizing that their verdicts must rely solely on evidence presented in court. The accused, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens, are charged with murdering Mr. Creighton, who died on January 2, 2014, following an incident at the Tallaght bypass footbridge. All seven defendants have pleaded not guilty to the murder charges. Additionally, each accused pleaded not guilty to violent disorder at the same location on New Year's Day. The court highlighted the gravity of the proceedings, noting that murder is the most serious offence in the criminal calendar. The trial is currently at the trial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalizations recorded. The matter was adjourned and will continue the following morning.
2016-10-10 · Kildare
A jury of eight men and four women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the murder trial of James Jimmy Lammon, 44, of Cardington Way, Athy, Kildare. Lammon pleaded not guilty to the killing of 22‑year‑old Jason Doogue in the Greenhills estate on 21 August 2015. The trial is set to start on Wednesday and is expected to last four weeks.