Darren McKevitt, 26, of Walkinstown, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to arson of a car, dangerous driving, driving under the influence, driving without insurance, three counts of assault, possession of a stolen Toyota Avensis, a PSV certificate, an Irish driving licence and insurance certificate, and unlawful possession of a stun gun. The offences occurred between October and November 2014, including a bonfire incident on Halloween where he drove a car into a bonfire, jumped out, and assaulted three gardaí on Durrow Road, Crumlin. Blood tests showed he was five times over the alcohol limit. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a five‑year sentence, back‑dated to November 2014, with the balance suspended, and ordered continued work with probation officers, drug rehabilitation and employment training. The court noted McKevitt had nine previous convictions, including drug possession for sale or supply. The case was prosecuted by Monika Leech BL and defended by Libby Charlton BL.
During a funeral in Dublin, Liam O'Connell, aged 26, attacked Seamus Mooney, 58, after attempting to kick one of Mooney's dogs. O'Connell punched Mooney between six and ten times while Mooney lay on the ground, and also kicked the dog. Mooney defended himself with a walking stick, which he carried after a recent hip replacement. O'Connell pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Witnesses observed the assault, and a passing motorist stopped the attack before O'Connell and his family left in a taxi. Gardaí later identified O'Connell and arrested him. Mooney was taken to hospital for swelling, bleeding, cuts and facial numbness. O'Connell was sentenced to 14 months' imprisonment, with no compensation or community service imposed. The case highlighted O'Connell's 16 prior convictions, including violent disorder. The judge noted his drunken state and mourning as mitigating factors but still imposed the jail term.
Professional boxer Jamie Kavanagh, aged 26 and now based in the UK, has a new trial date set for 14 June 2017 for a violent disorder charge. The alleged incident took place at Harcourt Street on 23 September 2014. The trial, originally scheduled to start the following week at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, was adjourned by consent because a witness was ill. Judge Melanie Greally instructed the defence to inform Kavanagh of the new date, and the trial is expected to last two to three days.
A man has been sentenced to three years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in two violent car-jackings committed on the same night in April 2014. David Thomas, aged 32, of Glenties Avenue, Finglas, Dublin, pleaded guilty to unlawful seizure of a vehicle at Shankill, Dublin. The court heard that Thomas and another man pulled the driver from his car, assaulted him, and threatened to shoot him after he witnessed their faces. The stolen vehicle was subsequently abandoned on the N11 near Wicklow. Thomas went on to forcibly remove a second driver from a van in the vicinity. Judge John Aylmer imposed a concurrent sentence, stating the Shankill incident was the more serious offence. The victim reported experiencing significant fear and psychological distress following the attack. The defence argued the incidents constituted a chaotic, alcohol-fuelled episode, with no actual firearm involved.
A judge discharged a jury of twelve sworn to hear the trial of 29‑year‑old Marta Herda, accused of murdering Hungarian Csaba Orsas in Arklow on 26 March 2013. Herda pleaded not guilty at her arraignment. The judge explained that a difficulty had arisen and the estimated trial time had been revised from seven or eight days to three weeks, making it impossible to start until Monday. He discharged the jury, noting they had agreed to a shorter estimate, and said the system would seek them again. Herda will return to court on Monday for a new jury.
A Polish man has been released from custody at the Central Criminal Court after three years in detention. Justice Patrick McCarthy directed the jury to acquit Dariusz Weckowicz (51) of the murder of Bogdan Michalkiewicz (41) at Westside Apartments, Letterkenny, County Donegal on 13 May 2013, ruling the prosecution evidence insufficient to place him before a jury. Mr Weckowicz had pleaded not guilty to the charge. Separately, Krzysztof Grzegorski (22) remains on trial for the same murder. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the prosecution rejected. The court has heard evidence regarding the circumstances of the death, including multiple injuries sustained by the deceased. Justice McCarthy has instructed the jury on the legal burden of proof, emphasising that intention formed while intoxicated constitutes the same basis for conviction as intention formed while sober. The jury will begin deliberations on Monday.
In a 13‑day trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 42‑year‑old man was convicted of raping his wife in their home in May 2014 and of threatening to cut her face with a carving knife the day before. He was also found guilty of threatening to kill her over the phone the following day. The jury could not reach verdicts on charges that he head‑butted her in May 2014 and threatened to do "serious damage" to her when they met to discuss custody of their son. The accused denied the rape and other allegations, claiming jealousy over his wife's career and a sense of being excluded by her family. He had previously pleaded guilty to assault with a hammer in August 2014. Justice Isobel Kennedy ordered his registration as a sex offender and remanded him in custody for sentencing on 18 July. The unnamed 42 year old pleaded not guilty.
A 42‑year‑old man was found guilty by a jury of threatening to cut his wife's face open with a cleaver on 25 May 2014, a threat he denied, claiming he only held a butter knife while making a sandwich. The jury is still deliberating on allegations that he ordered her upstairs that night and raped her, as well as on charges of assault causing harm and four other threats to kill or cause serious harm between May and August 2014. The trial noted that the couple's marriage was under stress, with the man unhappy about the wife's career and time spent with their infant son. He had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife with a hammer in August 2014 and pleaded not guilty to the rape, assault and threat charges.
In June 2016 a 16‑year‑old Dublin teenager was sentenced to four‑and‑a‑half years' detention for a series of robberies in which he threatened four women with a large knife. He pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and four robbery charges in the Tallaght area. The court noted that the teenager had 29 prior convictions but this was his first violent offence. He admitted to using a knife and drugs to feel brave enough to commit the robberies. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final two years of the sentence on the condition that the teenager engage with the Probation Service for two years after release and take every educational opportunity while in custody. The case was prosecuted by Fiona Murphy BL and defended by Cathal McGreal BL, who highlighted the defendant's borderline intellectual disability and history of abuse. The incidents involved threatening victims, demanding cash, and stealing phones and bank cards.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old girl was sentenced to three years' detention for stamping and kicking a Brazilian national, Marcus Guimaraes, on his head 15 times, as captured on CCTV. The girl, who could not be named, admitted no recollection of the night but reported feeling sick after seeing herself in the footage. Garda Maria O'Hara confirmed the footage showed the girl delivering the blows, and noted Guimaraes suffered a dented head, black and bloodshot eyes, a swollen nose and face, though he did not require medical treatment. The court found the assault was violent and unprovoked, and the girl's history of 26 prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final 15 months on the condition she engages with the Probation Service for 15 months. The girl, now 17, has a baby due later this year and has reportedly made positive behavioural changes. The unnamed 16-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, ambulance driver Dylan Gray (19) and co‑accused Dylan Barry (19) avoided jail for a violent attack on Nigel Kennedy at Missoni's chipper, Sallynoggin, on 13 December 2014. The court heard that the pair punched and kicked Kennedy, with Gray dragging him to the ground where the attackers continued to strike him. Kennedy refused to give a statement, preventing assault charges. Judge Melanie Greally noted the extreme violence, including a kick to the head and punches while Kennedy was on the ground. Both men pleaded guilty to violent disorder. The judge, citing their youth, lack of prior convictions, and remorse, suspended a three‑year sentence on the condition of 240 hours of community service within a year. Gray's father, Derek Gray, expressed disbelief and a sense of parental failure, while Barry's lawyers highlighted a history of bullying and trauma, noting his remorse during Garda interviews.
The trial of Krzystof Grzegorski and Dariusz Weckowicz for the murder of Bogdan Michalkiewicz (41) in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, has heard evidence regarding the accused's background. Grzegorski, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, was described as having started drinking at age 14 after moving from Poland. His co-accused, Weckowicz, pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The State did not accept Grzegorski's manslaughter plea. Detective Garda Alfie McHale testified that Grzegorski had a history of public drunkenness, including a 2010 conviction at age 16. On the weekend of the killing, Grzegorski was seen on CCTV stealing vodka from supermarkets in Letterkenny, including an incident after 6pm on May 13, 2013, when the prosecution states Michalkiewicz was already deceased. Grzegorski was arrested with Weckowicz after security guards called gardai. The trial continues before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women.
Hoummada El Habri, a 44‑year‑old Moroccan from Wolseley Street, Dublin, was sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a violent robbery that took place on 25 October 2014. He assaulted Damien O'Brien on Adair Lane, knocking him to the ground, kicking him until he was unconscious, and then stole O'Brien's mobile phone, a wristwatch worth €300 and €70 in cash. El Habri pleaded guilty and was found to have 16 prior convictions, including theft, handling stolen property and robbery. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three‑year prison term, suspended the last 18 months on the condition that El Habri leave the State within 14 days of release and not return for ten years. The court noted that El Habri had previously set himself on fire outside the Dáil to protest his residency application, but the judge said this was not an excuse for his criminal conduct. The defendant expressed remorse for his actions.
The Court of Appeal has adjourned the appeal against conviction lodged by Michael Murray, a 44-year-old man formerly of Killiney, Dublin, who was found guilty in 2013 of rape, attempted rape, oral rape, aggravated sexual assault, child abduction, threats to kill, false imprisonment, and theft. Murray was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for offences committed in February 2010. The Director of Public Prosecutions is seeking a review of this sentence on grounds that it was "unduly lenient." Mr Justice Birmingham stated that, given Murray's apparent lack of enthusiasm for his conviction appeal, the court may proceed with the DPP's undue leniency application first, departing from the normal practice of hearing conviction appeals before sentence appeals. The matter was put in for case management on Friday. Separately, Murray's earlier appeal against the dismissal of his High Court action against the Irish Prison Service and the Minister for Justice was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in March. That action concerned the recording of his prison telephone calls; both courts found the recording inappropriate but noted it was made inadvertently and not accessed, awarding costs against Murray.
In March 2015, 18‑year‑old Niall Brooks and two other youths assaulted Brendan Cahill and Derek McDonald at the Luas terminal on Belgard Square East. CCTV showed a scuffle that escalated into the attackers repeatedly kicking the men in the head and body while they were unconscious. The assault caused extensive injuries: skull fractures, broken eye sockets, broken cheekbones, and other trauma. Both victims reported severe physical and psychological impacts, including loss of confidence, anxiety, and economic losses. Brooks pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and will be sentenced in October. He has three prior convictions and is currently serving a sentence for a robbery. The court noted the attack was "appalling" and ordered a Probation Services report before sentencing. The victims' statements highlighted lasting health and financial consequences from the incident.
A 66‑year‑old musician, whose name is withheld to protect the victim, was found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting his stepdaughter between 1994 and 2000. He pleaded not guilty to one count of rape, one count of oral rape and 27 counts of sexual assault, but the jury convicted him on all counts. The victim, aged between 10 and 16 at the time, first reported the abuse to the gardai in May 2012. The abuse occurred frequently in the family home and car, with the accused forcing the girl to touch him and perform oral sex while he was bedridden. The most serious incident was a rape in June 2000, after which the accused gave her a bottle of Jack Daniels and told her not to inform her mother. The victim suffered anxiety, panic attacks, flashbacks, depression and suicidal thoughts, and felt blamed for the abuse.
Krzystof Grzegorski (22) made a video confession from England after learning his co-accused had been arrested for a killing he carried out, the Central Criminal Court heard on Monday. Mr Grzegorski has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the death of Bogdan Michalkiewicz (41) at his home in Letterkenny, Co Donegal on May 13, 2013. The State did not accept the guilty plea. His co-accused, Dariusz Weckowicz (51), has pleaded not guilty to murder. During interview at Ronanstown Garda Station in March 2014, gardai heard Mr Grzegorski describe recording the video while in England, stating he would not allow a friend to serve time for the offence. In the video, he confessed to inflicting all deadly wounds and asserted Mr Weckowicz's innocence. Mr Grzegorski told detectives he could not recall specifics of the incident due to heavy drinking but remembered stabbing the deceased in the chest following a dispute. The trial before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury continues on Wednesday.
In a 2016 trial, a 42‑year‑old man was accused of raping his wife during a marital breakdown. He pleaded not guilty to rape, assault causing harm, and four threat counts, while a fifth threat count was directed to a not‑guilty verdict. Defence counsel Padraig Dwyer urged jurors to consider possible motives for the wife's allegations, citing revenge, bitterness, desire, custody or property concerns. He noted the accused admitted assaulting his wife with a hammer months after the alleged rape, arguing this should not influence other charges. Prosecuting counsel Mary Rose Gearty highlighted alleged inconsistencies in the wife's testimony, including fabricated claims of head‑butting and petrol dousing, and questioned her credibility. The trial proceeded before Justice Isobel Kennedy and a jury.
Emmet McAuley, 31, pleaded guilty to robbery at a Celbridge off‑licence on 30 May 2015. He was armed with a plastic McDonald's knife, which he claimed to hold, and was pursued on foot by the shop owner. The robbery lasted about 60 seconds, involved no violence, and the robbers escaped with cash and cigarettes, which were later recovered. McAuley was restrained without resistance and later arrested. He has 22 prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions, including a €1,000 payment to the injured party. The court noted McAuley's cooperation with Gardaí and his completion of a residential drug treatment programme. No further convictions or outcomes were mentioned in the article.
Lee Wainwright, a former assistant manager at the Corralea Court Hotel in Tuam, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for raping a young woman in 2014. The victim, in her early twenties, was attending a hotel event when Wainwright escorted her to a room and later forced sex on her while she was asleep. He initially denied the rape, claiming a medical condition prevented him from having sex, but later pleaded guilty after DNA evidence linked him to the victim. Mr Justice Paul Butler imposed a six‑year term with the final two years suspended, noting the offence's seriousness and Wainwright's good work record and lack of prior convictions. The court heard the victim's impact statement describing the lasting psychological harm and the loss of trust caused by the assault. Wainwright's counsel read an apology letter to the victim and her family. The sentence reflects the judge's view that substantial custodial punishment is necessary in rape cases.
In a Cork case, Jaroslaw Kupper, a 39‑year‑old Polish carpenter, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman on 28 September 2013. The assault began with kissing outside a pub after midnight, then moved to a laneway where Kupper became pushy, grabbed the victim's arm, pushed her to the ground, and pulled down her jeans and underwear. The victim screamed for help, a neighbour heard and called the gardai. The incident lasted a considerable time before police arrived. Kupper, who had been working in Ireland for ten years and was fluent in English, was sentenced by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy to three and a half years in prison. The victim, who was intoxicated, described the assault as frightening and said it had severely impacted her social life and mental well‑being. The court noted her victim impact report and Kupper's lack of prior convictions. The sentence was imposed with no mention of a suspended portion.
At the Central Criminal Court, Symon Tarkowski, a Polish national aged 28 from Tullamore, County Offaly, received a suspended sentence of five years for his role in the false imprisonment of Patryk Krupa at Bogganall, County Rosemmon, on June 20th and 21st, 2014. Mr Krupa, aged 23, subsequently drowned in the Shannon whilst incapacitated from a head injury sustained during a violent assault. Two other men, Leszek Sychulec and Andrzej Gruchacz, were convicted of Mr Krupa's murder and received life sentences in June. Mr Justice Tony Hunt distinguished Tarkowski's involvement from that of the convicted murderers, noting he had not planned the assault and remained in his vehicle during the beating. The judge acknowledged Tarkowski's subsequent cooperation with gardaí and his genuine remorse, whilst criticising his decision to clean his car. The suspended sentence reflected the limited nature of his culpability and the mitigating factors present in his case. Symon Tarkowski pleaded guilty.
A 29‑year‑old woman, Marta Herda of Arklow, will stand trial for the 2013 murder of Hungarian Csaba Orsas in Wicklow. She was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court, where she pleaded not guilty. The case will be heard by a jury of seven women and five men, with the trial expected to last seven or eight days. The prosecution requested a Hungarian interpreter for one witness, while the defense was assisted by a Polish interpreter during the arraignment.
At the Central Criminal Court, Dariusz Weckowicz has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Bogdan Michalkiewicz on 13 May 2013 at Westside Apartments in Letterkenny, County Donegal. His co-accused, Krzystof Grzegorski, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State rejected. During garda interviews on 17 June 2013, Mr Weckowicz told officers he was drinking heavily and could recall only "flashbacks" of the day in question. When presented with CCTV evidence placing him in the area with Mr Grzegorski, he stated he was surprised by his presence there and could not explain it. Gardai noted blood found on his clothing and told him he must have been present when the deceased was killed. Mr Weckowicz maintained he would have intervened had he witnessed violence against his friend and denied knowledge of events. The trial continues before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
Two men stand accused of murdering Bogdan Michalkiewicz on May 13, 2013, at Westside Apartments in Letterkenny, County Donegal. The Central Criminal Court heard that Dariusz Weckowicz, aged 51, told gardaí following his arrest in June 2013 that he was "more than 100 per cent sure" he did not kill the deceased. Weckowicz has pleaded not guilty to murder. His co-accused, Krzystof Grzegorski, aged 22, also from Letterkenny, initially pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder; the State rejected this plea. Grzegorski was initially arrested the day of the alleged killing for an unrelated shoplifting matter at a local store. Gardaí noted what appeared to be dried blood on his clothing upon arrival at the station. The trial before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury continues before the Central Criminal Court.
At the Central Criminal Court, a former Detective Sergeant gave evidence regarding statements made by a man accused of murder. Michael Carroll told the court that he arrested Dariusz Weckowicz, aged 51, in Letterkenny, County Donegal on 16 June 2013. Following caution, Mr Weckowicz stated he did not kill the alleged victim and expressed certainty of his innocence. Mr Weckowicz and co-accused Dariusz Grzegorski, aged 22, both of Letterkenny, face murder charges relating to the death of Bogdan Michalkiewicz on 13 May 2013 at Westside Apartments in Letterkenny. Mr Grzegorski has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter; the State declined to accept this plea. Mr Weckowicz has pleaded not guilty to murder. The trial, before a jury of twelve, continues.
A 25‑year‑old woman, Laura Dempsey, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender in the 2014 killing of 33‑year‑old Kieran Farrelly near Portland Row, Dublin. She was charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of the suspect and with assisting in concealing a shotgun used in the murder at Killarney Court. The murder charge was dismissed after she applied under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999. Dempsey was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court, pleaded guilty, and was remanded in custody for sentencing on 11 July. The court directed a psychiatric report.
A consultant pathologist with 28 years' experience told the Central Criminal Court that she had never encountered injuries of the type found on a man discovered dead at his Letterkenny home in May 2013. Dr Alison Armour gave evidence at the trial of Krzystof Grzegorski, aged 22, and Dariusz Weckowicz, aged 51, both of Letterkenny, charged with the murder of Bogdan Michalkiewicz. Mr Grzegorski has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the State. Mr Weckowicz has pleaded not guilty. Dr Armour identified at least 46 injuries to the head and face, including stab wounds and injuries consistent with blunt force trauma. She documented multiple stab wounds to the stomach, two penetrating the liver, fractured ribs, and severe fractures to the skull and facial bones. The deceased bore a severed throat and nine stab wounds to the back of the tongue, which she described as extraordinarily unusual. She concluded that three separate injuries would have been sufficient to cause death, with the overall assault being sustained and violent.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 22 June 2016, 50‑year‑old Denis Leahy pleaded guilty to attempting to murder Rose Kenny, 51, after a vicious knife attack on 23 September 2014 at School Street Flats, Dublin 8. Leahy, who had been in a relationship with Kenny 15 years earlier, admitted to stabbing her a large number of times, including three times to the neck, chest, abdomen and shoulder. Kenny was taken to St James's Hospital and survived. Leahy had previously admitted the assault to Gardaí at Kevin Street Garda Station and was arrested at Mountjoy Garda Station. The court heard that Leahy had no contact with Kenny for seven years until after her father's death, and that the only motive identified was a claim that Kenny had called the police on him. Leahy was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 14 July 2016. The case was closed after the guilty plea, with no further trial proceedings. Denis Leahy pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court trial in Laois, a 38‑year‑old man was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for killing his 26‑year‑old housemate, Deivydas Zigelis, after a dispute over ribs. The case began when Zigelis, who had gone to buy cider and ribs, returned home without the ribs. The accused, Alexander Karpovs, claimed he was offended and stabbed Zigelis with a kitchen knife. CCTV showed Zigelis making several trips to an off‑licence and a butcher's shop that day. The jury, after nearly six hours of deliberation over two days, returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. Mr Justice Paul Butler remanded Zigelis in custody until a sentencing date is set.
The 42‑year‑old accused of rape, assault and threats against his wife told Gardaí that "black magic" had been used on their relationship. He claimed he had been cursed in his native country by someone who wanted the marriage to end so he could marry that person's daughter. He pleaded not guilty to rape, assault causing harm and five counts of threatening to kill or cause serious harm between 24 May and 1 August 2014, and had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife with a hammer in August 2014. During Garda interviews he denied raping or threatening his wife, said he had shoved her once but denied head‑butting or telling her he would kill her, and admitted attacking her with a hammer outside her parents' home on a later date.
At the Central Criminal Court, a forensic expert testified that blood found on clothing and a shoe belonging to Dariusz Weckowicz matched that of Bogdan Michalkiewicz, who died on 13 May 2013 at his home in Westside, Letterkenny, County Donegal. Dr Alan McGee of Forensic Science Ireland examined items Weckowicz surrendered to gardaí four days after the alleged killing. Blood patterns on the jacket indicated Weckowicz was within two metres of the deceased while actively bleeding. Three knives recovered at the scene also bore the victim's blood. Defence counsel questioned whether the evidence established Weckowicz's involvement in inflicting injuries, with Dr McGee stating he could not rule anything in or out. A second forensic witness found bloody footprints on items at the scene that did not match Weckowicz's shoes. Weckowicz, aged 51, and Krzystof Grzegorski, aged 22, both of Letterkenny, stand charged with murder. Grzegorski pleaded guilty to manslaughter, though the State rejected this plea. Weckowicz pleaded not guilty. The trial before Justice Patrick McCarthy continues.
The jury has resumed deliberations in the Central Criminal Court trial of Alexander Karpovs, a 26‑year‑old Latvian, charged with murdering his housemate Deivydas Zigelis, a 38‑year‑old Lithuanian. The case alleges that Karpovs, who had told Zigelis to buy ribs from the butcher, stabbed him with a kitchen knife after Zigelis returned home without the requested food. Karpovs is also charged with manslaughter. The jury, composed of six men and six women, had previously deliberated for almost four hours before a break and is now continuing its discussion this afternoon. The trial is ongoing. The unnamed 26-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Denis Leahy, a 50-year-old man from Queen Street, Dublin 7, has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court. He is accused of attempting to murder Rose Kenny, 51, at School Street Flats in Dublin 8 on September 23, 2014. Mr. Leahy pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempted murder. However, he pleaded guilty to the separate allegation of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Ms. Kenny at the same address on the same date. A jury of nine men and three women was sworn in for the proceedings. Mr. Justice Patrick McCarthy addressed the jury, stating that the trial is expected to last four days. He instructed them to decide the case based solely on the evidence heard in court. The trial is scheduled to begin in evidence before Mr. Justice Paul Butler. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with the not guilty plea to the primary charge remaining contested.
In a Laois Central Criminal Court trial, a jury has begun deliberating on the murder of 26‑year‑old Alexander Karpovs, who died of a single stab wound to the heart after a dispute over ribs. The accused, 38‑year‑old Deivydas Zigelis, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Both men worked as bin collectors and spent weekends drinking at home. The jury heard that Zigelis, after Karpovs returned from the butcher without ribs, became offended, took a kitchen knife, and stabbed him. CCTV showed Zigelis entering a butcher's shop that afternoon and leaving empty‑handed. The prosecution argued that intoxication was not a defence and that intent to kill or seriously harm existed. The jury deliberated for almost two hours before being sent home for the night, to resume on Tuesday morning.
At the Central Criminal Court, a detective from the Garda Technical Bureau described evidence gathered at an apartment in Westside, Letterkenny, following the death of a 41-year-old man in May 2013. Detective Garda Shane Curran outlined findings from the scene, including blood spatter patterns on the ceiling, extensive staining in living areas, and a body bearing injuries to the chest, neck, head and face. He detailed items recovered as evidence, among them a table leg with blood and hair, pillows bearing bloody footprints, and three knives, two of which appeared bloodstained. Two men are before the court on charges arising from the incident. Krzystof Grzegorski, aged 22, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter; the State did not accept this plea. Dariusz Weckowicz, aged 51, pleaded not guilty to murder. The trial, heard before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury, continues.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a woman accused a Dublin garda of failing to investigate her complaints about alleged rape, assault and threats by her husband. She said the husband raped her in May 2014, threatened to cut her face with a knife, and on 8–9 June 2014 threatened her, harassed her and crashed into her car, prompting a complaint to gardaí. She expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of her complaint, noting that a different station took over the investigation in August 2014 after the husband assaulted her with a hammer. She claimed the garda had not followed up or taken the complaint seriously. The husband pleaded not guilty to rape, assault causing harm and five counts of threats to kill or cause serious harm, but had pleaded guilty to assault with a hammer. The trial continues before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy and a jury.
A man in his fifties appeared before the Central Criminal Court in relation to serious sexual offences committed against his daughter over a decade-long period at the family farm in County Sligo. The defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted rape and ten counts of sexual assault committed between 2003 and 2012. The prosecution indicated these charges were representative of thirty-seven total offences. The victim, now aged twenty, disclosed the abuse to her school chaplain at seventeen years old. During proceedings, she provided a victim impact statement describing the systematic nature of the abuse and its profound psychological effects. A psychiatric assessment concluded the defendant presented as a paedophile. Mr Justice Tony Hunt remanded the man in custody pending sentencing on 11 July, stating he required time to consider the case carefully given the gravity of the offences and concerns regarding rehabilitation and public safety.
Ciprian Grozavu, a 42‑year‑old Romanian, was convicted of murdering Jonathan Duke in Bandon on 12 November 2011 and received a mandatory life sentence from Mr Justice Paul Carney on 17 July 2013. He has now filed an appeal in the Court of Appeal. His barrister, Thomas Creed SC, argued that the trial judge failed to give the jury a clear option to return a manslaughter verdict, potentially prejudicing another case, and that the judge incorrectly addressed the jury on common design and did not discharge them at the end of the prosecution's case. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel, Timothy O'Leary SC, maintained that the trial was never a murder/manslaughter trial and that the defence had always claimed Grozavu did not commit the murder. The three‑judge panel, consisting of Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Edwards, has reserved judgment on the appeal. Ciprian Grozavu pleaded not guilty.
In a decision at Killarney Court, Judge Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy dismissed the murder charge against 25‑year‑old Laura Dempsey, who had been accused of killing 33‑year‑old Kieran Farrelly in October 2014. Dempsey, who has no fixed address, had been slated for trial at the Central Criminal Court in June 2017. She applied to have the charge withdrawn under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999, and the judge found the case insufficient for trial, ruling that the charge be dismissed.
In a June 3 hearing at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy ordered Johanna Kelly, 43, back to prison for one year to serve part of a suspended sentence. Kelly had earlier pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her 60‑year‑old grandfather, Patrick O'Brien, in December 2013, and received a six‑year sentence with two years suspended on the condition of abstaining from alcohol and engaging with probation services. The judge was informed that Kelly had failed to meet those conditions, including a failed attempt to attend a rehab clinic where she was removed after becoming violent. She also had a one‑week sentence for theft. Kelly pleaded for another chance, but the judge imposed a 12‑month custodial term, reducing the suspended portion from two to one year, and backdated it from May 28. The decision was presented as a final opportunity for rehabilitation.
David Shanley of Courtown Harbour, Gorey, Co. Wexford, pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the Christmas Eve killing of 42‑year‑old John Lawlor on 24 or 25 December 2014 at Ballinatray Lower, Courtown Harbour. He had previously pleaded not guilty to murder. The prosecution's counsel, John O'Kelly SC, accepted the guilty plea. Shanley's counsel, Patrick Gageby SC, noted a complex inter‑family relationship in the case. Justice Patrick McCarthy allowed Shanley to remain on continuing bail until a further hearing on 22 July, when a probation report will be produced. No objection to bail was raised.
In a rape trial, a woman alleged her husband raped her in their home while their son slept downstairs. She had obtained a barring order from the District Court but was told by the judge that she must facilitate access for her husband to their child. She said she arranged meetings in public places for safety. She did not use the word "rape" when applying for the order, finding it difficult. The accused, 42, pleaded not guilty to rape, assault causing harm and five counts of threats to kill or cause serious harm between May 24 and August 1, 2014, and had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife with a hammer in August 2014. The trial, before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy and a jury of eleven men and one woman, heard the woman's statements about her fear, attempts to leave, and the judge's instructions to maintain contact for their son's access. The case remains ongoing.
In a Court of Appeal hearing, Andrew Smith (24) contested the claim that he had locked his girlfriend, Chloe Cherry, in a dog cage during an assault. Smith, who pleaded guilty to assaulting Cherry on 27 October 2013, was sentenced in June 2015 to two and a half years in prison, with the final six months suspended. His lawyer, Patrick McCullough BL, argued that the cage allegation was a disputed fact denied by Smith and that the judge treated it as an aggravating factor without investigating it. He also claimed the trial judge failed to consider rehabilitation, Smith's lack of prior convictions, early guilty plea, remorse, and compensation offered. The State's lawyer, Orla Crowe BL, maintained the cage claim was part of the evidence and that it was the defence's responsibility to challenge it. The judge reserved judgment until 5 July.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Deivydas Zigelis, aged 38, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter after stabbing 26‑year‑old Alexander Karpov, a Latvian, with a kitchen knife on 15 February 2014. Zigelis claimed he and Karpov had spent the day drinking with a friend in Laois, then returned to Portarlington where he stabbed Karpov after an argument. He said he had called Gardaí 30 minutes later. Zigelis described a history of drinking together, arguing rarely, and that Karpov had annoyed him while intoxicated. He asserted that if Karpov had brought food home with the cider, he would still be alive. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, continues on Monday.
A witness at the Central Criminal Court told the jury that a man accused of murder knelt down and swore on his knees that he had not been involved in the killing. Adam Kycwaik said he encountered the accused, Dariusz Weckowicz, a few days after his friend Bogdan Michalkiewicz was discovered beaten to death at his home in Westside Apartments, Letterkenny, County Donegal on May 13, 2013. Mr Weckowicz, aged 51, and Krzystof Grzegorski, aged 22, both formerly of Letterkenny, face murder charges. Mr Grzegorski has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State did not accept. Mr Weckowicz has pleaded not guilty to murder. The witness testified that Mr Weckowicz told him he had been present at the scene but was intoxicated and did not participate in the assault. The trial continues before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
An ex‑soldier aged 42, whose lawyers argued that indecent proposals or behaviour did not amount to sexual assault, had his appeal against a court‑martial dismissed by the Court of Appeal. He had been convicted on a charge of sexual assault and four charges of conduct contrary to good order and discipline at Aiken Barracks, Dundalk, on 30 October 2013. The Defence Force board imposed penalties ranging from fines to detention and discharge. In the appeal, the barrister contended that indecent proposals or behaviour do not constitute a sexual assault. Justice Alan Mahon rejected this, describing the victim's account of the soldier's repeated unwanted advances, including entering a female changing area and shower cubicle while undressed, exposing himself, and the victim's feelings of fear, discomfort and violation. The Court of Appeal found the evidence sufficient to uphold the original conviction and dismissed the appeal. The former soldier remains on continuing bail pending his sentence hearing.
Noel Clarke, 33, was caught trespassing at the Honourable Society of King's Inns in Dublin on 16 June 2014. He admitted to entering the building after seeing an unsecured door, claiming he only wanted to look around and had no intention of stealing. Garda Louise Pepper reported that Clarke was caught red‑handed, wearing a hoodie and white gloves, and that he had been using a large amount of tablets at the time. He had ten previous convictions, five for burglary, but was not considered a violent offender. Clarke pleaded guilty to trespass with intent to commit theft. Judge Melanie Greally noted his efforts to address his difficulties and his genuine commitment to reform. She imposed an 18‑month sentence, suspended in full for two years, and accepted his probation report outlining progress in dealing with his problems.
During the murder trial of Deivydas Zigelis, a 38‑year‑old Lithuanian accused of killing 26‑year‑old Alexander Karpov, witness Rimas Sodaitis confirmed that he did not mention seeing Zigelis grab a knife until his sixth interview with the Gardaí. Sodaitis, who had been questioned five times before, stated that he had not seen a blow or a knife in the first interview, thought the victim had been punched in the second, and only noted shouting in the fifth. He agreed with defence counsel that he had no recollection of the entire day, describing it as "a mist of alcohol." The court also heard that two knives were found in the garden and three in the house, but no fingerprints were recovered. The trial was set to continue the following day before Mr Justice Paul Butler. The unnamed 49-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Samuel Hutch, 40, a cousin of the murdered Gary Hutch, was found to face special security arrangements in prison that would isolate him from visitors, other inmates and prison facilities. The court heard that these measures were imposed because of an "environment of fear and tension" and that Hutch would be "extremely lonely." Breffni Gordon BL argued that Hutch was a different character from the Hutch family's criminal brand, citing his 89 prior convictions, including 39 burglaries, possession of a stolen bicycle, and a burglary in Cabra. Hutch pleaded guilty to trespass, possession of a stolen bicycle, damaging a car door, and a burglary. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to July 21 to allow a victim impact report and urinalysis. Gordon noted that Hutch had been in drug rehabilitation before the 2015 family tragedies, including his cousin's murder, caused a relapse.