In March 2016 the Court of Appeal quashed the convictions of Eleanor Joel, aged 41, and her partner Jonathan Costen, aged 43, for the unlawful killing of Joel's mother, Evelyn, aged 59, by neglect. The original 2013 conviction had followed a retrial in which a jury found the couple guilty of manslaughter and imposed a two‑year suspended sentence with a requirement of 230 hours of community service. The appeal was based on procedural errors, including the replacement of a juror without the presence of Joel's legal advisers, and on substantive grounds such as the failure of the Health Service Executive to provide adequate care in the final months of Evelyn's life. The Court held that the trial was unsatisfactory and that the convictions were quashed. The Director of Public Prosecutions confirmed that no retrial would be sought, leaving the case closed without further criminal proceedings. Jonathan Costen pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 16 March 2016, a 28‑year‑old man, Kenneth Cummins, sought to withdraw his guilty plea for the murder of Thomas Horan, claiming he was suffering from panic attacks at the time. The court heard that Cummins had changed his plea to guilty during the trial, despite his barrister, Pauline Walley SC, arguing that the plea should have been taken later. Dr Paul O'Connell testified that Cummins had no recollection of the plea change the next morning and that panic attacks began on the first day of the trial. Dr Remy Farrell SC cross‑examined O'Connell, suggesting the panic‑attack claim was likely a lie and that Cummins lacked the sophistication to fabricate such a ruse. Both parties were to submit further arguments after Easter.
A Dublin man, Gary Flynn, aged 31, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2009 murder of Seamus Shay O'Byrne in Tallaght. The trial lasted nine weeks, with the jury taking one hour and forty minutes to convict. Flynn pleaded not guilty. The judge, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, backdated the sentence to October 2013, the date of Flynn's arrest under a European Arrest Warrant. Flynn was not identified as the gunman; the shooter was identified as Garrett O'Brien, convicted in 2012. Evidence against Flynn included CCTV footage of him traveling with Eugene Cullen, a "Topaz Phone" linking him to the gang, and gunshot residue on a hoodie. The court heard a victim impact statement from O'Byrne's family and girlfriend, Sharon Rattigan, who was also shot during the incident. Flynn was taken to prison to begin his mandatory life term.
James Butler, a 38‑year‑old former nurse from Springfield, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to his partner on 14 December 2014. He put his hands on her neck, choked her and struck her head against a wardrobe. The victim, who has a young son with Butler, collapsed and later received medical treatment, including four stitches to her cheek. Butler was not jailed because he had no prior convictions, had taken responsibility, and ensured the victim received medical care. Judge Catherine Murphy ordered Butler to complete 150 hours of community service within two years and to pay €1,155 in medical costs by April. The case highlighted the couple's volatile relationship, with no prior protection orders and Butler's continued contact with the child after the assault.
In a 2016 case, Dean Fagan, aged 26, was sentenced to six years for aggravated burglary after he and an accomplice tied up a woman, ransacked her home, and stole €1,500. Fagan, armed with garden shears, told the other man not to kill the victim while the accomplice struck her with a hammer. They searched the house, tore open furniture, and collected jewellery, laptops, and phones, demanding more cash. The woman escaped through a back door, locking the intruders inside, who fled via a window on pedal bikes. Fagan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Melanie Greally noted his 79 prior convictions and the violent nature of the crime. The judge accepted his admissions, suspended the final year of the sentence on strict conditions, and highlighted the victim's fear and the thorough investigation that led to his arrest.
Niall McGlynn, a 30‑year‑old Trinity Law School graduate, was sentenced to two years in prison with the final six months suspended. He pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and one count of assault causing harm for attacking a bouncer at the Czech Inn in Temple Bar after being denied entry, and for punching Garda Brian Cleary in the mouth at North King Street. He also pleaded guilty to robbery at Paddy Power in Swords. The judge credited him for three months already spent in custody and suspended the last six months of the sentence. McGlynn was described as very drunk during the nightclub incident, and the court noted his serious gambling addiction. He had not practised law after graduating from Trinity College. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Niall Cully, 27, was caught by Gardaí while attempting to throw an orange plastic football, containing four mobile phones, into Dublin's Cloverhill prison. The officers, on patrol, observed him standing within the prison's railings and stopped him. Cully admitted the attempt and explained that he was under pressure to deliver the phones, citing his brother's pending murder trial inside the facility. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the offence of attempting to bring mobile phones into a prison on 2 June 2014. The judge, Martin Nolan, found Cully's actions foolish and ineffective, noting that the prisoners would not have received the phones. Consequently, Cully was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment, a warning that crime is a risky business. He had previously served a suspended portion of a five‑year sentence for possession of firearms in suspicious circumstances.
Two men, Anthony Callaghan (45) and Paul Zambra (39), were arrested in Coolock after a three‑day surveillance operation by specialist gardaí. They were found with a Ruger revolver and a semi‑automatic pistol, both loaded and ready for use, and a full petrol can. Callaghan, from Millrace Road, Phoenix Park Racecourse, and Zambra, from Inagh Road, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of firearms with intent to endanger life. Judge Melanie Greally described the evidence as overwhelming and noted the men's histories of violent crime. Callaghan was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment and Zambra to 10 years. The sentences reflect the court's view that the weapons posed a considerable danger to life. The operation was carried out by the Drugs and Organised Crime Unit over several days, with vehicles seized and CCTV used to identify the suspects. The men were removed from society for the duration of their sentences.
Zoltan Almasi, a 44‑year‑old Hungarian national, was sentenced to life imprisonment on 16 March 2016 for the murder of 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne, who was struck with a baseball bat at their shared Harbour View address in Naas on 16 May 2014. Almasi pleaded not guilty, but a jury of twelve found him guilty after four days of deliberation. He had been in custody since the offence and had three prior traffic convictions. The court heard CCTV footage of Almasi raising a bat and fleeing the scene, and forensic evidence of a single fatal blow to Dunne's head. Almasi's wife and step‑son had previously lived in Naas but had moved to Canada; his three children live in Hungary. The sentence was back‑dated to his arrest date. The Dunne family delivered victim impact statements describing Joseph as a kind, gentle, family‑loving young man who loved horses and was a devoted son, brother and friend.
A jury in the Central Criminal Court will start deliberations on the trial of Gary Flynn, 31, who is accused of being part of the murder gang that killed Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne at Tymon Park North in Tallaght on 13 March 2009. Flynn has pleaded not guilty. The trial began almost nine weeks ago, with more than 100 witnesses giving evidence, and Justice Patrick McCarthy will finish his charge on Wednesday, after which the jury will consider their verdict.
Robert Grendon, aged 25, received a two‑year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting a 15‑year‑old boy on 3 May 2009. Grendon, who was 18 at the time of the attack, pleaded guilty and paid €5,000 in compensation, with an additional €1,500 to be paid within a year. The victim, who was not present at the hearing, requested a face‑to‑face apology, which Grendon agreed to give. The court noted the assault was captured on CCTV and that the boy suffered extensive dental injuries costing over €8,100, requiring ongoing treatment. Grendon's prior record of 22 convictions and his age were considered in sentencing, and the judge acknowledged his efforts at rehabilitation. The suspended sentence means no immediate custodial time, but the court will monitor compliance with the conditions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Sean Kenny, aged 24, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for the assault that left Raphael Momoh, 21, legally blind in one eye. Kenny struck Momoh on the eye with a broken glass bottle on Parkgate Street on 29 January 2013, cutting the cornea and causing scarring that required a corneal transplant. The judge, Patricia Ryan, noted the attack was unprovoked and opportunistic, and that Momoh already had a disability. Kenny's sentence includes a two‑year suspended portion, with the remaining seven years to be served. Kenny, who has 49 prior convictions and is already serving a sentence for drug dealing and violent disorder, pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm. The court considered mitigating factors such as Kenny's cooperation with Gardaí and his supportive family, particularly his mother who attended the proceedings. The sentencing range for the offence was between seven‑half and twelve‑half years.
In Wheatfield Prison, Limerick man Niall Carey, aged 28, was found guilty of violent disorder and assault causing harm to fellow prisoner Noel Murray on 21 January 2013. Carey, who led a group that attacked Murray after a dispute over missing personal items, received a custodial sentence of three years, with the final year suspended. His co‑accused, Daniel Martin, 30, was sentenced to one year suspended for his role. A third participant, Stephen Seery, 34, had earlier been sentenced to six months for the same incident. Carey, who has 40 prior convictions and is due for release in May, pleaded guilty and was described by the judge as the ringleader who marshalled the attackers. The court noted his loss of 56 days' privileges and his remorse, but imposed the custodial term accordingly. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 33‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment for raping his younger sister with a screwdriver and other sexual offences between 2000 and 2005. He pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court but was convicted by a jury on 48 counts, including rape, oral rape, rape with a screwdriver, rape with a vibrator and sexual assault at two Dublin locations. The victim, who was 10 when the abuse began, gave a moving impact statement describing a life filled with fear and terror, anxiety, depression and ill health. She said her family had changed forever and that her parents were "shadows" of themselves. The judge, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, imposed the 11‑year term after the case had been adjourned last week to consider the evidence. The defendant had no prior convictions and had worked hard all his life, a point raised by his defence counsel.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 14 March 2016, Justice Patrick McCarthy addressed a jury of eight men and three women regarding the trial of Gary Flynn, aged 31, who is accused of being part of a "murder gang" that shot Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne to death in Tallaght on 13 March 2009. Flynn has pleaded not guilty. The judge explained that the prosecution's case is built on circumstantial evidence, which, while insufficient alone, can establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt when combined. He emphasized that the standard of proof remains the same and that the prosecution must eliminate any rational hypothesis that contradicts its narrative. McCarthy clarified that the case does not allege Flynn fired the fatal shot, but that he could still be guilty as part of the common design, citing an example of a burglary gang where the getaway driver is as culpable as the breaker.
In 2013, Michael Murray, aged 44, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Central Criminal Court for a series of offences committed on 12 and 13 February 2010. The charges included rape, attempted rape, oral rape, aggravated sexual assault, child abduction, threats to kill or cause serious harm, false imprisonment and theft. The jury heard that Murray lured his victim into an apartment by claiming an elderly woman was dying, tied her up, assaulted her, and then abducted her son, abandoning him in a city centre square late at night. He later returned to the flat, drugged and raped the victim. Murray denied all charges but was found guilty on all counts by a unanimous jury. In March 2016, the DPP announced it would argue in July that the 15‑year sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal scheduled the DPP's appeal for 7 July, while Murray is also due to appeal his conviction.
An elderly man, aged 75, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexually assaulting his intellectually disabled adult daughter, who was 34 at the time of the offence in 1999. The court heard that the man had called to her flat while drunk and, according to the victim, forced himself upon her, causing her physical and emotional trauma. He has a prior conviction for forgery in 1989. Defence counsel argued the incident was a single alcohol‑induced act and that the man was remorseful. Judge Melanie Greally granted the defendant time to arrange medication before sentencing, then imposed a three‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended, to be finalised on Friday. The victim's impact statement described her fear, shame and ongoing psychological distress following the assault.
A man from Buncrana, County Donegal, has had his sentence for assault and false imprisonment declared unduly lenient by the Court of Appeal. Brian McLaughlin, aged 23, pleaded guilty to assaulting and falsely imprisoning his partner at their family home on 20 October 2013. He was sentenced to three years imprisonment with the final two and a half years suspended by Letterkenny Circuit Criminal Court in July 2015, resulting in an effective six-month custodial term. The Director of Public Prosecutions successfully sought a sentence review. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, delivering judgement, outlined the severity of the offences, including that McLaughlin had locked his partner inside their home, struck her repeatedly, and strangled her. While gardaí were outside the property, he armed himself with a kitchen knife and was sharpening knives. The court found the original sentence departed substantially from what was appropriate given the circumstances. A fresh sentencing hearing will be scheduled.
Faisal Ellahi, 34, from Haripur, Pakistan, was sentenced by Judge Tony Hunt to 13 years' imprisonment for raping a young woman with Down syndrome on 12 June 2013 at his Dublin home. The jury convicted him of rape and sexual assault; the judge declined to suspend any part of the sentence, noting the offence severely undermined the victim's independence. Ellahi had previously pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and having sex with a mentally impaired person. He admitted propositioning women and claiming consensual contact, but denied penetrative sex with the victim, stating he was unaware of her condition. The court heard that the victim was locked inside a house, feared for her life, and that Ellahi had used his DNA to match the crime scene. The judge back‑dated the term to the date of his arrest. The case highlighted the victim's severe mental impairment and the impact of the assault on her life.
In March 2011, Colm Deely of Ballyvaughan was convicted of murdering 43‑year‑old Deirdre McCarthy. The Central Criminal Court found him guilty of killing her between 11 pm on 27 March and noon the next day. After her body was discovered, Deely stabbed himself in the stomach and was hospitalised. He claimed he had not intended to kill her, saying she had blackmailed him and that she laughed at him. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and is set to appeal the conviction in June 2016.
Shane Rowan, aged 39, from Forest Park, Killygordan, County Donegal, was charged at an out-of-hours sitting of the Special Criminal Court with possession of three assault rifles and associated ammunition discovered at Tuiterath, Balrath, Slane, County Meath on March 9th, 2016. The charges include possession of a Chinese Type 56, a Romanian PM63 and a Zastava M70 rifle, together with nine magazines and 75 rounds of 7.62 by 39mm calibre ammunition. Mr Rowan was additionally charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce of the Special Detective Unit said Mr Rowan was arrested in Drogheda under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act and made no reply when cautioned or shown the charge sheet. Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding with Judge Martin Nolan and Judge William Hamill, remanded Mr Rowan in custody pending mention on March 16th.
A Dublin man, Donal O'Hara, aged 22, is serving a 12‑year sentence for an aggravated burglary in Tipperary. In November 2012 he also punched his heavily pregnant ex‑girlfriend, Réiltín Cassidy, who was 32 weeks pregnant, in the face after she had been knocked to the ground. O'Hara pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms Cassidy at Ferrycarrig Drive, Coolock. He has twenty previous convictions. His counsel argued that steroid use for bodybuilding at the time may have contributed to his aggression, a point accepted by Judge Melanie Greally. The court found no evidence of alcohol abuse. O'Hara's sentence for the assault was a two‑and‑a‑half‑year term to run concurrently with his existing 12‑year sentence, meaning he will not serve additional time in prison for the assault. Ms Cassidy did not give a victim impact statement and has reportedly reconciled with O'Hara.
A 54-year-old man from Convoy, County Donegal, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court following his conviction on six counts of sexual assault. Fergus Carson, of The Green, Main Street, was found guilty by jury of assaulting a 14-year-old girl he had known throughout her life at a relative's house between May and September 2012. Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted that Carson had abused his access to the premises and exploited his knowledge of when the girl's family would be absent. The judge imposed the five-year sentence with the final fifteen months suspended for two years, and ordered twelve months post-release supervision. Carson, who has no previous convictions, does not accept the verdict. The defence submitted concerns regarding victim impact evidence, which the judge addressed in his remarks before sentencing, acknowledging the serious effects of the offending on the young complainant during a critical developmental period.
Dylan Murphy, aged 20, was sentenced to a partially suspended three‑year term for assaulting Jonathan Cooley with a pint glass on 24 May 2015 at Dame Court, Dublin. Murphy admitted he had "snapped" and overreacted "out of pure rage" after seeing an altercation involving his sister. He also pleaded guilty to possessing a stolen iPod found at the same location. The court noted Murphy's 24 previous convictions, including four assaults, and the victim's permanent facial scars. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the last 18 months of the sentence and ordered post‑release supervision. Murphy was described by Garda Elaine Murtagh as a "feral youth" with a difficult upbringing and periods of homelessness. The victim, who had forgiven Murphy, expressed hope he would not assault anyone else in the future.
Zoltan Almasi, 44, a Hungarian national living in Harbour View, Naas, was found guilty of murdering 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne with a baseball bat on 16 May 2014. The Central Criminal Court jury deliberated for 11 hours 13 minutes before returning a majority guilty verdict. Almasi had pleaded not guilty. The prosecution presented CCTV footage showing Almasi raising a bat and running away, finger‑print evidence from a white Mercedes van, and eyewitness testimony from Mikey McDonagh, Gavin Breen and nurse Anita Ryan. The post‑mortem confirmed Dunne died from a single blunt‑force blow to the head, consistent with a baseball‑bat strike. Almasi was remanded in custody for sentencing on 16 March 2024. The judge thanked the jury and exempted them from service for 15 years. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Joseph Magee, a former INLA member, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing 55 pairs of stolen "Maui Jim" sunglasses found at his Clongriffin home on April 2, 2015. Magee pleaded guilty to the charge, which he admitted, claiming he found the items in a park and intended to give them away or sell them for a small amount. Gardaí alleged he was holding the goods for a third party, though he was not charged with the underlying theft. The court heard that Magee was convicted of murder in 2004 for the 1992 killing of Sergeant Michael Newman in Derby, England, and was released under the Good Friday Agreement after serving two years. Defence counsel Dean Kelly argued that Magee's previous convictions, including earlier firearm offences, should be viewed in the context of the peace process, requesting a non-custodial disposal to allow him to retain his social housing. Judge Melanie Greally acknowledged that Magee's convictions "speak for themselves" but noted they were committed in a specific context. She determined that imprisonment would cause him to lose his home, hindering his reform efforts. Consequently, the judge imposed a two-year suspended sentence, accepting that Magee was not the final beneficiary of the stolen property.
The jury in the murder trial of Hungarian national Zoltan Almasi, aged 44, continues its deliberations. Almasi, who lives at Harbour View, Naas, Co. Kildare, is charged with the murder of 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne at the same address on 16 May 2014. He pleaded not guilty two weeks ago at the Central Criminal Court. The jury retired to deliberate on Monday at 12.44 am and has spent 9 hours 19 minutes so far. After 4 hours 48 minutes of deliberation yesterday, Justice Margaret Heneghan offered the option of a majority verdict. Today, after 8 hours 56 minutes, the foreman asked for a definition of a "terminal collapse." Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that a deep abrasion on Dunne's right knee was typical of a person collapsing onto a rough surface. At 4 pm the foreman reported that at least ten jurors had not agreed on a verdict and requested more time.
A book of evidence has been served on Eamon McNamee, a 34-year-old man from Larkfield Square, Lucan, County Dublin, who is charged with possession of a firearm with the intent to commit an indictable offence, namely assault causing harm. The alleged incident occurred at Fairgreen, Saggart, Co Dublin, on January 19th, 2013. State Solicitor Liam Mulholland informed the non-jury court that the prosecution was in a position to serve the book of evidence on the accused. Presiding Judge Mr Justice Paul Butler remanded Mr McNamee on continuing bail until April 24th, when the case will be listed for mention. The matter remains at the trial stage, with the charges alleged or contested, and no plea, finding, sentence, or finalisation has been recorded. The court did not conclude the case but adjourned it for a future mention date.
In a 2016 Limerick rape trial, the complainant testified that she had been celibate for 18 years and had no interest in sex. She described being violently attacked in a pub office on 10 November 2012, held against a wall, bruised, and threatened with violence. She said the accused, who had been drunk after a match, later apologized to her and her daughter. The complainant reported the incident to Gardaí two days later but did not file a formal complaint. She returned in December, stating the accused had locked the door and raped her. She denied any flirtation with the accused, insisted she was older and uninterested in sex, and rejected a defence claim that another man was present. The case proceeded before Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury. The unnamed woman pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the trial of Hungarian national Zoltan Almasi, 44, accused of murdering 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne at their shared address in Harbour View, Naas, Co. Kildare, will continue deliberations. Almasi pleaded not guilty two weeks ago. The jury began deliberations at 12:44 am, spent five hours and 55 minutes, and after four hours and 48 minutes the judge offered the option of a majority verdict. At 4 pm the foreman reported that at least ten jurors had not agreed on a verdict and requested more time. Deliberations will resume at 11 am tomorrow.
In a 2016 case, a 28‑year‑old accused of murdering Thomas Horan, a 63‑year‑old man, sought to withdraw a guilty plea he had entered after suffering panic attacks. The accused, Kenneth Cummins, had initially pleaded not guilty, then changed to guilty four weeks into his trial at the Central Criminal Court. His sister, Sabrina Cummins, received a life sentence a week later. Mr Cummins returned to court with an application to retract his guilty plea, arguing that the plea should have been taken the next morning due to his mental state. His barrister, Pauline Walley SC, highlighted his panic attacks, stress, and lack of medical care, noting that the judge had already informed the jury of the plea change. A forensic psychiatrist testified that Cummins had experienced panic attacks from the first day of trial and had a history of a deprived childhood. The hearing was scheduled to continue the following week.
A 47‑year‑old Waterford man, previously jailed for raping his daughter, was released on bail for kidnapping and assaulting his girlfriend. He later raped his girlfriend and, days later, her 60‑year‑old mother after breaking into the mother's house and threatening her with a knife. The mother was saved when her daughter heard the assault in a voicemail left by the attacker. The man pleaded guilty to rape of both women, false imprisonment, attempted rape, aggravated burglary, threats to kill and aggravated sexual assault. He was sentenced to three and a half years for the kidnapping and faces a strong possibility of life imprisonment for the latest attacks. His defence counsel requested a determinate sentence so he could work toward a target date, but the judge adjourned finalisation until May 3. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
In May, a 37‑year‑old Meath man will be sentenced for sexual assault and anal rape of a girl aged 12‑14 who stayed at his family home between 1999 and 2001. He was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury in January. The victim, who cannot be named, said the man took away her innocence and normal childhood. She had not spoken to anyone until becoming a mother, when she decided to protect her child and others. The court adjourned sentencing to allow a probation report and will hear a plea in mitigation on the next date. The man, with no prior convictions, denied the allegations. The victim's mother had alcohol problems and sometimes stayed at the house. The assaults began with the man touching the girl's leg, rubbing her vagina, and later forcing her to masturbate him. A few months later he inserted his penis into her anus, causing pain and the only time she cried.
The jury in the trial of Hungarian national Zoltan Almasi, 44, accused of murdering 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne in Naas, Co. Kildare, will resume deliberations tomorrow at 11 am. Almasi, who pleaded not guilty, was charged with the murder that occurred on 16 May 2014 at the same address. The jury had been deliberating for two hours and eight minutes before retiring at 12:44 am this morning.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court adjourned proceedings involving TD Paul Murphy and 18 others, including Keith Preston and Antoinette Kane, who face charges of false imprisonment and violent disorder. The allegations stem from a November 2014 water charges protest in Jobstown, where it is alleged that Tánaiste Joan Burton and Karen O'Connell were falsely imprisoned. Prosecuting counsel Tony McGillicuddy BL indicated the State intends to sever the indictment into up to four separate trials. He requested an adjournment until April 4 to allow time for the State to set out its reasons for severance in writing by March 18. Defence counsel Conor McKenna BL stated that Mr Murphy will contest the case but wishes to review the indictment before a trial date is set. Padraig Dwyer SC, representing Keith Preston, argued for a joint trial and requested the State's terms in writing. The court noted that Antoinette Kane is due a baby imminently and her attendance may be excused if medically unfit. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the matter, with a trial date likely to be set next month.
A hearing has been scheduled for Simeon Cosmo Langford, 32, who is wanted in England for attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, theft and assault, and for allegedly breaching the conditions of his release from a prison sentence for grievous bodily harm. The European Arrest Warrant, issued in August 2015, states that Langford was released on licence on 6 May 2015 and is alleged to have committed the offences between 2 and 11 June 2015. He is believed to have fled to Ireland on 13 June 2015 using a passport under the name Luke Gillespie. Gardaí arrested him in Cork in August 2015 and he was brought before the High Court. In that proceeding, Langford denied the extradition request. In the most recent hearing, counsel Ronan Munro BL sought discovery of documents relating to Langford's prison security status, but the court refused. Justice Aileen Donnelly noted that Langford had only provided a general statement about prison conditions.
Reginald Arnold, 58, of Cork, was convicted of sexual assault, attempted rape and restricting a child's liberty for abusing his step‑daughter between April 2008 and August 2010. A jury found him guilty and he received an 11‑year sentence, with the final two years suspended, imposed by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on 19 June 2014. Arnold appealed his conviction and sentence, but the Court of Appeal dismissed both appeals. Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan and Mr Justice Alan Mahon, upheld the conviction, noting that the trial judge had exercised discretion appropriately and that no corroboration warning was required. He also rejected the sentence appeal, stating that the 11‑year term, with two years suspended, fell within the range of sentences the trial judge could impose. The step‑daughter, who waived anonymity, testified of repeated touching, masturbation, being tied to a bed and attempted rape, beginning when she was 12. Reginald Arnold pleaded not guilty.
Aaron Kelly, a 20‑year‑old Irish amateur boxer from Hill View Estate, Ballinteer, was sentenced to a year in prison for assaulting a drug dealer during a robbery and threatening to shoot the dealer's mother. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to breaching the peace on 6 June 2014 and assault causing harm on 14 July 2014. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year term, suspended the final 18 months, and told Kelly to serve his time and move on. The judge considered the seriousness of the offences and the impact on victims, including Martina Courtney, who said she felt imprisoned and lost her job. She noted that not all harm to Courtney's son, Daragh Dodrell, could be blamed on Kelly, as Mr Dodrell was also involved in drug dealing. Kelly had threatened Courtney with a bullet for her head and a bullet for Mr Dodrell's knee.
Derek McCann, 35, of Walkinstown Park, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing two young boys of their mobile phones at knifepoint on 29 September 2014. He had 31 prior convictions for robbery, burglary, assault and firearm possession. The boys, aged 12 and 14, handed over their phones and €6 each; McCann returned the money before demanding silence. He expressed shame and wrote apology letters. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a four‑year sentence, suspending the final two years under strict conditions. McCann is currently serving the reactivated two‑year term, which will begin anew in April. The case highlighted the boys' fear and the older boy's maturity in calming his younger brother during the robbery.
Stephen Comey, 29, of Pearse House, Pearse Street, will be sentenced next month for hijacking a car and repeatedly punching a heavily pregnant woman in the passenger seat while driving through Dublin. He had 70 prior convictions and was released from prison six weeks before the offence. On 12 May 2014, he pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawful seizure of a car, assault causing harm and possession of a syringe in the north inner city. The court heard he had a "tragic background" but was now anxious to rehabilitate himself. Judge Patricia Ryan noted his efforts to rehabilitate while in custody and his family's support, ordered an updated probation report and said she would finalise sentencing in April.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution argued that Gary Flynn, 31, was linked to the gang that killed Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne on 13 March 2009. They cited CCTV, mobile phone and forensic evidence, including gunshot residue on Flynn's hoodie and a phone credit purchase at a Topaz garage shortly before the shooting. The prosecution claimed Flynn travelled in a Nissan Primera to Tymon Park with Garrett O'Brien, who shot O'Byrne, and that Flynn's alleged gang members fled after the victim's girlfriend, Sharon Rattigan, tackled O'Brien. Defence counsel countered that Flynn's phone use was not proven and that he may have simply bought credit for Eugene Cullen. The jury heard evidence that Flynn was seen with Cullen in Coolock after the shooting but not during the crime. The case was presented to a jury of nine men and three women, with the trial continuing on Monday. Gary Flynn pleaded not guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court, the jury in the trial of Zoltan Almasi, 44, of Naas, Co Kildare, has been told the central issue is whether the death of Joseph Dunne constitutes murder or manslaughter. Mr Almasi, who pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Mr Dunne at the same address on May 16, 2014, faces a charge that carries a potential life sentence. Prosecution counsel Bernard Condon SC argued that the evidence, including a depressed skull and shattered bones, demonstrates an intentional killing with a baseball bat, asserting that the accused was the aggressor and that regret does not defeat intent. Conversely, defence counsel Colm O'Briain SC contended that the blow was a reckless swipe rather than a deliberate strike, arguing that the prosecution has not proven the specific intention required for murder beyond reasonable doubt. The defence highlighted that the accused did not dispose of the weapon or evidence, suggesting the act was not a cold-blooded murder. The court heard that the cause of death was a single blow to the head. Justice Margaret Heneghan is scheduled to finish charging the jury on Monday morning, with the matter currently at the stage of closing submissions prior to the verdict.
Michael Murray, aged 44, was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2013 for rape, attempted rape, oral rape, aggravated sexual assault, child abduction, threats to kill or cause serious harm, false imprisonment and theft. In March 2016 he appealed against the State after it was revealed that his solicitor's calls had been recorded in prison. The High Court dismissed his application in July, ruling the recordings were inappropriate but not accessed, and that no prejudice had occurred. The appeal was dismissed by a three‑judge court, which agreed with the earlier decision, finding the application "without substance" and the appeal "without merit." Costs were awarded against Murray, who had insulted the judges. The case highlighted that prison inmates must list up to 12 contact numbers on an "Application for Phone Calls" form, with the first number required to be the solicitor, and that all calls except those to the solicitor and Samaritans are monitored and recorded. Michael Murray was found guilty.
David Emerson, 31, received a Gaisce Award from President Michael D. Higgins two weeks before he was jailed for a hammer assault. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a man at Kilshane Cross, Finglas, on 21 June 2012. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to 16 months imprisonment on 12 July 2013, but he was granted bail pending appeal. On appeal, the Court of Appeal held that Emerson had turned his life around to such a significant extent that the Circuit Court judge erred in ruling out suspending part of his sentence. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan re‑sentenced him to two years imprisonment, with the two years suspended, and required a two‑year good‑behaviour bond. Emerson was praised for his transformation, his engagement with the Fr Peter McVerry Trust, and his receipt of the Gaisce award.
In March 2015, Robert McHugh, aged 25, robbed Martin O'Brien, a 63‑year‑old visually impaired man, at a Luas stop in Dublin. McHugh punched O'Brien, head‑butted him, and stole his groceries and cane. Garda Kieran O'Rourke noted that O'Brien was waiting with his partner when McHugh approached, and that Luas security and bystanders called the police, who apprehended McHugh shortly after the incident. McHugh, who had 139 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to robbery. He claimed he had no recollection of the event, citing alcohol consumption, and had a knife in his tracksuit that was not used. The court, acknowledging McHugh's history of alcohol abuse and schizophrenia, sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, with the last 18 months suspended, subject to strict conditions. The sentence reflects the violent nature of the offence and the need for McHugh's rehabilitation.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Zoltan Almasi, a 44‑year‑old Hungarian national, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Joseph Dunne, a young Kildare man, at their shared address on 16 May 2014. Almasi told Gardaí that he had brought a baseball bat that night, believing it might be needed for self‑defence against men he considered "not kids" and "bigger" than him. He claimed he was about 2–3 metres from Dunne when the latter fell and denied that he struck him with the bat, saying the distance was too great. When questioned whether he had swung the bat, Almasi said he could not remember doing so and that it "looks like I did but I didn't reach him." He maintained that any contact would have been accidental and that he had no intention to hit anyone. Almasi has three prior convictions for road‑traffic offences. The trial continues.
Kevin Muldoon, a trainee Montessori teacher, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to sexual assault and the production of child pornography. The court heard that on May 8, 2014, Muldoon sexually assaulted a four-year-old special needs girl in his care and took pornographic images of her. He further pleaded guilty to possessing 688 images of child pornography discovered during a raid on his premises, family home, and the playschool on May 15, 2014. Judge Melanie Greally described the offences as a gross breach of trust, noting the victim's extreme youth as the single greatest aggravating factor. The judge accepted that Muldoon expressed remorse, had social and educational difficulties, and had not shared or paid for the material. Muldoon, who has no previous convictions, was sentenced to five years in prison. The court ordered that he engage in treatment while in custody. Additionally, the judge imposed five years of post-release supervision and prohibited Muldoon from taking any position that would bring him into contact with children. The victim's parents stated in a statement that the abuse had caused lasting trauma, including night terrors and social struggles. Defence counsel highlighted that the plea spared the child cross-examination and noted Muldoon's vulnerability and lack of friends since the incident.
Patrick O'Brien, 76, a former Church of Ireland lay worker, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to indecently assaulting a male in a boat moored in a Midlands town between 1 April 1984 and 30 September 1984. Prosecutor Anne Rowland said the State required further pleas before sentencing but accepted this one to keep the case moving. The court adjourned to 8 April for all evidence, while Judge Melanie Greally remanded O'Brien on bail. Judge Cormac Dunne had earlier ruled that media could not publish the accused's name or identify victims.
The trial of Gary Flynn, 31, of Tallaght, continued at the Central Criminal Court before Justice Patrick McCarthy. Mr Flynn has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne on March 13, 2009, at Tymon Park North in Tallaght. Prosecution evidence presented by Alex Owens SC focused on mobile phone tracing conducted by gardai. Senior crime analyst Sarah Skedd testified that investigators traced calls, texts, and locations of 13 mobile phones believed to be used by a gang. She detailed communications between these devices in the days leading up to the shooting, including a text sent by a phone linked to Eugene Cullen to a device found at the crime scene, which is associated with Garrett O'Brien. The prosecution alleges Mr O'Brien was the shooter. Skedd's evidence, which includes charts of phone interactions, is ongoing. Additionally, Brendan McKenna of Vilicom Engineering provided analysis of mobile mast locations, tracing a phone seized from Mr O'Brien to areas from Bray to Ballymount, and another phone found in a Nissan Primera to Coolock. The trial previously heard from Forensic Science Laboratory analyst Liam Fleury, who stated that fingerprints lifted from the Nissan Primera matched Mr Flynn's. The matter is currently at the trial stage and will continue on Thursday.
In the Central Criminal Court, 44‑year‑old Zoltan Almasi pleaded not guilty to the murder of Joseph Dunne, who died at their shared Harbour View address on 16 May 2014. Almasi told Gardaí that he had lived there for three years and owned a white Mercedes van, which he parked in front of his garage that night. He claimed to have heard a banging noise from outside his bedroom window and saw several men, including two males, shouting at him. Almasi said he grabbed a baseball bat to scare them away, chased two men down the street, and that one fell to the ground. He denied striking Dunne with the bat, stating he was "not capable" of doing so. Garda evidence noted only general wear on the van and a baseball bat found behind a hallway door. The trial continues.