In a 2016 case, Zoltan Almasi, 44, of Harbour View, Naas, was charged with the murder of Joseph Dunne, also at Harbour View, on 16 May 2014. Almasi pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Prosecutor Bernard Condon SC called Garda Stephen Flaherty to testify. Flaherty reported arriving at the scene at 10:20 pm, seeing a man lying on the ground and a group of people nearby. He described the alleged offender's appearance and was directed to a house by a friend of the deceased. Flaherty approached the house but received no response, then returned to preserve the scene outside the Vie de Châteaux restaurant. At 11:20 pm, a male approached, matching the offender's description. The man gave his name as Zoltan Almasi and an address in Naas.
Michael Murray, aged 44, was jailed for 15 years in 2013 for rape, attempted rape, oral rape, aggravated sexual assault, child abduction, threats, false imprisonment and theft. He had brought an unsuccessful High Court action against the Irish Prison Service and the Minister for Justice, seeking injunctions to stop the interception of his calls, declarations and damages. The court dismissed the application, ruling that the recording of his telephone calls was inappropriate but that the calls had not been accessed and were made inadvertently. Murray's legal team, led by Colman Fitzgerald SC, appealed the decision to the Court of Appeal. The appeal will be heard by a three‑judge panel, with a judgment expected on Friday, March 4. The case concerns the recording of prison phone calls and the alleged infringement of Murray's rights. The court found no ongoing or threatened infringement and awarded costs against Murray. Michael Murray was found guilty. Prison Service was found guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the State announced that all charges against Edward Charles O'Reilly were dropped. O'Reilly, who had pleaded not guilty to burglary at Deansrath Avenue and to assaulting his uncle and brother‑in‑law, was cleared after the Director of Public Prosecution entered a nolle prosequi on every charge. Judge Karen O'Connor informed the jury that the case was closed and that O'Reilly was free to leave. The judge expressed regret over the family's involvement and urged the relatives to consider the children affected. Earlier in the trial, witnesses described an assault involving a slash hook and an iron bar, but the prosecution's decision to drop the case ended the proceedings. No further action will be taken against O'Reilly.
In March 2016, a 75‑year‑old man was set to be sentenced for sexually assaulting his intellectually disabled daughter, who was 34 at the time of the offence in 1999. The man pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had a prior conviction for forgery in 1989. The daughter, now 51, described the assault in detail, stating that her father entered her flat drunk, held her too tightly, touched her breasts, and then performed sexual acts while she tried to push him off. She reported feeling "manky and dirty" and feared pregnancy, later clarifying that her father only rubbed his genitals against her leg. She expressed deep emotional distress, nightmares, and a sense of loss of control. The court adjourned the case to Monday to allow for a medical report on the accused's recent illness. The daughter's victim impact statement was read, and she expressed hope for justice and a better future.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 1 March 2016, 31‑year‑old Gary Flynn of Rossfield Drive, Tallaght, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne, who was shot at Tymon Park North on 13 March 2009. The court heard that Flynn had been nicknamed "Damien Duff" by Garda John O'Connell because of his resemblance to the former Irish soccer player. Evidence was presented by Garda Damien McGarry concerning several mobile phones linked to suspects. One phone found at the shooting scene had a contact named "Damien Duff" matching a number belonging to Eugene Cullen, another phone given to Garda by Cullen's former girlfriend, Louise Lawlor, had a number saved as Gary Flynn, though Lawlor could not confirm the identity.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that a young Kildare man, Joseph Dunne, died from severe traumatic head injury consistent with a blow from the tip of a baseball bat. Zoltan Almasi (44), of Harbour View, Naas, Co Kildare, is charged with murdering Mr Dunne at the same address on May 16, 2014. Mr Almasi pleaded not guilty to the charge. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that the post mortem examination revealed thirteen injuries to the deceased's head and neck, including a large area of bruising and a significant bleed in the skull. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the head. A toxicology report indicated that Mr Dunne was intoxicated with alcohol at the time of his death, but no drugs were detected. Dr Curtis stated that the injury was consistent with a blow from a baseball bat. Witness Donal Dockery described seeing two men agitated around a vehicle and a man with a baseball bat. Ms Mary Bergin O'Connor testified that she heard someone shout 'drop the baseball bat' and saw a man running away. The trial continues.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Sarah McDonagh, whose maiden name is O'Reilly, denies being the woman who made an emergency 999 call hours before the alleged slash‑hook assault. She says she was drinking with her brother, Edward Charles O'Reilly, and her husband, Michael McDonagh, at the house and cannot recall the incident. McDonagh claims she woke up to find people in the room, naming Edward Charles O'Reilly as one of them, but she does not remember the details of the alleged assault. She also denies knowing who made the recorded emergency call played by the defence. The trial, presided over by Judge Karen O'Connor, continues with a jury of eight women and four men. The accused, Edward Charles O'Reilly, 29, has pleaded not guilty to burglary and assault charges.
In 2016, a Wicklow man, Declan Sheridan, aged 29, had his appeal against a life sentence for the murder of French musician and juggler Charles Sinapayen dismissed. Sheridan, who lived at Sugarloaf View, Sea Road, Kilcoole, had pleaded not guilty to the murder that occurred on the early hours of 29 May 2009 at Richmond Hill, Fassaroe, Bray. Sinapayen, 33, was shot through the window of an apartment he shared with his girlfriend Mary Kinlan. The Central Criminal Court found no known motive and, on 17 June 2011, Judge Paul Carney imposed a mandatory life sentence. Sheridan appealed on the ground that the jury should not have heard evidence of an informal identification procedure conducted at Shankill Garda Station while he was in custody.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 29 February 2016, Gary Flynn, aged 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne, which occurred on 13 March 2009 at Tymon Park North, Tallaght. An expert, Liam Fleury of the Forensic Science Laboratory, testified that he found firearms residue on Flynn's right hand and on the cuffs of a grey hoodie that Gardaí said belonged to him. No residue was found on Flynn's face or left hand. Fleury explained that such residue is emitted when a gun is fired and can adhere to the shooter's skin and clothing. He had not examined any evidence relating to Garrett O'Brien, who the prosecution claims was the actual shooter and has already been convicted of the murder. Detective Garda Shane Farrell reported finding fingerprints on a Nissan Primera bonnet, one belonging to Eugene Cullen and another to Flynn.
A 59‑year‑old Laois man was sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment for anally raping a 34‑year‑old pregnant woman at her home on 10 October 2010. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty after a five‑day trial in December 2010. The victim, who was 16 weeks pregnant, reported that the assault left her devastated, with ongoing flashbacks, anxiety, depression and nightmares. She had been treated in a sexual assault unit and had made a complaint to Gardaí. The judge, Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy, noted the victim's pregnancy had been "blighted" by the assault and imposed the sentence back‑dated to the man's December 2010 arrest. The defendant, who has no prior convictions, has not accepted the verdict.
A 22‑year‑old asylum seeker from Nigeria, Kenneth Udeh, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for raping a woman in Waterford on 14 September 2014. The victim was out for a night in the city when Udeh offered her a lift after she had left a pub. He raped her in his car, and a passer‑by shouted at them, causing Udeh to flee. The victim's victim impact statement described the assault as a "complete violation" that left her feeling she had nothing to live for and that it severely damaged her relationship with her partner. Udeh pleaded guilty on the day of his trial at the Central Criminal Court, where Judge Patrick McCarthy imposed a five‑year sentence back‑dated to reflect time already spent in custody. He is appealing his asylum status to the Refugee Appeals Tribunal.
A 43-year-old man from Carndonagh in County Donegal has been sent forward for trial at the Central Criminal Court on charges of murdering his parents. Julian Cuddihy of Churchtown faces two counts of murder in relation to the deaths of his father, aged 77, and his mother, aged 73, at their home in Carndonagh on or around 22 October 2014. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy fixed the trial date for 7 June 2016. Cuddihy remains in custody pending trial.
A 40‑year‑old man, Terence Connors of Drumcairn Drive, Tallaght, is accused of murdering Peter Conroy in the Palmerstown area of Dublin on 9 June 2015. His trial, originally set for May 2017, has been moved forward to 12 December 2016 at the Central Criminal Court.
Aaron Shattock, aged 20, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the M50 exit 11 pedestrian walkway in Tallaght on 21 August 2013. The assault, which involved racial abuse and a stick thrown at an Iraqi immigrant, caused the victim to lose sight in one eye. Shattock was originally sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, by Judge Martin Nolan on 17 April 2015. On appeal, the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, found that the sentencing judge had not given sufficient consideration to the "perfect mitigation" Shattock presented, including remorse, youth, good character and employment. The Court therefore reduced the suspended portion, leaving the three‑and‑a‑half‑year term in place but suspending the final two years, thereby cutting the overall jail term. The decision was delivered alongside Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice Alan Mahon.
During a burglary trial, Edward O'Reilly, the alleged victim, recounted that on 11 May 2013, he, his sister and Michael McDonagh were asleep in a house on Deansrath Avenue, Clondalkin, when a group of men broke in. He claimed the accused, Edward Charles O'Reilly (29), struck him twice on the head with a slash hook, and another man hit him on the back of the legs with an iron bar. McDonagh said he was slapped in the face and told to "stay awake." O'Reilly said he fell unconscious after the hook blows. He also denied the accused's two assault charges. The accused pleaded not guilty to burglary and the assault charges. The case is before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury of eight women and four men. The trial continues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 42‑year‑old man was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault against an 11‑year‑old girl between March 18 and April 20, 2008. The court heard that on one occasion the accused rubbed the child's chest and legs for about twenty minutes, and on a second occasion he thrust himself against her while her father was in the bathroom. The girl's mother had been away for weeks when the offences occurred, and the incidents were discovered when she returned. The man had no prior convictions. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a two‑year sentence, suspended the final year, and ordered the man to register as a sex offender. The court noted the victim's vulnerability and the accused's low risk of re‑offending. The case was prosecuted by Fiona McGowan BL and defended by Paul Greene SC.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that a young Kildare man was struck twice with a baseball bat by a man identified as Zoltan Almasi (44) of Harbour View, Naas, Co Kildare. Almasi is charged with murdering Joseph Dunne at the same address on May 16, 2014. On Monday, Almasi pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecution called Alana Piercy, who testified that she witnessed the incident. She described seeing a man with a baseball bat strike Joseph Dunne on the back and then on the side of his head. The witness also described the man as small, skinny, baldy-haired, and wearing glasses. Richard Conway testified that he encountered two youths who attempted to provoke him and heard the sound of someone kicking or thumping a car more than twice. Anita Ryan, a nurse, stated she saw a man holding a baseball bat and heard him say, 'I've seen what you have done to my car.' She administered first aid to Joseph Dunne before making a 999 call. Derek Ryan, a member of the Naas Fire Service, testified that he observed a large lump on the deceased's head. Detective Garda Niall Lennon provided evidence regarding finger and palm marks found at the scene and on the deceased, as well as a baseball bat recovered from a house in the Harbour View area. The trial continues.
Grace Tormey, aged 22, was convicted by a jury of aggravated burglary and assault after a four‑day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. She was found guilty of attacking Lisa Lee, a partially paralysed woman who had suffered a stroke, by striking her with a wine bottle and assaulting her for up to three minutes. Tormey had 15 prior convictions, including two assault offences. The judge, Patricia Ryan, imposed a seven‑year sentence, suspending the final two and a half years, citing Tormey's young age and family circumstances. Tormey pleaded not guilty, later wrote a letter expressing regret, and was described by her defence as having a "wild and uncontrolled" period before becoming a mother. The case involved a burglary at Rollins Villas, Sallynoggin, on 16 November 2012. The victim's partner, Jason Kelly, had fled the scene, and the victim's injuries were documented by Gardaí.
Larry McCarthy, 37, appeared before the Special Criminal Court in Limerick on 26 February 2016. He is charged with threatening to kill Noel Moore at Windsor House, Donoughmore, on 28 July 2015, and with threatening to damage Moore's house on the same day. McCarthy also faces separate charges of threatening to use unlawful violence with two others, and of assaulting David Foran at Cornmarket Villas on 25 November 2014. Judge Paul Butler remanded him in custody until 6 April, noting he may apply for bail.
Three youths – Roman Hricko (20), Miroslav Hricko (19) and David Hanak (21) – had each been sentenced to seven years' imprisonment in 2014 for assault causing serious harm to a 59‑year‑old retiree, Donal O'Mahoney, in Tralee on 26 August 2012. The assault was described as a vicious, concerted attack that left O'Mahoney unconscious, with loss of sight in his left eye, and caused a friend to suffer a fractured jaw and cheekbone. The youths, who had been at a house party drinking large amounts of whiskey, were originally from the Czech Republic and had no prior convictions. On appeal the Court of Appeal, with Mr Justice George Birmingham presiding, agreed that portions of the sentences should be suspended to encourage rehabilitation. The court decided to suspend the final 18 months of each man's seven‑year term, and each must enter a €100 good‑behaviour bond for two years after release. Roman Hricko pleaded guilty. Miroslav Hricko pleaded guilty. David Hanak pleaded guilty.
Edward Charles O'Reilly of Wheatfield Grove, Clondalkin, Dublin, pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to an aggravated burglary at Deansrath Avenue, Clondalkin, on 11 May 2013. He is accused of using a slash hook as a weapon during the burglary. O'Reilly also denied two assault charges against Edward O'Reilly and Michael McDonagh that occurred in the same incident. The trial will open tomorrow before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury of five men and seven women.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that a young Kildare man was 'smacked' at the back of his head by a man wielding a baseball bat after the deceased hit a parked van 'a thump'. Zoltan Almasi (44), of Harbour View, Naas, Co Kildare, is charged with murdering Joseph Dunne at the same address on May 16, 2014. On Monday, Mr Almasi pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Dunne. Today, prosecution counsel Bernard Condon SC called witness Mikey McDonagh, a 20-year-old from Kildare, who testified that he met Mr Dunne and another friend, Gavin Breen, on the night in question. The group met three girls at the harbour in Naas before walking home. Mikey McDonagh stated that Mr Dunne hit the van once with his fist, making 'a noise', and then ran as a man with a baseball bat chased him. The witness described the man as bald and wearing glasses. Mr Dunne was struck at the back of his head and fell to the ground. In cross-examination, Mikey McDonagh agreed that Mr Dunne struck the van more than once. Gavin Breen, 21, also testified, stating that he saw the man strike Mr Dunne with a baseball bat at the side of his head. A teenage girl from Naas testified that she saw the man hit Mr Dunne once on the head, causing him to fall to the ground. The trial continues.
Jonathan Donovan, 30, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Paul Doyle on 6 April 2014 at Kelly's Row, Dorset Street. He admitted the assault after a jury had been sworn in for his trial. Donovan was remanded in custody until his sentencing date on 25 April. The prosecution, led by Fiona McGowan BL, argued that Doyle suffered serious head injuries and that the State must prove Donovan's actions were without lawful excuse. A Dublin Fire Brigade witness testified that Doyle was taken to Mater Hospital for treatment in the emergency department.
The High Court refused to order discovery of documents relating to the security status of Simeon Cosmo Langford, a 32‑year‑old British man wanted in England on charges of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, theft and assault. Langford, who is also alleged to have breached the conditions of his release from a previous grievous bodily harm sentence, was released on licence on 6 May 2015 and is accused of committing offences between 2 and 11 June 2015. He allegedly fled and travelled 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 the present hearing, counsel Ronan Munro BL sought documents about Langford's prison conditions in England, citing complaints of inhumane treatment. Justice Aileen Donnelly declined the request, stating that Langford had not provided sufficient evidence that the documents were necessary for the court's functions.
Niall McGlynn, a 30‑year‑old Trinity Law School graduate from Castlefarm, Swords, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and one count of assault causing harm after a night of heavy drinking. On 27 January 2014 he knocked a bouncer's teeth out at the Czech Inn in Temple Bar, Dublin, after the bouncer refused them entry. McGlynn then punched a Garda in the mouth at Pearse Street Garda Station. He also pleaded guilty to robbery at Paddy Power in Swords on 12 June 2015, where he was thrown out and held by staff until Gardaí arrived. The case was adjourned to 16 March at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing. The court noted McGlynn's serious gambling addiction and substance abuse problems, but that he had remained out of trouble since the bookies incident. The judge will finalise his sentence on the adjourned date.
Robert Jones, a 26-year-old bank worker from Tallaght, Dublin, received a suspended sentence of 18 months at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm. Jones pleaded guilty to the charge, which carries a maximum penalty of five years, after the Director of Public Prosecutions agreed to withdraw a more serious charge of assault causing serious harm, which carried a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. A nolle prosequi was entered on the withdrawn charge. The incident occurred on July 20, 2014, at Palace night-club, Camden Street, where Jones allegedly struck victim Brian Murphy with a pint glass, leaving the medical student blind in one eye. Judge John Aylmer noted that while he made no determination on provocation, he was legally bound to give Jones the benefit of the doubt regarding witness accounts of provocation. The judge cited Jones' impeccable character, the spontaneous nature of the act, and the fact that a custodial sentence would destroy Jones' career prospects, thereby affecting the victim's ability to seek civil compensation. Jones brought €8,000 to court as a token of remorse. The court heard that Jones had previously faced trial on the more serious offence before pleading guilty to the lesser charge.
The Court of Appeal held that a man who failed to appear in Edinburgh court while on bail committed a statutory offence under Irish law. Pablo Tellarini Prieto, charged with a serious assault in Scotland, had been granted bail on 26 April 2013. He missed a procedural hearing in January, prompting a warrant for his arrest. He was later arrested in Ireland on a European Arrest Warrant issued 5 June 2014, and extradition proceedings have continued. The High Court found the offence matched the common‑law offence of criminal contempt but not the statutory offence under section 13 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. The Appeal Court, in a majority, reversed that conclusion, finding the offence did correspond with section 13 and reaffirmed the order for surrender. A dissenting judge disagreed, noting no recognisance or monetary commitment was involved. The order requires Prieto's surrender to Scottish authorities within a 10‑day period after a 15‑day notice.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that Zoltan Almasi, a 44‑year‑old Hungarian national living in Harbour View, Naas, attacked 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne with a baseball bat after Dunne hit a van. The jury heard that on 16 May 2014 Dunne, who lived in Athy with his family, had gone out with friends to Naas, where they met girls and drank near the harbour. While returning to Kildare, Dunne struck a parked van, prompting Almasi to pursue him with a bat. Almasi struck Dunne on the head, causing blunt‑force trauma that led to his death. CCTV footage showed Almasi raising his arm and later running away with the bat. Almasi was arrested, the bat seized, and he pleaded not guilty. The trial continues.
John Stokes, 25, of Beachside, Riverchapel, Gorey, was jailed for five and a half years for a series of violent and theft offences. He first threatened a woman, Mary Kate McDonagh, with a crossbow in December 2014, then robbed a handbag from a woman in Ballsbridge in January 2015, and again stole a handbag from an elderly lady in Baggot Street in February 2015. Stokes had 48 prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences but also for theft, robbery, false imprisonment, burglary and knife possession. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to five and a half years, suspending the final 18 months on the condition he engage with the Probation Service for two years. The sentence reflected the seriousness of each offence and Stokes' history of drug use and lack of post‑release supervision.
Jeffrey Dumbrell, 35, serving a life sentence for murder and other offences, was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years for threatening to rip the head off a prison officer at Wheatfield Prison on 10 December 2014. Because a life sentence is indeterminate, the new sentence runs concurrently with the existing one and does not add extra custodial time. The court noted that a life sentence cannot be extended for new offences while the prisoner is in custody, though the Parole Board may consider the new threat when assessing suitability for release. Dumbrell pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court; the judge described the threat as serious and noted the officer's ongoing stress. The court did not impose any additional custodial period beyond the concurrent sentence.
This report details seven extraordinary exonerations in Irish courts, highlighting cases where the justice system failed accused individuals. Among the validated subjects is Nora Wall, a former nun convicted in 1999 of rape, a charge she did not plead to but was found guilty of. She became the first woman convicted of rape in the State's history and the first to receive a life sentence for the crime, handed down by Mr Justice Paul Carney. However, her sentence was quashed after a prosecution witness admitted fabricating evidence, and in December 2005, the Court of Criminal Appeal declared her conviction a miscarriage of justice. Another subject, Michael Hannon, was convicted in 1999 of sexually assaulting a ten-year-old girl, Una Hardester, and assaulted Hannon's father. Hannon received a suspended prison sentence of four years. In 2009, the Court of Criminal Appeal declared his conviction a miscarriage of justice after Hardester admitted her allegations were fabricated for revenge following a land dispute. Christy Lynch, convicted of the murder of Vera Cooney in 1976, was also exonerated. Lynch claimed his confession was extracted under duress by the Garda murder squad. Although the Court of Criminal Appeal initially ordered a retrial, the Supreme Court ultimately set Lynch free, declaring him an innocent man based on the inadmissibility of his coerced statement. These cases underscore significant failures in the Irish legal process.
In a High Court hearing in Dublin, Raymond O'Neill, 37, was remanded in custody pending an extradition case to the PSNI concerning the murder of Jennifer Dornan. O'Neill faces charges of murder and arson for the stabbing and burning of Dornan's house in Hazel View, west Belfast, last August. The court adjourned the case to next month, requiring O'Neill's lawyers to file objections by March 7th, with the case to be reconsidered on March 14th.
A 44‑year‑old Hungarian man, Zoltan Almasi, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne, who was killed at Almasi's Harbour View, Naas address on 16 May 2014. The plea was entered at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Patrick McCarthy informed the jury that the trial could not commence until Wednesday and would be presided over by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan. He added that the case should be concluded by the end of the following week, though the jury might be required for the first few days of the week after that.
Paul Grace, 36, received a three‑year suspended sentence after assaulting retired youth worker Patrick Malone on 29 March 2013 in Killarney Street, Dublin. Grace had pleaded guilty to the assault, which caused harm to Malone. The court noted Grace's history of 22 prior convictions for non‑violent offences and his recent rehabilitation: he had completed a certificate in drug counselling, was studying psychotherapy, and was now clean of drugs. Judge Patricia Ryan cited the violent nature of the crime as an aggravating factor but also acknowledged Grace's incoherent state and his subsequent volunteer work with addiction services, deeming him low risk of re‑offending. Malone's victim impact statement requested no custodial sentence. The court imposed the suspended sentence, with no custodial term to be served unless the conditions are breached.
In February 2016, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of Indian national Dileesh Soman, 33, who had been sentenced to four years' imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended for sexually assaulting a 30‑year‑old postgraduate student in Cork City on 11 November 2013. Soman, who had lived and worked in Ireland for over six years, had used the alias 'Aaron' and entered the victim's apartment after she had advertised a room on daft.ie. During the assault he forced her to expose parts of her body, touched her breasts, opened her jeans, and inserted his hand into her vagina, while making remarks such as 'nothing bad is going on' and 'it's okay, we're not going to have sex here.' The victim, who had never advertised for a flatmate before, later reported the incident to the Gardaí. Dileesh Soman pleaded guilty.
A trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard evidence from a woman who alleges she was raped in an alleyway in Donegal Town in July 2012 when she was eighteen years old. The complainant told the jury that the medical examination conducted afterwards was deeply distressing. She described meeting the accused, a man she knew, at a nightclub. She said that when they went outside, he led her to an unlit alley where he subjected her to a serious sexual assault against her will, causing her severe injuries requiring hospital treatment. The accused has pleaded not guilty to rape. The woman said she disclosed what had occurred to friends, who brought her to hospital and alerted gardaí. The trial, before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury, continues.
Paul Henry, 29, of Roscommon, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital following a trial at the Central Criminal Court. He was charged with murdering his mother, Ann Henry, at Abbeystown, Ballyphesan, in Roscommon town on September 17, 2011. Mr Henry pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder by reason of insanity. During the trial, defence counsel called Professor Tom Fahey, who diagnosed a delusional disorder, while the prosecution called Dr Brenda Wright, who diagnosed paranoid schizophrenia. The jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty of murder by reason of insanity after one hour and 36 minutes of deliberation. At the sentencing stage, Dr Damian Mohan, an approved medical officer at the Central Mental Hospital, testified that Mr Henry continues to suffer from paranoid schizophrenia and requires inpatient care to prevent deterioration and risk to others. Mr Justice Tony Hunt accepted the evidence, stating that Mr Henry must be treated as an unwell person rather than a criminal. The judge ordered that Mr Henry be committed to the Central Mental Hospital under the supervision of Dr Mohan and his staff, noting that this inpatient care is necessary until he is no longer a danger to himself or others.
Seven teenagers, all in State care, attacked a Chinese man, Fen Ling Wang, in Dublin city centre at 3 am. The group, five males and two females, assaulted Wang, delivering numerous kicks—many to the head—until he was knocked unconscious. They then robbed his phone and shoes before abandoning him on the street. The assault was captured live on CCTV, and three attackers were apprehended near the scene. The gang was on acid during the attack, delaying police interviews for six hours. In court, the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found the attack extremely vicious. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a suspended sentence of two and a half years on one teen, deferred sentencing for another, and remanded a third on bail pending a probation report. The three accused pleaded guilty to robbery of Wang on Liffey Street on 10 July 2015.
A 29-year-old man from Roscommon has been found not guilty of murdering his mother by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. Paul Henry was charged with killing Ann Henry at Abbeystown, Ballyphesan on 17 September 2011. The defence conceded that Henry killed his mother but argued he was legally insane at the time. Two psychiatrists gave evidence: the defence called a consultant psychiatrist who diagnosed a delusional disorder, whilst the prosecution's forensic psychiatrist diagnosed paranoid schizophrenia. Both experts testified that Henry lacked capacity to form criminal intent due to his mental condition. The jury deliberated for one hour and 36 minutes before returning a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The judge ordered Henry's detention at the Central Mental Hospital and praised the jury for their careful consideration of the evidence.
David Emerson, 31, who had received a Gaisce Award from President Michael D. Higgins two weeks before his imprisonment, has lodged an appeal against his 16‑month custodial sentence for a hammer assault. The incident occurred on 21 June 2012 at Kilshane Cross, Finglas, when Emerson, allegedly under the influence of intoxicants, struck a man with a hammer after being pursued by the property's occupant. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence on 12 July 2013. Emerson's counsel, Michael Bowman SC, argued that the judge should have considered Emerson's rehabilitation efforts, including his engagement with the Fr Peter McVerry Trust and his stable home environment, and that a suspended sentence would be appropriate. The Court of Criminal Appeal granted bail in July 2013, and the appeal is now pending further hearing. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no final decision yet.
A man from Roscommon has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his mother by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. Paul Henry, aged 29, is charged with stabbing Ann Henry to death at Abbeystown, Ballyphesan in Roscommon town on 17 September 2011. During the trial, forensic psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright gave evidence that she had diagnosed Mr Henry with paranoid schizophrenia, characterised by delusions that his mother and others were conspiring to harm him. Dr Wright told the court that Mr Henry believed his mother intended to have him killed and that he would be killed if he did not kill her first. Both prosecution and defence counsels submitted to the jury that the evidence supported a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The prosecution noted that medical staff at the Central Mental Hospital supported this assessment. The jury commenced deliberations following the judge's charge.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, Faisal Ellahi, aged 34, was convicted of raping a young woman with Down syndrome after luring her to his home. The court had repeatedly adjourned sentencing to allow the defence to prepare a psychological report claiming Ellahi had a very low IQ. The report was not ready, and counsel for Ellahi, Padraig Dwyer SC, informed the court that no further psychological evidence would be presented. Judge Tony Hunt adjourned the case until 14 March for sentencing, allowing the victim to observe the proceedings via video link. Ellahi, originally from Haripur in Pakistan, had pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and having sex with a mentally impaired person, and was convicted of rape and sexual assault. The defence had argued that Ellahi's IQ was 73, below the threshold of 70 for mental disability, but the psychologist's assessment could not be used for mitigation because it lacked a lie‑scale test.
A 22-year-old man who admitted to manslaughter in connection with a fatal stabbing will be sentenced in April at the Central Criminal Court. Michael Kinsella, with addresses in Tallaght and Cavan, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Adil Essalhi, who died on January 6, 2011, following an attack in which he sustained over 50 stab and chop wounds. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter. At a hearing on February 16, 2016, the court ordered that psychological reports prepared by the defence be disclosed to the prosecution, and granted permission for a prosecution psychiatrist to assess Mr Kinsella prior to sentencing. The defence indicated its client would cooperate with this evaluation. Justice Deirdre Murphy adjourned the sentencing hearing to April 11, 2016. Mr Kinsella's uncle, Wayne Kinsella, was previously convicted of Mr Essalhi's murder in 2012.
This report details five notorious Irish murder cases, including the sentencing of Malcolm McArthur. McArthur pleaded guilty to the murder of Bridie Gargan and was sentenced to life in jail. The article also covers the Grangegorman killings, where Mark Nash was found guilty of the murders of Sylvia Shields and Mary Callinan in 2015, receiving a second life sentence. Although Dean Lyons initially confessed to these crimes, charges against him were dropped in 1998 after psychological testing suggested he was highly suggestible. Additionally, the report notes that Geoffrey Evans and John Shaw were sentenced to life in jail for the murders and rapes of Elizabeth Plunkett and Mary Duffy. Colin Whelan was sentenced to life in 2005 for the murder of his wife, Mary Gough, after faking his death and being extradited from Spain. Finally, Graham Dwyer is described in relation to the murder of Elaine O'Hara, though specific sentencing details for this case are not provided in the text. The validated procedural stage for the highlighted subjects is sentence, with findings of guilt and life imprisonment imposed for the proven charges.
In 2016 the Court of Appeal dismissed Timothy Rattigan's application to have his 2005 conviction for the murder of 65‑year‑old Joan Casey declared a miscarriage of justice. Rattigan, 36, had been found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court and sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment by Mr Justice Paul Carney. He argued that evidence obtained from a search of his house and his arrest would be inadmissible under the 2012 Supreme Court decision 'Damache', which declared section 29 search warrants unconstitutional. His counsel, Ken Fogarty SC, claimed the new ruling should render the evidence inadmissible. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Tara Burns SC, said the application was bound to fail. Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Edwards, agreed with the DPP, citing the 2014 McKevitt case and the 2014 'JC' judgment, and ruled that the appeal should be dismissed. Timothy Rattigan pleaded not guilty.
In Waterford, a 22‑year‑old asylum seeker from Nigeria, Kenneth Udeh, pleaded guilty to raping a woman on 14 September 2014. The victim, who cannot be named, told the court she felt she had no reason to live after the assault and that it severely damaged her relationship with her partner. She said she now feared black men and would not take a taxi from a black driver, adding that Udeh should not be allowed to remain in the country. Udeh had arrived in Ireland in 2009, applied for asylum twice and was refused both times; he is appealing to the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. He was remanded in custody until 29 February for sentencing. The court heard a victim impact report in which the woman described Udeh as having "violated" her and taken "complete advantage" of her.
Paul Lestrange, 40, of Rosdedara, Killarney, was jailed for seven years after he slit the throat of his house‑mate James McGuirk in a random attack on 15 January 2015. Lestrange told McGuirk to write a will before the assault and, with a bread knife, cut McGuirk's throat, saying, "I told you it would end badly." He prevented McGuirk's neighbours and house‑mate Martin Roche from helping until he was overpowered and disarmed. The court found no particular motive; Lestrange's only previous convictions involved alcohol. Judge Martin Nolan described the assault as very serious, with the intent to kill, and noted McGuirk suffered a severe disfiguring scar and post‑traumatic stress. Lestrange expressed remorse and apologized to McGuirk. The sentence was imposed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
Dragos Nica, 30, of Skerries, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of 55‑year‑old Michael Gannon on 14 November 2013. The jury heard that Gannon was babysitting children when Nica stabbed him after a child reported a man looking in the living‑room window. Nica claimed he had been deliberately poisoned by Gannon's daughter, Jade. Dr Sally Linehan, a psychiatrist, testified that Nica suffers from paranoid schizophrenia characterised by delusions and hallucinations, and that he is polite and well‑kempt during interviews. Mr Nica denied feeling depressed but continued to express abnormal beliefs. Justice Tony Hunt ordered Nica's commitment to the Central Mental Hospital, noting that treatment must be supervised and that the verdict was the only available option for the jury. The decision was made without impact evidence from the victim's family.
Perry Wharrie, 56, from Loughton, Essex, was sentenced to 30 years in 2008 for his role in Ireland's largest drug seizure of €440 million, a haul that went awry at Dunlough Bay in 2007. He pleaded not guilty to possession for sale or supply and was found guilty by a Cork Circuit Criminal Court jury. Wharrie's appeal in 2016 was successful; the Court of Criminal Appeal ruled that the original judge had erred by not fully crediting Wharrie's refusal to give false evidence and by not considering his prior life sentence in England for the murder of PC Frank Mason. The appeal reduced his term to 17 ½ years, with a five‑year discount for good conduct, and the sentence is to run from the date of his initial custody. Wharrie's case was the last before the Court of Criminal Appeal before it was succeeded by the Court of Appeal.
The sentencing of Faisal Ellahi, 34, who was convicted of raping a young woman with Down syndrome in Dublin, was adjourned to the following day. The court had to delay because a psychological report proving Ellahi's very low IQ was not ready. Ellahi had pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and having sex with a mentally impaired person at his home on 12 June 2013. The jury had found him guilty of rape and sexual assault, and the case was set for sentencing last month.