In a rape trial at the Central Criminal Court, jurors heard evidence from a special‑needs woman in her twenties who claimed a man brought her to his Dublin home and had sex with her after she became separated from her mother. The accused, who pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and having sex with a mentally impaired person, denied knowing she was mentally impaired. Two DVDs of the woman speaking to a specialist interviewer were shown to the jury. In the first interview she described being found on the street, taken to a house, and forced into sexual activity, including being locked in a room and threatened with violence. She said the man kissed her and inserted his penis, causing her pain. The prosecution argued that consent was impossible because she lacked the capacity to consent, while the defence could argue the accused had no reason to suspect her impairment. The case remains at the trial stage.
In a Dublin case, Wayne Kennedy, aged 34, is set to be sentenced for the manslaughter of David Spain, 26, who was described by his family as a "gentle giant." The incident occurred on 26 December 2013 at Kennedy's home in Rathsallagh Park, Shankill, Co. Dublin. Kennedy was also charged with intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Sean Turner on the same night. A jury found Kennedy not guilty of the assault charge and guilty of manslaughter after a deliberation of four hours and 48 minutes. Kennedy had pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. He is currently remanded in custody until his sentencing on 7 December. The article details the events leading to Spain's death, including a fight that escalated with a knife and a stone, and provides statements from witnesses and family members. The court heard that Spain was stabbed six times, leading to his death. Wayne Kennedy was acquitted.
A 32‑year‑old man named Gary Walsh, charged with murdering former Dublin rugby club captain Cathal Sweeney (62) at a Terenure house on 8 February 2014, was granted bail despite objections from the State. Walsh pleaded not guilty to the murder but had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State did not accept. A jury failed to reach a verdict after five hours and 27 minutes of deliberation, with at least ten jurors dissenting. Prosecution counsel Mr Patrick McCarthy SC presented eight bail conditions to the court, including residence at a specified address, daily reporting to Terenure Garda Station, submission of a mobile phone number, a midnight‑to‑7 a.m. curfew, prohibition on alcohol, surrender of his passport, and no contact with witnesses. Detective Sergeant Joe Molloy confirmed no concerns regarding the three sureties: €9,000 from Walsh's sister, €3,000 from his mother, and €3,000 from a cousin. Judge Patrick J.
In a sentencing hearing on 23 November 2015, Peter Jackson, aged 41, was given a mandatory life sentence for the murder of David Hamilton, aged 31, on 4 May 2012. Jackson, a former heroin addict, admitted remorse, saying "I'm sorry, I didn't set out to do this." The court heard that the killing occurred during a heroin injection session at a house on Kerryhall Road, where an argument over the drug escalated into a stabbing. Jackson had 73 prior convictions, mainly for traffic, public order, theft and burglary, and a previous three‑year sentence for heroin supply. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not to murder, a plea rejected by the prosecution. The sentence was back‑dated to the day of the murder, 4 May 2012. The hearing included a victim impact statement from Hamilton's uncle, Robert Denby, describing the family's profound grief. The judge, Justice Isobel Kennedy, confirmed the life sentence and the back‑dating. Peter Jackson was found guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 49‑year‑old Clare man was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for sexually assaulting an eight‑year‑old girl during a sleep‑over at his home on 11 November 2005. The court found that he had grabbed the child while she was separated from other children and sexually molested her, then denied the charge. He had previously been convicted of abusing a female relative, for which he was already serving a 15‑year term, and had 41 prior convictions including sexual assault and rape. The judge, Patricia Ryan, imposed the three‑year sentence to run concurrently with his existing sentence. The defendant, represented by Keith Spencer BL, did not accept the jury's verdict and intends to appeal. The victim, in a court‑read impact report, expressed relief at being able to move past the incident.
In November 2015, a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced 27‑year‑old Dean Teeling to eight years' imprisonment for a series of violent assaults. Teeling pleaded guilty to violent disorder and to stabbing Ian McKenna, a 28‑year‑old man, eight times after a brawl at Central Bank Plaza on 9 September 2013. He also pleaded guilty to slashing Gerard McKeever, a 24‑year‑old, across the face with a razor blade at McDonald's on 24 April 2014, and to slashing French tourist Loic Marie‑Magdaleine across the face with a razor blade on Fleet Street on the same day. Each razor‑blade assault carried a maximum five‑year sentence, but the judge imposed four years for each of the three razor‑blade assaults to run consecutively with the four‑year sentence for the stabbing, giving a total of eight years.
Anthony Locke, 38, of Ballyfermot, Dublin, was found not guilty of the murder of his neighbour, Christopher Jackson, 53, by a Central Criminal Court jury. However, the jury returned a majority verdict of 10 to two finding him guilty of impeding the apprehension of a person he knew or believed to be guilty of murder. The trial concluded on day 11, with deliberations lasting six hours and 47 minutes. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy thanked the jury and excused them from civic duty for 10 years. Locke had pleaded not guilty to the murder, which occurred between September 6th and 7th, 2012, at an apartment on Prussia Street. His brother, Bernard Locke, previously pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment in February 2014. Prosecutors alleged Anthony Locke participated in the attack and concealed the body, while defense counsel argued the primary witness, Barbara Staunton, was inconsistent and unreliable. The court heard evidence that Jackson died from multiple stab wounds. Following the verdict, Mr Justice McCarthy remanded Anthony Locke in custody until January 18th for sentencing.
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on Brian Meehan's appeal to have his 1999 conviction for the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin declared a miscarriage of justice. Meehan, 47, is serving a life sentence in Portlaoise prison after a 31‑day trial by the Special Criminal Court in July 1999. His appeal is based on new evidence that emerged during the 2001 Special Criminal Court trial of John Gilligan, who was acquitted of Guerin's murder. The new evidence concerns the identification parade of Russell Warren, the "admitted accomplice" and protected witness, who was not identified by Ms Marion Finnegan, a witness who saw someone on the steps of Naas courthouse on the day of the shooting. Meehan's counsel, Hugh Hartnett SC, argues that this failure to identify Warren was unknown to the defence, the court and the prosecution, and therefore constitutes a new fact.
In a Dublin murder case, Sabrina Cummins (37) pleaded not guilty to the killing of Thomas Horan (63) on 6 January 2014 but was found guilty by a jury of six men and six women at the Central Criminal Court. The judge imposed a life sentence, backdated to 8 January 2014. Kenneth Cummins (28), Sabrina's brother, initially pleaded not guilty but changed to guilty after four weeks of trial. He has applied to have his guilty plea vacated, arguing he was not in a fit state to plead on 11 November. The court will consider the application on 7 December. Two victim impact statements were read, detailing Horan's relationship with his wife and the emotional loss felt by family members. The judge noted the case was difficult and the sentence was imposed as a result of the jury's unanimous verdict.
Brian Meehan, 47, serving a life sentence in Portlaoise prison for the 1996 murder of journalist Veronica Guerin, has applied to the Court of Appeal to quash his 1999 conviction on the basis of new evidence. The new evidence concerns facts that emerged during the 2001 Special Criminal Court trial of John Gilligan, who was acquitted of Guerin's murder. Meehan's counsel, Hugh Hartnett SC, argued that the Special Criminal Court had relied solely on the testimony of an "admitted accomplice" and protected witness, Russell Warren, whose credibility was later undermined by a failure to identify him on an identification parade involving witness Marian Finnegan. Hartnett contended that this new fact, unknown to the defence and the court at the time of Meehan's trial, should invalidate the conviction. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Thomas O'Connell SC, opposed the application, asserting that the material was already available to Meehan's lawyers and that the appeal should be dismissed.
An elderly 75‑year‑old man, whose name is withheld to protect the victim's anonymity, has pleaded guilty to attempted rape and sexual assault of his niece with special needs. The offences occurred in County Cork between 2005 and 2008 when the victim was aged 11 to 14, and in County Limerick between 2011 and 2012, including a December 23, 2011 assault. He admitted touching her breast and attempting sex, including an incident in a hallway after she returned from school and another in a car en route to her grandparents' home. The victim, who has a mild intellectual disability and was in residential care, reported ongoing fear and life changes in a victim impact statement. The case is set for sentencing next month, with a court adjournment to December and a risk assessment ordered for the Probation Services.
The jury in the trial of Anthony Locke, 38, accused of murdering Christopher Jackson, 53, at Jackson's Prussia Street apartment, has been sent home for the evening and will resume deliberations on Friday. Locke pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Patrick McCarthy told the jury that if they find Locke not guilty of murder, they may then consider an alternative charge of impeding the apprehension of a person he knew or believed to be guilty of murder. The jury must unanimously find Locke not guilty of murder before considering the alternative verdict.
A jury will start deliberations on the trial of Anthony Locke, 38, accused of murdering neighbour Christopher Jackson, 53, whose body was found in a wardrobe after his death on Prussia Street. Locke pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The trial is in its ninth day. Judge Patrick McCarthy instructed the jury that if they find Locke not guilty of murder, they may consider a conviction for impeding the apprehension of a person they believed to be guilty of murder. He warned that the jury must first decide on the murder charge before considering any alternative verdict. Anthony Locke was acquitted.
The trial of Anothony Locke, 38, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of his neighbour, Christopher Jackson, 53. The prosecution alleges that Mr Jackson was killed at his apartment on Prussia Street between September 6th and 7th, 2012. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy has instructed the jury that they must determine whether the offence was committed through common design, noting that it is not alleged that Mr Locke performed the physical act of killing. The judge explained that common design involves an intention to kill or cause serious injury, which can be formed spontaneously and may be tacit or active. He illustrated this legal concept using examples of accomplices in bank robberies or police obstructions. Mr Justice McCarthy further indicated that he would provide a direction regarding a possible alternative verdict for another offence once the evidence summary is complete. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with the judge's charge proceeding before a jury of six men and six women. No final verdict, sentence, or disposal has been recorded, and the proceedings continue.
Leanne Goode, 21, pleaded not guilty to assaulting Paula McCarthy on the DART on 13 July 2013, but was convicted of the attack. She also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Richard McCarthy, breaching the peace and being intoxicated in public, and was acquitted on those charges. The court found Goode's conduct "unbecoming of a lady" when she boarded the train, roared, danced and "made an absolute and utter nuisance of herself." She punched Ms McCarthy in the face, fracturing her eye socket and causing a bleed. Ms McCarthy, who was on the train with her husband Richard, who has since passed away, received treatment and now wears glasses. In her victim impact report, Ms McCarthy asked the judge not to see Goode jailed, stating she was not vindictive and was remorseful.
A jury of five men and seven women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court to hear the trial of Michael Kinsella, 22, of Swiftbrook Close, Tallaght, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Adil Essalhi, 41, at Tyrrelstown, Dublin, on 6 January 2011. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy told the jury the trial could last up to three weeks and thanked them for their availability. The trial is set to begin on Thursday, 19 November.
In November 2015, Jimmy Devaney, a 67‑year‑old retired soldier, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of Marie Greene, a prostitute whose body was found in Anagorta Bog nine days after she disappeared. The Central Criminal Court had earlier acquitted him of murder but found him guilty of manslaughter after a jury deliberated for four hours and 23 minutes. Justice Margaret Heneghan, who had considered an eleven‑year custodial sentence, imposed eight years, back‑dating it to the day the jury returned its verdict. The judge noted aggravating factors such as the use of a knife, multiple wounds, attempts to destroy evidence and lack of cooperation with Gardaí, and mitigating factors including an early plea, an apology, cooperation and Devaney's prior good character. The sentence was announced after evidence of six stab wounds to Greene's trunk and several incised wounds to her head and neck was presented.
David Mantle, 37, of Crumlin, pleaded guilty to attempted burglary at Maureen Burke's home in Clontarf on 3 July 2014. At 11 pm, after Ms Burke had gone to bed, she heard noises, thought they were her grandchildren, then heard a window smash and a man talking to himself. She went to the landing, saw Mantle, who smelled of alcohol, and he claimed he was in the wrong house. He left through the same window, and Ms Burke struck him with a belt of her walking stick. Garda Manus Keane investigated, used fingerprints on a broken window to identify Mantle, who was arrested in January 2015. He had 43 prior convictions, including robbery, attempted robbery and assault. He was extremely remorseful. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a four‑year sentence, with the final year suspended on strict conditions, and Mantle was jailed for three years.
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Tadgh Butler, 34, known as Thomas O'Grady, pleaded guilty to assaulting Joanna Walsh on 30 April 2011 at St Patrick's Close, Kilkenny. Butler, a convicted murderer of Michael O'Dwyer, had 45 prior convictions. He broke a wine bottle, swung it at Walsh's face, and threatened to slit her throat. Walsh raised her arms to protect herself, later noticing blood on her arm. She asked Butler for an ambulance, but he refused, claiming he would be arrested. He was drunk and aggressive towards Walsh's family before being arrested. The DPP originally charged him with assault causing harm (maximum five years), but the State accepted a plea to common assault (maximum six months). The court imposed a four‑month sentence, to run concurrently with his life sentence for murder. The case was transferred from Kilkenny to Dublin due to publicity surrounding the murder charge.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Peter Jackson, 41, was found guilty of murder after stabbing David Hamilton, 31, during a heroin dispute on Kerryhall Road, Fairhill, Co Cork, on 4 May 2012. Jackson had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury, consisting of ten men and two women, deliberated for nine hours and fifty‑four minutes, reaching a verdict by a majority of 11 to one after four days of evidence. The case involved an argument over heroin use, with both men injecting and attempting to share a second bag of heroin. A friend, Ms Pamela McHale, 26, testified that a fight ensued, leading Jackson to stab Hamilton with a knife. Jackson later admitted his role. The verdict was read at 4.15 p.m., and the sentencing is scheduled for 23 November, when victim impact statements will be heard. The court thanked the jurors and exempted them from further service for 15 years.
The jury in the trial of Peter Jackson, 41, accused of murdering David Hamilton, 31, during a heroin dispute, was informed that a majority verdict could be returned. Jackson, a drug addict, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. After more than six hours of deliberation, Justice Isobel Kennedy told the ten‑man, two‑woman jury that a verdict would be accepted if ten or eleven members agreed. The jury had been deliberating for almost eight hours and was scheduled to resume at 2 p.m.
In a brutal case, Alan Hanley, aged 34, was sentenced to 12½ years' imprisonment for punching, kicking and repeatedly raping a woman in her own home on 4–5 May 2012. The assault began when Hanley entered the victim's house, beat her, tore her clothes off and raped her on a rug. He dragged her into a shower, turned it on, and raped her again, then dragged her downstairs for a third rape. After the third assault he ejaculated, burned pieces of the rug and her clothing, and threatened to destroy evidence. Hanley pleaded not guilty to three rape charges and an assault charge; a jury found him guilty on all counts. The judge imposed the maximum five‑year sentence for the assault and 12½ years for each rape, with all terms running concurrently from May 2012. Hanley had prior violent convictions, including knife possession and intimidation of a witness.
The jury in the trial of Peter Jackson, a 41‑year‑old heroin addict, will resume deliberations on the third day at the Central Criminal Court. Jackson pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the fatal stabbing of David Hamilton, 31, on 4 May 2012 at a house on Kerryhall Road. The ten‑man jury has spent six hours debating the case and has been instructed not to discuss it with anyone outside the jury.
Andrew Durran, aged 43, was sentenced to six years for sexually assaulting a woman he met at a party in December 2006. The assault occurred after most guests had left; the victim was alone in the living room, attempted to leave, but Durran pushed her down and forced penetration. She reported the incident to the police, and DNA evidence linked him. Durran denied the assault, claiming it was consensual, and described the allegation as "a whole lot of shit." He had 17 prior convictions, including a 2007 defilement of his daughter, for which he was already serving a seven‑year term. Judge Sarah Berkeley suspended the final 12 months of the new sentence, citing good behaviour and participation in a sex‑offender treatment course. The six‑year term runs concurrently with his existing sentence, adding only about four months of additional custody.
In a Dublin murder trial, 37‑year‑old Sabrina Cummins pleaded not guilty to the killing of 63‑year‑old Thomas Horan at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on 6 January last year. Judge Tony Hunt finished his charge to the jury, urging them to consider whether Cummins had a culpable role or was merely a spectator. He explained the three possible verdicts: murder, acquittal, or manslaughter. The judge also noted that co‑accused Kenneth Cummins had been re‑arraigned and pleaded guilty to Horan's murder, but instructed the jury to set that case aside and focus solely on Sabrina Cummins. Hunt emphasized the need for careful scrutiny of evidence and cautioned against taking any statement at face value, whether from the prosecution or defence. The jury was sent out to deliberate, with the judge to meet them again at 10:30 am.
In the Central Criminal Court, Anthony Locke, 38, of Ballyfermot, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Christopher Jackson, 53, whose body was found in a wardrobe on Prussia Street between 6 and 7 September 2012. Prosecutor Conor Devally argued that all parties involved in a criminal offence are guilty, citing evidence from Jackson's partner, Barbara Staunton, who claimed Locke restrained her. Devally suggested a "division of labour" between Locke and his brother, and urged the jury to consider whether Locke was an active participant. Defence counsel Padraig Dwyer countered that the prosecution relied on inconsistent testimony from Staunton, who he described as lying. He highlighted the lack of motive and the absence of evidence that Locke acted without duress, urging the jury to acquit on murder and the related charge of concealing a body. The trial will resume next Monday before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a 12‑person jury.
The trial of Stephen Cahoon, 43, of Harvey Street, Derry, continues with legal argument. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jean Teresa Quigley, 30, who was found dead at Cornshell Fields on 26 July 2008. The court will resume with evidence tomorrow.
The High Court has opened an inquiry into the legality of the detention of professional boxer Jamie Kavanagh, who is charged with violent disorder following his father's funeral in Dublin last year. The alleged incident occurred outside a Hotel at Harcourt Street in Dublin city‑centre on 23 September 2014 when it is alleged door staff at a hotel allegedly refused entry to a group of people including Mr Kavanagh. The 25‑year‑old lightweight, from Mourne Road, Drimnagh, in Dublin but who is now living in London, had been in Ireland for a fight that took place last Saturday. He was arrested at Dublin Airport on Monday evening before he was due to return to London. Mr Kavanagh appeared before Dublin District Court on Tuesday. He was refused bail by Judge Michael Walsh.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 11 November 2015, Judge Martin Nolan granted a novel application to remove a 61‑year‑old man from the sex offender register. The man had been convicted in March 2000 of indecent assault on his daughter over five years, beginning when she was seven, and of sexual assault when she was 23. He received a two‑year sentence in 2000 and had denied all charges. Probation Services had assessed him as low risk of re‑offending. Judge Nolan noted that the register's purpose is to monitor those who may pose a danger to society and questioned whether a low‑risk individual should remain listed. He ordered a stay of the removal for one month to allow the State to appeal, marking the first time a court had ruled on such an application.
The jury in the trial of Peter Jackson, a 41‑year‑old heroin addict from Kerryhall Road, Fairhill, Co. Cork, will resume deliberations tomorrow after Justice Isobel Kennedy finished her charge. Jackson has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the fatal stabbing of David Hamilton, 31, on 4 May 2012 at a house on Kerryhall Road. Kennedy explained that the jury can return a verdict of guilty of murder or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. She reminded the ten men and two women that the burden of proof lies with the prosecution and that a murder conviction requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Jackson intended to kill or cause serious injury and that he was not provoked. The jury spent one hour and 24 minutes considering their verdict today and was asked to return tomorrow morning. The judge also instructed them not to discuss the case with anyone outside the jury.
Anthony Locke, 38, denied in court that he "finished off" Christopher Jackson, whose body was found in a wardrobe after his death. Locke, of Ramillies Road, Ballyfermot, pleaded not guilty to Jackson's murder at his Prussia Street apartment between 6 and 7 September 2012. He told Garda interviewers he had no weapon and did not stab Jackson. Locke claimed his fingerprints might be on the knife because his brother Bernard could have placed it in his hand while he slept. He also denied cutting his finger while stabbing Jackson, saying Bernard inflicted the injury. Locke stated he had no involvement in the death and had nothing to do with the body's concealment. The case is in closing stages before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of twelve.
Anthony Locke, 38, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Christopher Jackson, 53, at Jackson's Prussia Street apartment between 6 and 7 September 2012. Locke presented himself at a garda station on 9 September 2012, was arrested and interviewed. He told the Garda that his brother, Bernard, had stabbed Jackson and then forced Locke to clean up the scene. Locke described moving the body as weighing a "tonne" and said he "nearly snapped my back". He claimed he used two duvets and four or five plastic bags to wrap the body, that blood covered the kitchen, and that his brother threatened to cut off his fingers. Locke denied using a weapon or having an active part in the killing, but recounted that Jackson's last words were "Babs help". The trial continues with Locke's garda interviews before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of twelve.
In the murder trial of Peter Jackson, a 41‑year‑old drug addict, the jury was instructed to consider his mental state on the day of the incident. Jackson pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the death of 31‑year‑old David Hamilton, who was stabbed on 4 May 2012 at a house on Kerryhall Road. Defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC explained that by pleading guilty to manslaughter, Jackson accepted responsibility for Hamilton's death but denied intent to kill. Justice Isobel Kennedy told the jury that the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Jackson intended to kill or cause serious harm, and that provocation could negate murder if the accused lost control. The prosecution argued that Jackson had tried to inject heroin, an argument escalated, and Jackson then stabbed Hamilton. Witness Pamela McHale confirmed the fight and that Jackson had taken a knife from the table.
In the joint trial of Kenneth Cummins (28) and Sabrina Cummins (37) for the murder of Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, the defence counsel, Mr Blaise O'Carroll SC, argued that it was "extraordinarily improbable" for Sabrina to harbour a "dark thought" to harm someone she cared about. He highlighted Horan's reputation as a kind man, his support for his ex‑wife, and the fact that Sabrina had stayed in his apartment when it "overspilled" in her sister's home. O'Carroll recounted Sabrina's testimony, where she faced the jury directly, and described her traumatic background: an alcoholic father, a sister who died of a heart attack, a brother who suffered brain damage, and a sister Breda who was murdered in 2010. He suggested that these events shaped her psyche and made it unlikely she intended to kill Horan. He also noted that Sabrina did not flee the scene but called the Gardaí. The trial continues. Kenneth Cummins pleaded not guilty. Sabrina Cummins pleaded not guilty.
A witness has told the Central Criminal Court that Stephen Cahoon appeared notably anxious on the morning a pregnant woman's body was discovered in Derry. Cahoon, aged 43 and from Harvey Street in Derry, Northern Ireland, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jean Teresa Quigley on 26 July 2008 at Cornshell fields. A man who was living in Letterkenny at the time testified by video link from Glasgow that Cahoon called to his home in the early hours of that day. The witness stated that Cahoon seemed "very shaky" and requested water before leaving after approximately thirty minutes. He recalled that Cahoon had mentioned being in town drinking. Justice Deirdre Murphy adjourned proceedings to address a legal matter and directed the jury to return on Thursday. The trial continues before a jury of twelve.
Barry Gray, aged 30, was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment for assault causing harm and robbery after he repeatedly stabbed his ex‑partner in the face with a fork while she was holding their infant child. The incident occurred on 10 February 2015 in the woman's home on Dominic Street. Gray threatened to kill the child and demanded €150, taking the money despite the victim's explanation that it was needed for the baby's food. He had 47 prior convictions, including assaults and breaches of safety orders. The judge noted the presence of the child and the victim's attempt to protect him. After the attack, the victim was treated for shallow stab wounds and later called an ambulance. Gray pleaded guilty and expressed remorse, having written an apology letter. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In November 2013, 21‑year‑old Wayne Connors of Upper Rathmines Road, Dublin, attacked two men, Sean Clarke and Gavin Murray, on Boyne Street Upper. Connors, who had previously been charged with assaulting a student who had been pick‑pocketed, struck Clarke and Murray, leaving Clarke with a burst eardrum. Connors was arrested later that night on Bachelors Walk after resisting arrest, requiring pepper spray to subdue him. He pleaded guilty to the assault. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Connors' "history of some tragedy" – including the death of his sister in a caravan fire, his father's death in a road traffic accident, and a family member's death from smoke inhalation – imposed a custodial sentence of two and a half years. Eighteen months of that term were suspended, and an 18‑month post‑release supervision order was imposed. Connors' defence counsel claimed he was drunk and misled by a false accusation against his girlfriend.
Michael Moran, 78, of Oldtown, Nurney, pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to three charges of raping his grandniece between October 2003 and June 2009 and to seven charges of raping his niece between January 1983 and March 1989. Judge Margaret Heneghan sentenced him to ten years, suspending the final three years on conditions. The court noted that the victims, aged 41 and 23, had suffered repeated sexual assault, with the older victim recalling assaults beginning when she was eight and the younger beginning when she was eleven. Moran admitted to the assaults and claimed the victims had instigated intercourse, but the judge described his actions as causing great suffering and trauma. He had entered an early guilty plea, expressed remorse, and had been of previous good character. The sentence reflected the seriousness of the repeated rapes and the impact on the victims.
In the murder trial of Stephen Cahoon, 43, the jury heard forensic evidence linking the accused to the death of Jean Teresa Quigley, 30, who was found dead at Cornshell Fields on 26 July 2008. A white t‑shirt taken from Cahoon's Harvey Street apartment contained blood spots that matched Quigley's DNA, while other stains on the shirt matched Cahoon's DNA. Semen on vaginal swabs and fingernail swabs also matched Cahoon, indicating recent sexual activity. Cigarette butts showed a majority of Quigley's DNA and a minority of Cahoon's. A damaged black bra was examined, with damage deemed recent. Mobile phone data from both parties were recovered, revealing threatening texts from Cahoon to Quigley. The trial continues with the jury hearing these forensic findings. Stephen Cahoon pleaded not guilty.
Alan Wilson, 36, of New Street Gardens, Dublin, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for a meat‑cleaver attack on Dromheath Drive, Blanchardstown, on 3 June 2009. He and David Crowley, 38, had pleaded not guilty to trespass and assault. Wilson was also charged with murder, for which he was later acquitted. While awaiting trial for the murder, Wilson spent 12 months in custody. The Court of Appeal, on 12 April 2013, reduced Wilson's sentence by one year, citing the time he had already been deprived of liberty. Judge George Birmingham explained that Wilson's bail for the meat‑cleaver attack remained in force even though he was in custody on the murder charge. Wilson's counsel argued the original seven‑year term was excessive, noting his lack of prior prison experience and the absence of a victim impact report. Wilson did not react to the resentencing. The final sentence was six years' imprisonment.
Howard Kelly, aged 41, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 48‑year‑old Margot Seery, who was strangled in her Kenilworth Square flat in Dublin on 7–8 October 1994. Kelly walked into a Garda station in Naas in July 2014 and confessed to the killing, claiming he had been threatened by Seery and had acted in a "completely unprovoked" manner. The court heard that Seery's body was found fully clothed, face‑down on her bed, and that a post‑mortem at the time had indicated death by asphyxiation from vomit after alcohol consumption, a conclusion later challenged by Kelly's confession. The prosecution presented statements from Kelly, Garda evidence, and victim impact statements from Seery's daughter and brother. The judge, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, imposed a life sentence back‑dated to 27 March 2015. The case was described as highly unusual by the State prosecutor. Howard Kelly pleaded guilty.
Joseph Byrne, aged 21, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for assault causing serious harm after he slashed a teenage boy's face with a knife on 4 February 2014. Byrne approached the boy, accusing him of having his X‑Box console, and cut a 10‑cm slash from the boy's ear to his lip, requiring 36 stitches and leaving a likely permanent scar. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Byrne had 15 prior convictions, including two for knife possession, and was suffering from schizophrenia and depression at the time of the attack. Judge Desmond Hogan imposed a seven‑year sentence with the final two years suspended, ordering psychiatric care while in custody and 12 months of probation monitoring after release. Byrne also received a suspended one‑year sentence for a burglary committed while on bail, which will run consecutively with the seven‑year term.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 9 November 2015, Peter Jackson, 41, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for stabbing David Hamilton, 31, on 4 May 2012 at a house on Kerryhall Road, Fairhill, Co Cork. Jackson, a heroin addict, claimed the act was accidental, stating he wanted Hamilton's family to know he was sorry. Prosecutor Thomas O'Connell SC described how Jackson had tried to inject Hamilton after injecting himself, leading to an argument over a vein and resulting in Jackson stabbing Hamilton in the chest with a knife. Garda Donal O'Casey testified that Jackson had been interviewed three times at Gurranabraher Garda Station and had told the officers, "It was a complete accident. I'm sorry." Jackson also admitted knowing Hamilton for about 14 years and that he had never intended harm. The trial proceeded with a jury and Justice Isobel Kennedy scheduled to continue the next day.
A jury was sworn in for the trial of 33‑year‑old Eric Locke of St Johns Park East, Clondalkin, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Sonia Blount in Room 346 of The Plaza Hotel, Tallaght, on 16 February 2014. The trial, expected to last five or six days, will be heard by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy with a jury of four women and eight men.
Farhad Khorang, 38, received a 21‑month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to assaulting his wife on 18 November 2014. The incident involved Khorang punching and biting his wife, who was later locked in their apartment for four days before escaping to a refuge. Garda Neil Canny reported that the woman later wished to drop the assault allegation and returned to Khorang. The Director of Public Prosecutions pursued the case despite her recantation. Khorang, of Kurdish‑Iranian origin and naturalised Irish, had no prior convictions. A passerby alerted Gardaí to a woman on a balcony seeking help; translations from French to English allowed Gardaí to break down the door. The woman, with bruises and a bite mark on her knee, testified that she and her baby had been locked in the premises overnight. The judge described the attack as "reprehensible" but found no useful purpose in imprisoning Khorang, noting it would be his first and last chance.
Michael Doyle, aged 22 at the time of the offence, was sentenced by Judge Patricia Ryan to a three‑year term with the final year suspended, following a guilty plea to defilement of a child under 15. The offence occurred on 23 July 2012 when Doyle, after meeting a 14‑year‑old girl on a bus, bought alcohol for her and a friend, and later took the girl to his father's home where they had sex. Doyle had 31 prior convictions, including violence, criminal damage, arson and handling stolen property. The judge noted Doyle's remorse, low risk of re‑offending in sexual matters, and the seriousness of the charge and victim's age. Doyle was held in custody pending sentencing after failing to attend a previous hearing. The victim reported lasting psychological effects, including paranoia, school‑work disruption, flashbacks, loneliness and isolation.
In a 2015 trial, Kenneth Cummins (28) and Sabrina Cummins (37) pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on 6 January last year. Prosecution counsel Remy Farrell SC delivered a closing speech describing the case as a "protracted torturing and killing of another human being." He asserted that only the Cummins siblings were present when Horan was beaten to death in his small apartment, citing evidence such as CCTV, text messages, DNA and fingerprints. The prosecution highlighted Sabrina's admission in the witness box that she kicked and punched Horan between strangulation and suffocation, and argued that the absence of stab wounds and white spirits indicated an attempt to conceal the crime. Farrell warned the jury that the defense might invoke provocation, referencing a recorded prison phone call. The judge noted the trial would resume on Monday and hoped to conclude by the following Friday.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 6 November 2015, 34‑year‑old Eoghan O'Mahoney of Killester was found not guilty by reason of insanity for an attempted murder of his 91‑year‑old grandmother, Catherine McGillion, on 19 December 2013. O'Mahoney, who suffers from schizophrenia, attacked his grandmother with a knife during a psychotic episode, cutting the left side of her neck and striking her several times. The jury, after about 30 minutes, accepted the defence plea of insanity, noting that the prosecution had not contested it. McGillion, who described O'Mahoney as "the person he loves most in the world," testified that the attack was out of character and that she and her grandson had a close relationship. O'Mahoney's brother, Conor, intervened and called emergency services. The verdict was unanimous, and O'Mahoney is scheduled for further assessment on 16 November.
A man accused of murdering a pregnant woman in Derry in 2008 told gardaí "I'm the man you're looking for" as he was being taken to Ballyshannon Garda Station, the Central Criminal Court has heard. Stephen Cahoon, aged 43, with an address in Derry, has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Jean Teresa Quigley on July 26th, 2008. Detective Sergeant Desmond Sheridan testified that he spotted a man matching the accused's description in Donegal town on August 5th, 2008, and approached him at 8.50pm. The man initially provided a false name and address. During the journey to the garda station, the accused made the statement cited, whereupon he was arrested and provided his correct identity. The court heard that while in custody at Ballyshannon, the accused consumed a large quantity of Paracetamol tablets and was subsequently transferred to Sligo General Hospital. The trial, before Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury, is continuing.
Eoghan O'Mahoney, aged 34, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for attempting to murder his 91‑year‑old grandmother, Catherine McGillion, on 19 December 2013. During the attack he cut her with a knife and repeatedly kicked her body and head. The Central Criminal Court heard that O'Mahoney was in a psychotic episode and that the grandmother was "the person he loves most in the world." Two psychiatrists testified he suffered psychotic delusions, supporting the insanity plea. Justice Patrick McCarthy will finish charging the jury this afternoon.