At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Mark Lavelle, aged 32, originally from Swinford in Mayo, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, following his guilty plea to two counts of assault causing harm and hijacking. On the early morning of September 20th, 2014, Lavelle attacked a taxi driver in Palmerstown and subsequently assaulted Dublin GAA footballer Jonny Cooper on Dorset Street Upper, inflicting nine stab wounds. The court heard Lavelle was under the influence of crystal methamphetamine during the frenzied attacks. Mr Cooper was hospitalised overnight but recovered, though he experienced psychological effects. Judge Martin Nolan imposed consecutive sentences of three and a half years each, describing Lavelle as a danger to society. The judge noted Lavelle's sixty-two previous convictions and long-standing psychiatric difficulties requiring anti-psychotic medication. Defence counsel highlighted Lavelle's background of homelessness, substance abuse from childhood, and family history of violence.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Peter Jackson (41) pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the death of David Hamilton (31) on 4 May 2012. Jackson and his girlfriend, Pamela McHale (26), had bought two bags of heroin and met Hamilton at a house on Kerryhall Road, Fairhill. After Jackson injected himself and McHale, he struggled to find a vein for Hamilton, sparking an argument. Jackson then seized a knife from the table and stabbed Hamilton in the chest. McHale later called an ambulance under a false name and did not disclose the incident to police until the next day. Hamilton died three days later. The trial continues before a jury and Justice Isobel Kennedy.
The Deputy State Pathologist, Dr Michael Curtis, informed the jury that Christopher Jackson, aged 53, died from multiple stab wounds after his body was found in a wardrobe on Prussia Street. Dr Curtis identified 70 stab wounds, including a large chest wound that cut an artery and punctured the right lung, five back wounds that penetrated to the chest, and several left arm wounds considered defensive. He noted the victim's genitals were intact and that more than one weapon was likely used. Anthony Locke, 38, pleaded not guilty to the murder. Witness Deirdre Holton testified that Locke moved kitchen furniture on 7 September 2012 and claimed he was cleaning. She described Ms Staunton's strange behaviour and Bernard Locke's aggression. Detective Sergeant Kevin Daly reported a warrant search of the flat, discovery of a body-shaped package in the wardrobe, and the arrest of Bernard Locke. The trial proceeded before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a balanced jury.
In the murder trial of Kenneth Cummins (28) and Sabrina Cummins (37) for the killing of Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, Judge Tony Hunt halted proceedings because Sabrina Cummins was reported unwell. The judge asked the jury to retire for half an hour, then instructed them to return the next day at 9:30 am and to monitor their phones for any changes. The trial will resume tomorrow, with the jury advised to be prepared for a possible continuation of the hearing. Kenneth Cummins pleaded not guilty. Sabrina Cummins pleaded not guilty.
Two Dublin men, David Crowley (38) and Alan Wilson (36), were convicted of trespassing and assault causing harm after breaking into a home in Blanchardstown on 3 June 2009 and attacking the victim with a meat cleaver. Crowley was also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. A jury found them guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and Judge Desmond Hogan sentenced Crowley to eight years' imprisonment and Wilson to seven years' imprisonment on 12 April 2013. Both men appealed their convictions. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, dismissed the appeals. Birmingham rejected arguments that a jury member's request for a lighter and the admission of evidence that Wilson was wearing a bulletproof vest were improper, and upheld the trial judge's handling of witness statements and the evidence that the cleaver was brought to the house. Wilson's sentence appeal will be considered separately. David Crowley pleaded not guilty. Alan Wilson pleaded not guilty.
In a High Court hearing on 5 November 2015, Richard Butler, aged 48, resolved a damages action against McSuils pub owners Noel and Ken Walker and his assailant Joseph Phillips. Butler had lost his left eye when Phillips struck him with a pool ball during an altercation at the pub on 17 July 2012. Butler, a former tiler, now wears a prosthetic eye. He alleged that the pub owners should have evicted Phillips after learning of his intoxication and violent propensity, and that the pub had served alcohol to him when it was dangerous, showing reckless disregard for Butler's safety. The owners denied the claims and the assault was not deemed foreseeable. The court entered judgment against Phillips in default of a defence and asked for damages. No settlement details were disclosed in open court. The pub is now closed. The hearing was presided over by Mr Justice Kevin Cross.
A 24-year-old man from Castlebar, County Mayo, who is serving a life sentence for the 2011 murder of his mother, has been sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment for assaulting a prison officer at Mountjoy Prison. The man pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to throwing boiling water at the officer on 15 April 2014. The officer sustained burns to his face and shoulder and was absent from work for five weeks. The court heard the defendant has sustained irreversible organic brain damage from drug abuse during his teenage years and was transferred from the Central Mental Hospital to Mountjoy following his murder conviction. At the time of the assault, his medication had recently been altered and he had just been moved from a padded cell. Judge Martin Nolan noted the defendant had no impulse control and observed there was no rational explanation for the attack. The court heard the defendant has since remained free of further convictions and is receiving psychiatric care in custody.
In the murder trial of Stephen Cahoon, a 43‑year‑old Derry man, the jury heard that a witness, Mr Peter Barr, claimed to have seen a kitchen knife on a dresser in the room where Jean Teresa Quigley, a 30‑year‑old pregnant woman, was found dead on 26 July 2008. Mr Barr described arriving at the house with Quigley's sister, seeing the victim's leg hanging from the bed, her body partially clothed, and her head facing the wall. He noted a length of brown tape on the floor and a chrome‑handled knife on a dresser, which he left untouched. The court also heard testimony from a taxi driver who had taken Quigley to a shop that day, a friend who confirmed Quigley's pregnancy and normal routine, and a police constable who observed the victim's body, bruising, and the knife at the scene. The case remains before the Central Criminal Court. Stephen Cahoon pleaded not guilty.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Deirdre Holton testified that on 7 September 2012 she saw Anthony Locke, aged 38, moving kitchen furniture from the deceased Christopher Jackson's flat into the yard at about 9 am. Locke told her he had been up all night and was merely helping the deceased's partner, Barbara Staunton, on a "mad cleaning buzz". Holton also noted Staunton was unusually quiet at a gathering that evening. Locke, who lives on Ramillies Road, Ballyfermot, has pleaded not guilty to the murder.
In a High Court hearing on 4 November 2015, a 48‑year‑old man named Richard Butler sued Joseph Phillips, the pub owner Noel Walker and his son Ken Walker after Butler lost his left eye when struck by a pool ball during an altercation at McSuils public house in Castlehill, Carlow on 17 July 2012. Butler, a former ceramic tiler, was injured after he tried to hold back Phillips, who had been drinking for several hours and was described by Butler as "loud, aggressive and a troublemaker." Butler claims Phillips had threatened to "escape from Shelton Abbey prison" and called himself a member of the IRA. Butler alleges the pub failed to control Phillips, served him alcohol when it was dangerous, and should have evicted him. The pub owners deny the claims, arguing the assault was unforeseeable. Phillips is currently serving a prison sentence for the assault and is representing himself in the action.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Stephen Cahoon, 43, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jean Teresa Quigley, 30, who was found dead at Cornshell Fields on 26 July 2008. Witnesses described a volatile relationship, with Quigley allegedly drinking heavily and having frequent arguments with Cahoon. Colm Quinn, father of Quigley's children, testified that the couple had fought but reconciled, and that Quigley had informed him she was pregnant. Christopher Coyle, who babysat Quigley, recounted an evening when Cahoon entered the house, spoke to Quigley in a raised voice, and left after drinking a bottle of WKD. Sandra Wilson noted that Cahoon had threatened to jump off a bridge the week before the murder. The case proceeds before Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury.
During the trial at the Central Criminal Court, Sabrina Cummins, aged 37, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas Horan, 63, who died on 6 January at Cambridge Court, Ringsend. Cummins admitted she had punched and kicked Horan but denied any involvement with the plastic bag, belt, or knife used in the killing. She claimed her brother, Kenneth Cummins, 28, was responsible for the death. Cummins also stated she had called the Gardaí that night rather than leaving Horan unattended. In cross‑examination, she denied attempting to extort money from Horan and admitted lying about needing to pay a taxi driver. She maintained that she only struck Horan once and that she had no part in the use of the belt or knife. The hearing continued into the next day.
In the trial of Stephen Cahoon, a 43‑year‑old from Derry, the jury heard that he had sought money from the victim, Jean Teresa Quigley, in the days before her murder. Cahoon pleaded not guilty to the killing of Quigley, a 30‑year‑old, at Cornshell Fields on 26 July 2008. Christopher Coyle, who babysat Quigley on 23 July, testified that he found the front door open when he arrived and that Quigley had left in a taxi and returned at 2.40 a.m. He described a knock on the front window and a shadowed hand. Coyle said he saw Cahoon enter, speak to Quigley in a "slightly raised voice," and take a bottle of WKD from the kitchen. Quigley asked him to leave, but Cahoon claimed he was leaving after drinking. Coyle heard Cahoon say he was looking for £50 back from Quigley. After Cahoon left, Coyle noted Quigley had locked all doors behind him.
Kenneth Cummins (28) and Sabrina Cummins (37), both of Ringsend Park, Dublin 4, are on trial at the Central Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on January 6th last year. During the trial, Sabrina Cummins gave evidence for the defence, describing the deceased as a "very nice man" who was "like a Dad" to her. She detailed her childhood background, including her father's alcoholism and domestic violence, which led to her placement in foster care. Ms Cummins also recounted a violent relationship with an Albanian man that resulted in a near-fatal injury. She stated she met Mr Horan through her sister, Breda, and maintained a long friendship with him. The court heard that Breda was murdered by her ex-partner in May 2013. Two weeks after Breda's burial, Sabrina Cummins alleged that five detectives held her and her partner at gunpoint, claiming Kenneth Cummins had reported they possessed a firearm intended to kill Breda's murderer. She denied these claims, stating her vehicle and home were searched. The trial continues.
During the murder trial of Anthony Locke, Barbara Staunton, the partner of the deceased, testified that police had suspected her of concealing Christopher Jackson's body but she was never charged. She denied knowing the body was in their bedroom wardrobe, saying she thought it had been placed outside but sensed it was inside. Staunton also stated her sister had stayed overnight with a child in her bedroom, while she believed the accused and his brother had put the body in the hall. The trial proceeds before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury. Anthony Locke pleaded not guilty.
Peter Jackson, 41, of Kerryhall Road, Fairhill, Cork, faces trial at the Central Criminal Court for the 2012 murder of a 31‑year‑old. He pleaded not guilty to the murder but guilty to the manslaughter of David Hamilton, 31, who died on May 4, 2012. Justice Isobel Kennedy thanked the jury for arriving promptly, noted an unavoidable delay, and said the trial would resume Thursday at 11 a.m. The trial is expected to last about five days.
The High Court heard an update in the extradition proceedings concerning Eric Eoin Marques, a 30-year-old Dublin resident with an address at Mountjoy Square. Marques is alleged to be the owner and administrator of an anonymous hosting site known as Freedom Hosting, and US authorities claim he is the largest facilitator of child pornography in the world. He faces charges relating to conspiring to distribute and advertise child pornography, as well as advertising and distributing such material. The State seeks to surrender him to US authorities, while Marques is seeking a judicial review of the Director of Public Prosecutions' decision not to prosecute him in Ireland. During the hearing, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly referenced a letter written to her by a US prisoner regarding the treatment of mentally ill inmates in American prisons. Although Marques' lawyers had previously raised concerns about the risk of sexual violence in US prisons, the judge stated that her judgment would not be influenced by the inmate's letter. However, she allowed legal representatives the opportunity to make submissions relating to the letter's contents. The matter was adjourned until December 16th, with the case to be mentioned again next week. Marques remains in custody, having been remanded after his arrest in August 2013, when bail was refused due to concerns he represented a flight risk and might interfere with evidence.
A 61‑year‑old Dublin man, whose name is withheld, applied to have his name removed from the sex offenders register after being convicted in 2000 of indecent assault on his daughter over five years, starting when she was seven, and of sexual assault when she was 23. He received a two‑year sentence. Judge Martin Nolan explained that the register's purpose is to monitor those who may pose a danger to society and that removal is possible if the common good is no longer served. He noted the man's low risk of re‑conviction, citing his age and profile, and ordered a risk assessment by Probation Services. The judge would decide after reviewing the report, with the case adjourned to the following week. A Garda testified about monitoring visits and affirmed that the common good was served by the register's existence.
The jury in the trial of Badri Khvedelidze, a 33‑year‑old Georgian accused of murdering fellow Georgian George Tkeshelashvili in Tralee on 15 October 2005, was sent home after two hours of deliberations at the Central Criminal Court. The six men and six women will return the next day to consider the evidence. Justice Isobel Kennedy told them they could return a verdict of murder, manslaughter or not guilty, and that they must assess the credibility of witnesses who offered contradictory evidence.
Patrick Davis, a 30‑year‑old unemployed butcher, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Garda Ciaran Byrne and Desmond Dunphy on Thomas Street on 9 February 2014. The offence involved Davis punching Byrne twice, fracturing his eye socket, and also striking Dunphy. Davis was intoxicated and "out of control" and claimed he did not realise Byrne was a garda. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Davis may not have known Byrne's identity but found his behaviour reprehensible. The court imposed a suspended jail sentence of two and a half years, conditioned on Davis paying €2,000 to Dunphy within a year. The sentence was suspended, and no custodial term was imposed. The case stemmed from a confrontation that began after a christening celebration and a pub visit on Thomas Street. The court noted that Davis had no prior convictions and that the incident occurred during a period of personal tragedy for him.
Criostóir MacCárthaigh, 38, of An Gleann, Palmerstown, had been convicted of murdering David Whyte, 35, in Dublin between 24 and 26 September 2008. The murder involved more than 100 stab wounds in the ruins of an old church. A jury at the Central Criminal Court found him guilty and he received a mandatory life sentence on 19 February 2013. MacCárthaigh appealed, arguing that the trial judge erred by allowing certain evidence before the jury. He claimed his answers to Garda questions about his DNA on the victim's trousers and his presence at Mill Lane were not failures or refusals. The appeal was dismissed by a three‑judge court, which held that his answers were deliberate evasions and that the judge's directions and the admissibility of witness statements were correct. The court noted that the prosecution's witness had been robustly questioned on prior convictions, and MacCárthaigh could not challenge the admissibility of those convictions. The appeal was therefore dismissed. Criostóir MacCárthaigh pleaded not guilty.
Michelle Conroy, aged 47, of Arch Court, Roscommon Town, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to violent disorder arising from an incident on Lower O'Connell Street, Dublin on 27 December 2012. Judge Desmond Hogan imposed a two-year sentence suspended in full for two years. Evidence indicated that Conroy repeatedly kicked a man on the ground while holding a pram containing a child during an altercation involving a group of five adults and two children. CCTV footage showed the victim was attacked after being pushed from a shop, with Conroy delivering at least eight kicks as he lay on the ground. The judge noted her blatant disregard for public safety, whilst a probation report assessed her as posing moderate re-offending risk. Conroy, who has fourteen previous convictions, initially failed to appear for sentencing and a bench warrant was issued before her subsequent arrest and appearance.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 42‑year‑old man was convicted of sexually assaulting an 11‑year‑old girl who was staying with him while her mother was abroad. The jury found him guilty on two of three charges of sexual assault committed between 18 March and 20 April 2008, but did not reach a verdict on the third count. Judge Patricia Ryan registered the defendant as a sex offender, ordered a victim impact report, and remanded him on bail pending sentencing next month. The victim, now 19, testified that she was watching television in the accused's home when he hugged her from behind near her breasts, and that he also touched her thighs. She described a further incident where he forced her to sit on his stomach and touch his genitals while she was playing with his daughter. After the mother returned from abroad, the family left the man's house. The unnamed 11 year old pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Stephen Cahoon, aged 43, pleaded not guilty to the death of Jean Teresa Quigley, aged 30, who was found strangled at Cornshell Fields, Derry, on 26 July 2008. State Pathologist Professor Jack Crane testified that Quigley's body lay on her left side, naked except for socks, with extensive bruising and bloodstained fluid around the mouth and face. He described multiple bruises on the head, neck, chest, abdomen and arms, noting that the neck injuries were consistent with manual strangulation. Crane also examined the uterus, finding an enlarged uterus containing a male embryo of about 10 weeks' gestation, weighing four grams. Forensic Scientist Matthew James Greenhalgh performed a paternity test, concluding it was 6000 times more likely that Cahoon was the father of the unborn child. The trial, with a jury of eight men and four women, is scheduled to continue for two weeks.
Kenneth Cummins, aged 28, and Sabrina Cummins, aged 37, both from Ringsend Park, Dublin 4, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas Horan, 63, at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on 6 January last year. Dr Alan Byrne, consultant psychiatrist at Lakeview Unit, Naas General Hospital, testified that Kenneth Cummins was voluntarily admitted to a mental health unit from 24 December 2013 to 3 January 2014 because he expressed suicidal thoughts and was agitated. He had previously been homeless and had been admitted for stabilisation. On 3 January 2014, an arrangement was made for him to leave the psychiatric unit to a homeless accommodation. The prosecution's case was concluded by counsel Mr Garret Baker BL. Judge Tony Hunt informed the jury that the trial would continue the following day, noting that Sabrina Cummins would not attend due to illness. The case remains at the stage where the jury will consider the evidence presented.
During the murder trial of Anthony Locke, 38, the partner of the deceased, Barbara Staunton, testified that Locke claimed he had cut off Christopher Jackson's penis and placed it in the victim's pocket. Staunton, who admitted using heroin that night, said Locke asked her what she was doing with someone with a "little penis." She also recounted hearing Locke and Bernard Locke discuss the murder, with one remarking, "Remember the Scissor Sisters? We can be the Scissor Brothers." Staunton described the scene where Jackson fell back into the flat with a knife in his chest after answering the door to the accused and Bernard. She also noted that Bernard had ordered her to clean up a severely cut hand while Locke was in the kitchen. The testimony was given before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of twelve. The trial continues. Anthony Locke pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the trial of Badri Khvedelidze, aged 33, will begin deliberations on Tuesday at the Central Criminal Court. Khvedelidze has pleaded not guilty to the murder of fellow Georgian George Tkeshelashvili, who died on 15 October 2005 at Westward Court in Tralee. The prosecution's case, presented by Mr Tim O'Leary SC, relies on the testimony of chief witness Givi Verdzeuli, who claimed to have seen an argument over a game of backgammon, a punch to the chest, blood, and a knife in Khvedelidze's hand. Defence counsel Mr Kerida Naidoo SC challenged Verdzeuli's reliability, noting that he had changed his story after initially telling Gardaí he saw nothing, and that he had been deported to Georgia in 2010. Naidoo also cited a 45‑year‑old Nigerian witness, Sow Unmi, who failed to identify Khvedelidze when shown a photograph.
Anthony Locke, 38, of Ballyfermot, has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court accused of the murder of Christopher Jackson. The prosecution alleges that Jackson was killed at his apartment on Prussia Street between September 6th and 7th, 2012. Locke has pleaded not guilty to the charge. His brother, Bernard Locke, has pleaded guilty to a related offence, though specific details of his plea were not elaborated in the opening address. Prosecuting counsel Conor Devally SC told the jury that Jackson's body was found wrapped in a duvet and plastic bag in a wardrobe on the ground floor on September 8th. Evidence is expected from Barbara Staunton, Jackson's partner, who allegedly witnessed Jackson fall backward with a knife embedded in him. She stated that Bernard and Anthony Locke moved the injured man to the kitchen before she was taken to a bedroom by Bernard, where she later learned Jackson had died. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of six men and six women. The matter is currently at the trial stage and has not been concluded.
A 41‑year‑old Cork resident, Peter Jackson, was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court on 2 November 2015. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the 2012 killing of David Hamilton, a Wexford native who had been living in Cork. The court heard that Jackson stabbed Hamilton on 4 May 2012 at Kerryhall Road, Fairhill. A jury of ten men and two women was sworn in, and Justice Patrick McCarthy announced the trial would start on Wednesday or Thursday and last six days.
A 34‑year‑old Dublin man, Eoghan O'Mahoney, was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on Friday for the attempted murder of Catherine McGillion on 19 December 2013 at the same address. He pleaded not guilty. A jury of ten women and two men was sworn in, and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said the trial would last one day.
Jonathan Colbert, 27, of Limerick, pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault on a woman in her 40s who was walking home from a night out on 13 October 2013. He grabbed her, dragged her into a nearby estate, pinned her against a wall and struck her head three times. While she screamed for help, he removed his trousers and underwear and attempted to undo her belt. A resident called the Gardaí after hearing the screams; the victim was still struggling when officers arrived. Colbert pretended to make a phone call and fled. He was intoxicated at the time of arrest and later claimed the victim had consented to sexual acts. The court noted the lack of a victim impact statement and the victim's desire to move on. Justice Margaret Heneghan cited the physical harm to the victim's face, Colbert's lack of genuine remorse and a psychologist's report of low empathy as aggravating factors.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the nephew of 37‑year‑old Marie Greene delivered a victim impact statement. He described the murder that took place on 13 February 2011, when Greene was taken to Anagorta Bog outside Athlone, brutally killed and her body dumped in a ditch. The statement highlighted the family's anguish, the loss of a beloved aunt, and the subsequent death of Greene's brother John, who died 21 days later. The nephew emphasized that the killer had shown no respect for Greene's life or body, and that the family endured further pain when Greene's character was portrayed negatively in the media. He urged the court to deliver an appropriate sentence for the person responsible for the cruel and callous killing. The hearing also noted that retired defence forces member Jimmy Devaney was acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter, with sentencing pending. The statement was read on behalf of Greene's grandmother, mother, and extended family. The unnamed 37-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A man charged with murder at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin has admitted killing the victim, though he maintains the killing does not constitute murder. Stephen Cahoon, aged 42 and with an address in Derry, Northern Ireland, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jean Teresa Quigley at Cornshell Fields in Derry on 26 July 2008. Ms Quigley, aged 30, was pregnant with Mr Cahoon's child at the time. The prosecution outlined that the couple met in March 2008 and their relationship deteriorated by July. The court heard evidence regarding text messages between them, witness accounts of disturbances on the night in question, and forensic findings including bloodstains matching Ms Quigley on a T-shirt recovered from Mr Cahoon's flat. Post mortem evidence indicated Ms Quigley died from manual strangulation. Mr Cahoon was located in Donegal Town on 5 August, where he told gardaí he was the person being sought. The defence acknowledged the killing but disputed the murder charge. The trial continues.
Kenneth Cummins (28) and Sabrina Cummins (37), both of Ringsend Park, Dublin 4, are on trial at the Central Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on January 6th last year. The trial is currently ongoing. Prosecution counsel Mr Garret Baker BL called Detective Garda David Wogan to testify regarding five interviews conducted with Sabrina Cummins between January 8 and 9, 2014. In these statements, the co-accused alleged that her brother Kenneth could be "extremely violent" and "very evil" at times. She described an incident where she and her brother visited Mr Horan to request money, claiming the situation escalated into a violent confrontation lasting up to an hour and a half. Sabrina Cummins told gardai that she used a belt, a plastic bag, and a bottle, and that she punched and kicked the deceased. She stated, "We killed Tom," and admitted to holding a belt while Kenneth used it. Defence counsel Mr Blaise O'Carroll SC cross-examined the garda, suggesting the accused initially portrayed herself as an injured party. The garda noted she provided specific details about Kenneth's actions. The trial continues.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, an asylum seeker, Mr Givi Verdzeuli, 66, requested assurances from the Gardaí that he would not be deported before testifying. Verdzeuli, the main prosecution witness against Georgian defendant Badri Khvedelidze, 33, who pleaded not guilty to the 2005 murder of fellow Georgian George Tkeshelashvili in Tralee, had been deported from Ireland prior to the trial. Garda witnesses confirmed attempts to lift the deportation order so Verdzeuli could return to Ireland to give evidence. Verdzeuli had previously stated he would return to Georgia after testifying and had received no assurances of remaining in Ireland post-trial. Georgian interpreter Lashka Trapaidze testified about a conversation on 19 October, where Verdzeuli expressed anxiety about being sent back and sought proof of non‑deportation. The trial continues before Justice Isobel Kennedy on 2 November.
Kenneth Cummins (28) and Sabrina Cummins (37), both of Ringsend Park, Dublin 4, are on trial at the Central Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on January 6, 2014. The matter is currently at the trial stage before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Prosecution counsel Mr Remy Farrell SC called Detective Sergeant Barry Walsh to testify regarding a recorded prison call made by Kenneth Cummins from Cloverhill prison on January 22, 2014. The call, intercepted by prison officer Pat Murphy, was obtained via search warrant. In the transcript read to the jury, Cummins allegedly told his friend, Carl Cullen, that he beat, strangled, and smothered the victim to death. Cummins allegedly stated he acted after the victim admitted to past abuse of his sister, Breda, and claimed he only intended to hospitalize the victim. When asked about the possibility of a manslaughter charge, Cummins allegedly replied it did not look likely, noting he could be 36 when released. He denied his sister's involvement. The prosecution concluded its evidence for Kenneth Cummins, and the trial continues.
Claire Lawlor, 26, of Abbeylea Drive, Swords, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery committed on 1 May 2012 in Swords. She had 55 prior convictions, including robbery, theft, burglary, assault, road‑traffic offences and making off without paying. Lawlor, a former heroin addict who had become drug‑free and pregnant with her second child, was said by her defence counsel to have been motivated by her pregnancy to seek rehabilitation. The robbery involved a taxi driver outside a Garda station; Lawlor and a male accomplice stole the driver's keys and phone, and the driver was held at gunpoint. Lawlor's wallet, containing her social welfare card, was found in the taxi. The judge, citing her rehabilitation and the seriousness of her previous convictions, imposed a suspended sentence of two and a half years, suspended in full, and noted that the sentence was given with great hesitancy after recognising her request for a last chance.
Brian Fitzpatrick, 50, of Castleross, Dundalk, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment, with the last two years suspended, after pleading guilty to possession of an explosive substance under suspicious circumstances. The offence was committed on 16 December at Mitchelstown Cross, Castletown, Navan, Co. Meath. Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty to one of the two counts shortly after the incident and has shown remorse. The court heard that he suffered severe psychiatric problems following a brutal assault 18 years earlier, which left him unable to work and depressed, and that he had received ongoing mental‑health treatment. He is described as a family man; his wife said she would be "lost without him" and that he had helped her after a fall. Fitzpatrick had raised funds for foreign missions and had worked with underage groups in his local GAA club. He had previously worked on boats and in factories in the UK to support his family.
Eamon McNamee, 34, of Larkfield Square, Lucan, County Dublin, was granted bail at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. He is charged with possession of a firearm with the intent to commit an indictable offence, namely assault causing harm, allegedly at Fairgreen, Saggart, Co Dublin on January 19th, 2013. The three-judge court approved his application for bail, releasing him on his own bond of €1,000 and an independent surety of €20,000. McNamee must surrender his passport and refrain from travelling outside Ireland or to Northern Ireland. He is required to sign on daily at Lucan garda station between 9am and 9pm and observe a curfew from 12am to 7am. Additionally, he must not associate with anyone convicted or charged with a scheduled offence, maintain good behaviour, and provide a mobile phone number to gardai. The matter remains at the pre-trial stage, with the charges alleged and contested.
Karl Gurr, 28, of Gardiner Street, Dublin, was jailed for three and a half years after pleading guilty to robbery at Royal Canal Park on 10 January 2015. He had 64 prior convictions, including theft, criminal damage, possession of drugs, trespass and assault. The victim, a man walking in the park, tried to distract Gurr from mugging a woman by shouting at him. Gurr chased the victim, knocked him to the ground, and engaged in a violent struggle. He attempted to smash the victim's head off a brick flower bed, a lamppost and the ground, and continued to punch him while the victim defended himself by poking at Gurr's eyes and face. The victim was treated for cuts to his head and reported a profoundly negative effect on his well‑being. Judge Martin Nolan described the victim's conduct as courageous and chivalrous, and noted Gurr's serious record of convictions before sentencing.
Kenneth Cummins (28) and Sabrina Cummins (37), both of Ringsend Park, Dublin 4, are on trial at the Central Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on January 6th last year. During cross-examination of Detective Garda Brian Hunt, the court heard from statements given by Kenneth Cummins at Irishtown garda station in January 2014. The accused alleged that he and Sabrina Cummins intended to rob Mr Horan of €2,000. When asked if he was prepared to kill for the money, Cummins stated he was not, claiming his intention was simply to take the cash and leave. However, he admitted he was prepared to use violence to secure the funds. Cummins told gardai that he returned to the property a second time determined to get the money, stating, "you weren't leaving without it?" He confirmed his sole intention was to rob Mr Horan. When he could not find the money, Cummins said he became angry and asked if giving Mr Horan "a bit of a hiding" would reveal its location, to which he replied, "Yes." The trial continues.
Eamon McNamee, 34, of Larkfield Square, Lucan, County Dublin, appeared at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, where he was charged with possession of a firearm with the intent to commit an indictable offence, namely assault causing harm. The alleged incident is said to have occurred at Fairgreen, Saggart, Co Dublin, on January 19, 2013. Detective Garda Graham Dunne of the Special Detective Unit informed the court that he arrested Mr McNamee under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act at 7:21 am. The court heard that Mr McNamee made no reply when cautioned and also made no reply when shown a copy of the original charge sheet at the Special Criminal Court. Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding at the three-judge, non-jury court, remanded Mr McNamee in custody until tomorrow morning, when a bail application is expected to be made. The matter was adjourned and has not been concluded or finalised.
Stephen Cahoon, aged 42 and formerly of Harvey Street, Derry, has been arraigned in the Central Criminal Court on a charge of murdering Jean Teresa Quigley, aged 30, at Cornshell Fields on 26 July 2008. He pleaded not guilty. A jury of eight men and four women was sworn in, and the trial is scheduled to start next Monday or Tuesday and is expected to last two weeks.
The jury in the murder trial of 33‑year‑old Georgian Badri Khvedelidze was sent home on Wednesday while the court considers legal arguments. Khvedelidze, formerly of Westward Court, Tralee, has pleaded not guilty to the 2005 murder of compatriot George Tkeshelashvili. The jury will return on Friday to hear further evidence, as Justice Isobel Kennedy explained that the delays are common and the matters to be discussed are legal in nature and for the judge's consideration.
Kenneth Cummins (28) and Sabrina Cummins (37) pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on 6 January. In court, Dr Alan McGee confirmed the Cummins were identified as suspects. Witness Jim Muldoon, Horan's brother‑in‑law, described Horan as mentally challenged and noted his past residence in Ranelagh. A social worker, Ms Sarah O'Carroll, confirmed that neither Sabrina nor her sister Breda were fostered by Horan. The prosecution read statements from Kenneth Cummins to Garda Brian Hunt, detailing the robbery of €2,000 and the subsequent violence: he struck Horan with a stick, stabbed him with a fork, strangled him with a belt, and forced him to drink white spirits, toilet cleaner and washing‑up liquid. Cummins also admitted that Sabrina kicked Horan's face and that they struck his head on a shelf. The trial is ongoing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 27 October 2015, Niall Sheil, aged 37, pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery at Dympna's Clairvoyant on 6 January 2015. The court noted that Sheil had turned his life around, was free of drugs, had cooperated with Gardaí, and had entered an early guilty plea. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a four‑year suspended sentence, citing the terrorisation of staff and customers and the discomfort caused. The robbery involved two staff members and two customers; Sheil entered with a steel bar, and the robbers took cash, purses and phones, escaping after a chase that led to their arrest. All items were recovered except €400 taken from reception. The four women victims declined to give victim impact statements. Sheil had 18 prior convictions, mainly for theft, road traffic and drug offences, but none for robbery or violence.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, the death of asylum seeker George Tkeshelashvili, aged 57, was examined. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Tkeshelashvili died from a single stab wound that was 4 centimetres wide and 8 centimetres deep, penetrating his left lung and severing a major thoracic artery. The wound also caused the left lung to collapse. Dr Bolster described the injury as consistent with a thrusting motion while both parties were standing, with the knife entering near the top of the left lung. Georgian national Badri Khvedelidze, aged 33, who formerly lived at Westward Court, Tralee, Co Kerry, pleaded not guilty to the murder. The trial was scheduled to continue on Wednesday, October 28.
In 2015 the Central Criminal Court dismissed the appeal of Marcus Kirwan, a 22‑year‑old from Dublin, who had been convicted of murdering 19‑year‑old David Byrne in 2011. Kirwan had lured Byrne to a meeting by pretending to be a girl over text, then stabbed him nine times, including a 20‑cm wound to the back. He received a mandatory life sentence in 2013. His appeal was based on four grounds: the arrest warrant, alleged identification errors, CCTV evidence and phone analysis. The court rejected all arguments, citing statutory authority, proper Garda procedure, the ubiquity of CCTV and the sufficiency of circumstantial evidence. The decision was welcomed by Byrne's family, who expressed relief and gratitude to the police and judges for upholding justice. The case remains a stark reminder of the seriousness of violent crime in Ireland.
In a trial held in Dublin, brothers Kenneth Cummins (28) and Sabrina Cummins (37) were accused of murdering 63‑year‑old Thomas Horan at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on 6 January. Both pleaded not guilty. The jury heard that fingerprints linked to the accused were found in the victim's home. Detective Garda Conor Lawlor, from the Garda Technical Bureau's fingerprint section, testified that a lift from the bathroom door handle matched Kenneth's left forefinger, and another from the sitting‑room door frame matched his left finger. A lift from the bathroom door's left handle matched Sabrina's left thumb. Additionally, Budweiser cans in Horan's kitchen bin bore fingerprints attributed to Kenneth's left thumb and middle finger. The judge noted the case was a single trial for convenience, though it involved two separate defendants. The trial continues.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the charge of IRA membership against Adrian Crevan Mackin, who killed Garda Tony Golden and wounded his partner before taking his own life, was struck out. Prosecutor Michael O'Donovan instructed the court to withdraw the single charge. Mackin, 25, had been granted bail on a €100 bond with a €5,000 surety and was complying with bail conditions at the time of the murder. Judge Paul Butler noted that the deceased could not defend himself against bail breach allegations, and the matter was scheduled for re‑mention on November 5th.