During a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that a knife was missing from a knife block in the home of Wayne Kennedy, a 33‑year‑old Dublin man charged with murdering David Spain and seriously harming Sean Turner on 26 December 2013. Garda Patrick Black photographed the kitchen and noted the absence of one knife from the block. A knife handle, about 12 cm long with the blade missing, and a black iPhone were later found in the green area of the Shankill estate where the alleged altercation took place. Garda Paul Byrne recounted arriving at the scene after a call about two men stabbed outside Rathsallagh Park, describing chaos and the presence of Wayne Kennedy. Mrs. Kennedy testified she was asleep when the incident occurred and heard a banging noise. Garda Brian Hall was also called to testify about a man named Ian Messitt who mentioned Wayne Kennedy. Wayne Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
A 17‑year‑old, who cannot be named because he is under‑age, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three and a half years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended, for two robberies committed in April 2014 when he was 15. He pleaded guilty to the robberies and to resisting arrest at one scene. The offences involved violent assaults on a 52‑year‑old stroke survivor and a man in an alleyway, both of whom were punched and robbed of personal property, including a thesis the survivor had worked on for six months. The teenager was under a peace bond at the time and had an accomplice who was sentenced separately to four years with 18 months suspended. Judge Martin Nolan noted the serious violence and long‑term effects on the victims, and the sentence was conditional on good behaviour and compliance with probation services upon release.
The Court of Criminal Appeal has dismissed the conviction appeals of two men, aged 22 and 24, who were previously jailed for the attempted rape of a woman in a van. The appellants, who were 16 and 18 at the time of the 2009 incident, had been found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury in November 2012. The 22-year-old was convicted of attempted rape, sexual assault, and oral rape, while the 24-year-old was convicted of attempted rape and sexual assault. A third accused was acquitted on all counts. Mr Justice Paul Carney sentenced both men to ten years' imprisonment in January 2013. The 22-year-old also pleaded guilty to stealing the victim's car at the outset of the trial. In today's ruling, Mr Justice Alan Mahon, sitting with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, stated that the original trial was conducted in an "exemplary fashion" and that the convictions should stand. The court rejected the appellants' argument that the trial judge erred in law, rendering the convictions unsafe. The men are due to appeal their sentences at a later date.
Darren McKevitt, 26, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to arson of a car, dangerous driving, driving under the influence, driving without insurance, three counts of assault, possession of a stolen Toyota Avensis, a stolen PSV certificate, an Irish driving licence and insurance certificate, and unlawful possession of a stun gun. The offences occurred on 31 October 2014 at Durrow Road, Crumlin, and on 24 November 2014 at Cushlawn Park, Tallaght. A blood sample showed he was five times over the legal alcohol limit. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a probation bond, requiring McKevitt to work with probation officers, undergo drug rehabilitation and employment training, and to return to court on 1 July 2016. He was arrested after Garda Michael Creegan and Garda Micheal O'Sullivan chased him following the bonfire incident, during which McKevitt assaulted three gardaí and was later taken to Crumlin Garda Station. The court noted his nine previous convictions, including possession of drugs for sale or supply.
The trial of Deivydas Zigelis, a 37‑year‑old Lithuanian, charged with murdering a 26‑year‑old Latvian in County Laois, was postponed. Zigelis was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Alexander Karpov. The prosecution confirmed a jury would still be required. Judge Patrick McCarthy said the case will be rescheduled for a future hearing.
The High Court has adjourned the extradition hearing of Eric Eoin Marques, a 30-year-old Dublin man residing at Mountjoy Square, until October 6th. The United States seeks his surrender to face charges of conspiring to distribute and advertise child pornography, alleging he is the owner and administrator of the anonymous hosting site Freedom Hosting. The US authorities claim the charges relate to images on over 100 websites depicting the rape and torture of pre-pubescent children. Mr. Marques, who has been in custody since his arrest in August 2013, is simultaneously seeking a judicial review of the Director of Public Prosecutions' decision not to prosecute him in Ireland. Counsel for Mr. Marques argued that extradition poses a significant risk to his health, citing his Asperger's syndrome and the potential for sexual violence and inadequate medical care in US prisons. Conversely, State counsel noted that Mr. Marques has sought no specific treatment for his condition since 2013 and has shown no mental health deterioration while in Irish custody. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly remanded Mr. Marques in custody, with the hearing set to resume on October 6th.
In July 2015 a Dublin teenager, Scott Cunningham, 18, was sentenced to four and a half years for burglary and assault. He pleaded guilty to breaking into a student's house on Beaumont Road, removing a patio door, and taking a mobile phone. He also pleaded guilty to assaulting Felipe Loughran on Westmoreland Street, where he repeatedly stood on Loughran's head and stamped on it three times. Witnesses described Cunningham as "dancing" on the victim's head while another shouted "kill him, kill him". Cunningham had 15 prior convictions, including burglary. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final 18 months of the sentence, describing the assault as vicious and noting Loughran's injuries. The court heard Cunningham was not the ringleader of the burglary. The case involved a co‑accused, Calvin Cunningham, who was to be sentenced separately. The article reports Cunningham's background, including long‑term medication for ADHD and drug use. The sentencing took place at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In the Westmeath murder trial, retired Defence Forces member Jimmy Devaney, aged 66, has pleaded not guilty to the killing of Marie Greene on 13 February 2011. The case is in its third day of legal argument before the Central Criminal Court, with a jury of six men and six women and Justice Margaret Heneghan presiding. The proceedings will continue tomorrow.
Samantha Corbett, 30, was sentenced to three years in prison for punching a nurse at Mercy University Hospital's A&E on 26 July 2014. The judge suspended the final twelve months of the sentence. On appeal, Mr Justice John Edwards reduced her net jail term to fifteen months. The reduction was based on Corbett's intoxication at the time, her lack of recollection, her young child in care, and her substance‑abuse history. The Court of Appeal also required her to pay a €100 bond, to keep the peace, and to remain of good behaviour for the suspended portion of her sentence and for two years after release. The nurse, who had worked in the emergency department for 22 years, said the assault caused her daily neck pain and disrupted her family life. Corbett accepted the conditions imposed by the court. The unnamed woman pleaded guilty.
Maura Thornton, 33, from Inverin, Connemara, was convicted of manslaughter for stabbing 59‑year‑old Kevin Joyce to death outside her Salthill apartment on 31 July 2011. A jury at the Central Criminal Court found her not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter and imposed a 10‑year sentence, with the final three years suspended by Mr Justice Barry White on 13 March 2013. In the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan upheld the sentence, noting that Thornton and Joyce had a shared interest in Celtic studies and had met at University College Galway in 2011, where a relationship developed that involved excessive alcohol consumption. Thornton had been sober for six weeks before the incident, but Joyce's repeated attempts to contact her led to her ending her sobriety and drinking heavily on the night of the murder.
John Flaherty, 29, of Ferrybank, Waterford, was convicted of manslaughter for killing Patrick Murphy, 27, on 20 June 2010. The Central Criminal Court found him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, sentencing him to 10 years' imprisonment with the final 2½ years suspended. The Court of Appeal heard that Flaherty had entered the house of his former girlfriend, the mother of his child, at 5 am, found her in bed with a naked heroin addict, and that a child and €500 worth of heroin were present. He had recently been released from custody for slitting another man's face. Flaherty's appeal, arguing that the judge failed to credit 17 months spent in custody, was dismissed by Mr Justice Alan Mahon, who upheld the 10‑year sentence and the suspended portion. The appeal was heard by a three‑judge panel.
A man aged 51 has been remanded on continuing bail ahead of trial on charges relating to the alleged sexual abuse of two young girls. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard he faces 50 counts in total, comprising 40 counts of child exploitation, three of sexual assault, and seven of defilement of a child under 17. The alleged offences are said to have occurred between 2007 and 2011 at locations in Dublin and Donegal. Judge Martin Nolan scheduled the trial to commence on 25 May 2016, with proceedings expected to last approximately two weeks. The accused was sent forward from the District Court previously.
Stephen Hendrick, 47, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to unlawful possession of a 7.62 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle, Glock pistol components, and a flexible PETN‑filled tubing explosive at his home on 15 November 2014. He also admitted possession of 59 rounds of ammunition at Furry Park, Cloghran, on 3 July 2013. The judge granted an adjournment of the sentencing hearing to 8 December 2015 at the request of counsel.
The trial of Jimmy Devaney, a 66‑year‑old retired member of the Defence Forces, continues in legal argument. Devaney pleaded not guilty to the murder of Marie Greene in Westmeath on 13 February 2011. The case is set to proceed to evidence tomorrow before a jury of six men and six women, presided over by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan.
Stephen Cahoon, aged 42, was convicted of murdering his pregnant ex‑girlfriend Jean Teresa Quigley, aged 30, in 2012 and sentenced to life imprisonment. His conviction was quashed in March 2015 by the Court of Appeal after a judge misdirected the jury on the defence of provocation. The Court ordered a retrial, and Cahoon's lawyers appealed to avoid a third trial. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Seán Ryan, upheld the quashing, citing the seriousness of the alleged murder and the need to determine whether Quigley was murdered or the victim of manslaughter. Cahoon had served nearly ten years in prison before the quashing. The retrial was scheduled for October 27, 2015, with Cahoon remaining in custody. The case is notable for being the first under the 1976 Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act to be tried before a jury in the Republic of Ireland.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has decided not to pursue the case against 63‑year‑old Philomena Coton, who was charged in 1988 with intent to murder her husband Christopher Payne. Payne was severely injured when men struck his head with a hammer, axe and hatchet, and he died six months later. After a 2010 cold‑case review and extradition from England in 2013, Coton had been awaiting trial when a High Court halt was issued in June. The DPP's counsel entered a nolle prosequi at the Central Criminal Court, ending the prosecution.
A jury was sworn in for the trial of 34‑year‑old Wayne Kennedy, a Dublin man accused of murdering 26‑year‑old David Spain on 26 December 2013 at Rathsallagh Park, Shankill, and of causing serious harm to 24‑year‑old Sean Turner on the same day. Kennedy pleaded not guilty to both charges. Judge Patrick McCarthy told the ten‑man jury that the five‑day trial would not begin before Thursday and would start with evidence.
A Lithuanian man, Deivydas Zigelis, 37, will stand trial this Thursday in the Central Criminal Court for the murder of a 26‑year‑old Latvian man in County Laois. Zigelis, who lives on Spa Street, Portarlington, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Alexander Karpov on 15 February 2014. The prosecution has requested a jury, which has been sworn in and is expected to hear the case for four to five days.
John Murphy, 31, of New Ross, Wexford, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for theft committed at an address in Foxrock, Dublin, on October 28, 2014. Murphy pleaded guilty to the charge. The court heard that Murphy, posing as a journalist, extorted €1,000 from 82-year-old Patrick Brendan Tiernan by threatening to publish his image alongside sex offender Larry Murphy. Tiernan, who previously pleaded guilty to 14 charges of indecent assault and gross indecency involving nine victims, was targeted for his prior convictions. Judge Desmond Hogan described the act as a "particularly mean offence" and sentenced Murphy to three years in prison, suspended in full for four years. Murphy was ordered to pay €5,500 to the victim, keep the peace and be of good behaviour for four years, and comply with probation services for two years. The judge noted that Murphy acted as the frontman for a sophisticated operation involving surveillance. The matter was finalised with this suspended sentence and associated conditions.
In the Central Criminal Court, Jimmy Devaney, 66, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Marie Greene, a prostitute who vanished on 13 February 2011 and whose body was found nine days later in a bog near Ballykieran, Athlone. Devaney, a retired defence forces member, was seen playing cards at the Lighthouse Casino that night and later returned to the club. Alan Kavanagh, the casino owner, testified that Devaney claimed a woman was blackmailing him and that he killed her to protect his family. Kavanagh also noted Devaney's request to remove CCTV cameras. Witnesses, including Greene's sisters and mother, described phone calls and the victim's last known movements. Prosecutor Alex Owens argued that Devaney's motive was the alleged blackmail and that he had recently obtained money from friends and relatives. The trial proceeded with a jury of twelve.
A man from County Roscommon has had the suspended portion of his 14-year prison sentence doubled on appeal. The 57-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was convicted in 2010 of 47 counts of rape and sexual assault against his son between 2001 and 2004. The Central Criminal Court imposed a sentence of 14 years with the final 18 months suspended. The Court of Appeal dismissed his conviction appeal but found, when comparing sentences in cases of similar gravity, that a greater proportion should have been suspended. The three-judge court increased the suspended period from 18 months to three years, resulting in a net custodial term of 11 years. Mr Justice Alan Mahon, delivering the judgment, noted that comparable cases attracted net sentences of between 10 and 11 years. The court found the appellant's conviction sound despite challenges to witness immunity granted to his wife and son during trial proceedings. The unnamed 57-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The jury will begin deliberations today in the trial of 42‑year‑old Paula Farrell of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, who is charged with murdering her partner, 30‑year‑old Wayne McQuillan, at her home on 1 January 2014. Farrell pleaded not guilty three weeks ago at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Patrick McCarthy explained the possible verdicts—acquittal, murder, manslaughter, or diminished responsibility—and that the jury may take as long as needed, with deliberations starting after lunch once the issue paper is received.
Aaron Byrne, aged 22, was sentenced to eight years in prison for stabbing a 15‑year‑old in Naas, County Kildare, after a dispute over a €250 cannabis debt. Byrne had previously demanded the money at the victim's home and had given €100 the day before the stabbing. On 12 April 2014, he met the teenager at a service station and later at a housing estate, where a confrontation escalated. Byrne stabbed the boy under the rib cage, penetrating the chest wall and left lung, causing a major bleed that required immediate surgery. The victim recovered after five days in hospital and returned to school and sport. Byrne pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm. Judge Martin Nolan imposed an eight‑year term, suspended the final three years, and ordered 18 months of probation. The case highlighted the seriousness of the assault and the victim's recovery.
Michael Murray, aged 43, was convicted in 2013 of rape, attempted rape, oral rape, aggravated sexual assault, child abduction, threats to kill or cause serious harm, false imprisonment and theft, and sentenced to 15 years in prison. In 2015 he brought a High Court action against the Irish Prison Service and the Minister for Justice, claiming that his solicitors' phone calls had been recorded in prison. The court found that in May and July 2013 some of Murray's calls were indeed recorded, including those to his solicitors, due to an anomaly in the phone system. The recordings were made inadvertently and were not accessed by prison staff or the Gardaí. The judge ruled the recordings were inappropriate but did not amount to a prejudice of Murray's rights, dismissed the application, and awarded costs against him. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court, and Murray's conviction remains pending appeal.
The Central Criminal Court adjourned the trial of Jimmy Devaney, a 66‑year‑old retired defence forces member, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Marie Greene in Westmeath on 13 February 2011. A jury of six men and six women was sworn in, but Justice Margaret Heneghan postponed the start because another trial was scheduled. The court set the trial to begin the following day and last about two weeks.
A man aged 51, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faced Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on a trial date that could not proceed. He is charged with 50 counts of sexual offences alleged to have occurred between 2007 and 2011 at locations in Dublin and Donegal. The charges comprise 40 counts of child exploitation, three of sexual assault, and seven of defilement of a child under 17. The trial was expected to last approximately two weeks. Judge Desmond Hogan adjourned the case due to lack of judicial availability, remanding the accused on continuing bail. The matter was listed before Judge Martin Nolan for Tuesday, 21 July, when a new trial date will be set.
In the trial of 42‑year‑old Paula Farrell, charged with murdering her partner Wayne McQuillan, defence counsel Derek Kenneally SC urged the jury to consider the "ample scope for doubt" in the case. He highlighted Farrell's testimony that she was sexually abused from age seven and began drinking at fourteen to cope, and argued that these facts should be weighed against the prosecution's claim that the murder was an "outburst of temper." The prosecution, represented by Gerard Clarke SC, maintained that Farrell's alleged abuse was unrelated to the killing, that she had no history of self‑defence, and that any claim of diminished responsibility was unfounded. Kenneally urged jurors to acquit if they found any gaps, stressing that Farrell denied any intent to kill and that the prosecution's narrative was unsubstantiated. The judge outlined the possible verdicts, including guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter on the basis of self‑defence, diminished responsibility or no intent to kill. Paula Farrell pleaded not guilty.
Daniel Martin, aged 21, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a total of seven years' imprisonment for a series of violent offences committed between August 2013 and June 2014. He received a two‑year term for possession of a weapon, unlawful seizure of a car and assault causing harm, and a consecutive five‑year term for assault causing serious harm on Wayne Donovan. The court described the attack on Donovan as a "savage assault" after Martin struck the victim with a stick, a broken bottle and a stick, cutting Donovan's little finger and inflicting large wounds to his head and face. Martin pleaded guilty to all charges and had no prior convictions. The judge noted Martin's history of violence and his attempts to reform, but imposed the seven‑year sentence with no mention of a suspended portion or separate custody period.
Marcus Kirwan, aged 21, has lodged an appeal against his murder conviction for the death of 19‑year‑old David Byrne. The Central Criminal Court heard that Kirwan lured Byrne to a meeting on 19 March 2011 by sending text messages pretending to be a girl. When Byrne arrived, Kirwan and other youths chased him into a dead‑end at an apartment complex, where Kirwan stabbed Byrne nine times – once in the face and eight times in the back – puncturing his heart and lungs. A jury found Kirwan guilty after a three‑week trial, and he was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan on 4 February 2013. Kirwan's appeal now focuses on alleged procedural errors: an arrest warrant issued by a superintendent who may not have had the authority to delegate arrest powers, and alleged infirmities in the identification process and CCTV evidence.
In 2014, a 79‑year‑old Waterford fisherman was convicted of 16 counts of indecent assault against a girl in 1982‑83. He was acquitted on eight counts and found guilty on the remaining eight, receiving an eight‑year prison sentence with a two‑year suspended portion. In 2015, the Court of Appeal increased the suspended portion by one year, citing the defendant's age and serious health issues, including prostate cancer, asthma, multiple system disease, and prior bypass surgery. The final sentence now requires the fisherman to serve eight years in prison, with the last three years suspended. He must also post a €100 bond to maintain good behaviour during the suspended period. The appeal did not alter the original conviction or the nature of the offences, merely adjusting the custodial term to reflect the defendant's circumstances. The unnamed 79-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In July 2015, a Laois father of seven was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for raping and sexually abusing his daughter over a 30‑year period. The defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault committed between July 1981 and July 1987, when the victim was aged nine to 15. Judge Margaret Heneghan imposed a nine‑year sentence, suspended the final three years, and ordered the defendant's addition to the register of sex offenders. The victim, now 43, first reported the abuse to Gardaí in May 2013, after confronting her father months earlier. She described repeated molestation, forced sexual acts, and threats of violence, and stated that the abuse had profoundly damaged her life. The defendant showed remorse and accepted early guilty plea, which the judge considered in sentencing. The case was prosecuted by Will Fennelly BL.
A jury of six men and six women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Jimmy Devaney, a 66‑year‑old retired member of the defence forces, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Marie Greene in Westmeath on 13 February 2011. The trial is set to begin on Wednesday and is expected to last two weeks.
Brian Meehan, 47, from Crumlin, is serving a life sentence in Portlaoise prison for the 1996 murder of journalist Veronica Guerin. He was convicted in a 31‑day trial before the Special Criminal Court in July 1999 and also jailed on drugs and firearms charges. Meehan has applied to have his 1999 murder conviction quashed on the basis of new evidence that emerged during the 2001 Special Criminal Court trial of John Gilligan. The Court of Appeal scheduled his application for hearing on 19 and 20 November. The DPP's counsel, Paul Anthony McDermott, said the State needed two more weeks to prepare submissions, citing the volume of material since the murder. The DPP's motion to dismiss Meehan's application was refused last year, and the Court of Appeal will now consider whether the case should proceed. The hearing will focus on whether the new evidence constitutes a miscarriage of justice.
A trial involving charges of 50 sexual offences against two young girls has been adjourned until Wednesday at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The 51-year-old defendant, whose identity is protected by court order, was forwarded for trial from the District Court in relation to allegations dating between 2007 and 2011 at locations in Dublin and Donegal. The charges comprise 40 counts of child exploitation, including the production of child pornography, three counts of sexual assault, and seven counts of defilement of a child under 17 years of age. Defence counsel indicated the trial would likely require two weeks. The court heard the trial was not ready to proceed immediately. Judge Desmond Hogan remanded the accused on continuing bail pending the adjournment to Wednesday.
In a 2015 murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, 42‑year‑old Paula Farrell of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, was charged with stabbing her partner Wayne McQuillan, 30, to death on 1 January 2014. She pleaded not guilty. The defence presented forensic psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright, who had met Farrell twice in June 2015. Dr Wright testified that Farrell had suffered sexual abuse from age seven, did not disclose it until fourteen, and began drinking at fourteen to cope. She described Farrell as displaying post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, including distress and avoidance when exposed to reminders of abuse. Dr Wright concluded that Farrell's PTSD impaired her self‑control and substantially diminished her responsibility for the stabbing, though she was fit to stand trial. The prosecution cross‑examined her on the lack of post‑mortem statements and the link between PTSD and violence. The trial proceeded under Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.
David Cully, 24, was found guilty of murder after shooting his uncle, Edward O'Connor, to death in Finglas. The Central Criminal Court heard that O'Connor died from two gunshot wounds to the back. Cully had previously pleaded not guilty to murdering his uncle but guilty to manslaughter in a separate case. He claimed he shot O'Connor in the heat of the moment after O'Connor made a comment about a person who had alleged sexual abuse against him. The allegation was investigated but not prosecuted. Cully had brought a gun to an organised fight between two other men and shot his uncle after the fight. The jury, after more than eight hours of deliberation over three days, returned a unanimous verdict of guilty of murder. Mr Justice Carroll Moran thanked the jury and excused them for five years. Cully was remanded in custody for sentencing on 29 July, when the mandatory life sentence for murder will be imposed.
The jury is still deliberating on the case of David Cully, a 41‑year‑old from Finglas West, who shot his uncle, Edward O'Connor, to death. Cully admits the killing but denies murder, pleading not guilty to that charge while accepting a manslaughter conviction from December 2013. He says he fired in the heat of the moment after O'Connor mentioned an allegation of sexual abuse. The jury has spent over five hours on the verdict and will resume after lunch.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard the case of David Cully, 41, who shot his uncle, Edward O'Connor, dead. Cully pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He claimed he fired in the heat of the moment after O'Connor made a comment about a sexual‑abuse allegation that had been investigated but not prosecuted. The jury was told that Cully shot O'Connor in the back after a fight at a "straightener" event. Judge Carroll Moran explained that murder could be reduced to manslaughter if provocation existed. After about five hours of deliberation, the jury asked the judge to repeat the legal definition of provocation and to show part of a Garda interview with Cully. The jury then retired for the evening, to resume deliberations after the judge's response.
In July 2015 the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced 26‑year‑old Keith Johnson to a suspended three‑year term with two years of probation supervision for assaulting shopkeeper Sarwan Gill and his son Daljat Gill. Johnson had entered Gill's Indian Mini‑Market while "out of his head" and tried to steal sweets. After being confronted by Daljat, Johnson threatened to kill him, punched him, and fled in a Mercedes. Gill pursued Johnson's car, struck it with a wooden "martial arts training sword" that broke the car, and later chased Johnson back to the shop. Johnson then used the broken sword to strike Sarwan, breaking his wrist, and struck Daljat about five times, knocking him unconscious. Johnson was identified on CCTV, arrested, and pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm. The judge noted the rapid escalation and the shopkeeper's right to defend himself, and imposed the suspended sentence with probation.
The jury is deliberating a trial in Dublin where David Cully, 41, is accused of murdering his uncle, Edward O'Connor, who died from two gun‑shot wounds to the back. Cully has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea he entered on 15 December 2013. He claims he shot O'Connor in the heat of the moment after O'Connor commented on a sexual‑abuse allegation that had been investigated but not prosecuted by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Central Criminal Court heard that both men had attended a "straightener" that day and that Cully fired after a fight. Judge Carroll Moran explained that provocation could reduce murder to manslaughter, but the burden of proof lies with the prosecution. The jury, composed of seven women and five men, has spent under an hour on its deliberations and will resume tomorrow.
In the Central Criminal Court trial of David Cully, a 41‑year‑old from Finglas West, the defence argued for a manslaughter verdict on the basis of provocation. Cully had admitted killing his uncle, Edward O'Connor, who died from two gun‑shot wounds to the back. He claimed he shot O'Connor in the heat of the moment after O'Connor made a comment about a person who had alleged sexual abuse against him. The prosecution maintained that the killing was pre‑planned, citing evidence that Cully had threatened O'Connor a week earlier and had organised a 'straightener' that day. Cully pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury, composed of seven women and five men, was instructed by Mr Justice Carroll Moran to deliberate on the case the following day. The trial focused on whether Cully's actions were a result of provocation or pre‑meditated aggression.
In a Dublin murder trial, 41‑year‑old David Cully, accused of killing his uncle Edward O'Connor, testified that he shot him in the heat of the moment after a sexual‑abuse allegation was investigated but not prosecuted. The trial also heard from Claire McKiernan, who claimed to have witnessed an attack by Cully's uncles with sewer rods about six months before the shooting. McKiernan said she lived across the road from Cully's aunt, Gráinne Brannigan, in summer 2013 and saw an argument in the garden involving Cully, his brother Niall, and Brannigan's husband Paul. She described a jeep arriving at speed, men with sewer rods approaching, and a brief confrontation lasting four to five minutes before the men fled. McKiernan had never reported the incident to Gardaí and said she did not want to get involved. The case is proceeding before Mr Justice Carroll Moran and a jury of twelve. The unnamed 41-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 53‑year‑old Tipperary man was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for sexually abusing his younger sister in the 1970s and his niece between 2005 and 2007. He pleaded guilty to one count of rape and six counts of sexual assault of his sister, and to five counts of child defilement, one count of oral rape and three counts of sexual assault of his niece. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy imposed consecutive seven‑year terms for the offences against each victim, suspended the final two years, and ordered the man to serve the remaining ten years in custody. The court heard that the man's sister suffered psychological problems and trust issues, while his niece reported severe anxiety, a near‑suicidal episode and ongoing trust difficulties. The judge noted the man's acceptance of wrongdoing but limited insight into his motivations. The sentence was intended to encourage rehabilitation.
In a Dublin murder trial, forensic scientist Dr. Thomas Hannigan testified that ballistics tests fired at tea towels suggested the accused, David Cully, shot his uncle Edward O'Connor from about eight feet, not the 30 feet he claimed. The tests used cotton sheets and a pistol and ammunition similar to those used in the killing, as the original firearm was not recovered. Lead residue was stronger on the tea towel shot from eight feet and on the victim's jumper, supporting the shorter distance. Cully, 41, admitted killing O'Connor, who died from two gunshot wounds to the back, but pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Carroll Moran, continues with a jury of twelve.
A 29‑year‑old fisherman was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for aggravated sexual assault of a 58‑year‑old intellectually disabled woman in Kerry on 29 July 2011. He forced entry to her home, grabbed her throat, punched her, banged her head against a door and radiator, and pushed her into her bedroom. During the assault he called her a "bitch" and a "cunt" and burned her face with a cigarette. The victim suffered bruising, abrasions, carpet burns and a loss of independence, as reported in a victim impact statement. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, suspended the last four years of the sentence on strict conditions, including two years of probation and a 12‑year restriction from the victim. The court noted the victim's severe physical and psychological injuries and the impact on her family. The defendant pleaded guilty and has shown remorse and a desire for rehabilitation. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 3 July 2015, a 42‑year‑old Louth woman, Paula Farrell, was charged with the murder of her 30‑year‑old partner, Wayne McQuillan, who was killed on 1 January 2014 at their home. Farrell pleaded not guilty. The prosecution presented four Garda interviews taken on 1 and 2 January 2014. In the first interview, Farrell described a fight that escalated after alcohol consumption, during which she said she grabbed a knife from a block and stabbed McQuillan twice, once under his shoulder and once in the front of his chest. She also claimed he had strangled and beaten her, and that she had washed her blood‑stained hands afterward. The second interview confirmed blood on her hands and that she had tried to wash them. In the third interview, she recounted stabbing McQuillan in the chest and side while he was walking out of the kitchen, and again in the hallway.
High Court proceedings concerning Eric Eoin Marques, an Irishman alleged by the FBI to be the 'largest facilitator of child porn in the world,' will resume in three weeks. Marques, a 30-year-old resident of Mountjoy Square in central Dublin, is alleged to be the owner and administrator of an anonymous hosting site known as Freedom Hosting. US authorities seek his surrender to face charges relating to conspiring to distribute and advertise child pornography, as well as advertising and distributing such material. The allegations concern images on over a hundred anonymous websites described as extremely violent, graphic, and depicting the rape and torture of pre-pubescent children. The State is seeking 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. The matter came before Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly for the purpose of fixing a date for the resumed hearing. Ms Justice Donnelly remanded Mr Marques in custody until July 21 next. He has been in custody since his arrest in August 2013, after being refused bail over concerns he represented a flight risk and that he may abscond or interfere with evidence in the case.
Michael Coleman, 34, a convicted robber, was sentenced to 18 months in custody for an unprovoked assault on two Louth brothers, Christopher and Joseph Lennon, on 26 June 2014. The attack occurred on Camden Street, Dublin, while Coleman was on bail for a prior robbery. He called Christopher a "culchie," punched him, and then joined in attacking Joseph, punching and kicking him while he was on the ground, causing Joseph to lose consciousness. The brothers had been drinking at Flannery's pub and were heading home when the incident happened. Joseph Lennon suffered a broken jaw on both sides, requiring metal plates and still cannot fully open his mouth; he also experiences flashbacks. Coleman had 25 prior convictions, including robbery and firearms offences. He pleaded guilty, and the judge noted his cooperation and attempts to address drug issues. The 18‑month sentence will commence after his current five‑year term ends.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Michael Mongan, then 15, was found guilty of violent disorder and three counts of assault causing serious harm after a pub brawl at The Castle Inn Pub, Rathfarnham, on 16 October 2012. CCTV captured Mongan picking up a glass or bottle and striking John Mongan, 25, repeatedly, causing deep cuts that required 24 staples. Mongan also threw a bottle at Simon Reilly, 28, which struck Reilly's head and shattered, sending shards toward a nearby Garda. Mongan pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a suspended prison term of two and a half years, conditional on completing 240 hours of community service. The judge, Martin Nolan, rejected a request for anonymity under the Children Act, stating Mongan was not a child in the eyes of the law and that proceedings should be public.
The trial of Paula Farrell, 42, accused of murdering her partner Wayne McQuillan, 30, at her Drogheda home on January 1, 2014, continued at the Central Criminal Court. Ms Farrell, who pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, faces Justice Patrick McCarthy. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that Mr McQuillan sustained four stab wounds, with the fatal injury being an 18cm deep wound to the left shoulder that penetrated the lung. Dr Curtis opined that the second, third, and fourth wounds were likely caused by a single-edged knife over 31cm long. He noted high alcohol levels in the deceased and the absence of defensive wounds. In cross-examination, he acknowledged the stabbings occurred in rapid succession and that intoxication could have affected the victim's ability to defend himself or increased aggression. Forensic scientist Dr Hilary Clarke confirmed DNA from Mr McQuillan was found on Ms Farrell's clothing. Gardaí Andrew Corbett and Lisa Finglas testified regarding injuries observed on Ms Farrell, including a bump to her forehead, a bite mark on her cheek, and marks on her neck. The prosecution is scheduled to finish calling evidence tomorrow.