Nathan O'Rowe, 20, of Tallaght, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to a taxi driver on New Year's Day 2015. The court heard that O'Rowe and a friend mistakenly believed they had been picked up by their Hailo-ordered taxi. When the driver insisted he was booked for another passenger, the men became aggressive, accusing him of drink driving after spotting a beer can left by a previous passenger. After the driver attempted to leave to meet his actual passenger, O'Rowe allegedly punched him twice in the face. The men then allegedly threw stones and bottles at the vehicle before tackling the driver to the ground, punching and kicking him to the head. The victim, who suffered a fractured nose in two places and permanent disfigurement, blacked out during the second phase of the attack and used a wheel brace to defend himself. Judge Desmond Hogan adjourned sentencing to next October, indicating he may impose a suspended sentence. He cited O'Rowe's lack of previous convictions, guilty plea, and contrition as mitigating factors. The judge ordered a Probation Service assessment for community work suitability and remanded O'Rowe on continuing bail. O'Rowe's counsel stated his client offered €500 as a concrete measure of remorse.
A 43‑year‑old Nigerian man, Dayo Akinsuyi, was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment for burglary and assault causing harm after he and an accomplice broke into an apartment on 20 August 2013. They entered the flat shortly after 9 a.m. and attacked the resident, George Cristo, with a scalpel and a fake gun. Cristo suffered cuts to his forearms, head and defensive wounds on his hands. Akinsuyi pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted that the men had apparently been searching for money, but the offence was deemed very serious. Akinsuyi had minor prior convictions for road traffic offences and had shown remorse. He was described as a good father and partner, and his good work history was taken into account. The sentence was imposed after the court accepted his guilty plea and the evidence of the assault. The case was prosecuted by James Dwyer BL and investigated by Garda Shane Moriarty.
A judge has made the final orders in the judicial review of an Algerian-born Irish citizen, Ali Charaf Damache, whose extradition was refused last month in the High Court. Ali Charaf Damache was wanted in the United States on two alleged terrorism-related offences. On May 21, High Court judge Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly delivered her judgement refusing the State's application for the extradition of Mr Damache at the request of the United States of America. Ms Justice Donnelly stated that in the event that the State successfully appeals the refusal of extradition, she will grant orders quashing the decision of the DPP not to prosecute and the later decision not to revisit that decision in light of the fact that an extradition request has been made. Legal aid was also granted by the judge to cover both sets of proceedings. The main points of objection to his extradition include grounds related to the conditions of detention, the sentencing procedure under U.S. Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the plea bargaining system, and the nature and length of the sentence he would be bound to receive. In separate proceedings, Mr Damache sought to review the decision of the DPP not to prosecute him in this jurisdiction arising from the factual allegations underpinning the extradition request and the failure of the DPP to give her reasons for her decision. The 50-year-old man has been living here for a decade and is wanted in the United States to face charges relating to conspiracy to provide material support for terrorists and attempted identity theft to facilitate an act of international terrorism. Last December was the second time his extradition case had been heard. In November 2014, Mr Damache won a Supreme Court appeal against a High Court judge's refusal for leave to seek judicial review of the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions not to prosecute Mr Damache here. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled Mr Damache was entitled to apply for judicial review on two issues: whether the DPP's March 2011 refusal to prosecute him here is reviewable, and whether the DPP was entitled to refuse to give reasons for her refusal. If Mr Damache had been convicted in the US, he could have faced up to 45 years in jail, a term his lawyers said would be 'a lot more' than would be imposed here in Ireland. In her judgement last month, Ms Justice Donnelly said there was no meaningful judicial review available in the US of the conditions of detention and the necessity for same. The High Court previously heard the US alleges it has evidence that Mr Damache conspired with American woman Colleen LaRose – who used the online name 'Jihad Jane' – and others to create a terror cell in Europe capable of targeting both US and western European citizens. It is alleged Mr Damache – who went by the username 'Theblackflag' – also participated in a conspiracy to transfer a passport stolen from a US citizen to an individual in Pakistan whom the conspirators believed to be a member of Al Qaeda. It is contended that part of the alleged conspiracy was to recruit women whose appearance would allow them access to and the ability to travel around Europe. In January of 2014 LaRose was jailed for ten years by a Philadelphia judge, having admitted her involvement in a plot to murder Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks, who sparked an international controversy by depicting the Prophet Mohammed on the head of a dog.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 62‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting an 11‑year‑old boy at his nephew's house on 19 May 2013. Garda Liam Healy described the assault as the man fondling the boy's private parts after sitting him on his knee, then touching the boy's bottom, an act that lasted only a few seconds before another person entered the house. The boy later returned home, was unable to sleep, and reported the incident to his mother, who notified the police. The defendant, with no prior convictions, admitted full responsibility and expressed genuine remorse. He was placed on the Sex Offenders Register and had no compensation to offer. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the seriousness of the offence but considering it a one‑off lapse, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence.
Barry Fowler, 30, was jailed for seven and a half years after pleading guilty to possessing over €370,000 of drugs for sale or supply. Gardaí traced him to a basement where a transit van contained €250,727 of cannabis, €103,404 of cocaine, €8,827 of heroin, €5,672 of amphetamines, €1,522 of cannabis resin and €2,000 of cannabis under his BMW's bonnet. He also pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a sawn‑off shotgun and 9mm bullets. Fowler, a father of one, had prior convictions for road traffic matters, common assault and a three‑year sentence for dangerous driving causing death in 2005. He claimed he held the drugs, weapons and €118,000 cash to offset a €60,000 drug debt. He had been in custody since April for breaching bail conditions after being arrested at Shannon Airport.
Andrew Gilmore, a 27‑year‑old serving member of the Irish Defence Forces, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the Central Bank Plaza in Dublin on 9 February 2012. On 29 November 2013 Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year deferred sentence, requiring Gilmore to keep the peace, behave well for a specified period and pay €3,000 to the injured parties. The Court of Appeal considered that a custodial sentence, a suspended sentence or a fine over €800 would have automatically led to his discharge from the army. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was "unduly lenient" and that the judge had shown too much mercy. Mr Justice George Birmingham, joined by Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, rejected the appeal, noting that the deferred sentence was appropriate given the mitigating circumstances and that a suspended sentence would have had serious consequences for Gilmore's military career.
A 34‑year‑old Cork man was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for sexually assaulting his former partner's 13‑year‑old daughter while she was under his care. The court heard that on 22 May 2013 the man gave the girl more than four cans of beer, then entered her bedroom and forced his finger into her vagina, pinning her down. He also attempted to insert his penis during the 20‑minute assault. The victim, who is still a child, waived her right to anonymity but could not be named under the law. The man pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court and had no prior convictions. The judge accepted the plea, noted the serious impact on the girl, and imposed a four‑year sentence, placing the offender on the sexual offender register and subjecting him to Garda supervision upon release.
Ian Gibbons, 39, of Emmet Road, Inchicore, Dublin, turned himself in after robbing Shoezone on Ballyfermot Road on 14 August 2014. He pleaded guilty to one count of robbery. Susan O'Brian, who was working in the shop, said Gibbons threatened to stab her if she did not open the register. He opened it and took €114 in cash and coins. Gibbons initially refused to be interviewed but returned sober the next day and confessed, expressing remorse and describing the stress he had caused the woman. He denied threatening to stab her and claimed he was not carrying a weapon. He explained that he had been coerced by violent people who had forced him to return a stolen bicycle or pay €1,500. Gibbons has 20 previous convictions, mainly for drug and road traffic offences. Judge Terence O'Sullivan imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, noting Gibbons' remorse and the unusual nature of his voluntary admission.
Barry Doyle, aged 29, was convicted of murdering rugby player Shane Geoghegan in Limerick on 9 November 2008 and sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan on 16 February 2012. Doyle pleaded not guilty and claimed that Gardaí had induced him to admit the murder during interviews. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Seán Ryan, rejected all 27 grounds of appeal, finding the trial satisfactory and the conviction safe. The court noted that Doyle's solicitor had approached Gardaí with an offer that Doyle would admit to killing Geoghegan if his girlfriend, Ms Victoria Gunnery, was released, but the court held that Doyle was aware of his actions and that no inducement or threat had been offered. The appeal was dismissed and Doyle remains in prison to serve the remainder of his life sentence.
James O'Brien, 22, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to 20‑year‑old Dale Creighton, who died two days later in hospital after the incident on New Year's Day at Saint Dominic's Road footbridge in Tallaght. O'Brien, a Tallaght native, was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court, where Justice Patrick McCarthy noted he had no prior convictions and was already in contact with probation services. He was remanded on continuing bail pending sentencing on 12 October. Seven other Dubliners in their 20s, also from Tallaght, are charged in connection with Creighton's death and will go on trial in October 2016.
A 51-year-old man has been remanded on continuing bail ahead of trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court next month on charges relating to alleged sexual offences against two young girls. The defendant faces 50 counts in total, including 40 counts of child exploitation involving alleged production of child sexual abuse material, three counts of sexual assault, and seven counts 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. At a pre-trial hearing, the defence indicated the case would be ready to proceed as scheduled. Trial commencement is set for 13 July, with proceedings expected to last approximately two weeks.
Peter Byrne, 44, pleaded guilty to two robberies committed on 29 and 30 November 2014 at the School Supply Centre in Village Green, Tallaght, and the Abberley Hotel on Belgard Road, Tallaght. He used a scalpel to threaten an employee at the shop and a hotel front‑desk staff member, demanding cash. Byrne admitted the offences, apologized, and claimed he was homeless and needed money for a deposit. He had 91 prior convictions, including four robberies, burglary, theft and assault. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, accepted Byrne's expressed desire to reform but questioned his capacity to comply. Nolan imposed a four‑year jail term, suspended the final 18 months, and ordered Byrne to serve the remaining two and a half years in custody. The court noted Byrne's age, his long prison history, and the impact on the hotel staff, who had begun self‑defence courses after the incident.
Anthony 'Tony' Kelly, aged 24, was found guilty at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court of assault causing serious harm, robbery and theft. He had attacked a 22‑year‑old man, slashing his face without provocation, and robbed two other men. The original sentence was four years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case on the basis that Kelly had "gone on a rampage" and chosen victims at random, imposed a new sentence of six years' imprisonment, again suspending the final two years. Kelly was required to post a €100 bond to keep the peace and maintain good behaviour during custody and the suspended period. The court noted the victim would bear a permanent scar for life. The appeal was upheld, and the sentence increased to six years with two years suspended.
Ian Dent, 21, of Crumlin, was convicted of two counts of violent disorder for his role in a group attack on two American tourists in Temple Bar on 29 April 2012. The tourists suffered serious injuries, including a broken arm and permanent facial scarring. Dent was sentenced to five years' imprisonment by Mr Justice Patrick McCartan on 29 July 2014. Two other Dublin men received concurrent sentences, and a fourth man was jailed separately after pleading guilty. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case on 4 June 2015, found Dent's five‑year sentence excessive. A new sentence will be imposed on 9 July 2015. The appeal was based on Dent's lack of prior convictions, his youth, and his attempts to restrain the group and defuse the situation, which the trial judge had not considered. The Court of Appeal remanded Dent in custody pending the new sentence. Ian Dent pleaded not guilty.
A 26‑year‑old Dublin man, Peter Harte, will be sentenced in October for a ten‑minute violent attack on a bus. He assaulted Pedro Mendez and Gabriella Leon after a seating dispute, using headbutts, kicks and punches. Harte pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. He has eleven prior convictions, mainly alcohol‑related public order offences, plus a robbery and a 2009 assault. The court adjourned sentencing to assess his suitability for unpaid community work or the Restorative Justice Programme. Garda Caroline Kelly reported the victims had been on the bus after social drinks and that Harte's attack began when they refused to let him sit beside them. The victims suffered injuries and are reluctant to remain in the area. Harte admitted the assault after CCTV footage was shown. The judge noted intoxication could be a mitigating factor but not a defence. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
A 21‑year‑old Dublin man, whose identity is protected, was given a suspended three‑year prison sentence for sexually assaulting his five‑year‑old niece. The victim, who had been a child rape victim herself, was forced into the man's bed at night because she feared ghosts and the dark. The man had previously been abused as a child and had pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault between April and November 2011. He had received counselling for his own abuse and was ordered to continue therapy and to live in a home for children from dysfunctional backgrounds. The court noted his early admission, guilty plea and cooperation as mitigating factors, and the sentence was suspended on the condition of ongoing treatment and residence in the specified home.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 27‑year‑old Dean Moore pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and robbery of Conor Muldoon on 3 June 2013. The incident occurred at 4 a.m. on Pearse Street when Muldoon was walking home after a night out. Moore allegedly believed Muldoon was threatening a woman and attacked him out of a "misplaced sense of chivalry", striking him in the head, face, leg and chest until Muldoon surrendered his wallet and phone, worth €400. Garda Alan Roche arrested Moore at the scene after a struggle. Muldoon suffered a fractured jaw and broken nose, was treated at St James' Hospital, and later reported being unable to eat solid food for a week. Moore's defence described him as an affable young man from a difficult background, and the judge adjourned sentencing to October to allow engagement with Probation Services and a concrete expression of remorse.
Stephen Cahoon, a 42-year-old man from Derry, Northern Ireland, is seeking to prevent a second retrial for the alleged murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Jean Teresa Quigley. Cahoon admitted strangling Quigley in 2008 but denied the charge of murder. His initial conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal in March after the court found that the trial judge misdirected the jury regarding the defence of provocation. The Court of Appeal, led by President Mr Justice Seán Ryan, ruled that the judge's error was a mistake on a central point of the case, leading to the quashing of the conviction and an order for a retrial. Cahoon, who was previously sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Barry White in 2012, is now in custody. His counsel, Niall Flynn BL, argued that a third trial would be unfair given he has already served six years in custody. The Director of Public Prosecutions, represented by Patrick Marrinan SC, expressed urgency to fix a trial date but did not object to Cahoon's application. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan fixed a hearing for July 20 to consider whether a third trial should proceed. The matter remains at the appeal stage, with the outcome of the application pending.
A Dublin man, Keith O'Neill, aged 40, was sentenced to life imprisonment after a jury found him guilty of murdering 35‑year‑old John Wilson on 28 September 2012. Wilson was shot twice in the hallway of his Ballyfermot home, once in the left arm and once in the chest, the latter causing fatal internal injuries. O'Neill pleaded not guilty. The trial lasted two weeks and included testimony from Wilson's daughter, CCTV footage, and forensic evidence such as gunshot residue on jeans and a recovered Ruger 100 revolver. The jury deliberated for 3 hours 39 minutes over two days before reaching a unanimous verdict. Judge Tony Hunt imposed a mandatory life sentence, expressing sympathy to Wilson's family. The case was prosecuted by Conor Devally SC. The trial concluded with O'Neill's conviction and sentencing.
A 21‑year‑old woman, Jazmyn Draper, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to recklessly causing serious harm to Fintan Buckley and assault causing harm to Joyce Mullins after throwing a glass at Buckley's girlfriend in a nightclub. Buckley suffered partial blindness in one eye, describing a life of darkness and PTSD symptoms. Draper was identified on CCTV by her bright pink trousers and was said to have been close to the couple when she threw the glass. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted the reckless nature of the act and the remote chance of such serious injury, and, considering Draper's lack of prior convictions and cooperation, imposed a four‑year suspended sentence. The suspension lasted five years, with a €2,000 annual payment to the victim and an additional €1,500 transferred to Buckley. No further custodial term was imposed.
Philip Connolly, 39, pleaded guilty to the violent robbery of 67‑year‑old farmer David Feeney on Railway Street, Dublin, on 14 May 2013. Judge Mary Ellen Ring, after reviewing evidence including a photograph of Feeney's injuries, imposed a suspended sentence of two and a half years, with 18 months suspended on condition Connolly keeps the peace. Connolly is currently in a rehabilitation programme working on a farm, while Feeney, who can no longer work his land, has physically recovered but suffers ongoing consequences. Connolly's co‑accused, Leigh O'Connell, 28, had 100 previous convictions and was sentenced to four years, with the final two and a half years suspended on condition he continues addressing his drug problems. The robbery involved a head‑lock, assault, and theft of money, a phone and a driver's licence, and was captured on CCTV. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Ciaran Moran, 29, was sentenced to life in prison by the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Gerard Donnelly. Moran, who had pleaded not guilty, changed his plea to guilty on the ninth day of his trial after the judge ruled that his descriptive confession should be heard by the jury. The court heard that Moran beat Mr Donnelly over the head with a lump hammer, amputated his toe, and set his body on fire in Phoenix Park during November 28th or 29th, 2013. Mr Donnelly, a 36-year-old father of one who lived homeless in the park, was identified via DNA match due to the severity of his injuries. Moran, who had 23 previous convictions including a recent manslaughter conviction resulting in a seven-year sentence with two suspended, was found to have acted alone. His barrister requested that his sentence be backdated to December 3rd, 2013, the date he was remanded in custody. Justice Margaret Heneghan agreed to this request and imposed the mandatory life sentence. Moran stood while the sentence was imposed before being led away to custody.
Marius Gaizutis, 52, of Drogheda, was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the axe murder of Lithuanian national Audrius Butkus, 44, whose body was found on a Meath beach on 10 September 2013. Gaizutis pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter when arraigned. A jury of four women and eight men found him guilty after deliberating for two hours and forty minutes. Justice Margaret Heneghan described the case as shocking and imposed a mandatory life sentence, back‑dated to his arrest on 2 October 2013. Evidence showed Butkus died from blunt‑force trauma to the head caused by an axe. Gaizutis had returned from Northern Ireland and surrendered to Gardaí on 29 September 2013. The trial highlighted that Butkus was a homeless single man with no known relatives, and that no witnesses were present at the time of his death.
The jury has begun deliberating in the trial of Keith O'Neill, 39, of Lissadell Drive, Drimnagh, who is accused of murdering John Wilson, 35, at Wilson's home on Cloverhill Road, Ballyfermot, on 28 September 2012. O'Neill pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleges his participation in the death. Judge Tony Hunt called for a unanimous verdict. The jury, composed of five women and seven men, was excused after 1 hour 29 minutes and will return tomorrow.
The State has withdrawn all charges against a 66‑year‑old Offaly man who had been accused of sexually abusing his daughter on the day her mother died. He is already serving a 14‑year sentence imposed in 2013 for raping and sexually abusing four of his children, convictions that included four counts of oral rape, forty counts of sexual assault and two counts of indecent assault. He denied all allegations, claiming the victims were lying and that the accusations were a conspiracy. Last week he was set to stand trial at the Central Criminal Court on 21 additional counts of indecent assault against one of his daughters at three locations in Offaly between 1979 and 1987. He denied those charges as well. The trial opened but collapsed before any evidence was heard after a letter from a prison doctor stated the accused was too ill to attend. Mr Justice Paul Butler discharged the jury and adjourned the case.
In a murder trial held in Dublin, the State's counsel, Mr Conor Devally SC, argued that it was "inescapable" that Keith O'Neill, aged 39, participated in the killing of John Wilson, aged 35, on 28 September 2012 at Wilson's home on Cloverhill Road, Ballyfermot. Devally described the shooting as a brutal event, citing CCTV footage, bullet residue on a gun found in a smouldering car near Cherry Orchard, and the presence of a distinctive t‑shirt worn by O'Neill at the time. He also referenced post‑incident evidence, including O'Neill's purchase of new clothing at JD Sports and the disposal of items that contained gunshot residue. Defending counsel, Mr Anthony Sammon SC, countered that there was no motive, no link between O'Neill and the Ruger gun, and raised concerns about contamination of forensic evidence. The trial was set to continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of five women and seven men. Keith O'Neill pleaded not guilty.
A man from County Mayo was sentenced to three years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his guilty pleas to sexual assault and oral rape charges. The offences, committed between 2009 and 2010 against a child he knew well, were reported to gardaí in 2014 when the victim disclosed the abuse to his father. The court heard the man was twenty-five years old at the time of the offences. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy described the sentence as one of due leniency, citing exceptional mitigating circumstances. These included the man's own history of childhood sexual abuse, his demonstrated remorse, engagement with therapeutic intervention, and assessment as presenting low risk of reoffending. The victim's impact statement outlined significant psychological harm caused by the abuse. The man was placed on the sex offenders register. His family indicated they would support him upon release from custody.
The Court of Appeal has ordered a retrial for John-Paul Cawley following his successful appeal against a murder conviction, while the appeal of Wenio Rodriguez Da Silva was dismissed. Both men had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Bruno Lemes De Sousa at Shronowen Bog, Listowel, between February 16 and 17, 2012. Cawley had also pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a plea not accepted by the prosecution. A jury at the Central Criminal Court found both men guilty of murder, and Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan sentenced them to mandatory life terms on May 22, 2013. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, found that the trial judge erred in failing to adequately direct the jury on the onus of proof regarding the statutory presumption of intent. The court ruled that the prosecution bore the burden of proving beyond reasonable doubt that this presumption had not been rebutted, a point not sufficiently explained to the jury. Consequently, Cawley's conviction was quashed, and he was remanded in custody to appear before the next list to fix dates for his Central Criminal Court retrial. Da Silva's appeal was dismissed, and his life sentence remains in effect.
In a Dublin family home, a 50‑year‑old Tipperary man was sentenced to 17 years' imprisonment for sexually abusing and raping his daughters over an 18‑year period. He pleaded not guilty to 44 charges, including 37 counts of raping his eldest daughter, one count of anal rape of that girl, one count of oral rape of her younger sister, and a threat to kill his youngest daughters. The court found him guilty on 75 charges, with a jury verdict of not guilty on three. The judge described the offences as pre‑meditated, violent and exploitative, noting the victims' courage and the man's lack of remorse. The eldest daughter was first abused at nine, raped from eleven, and escaped to England at seventeen. The second daughter was abused from ten to just before fourteen, and the third from eleven to thirteen.
During a murder trial, the jury heard that Keith O'Neill, 39, claimed "you have the wrong man" when questioned by Gardaí about the 2012 shooting of John Wilson, 35, at Wilson's home on Cloverhill Road, Ballyfermot. O'Neill pleaded not guilty. Prosecutor Conor Devally confirmed O'Neill denied the killing in post‑shooting interviews. Detective Garda Eamon O'Brien provided phone records from 21–29 September 2012, showing 210 calls, though calls from non‑Meteor networks were not recorded. Judge Tony Hunt scheduled a return for Monday to allow further legal argument in this circumstantial case.
A 29‑year‑old homeless man, Ciaran Moran, pleaded guilty to murdering 36‑year‑old Gerard Donnelly in Phoenix Park, Dublin. Donnelly's body was found on fire with a severed toe. Moran had previously pleaded not guilty, but after a judge ruled that his descriptive confession should be heard by the jury, he changed his plea. The trial heard evidence that Moran knew Donnelly had substantial money, that he sent a photo of a severed toe from his phone the night after the murder, and that CCTV showed Moran walking to the scene and spending money the next day. The prosecution presented a video of Moran's confession in Garda custody, in which he described striking Donnelly with a lump hammer, photographing the victim, cutting off the toe, and setting him on fire. The judge allowed the confession to be admitted and the case was adjourned for further preparation.
Patrick Barry, an 81‑year‑old former primary school principal from Kilkee, was convicted of indecent assault on 11 female pupils between 1964 and 1985. He was found guilty on 59 of 67 charges and sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment, with five years suspended. On appeal, the Court of Appeal reduced the sentence to two years, suspending the final three years of the five‑year portion. Barry must post a €1,000 bond and keep the peace during the suspended period. His release date is set for 20 May 2019. The appeal was based on the trial judge's error in setting the initial sentence and on Barry's advanced age, health problems and community contribution. The appeal against conviction was dismissed. The case involved allegations of indecent touching and forced positions in the classroom, with most incidents occurring in front of other pupils. The court noted that the offences were committed in a small community where everyone knew each other. Patrick Barry pleaded not guilty.
A 34‑year‑old Kilkenny man, Tadhg Butler, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer, who was stabbed once in the chest at Butler's house in Seafield, Tramore, on 10 January 2014. Butler pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a jury of four men and eight women after a 2‑hour‑26‑minute trial. He had previously dismissed his legal team and recalled his nephew, Anthony O'Grady, for cross‑examination, which the judge described as an "exceptional situation." The judge back‑dated the sentence to 9 January 2014, the day Butler had been in custody, and exempted the jury from service for ten years. The court heard a victim impact statement from Michael's aunt, describing the family's grief and the circumstances of the death.
In a Waterford murder trial, 34‑year‑old Tadhg Butler, also known as Thomas O'Grady, is charged with killing 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014. The judge, Justice Patrick McCarthy, instructed the jury to base their verdict solely on the evidence presented, noting that Butler's closing speech contained statements that were not evidence. He emphasized that the jury must consider the reliability of witness statements, particularly that of Anthony O'Grady, Butler's nephew, and the testimony of Ms Rose Burke, Butler's former partner. The judge also clarified that Butler's decision not to testify does not imply guilt. He reminded the jury that any reference to Butler's family or potential consequences of conviction is irrelevant to the adjudication. The jury began deliberations after the judge's instructions. Tadhg Butler pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court heard that Keith O'Neill, 39, pleaded not guilty to the murder of John Wilson, 35, on 28 September 2012. CCTV footage showed O'Neill entering Liffey Valley shopping centre and leaving in a change of clothing that day. Garda Alan O'Mahony presented the footage to the court. Dr. Sheila Willis explained that forensic evidence must be packed, sealed and labelled, and that a forensic scientist may refuse to handle potentially contaminated evidence. The trial will continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury tomorrow.
Derek O'Brien, aged 33, was jailed for four years after a robbery at a shop on Fortfield Park, Terenure, on 26 May 2014. He threatened the shop owner with a knife, jumped over the counter and stole €600. O'Brien pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had previous convictions for assault, theft, burglary and drug offences and had been released from prison a few months earlier. He had a five‑year sentence for three robberies in July 2012, with the final two and a half years suspended. Judge Martin Nolan re‑activated two years of that suspended sentence and added a consecutive two‑year term for the Terenure robbery, giving a total of four years. Garda Keith Morrissey and other officers identified O'Brien through CCTV and a distinctive shoe print left on the counter. O'Brien was later arrested on Aston Quay with €460 in his bag, but no further charges were brought.
During a drug search at Ross Whelan's Ballymun home, Gardaí found a pipe bomb under floorboards and over €2,000 worth of heroin in a bedside locker. Whelan, 23, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin for sale or supply and possession of an explosive substance on 16 July 2014. He had 14 prior convictions, including theft, handling stolen property, drug possession, public order offences and an 18‑month assault sentence. Judge Martin Nolan accepted Whelan's claim that he kept the bomb for personal protection, describing it as an unusual protective measure, and noted the significant heroin amount. The court sentenced Whelan to four years' imprisonment. Garda Liam Mangan explained the bomb was a pipe packed with explosive powder, lacking a detonator but confirmed explosive by forensic testing. Whelan admitted owning 13.3 grams of heroin, claimed the bomb had been buried and dug up two weeks before the search, and apologized to Gardaí, neighbours and family for the disruption.
In a Dublin court, 19‑year‑old Christopher Roberts was sentenced to three and a half years' detention for his part in a savage assault on Italian national Francesco Brescia. Roberts admitted to kicking Brescia five times in the face after Brescia claimed he had stepped in to defend a brother. Brescia was knocked to the ground, suffered a dislocated and broken shoulder, eye damage and bleeding, and was treated in hospital. The judge, Martin Nolan, described the attack as vicious, noted Brescia's ongoing pain and loss of work, and suspended the final 18 months of Roberts' sentence on strict conditions. Roberts had no prior convictions at the time of sentencing, though he had since faced other charges. The court heard Brescia's victim impact report detailing financial loss, medical treatment and psychological effects. The judge acknowledged Roberts' remorse and dysfunctional background. The case remains at the sentencing stage. Christopher Roberts pleaded guilty.
During a murder trial, evidence was presented that a pair of jeans recovered from a skip on the day of John Wilson's shooting contained firearm residue. The accused, Keith O'Neill, 39, pleaded not guilty to the 2012 murder. Detective Ronan Doolan confirmed O'Neill placed two JD Sports bags into a skip on September 28, and Sergeant Paul Curtis found blue jeans in one bag. Witness Paula Molloy testified she saw a customer, later identified as O'Neill, at Dunnes Stores on September 27, buying various items and appearing sweaty. Forensic scientist Dr. Barbara Buchanan noted a nylon bag with socks contained partly evaporated petrol. Dr. Thomas Hannigan examined items on October 1, 2012, and reported firearm residue on the jeans, explaining how such residue can disperse over time. The trial is set to continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury.
In the Waterford murder trial, Tadhg Butler (34) is charged with killing 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014. Butler, who also goes by Thomas O'Grady, pleaded not guilty and dismissed his legal team the day before the hearing. During cross‑examination, he claimed he had gone to the kitchen that night to get a knife, was attempting self‑harm, and that he grabbed the knife from his nephew, Anthony O'Grady, and swung it, inadvertently stabbing O'Dwyer. Butler said he had no intention to kill and that the act was accidental. The prosecution, led by Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, argued that Butler's statements and evidence—including a confession to his former partner and witness statements—indicated intent. The judge instructed the jury to consider the evidence and use "common sense" in deciding whether Butler's claim of accidental stabbing was credible. The trial was scheduled to continue the following morning.
In July 2013, Natasha Gleeson, a 38‑year‑old mother of two from Blanchardstown, stabbed 37‑year‑old John Redmond in the stomach with a kitchen knife during a verbal altercation on Aston Quay. The 5‑cm wound caused his small bowel to protrude and tore his colon. Gleeson pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to three years' imprisonment, citing her guilty plea and remorse as mitigating factors, though he noted the potential for death and the severity of the attack. Gleeson had no prior violent history but had earlier convictions for theft, property damage and abusive behaviour. The incident followed a dispute involving Redmond's girlfriend and her sister, with Gleeson intervening and then attacking Redmond. She later admitted to throwing the knife into the Liffey. The case highlighted her previous drug‑addiction struggles and her role as a mother.
The Court of Appeal considered whether Gary Howard, 27, who was convicted of the 2010 double murder of Patrick Mooney (58) and Brendan Molyneux (46), was entitled to have his solicitor present during Garda interviews. Howard had pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court and was found guilty after a six‑week trial, receiving two life sentences on 25 May 2012. He appealed on the grounds that his solicitor should have been present during the interviews, that he was denied access to his solicitor despite three requests, and that he was subjected to psychological pressure before making admissions that he later retracted. Seán Gillane SC argued that Howard's right to silence was undermined by the Gardaí's conduct and that the absence of a solicitor violated the Supreme Court's Gormley and White decision.
John Murphy, 31, of New Ross, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to theft at an address in Foxrock, Dublin, on October 28, 2014. The court heard that Murphy, posing as a journalist named "Andrew," allegedly extorted €1,000 from 82-year-old Patrick Brendan Tiernan by threatening to publish his photograph alongside sex offender Larry Murphy. Tiernan, who previously pleaded guilty to 14 charges of indecent assault and gross indecency involving nine victims, was targeted in what the judge described as a sophisticated operation involving surveillance. Judge Desmond Hogan characterized the conduct as a "particularly mean offence" and noted that Murphy acted as the frontman for the scheme. Although the judge did not rule out a prison term, he agreed to adjourn the matter to July 17. This delay allows the Probation Service to assess Murphy's suitability for the Restorative Justice Programme. The judge remarked that while Murphy was able to demand money, he should now demonstrate the ability to apologize. Defense counsel requested that no immediate jail term be imposed so Murphy could be present for the birth of his first child, noting that €3,000 was available in court as compensation. The matter was adjourned, not concluded.
In a Waterford murder trial, Tadhg Butler (34), charged with killing 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014, recalled and cross‑examined his nephew, Mr. O'Grady, a witness. Judge Patrick McCarthy described the situation as "exceptional" and allowed Butler to question the nephew about new topics. Butler asked O'Grady about his memory of the night, the alleged use of Valium, and whether he had spoken of self‑harm or a knife. O'Grady denied remembering any such statements, claiming he had "blanked out" and had no knowledge of the events. Butler alleged a scuffle in the hallway where he removed a knife from O'Grady's hand, which then stabbed O'Dwyer's chest, describing it as accidental. O'Grady refuted these claims, stating he had never spoken of stabbing O'Dwyer. The prosecution's closing speech reiterated that the defence had never suggested Butler "accidentally" stabbed the victim. The trial continues. Tadhg Butler pleaded not guilty.
During a 2015 trial in Waterford, the accused, Tadhg Butler (34), who is charged with the murder of Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014, has dismissed his legal team and will represent himself. The jury heard that Butler, also known as Thomas O'Grady, denied the charge and claimed he had hugged O'Dwyer that evening, explaining the DNA found on the victim's clothes. Prosecutor Denis Vaughan Buckley presented Garda interviews, noting Butler's statements about feeling saddened for O'Dwyer's family and his respect for life. Detective Seamus Keevans described the search of Butler's house, which yielded no blood‑stained knife but six table knives and two sharp knives from the kitchen drawer. The judge granted Butler the right to cross‑examine his nephew, Anthony O'Grady, and indicated the case was approaching its final phase. The trial continues.
Michael Riordan, aged 49, was convicted of 21 counts of sexual assault against his step‑daughter between September 2007 and November 2012. A jury found him guilty on nine counts and acquitted him on the rest by direction. He received a sentence of two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment on 4 July 2014. Riordan appealed, arguing that facts disclosed in the victim's impact statement – such as the accused allegedly breaking the shower on purpose and his alleged dislike of the victim until she was 13 – contradicted her evidence and should have led to the withdrawal of the remaining counts. The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal, stating the new facts were minor and did not affect the fairness of the trial or the cross‑examination. Riordan was ordered to serve the remainder of his sentence in prison. The victim had waived anonymity, allowing the court to publish his identity. Michael Riordan pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Seery, aged 34, was sentenced to six months in prison for violent disorder after striking fellow inmate Noel Murray with a sweeping brush at Wheatfield Prison on 21 January 2013. Seery, a resident of Ballyogan Vale, Carrickmines in Dublin 18, had previously pleaded guilty to the offence. The incident occurred when Murray had run out of his cell following an alleged assault by other inmates; Seery waited on the landing and repeatedly struck Murray with the brush as he emerged, an act captured on CCTV. Seery has 46 prior convictions and had been released from prison the previous December, during which he reportedly addressed his drug problems. He has a young child and has expressed a desire to improve his life. Judge Martin Nolan noted that such behaviour is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated in prison.
The murder trial of Tadhg Butler, 34, of Seafield, Tramore, Co Waterford, continues at the court. Butler, also known as Thomas O'Grady, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Michael O'Dwyer at that address on 10 January 2014. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that O'Dwyer died from a single stab wound to the left side of the chest, which entered his heart and left lung. She noted the injury was consistent with a blade having a single side cutting edge and that there was no evidence of self-defensive injuries. Toxicology reports indicated alcohol and a tranquilliser-type drug in the deceased's system. Under cross-examination, Dr Cassidy acknowledged that either of two similar knives recovered from the scene could have caused the injury. Garda Paul O'Flynn stated that only those two black-handled knives were found during the search. Forensic scientist Sarah Fleming reported finding no blood on the knives or on swabs taken from Butler's hands. The matter was adjourned, and the trial continues.
Eugene Cullen, 30, from Sundale Villas, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a firearm and arson on 4 August 2008. He and Adam Griffiths, 27, were seen leaving a hedge in Palmerstown Green after driving a stolen Honda Civic from Cherry Orchard. Cullen leaned into the car and flames soon erupted. Gardaí stopped a vehicle driven by a third man shortly thereafter. An inspection of the charred car revealed a 9‑mm pistol in the passenger side glove box, confirming the vehicle had been reported stolen. Neither man was charged with the theft. Griffiths pleaded guilty to driving without the owner's consent. He received a two‑year suspended sentence. Cullen, already serving a life sentence for murder, was given a six‑year custodial term, with no credit for time already served on the firearm charge. The court noted that Cullen had no knowledge that the gun was in the car.
In a murder trial, a Garda testified that he saw the body of John Wilson, 35, covered by a blanket on the day he was shot dead at his home on Cloverhill Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10. Keith O'Neill, 39, from Lissadell Drive, Drimnagh, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Wilson on 28 September 2012. Detective Garda Dennis Sweetman presented CCTV footage showing both Wilson and O'Neill entering the same shop from Cherry Orchard Avenue, with Wilson wearing a motorcycle jacket and helmet. The footage also showed Wilson leaving the shop at 10.39 am and walking toward his motorbike after O'Neill and another person exited. Garda Mark Collander, from the ballistics section, described entering Wilson's home, finding the body covered by a blanket, and noting multiple bullet holes in the front door and hallway.