In a 2025 Court of Appeal ruling, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore granted a 54‑year‑old woman an appeal against her conviction for sexually assaulting her three disabled sons and for child neglect. The judge said the only evidence against her were inculpatory statements she made to a psychologist and polygrapher retained by Tusla under extreme power imbalance. He noted that the Director of Public Prosecutions did not oppose the appeal and a retrial would not be sought. The woman had pleaded not guilty but was convicted by a jury in a retrial in July 2024 of four counts of sexual assault between 2005 and 2015 and one count of child neglect between 2008 and 2015. She was sentenced to eight years, with the final two years suspended. Mr Justice O'Moore ruled that the admissions should have been excluded, and that she should have been acquitted of all charges.
A Donegal man has lost his appeal against conviction for raping and sexually assaulting his daughter during her childhood. The Court of Appeal dismissed the challenge on 14 July, with Mr Justice Michael MacGrath ruling that evidence of the victim's disclosure to her aunt was properly admissible at trial. The appellant, Michael Carter (57) of Kinnego, Ballymagan, Buncrana, was convicted in June 2023 of one count of rape and 25 sample counts of sexual assault occurring between 2010 and 2014, when his daughter was aged nine to twelve. He was sentenced to ten and a half years imprisonment. The defence had contested the admissibility of the aunt's evidence, arguing the complaint was elicited through questioning rather than offered voluntarily. The court found the disclosure was consistent with the victim's trial testimony and properly admitted, identifying no error warranting reversal of the conviction.
The Central Criminal Court jury convicted an unnamed woman in her 50s of one count of rape, specifically facilitating the rape of her daughter by her brother between 2003 and 2004, and two counts of sexual assault at a family holiday home. Her brother, in his 40s, was convicted of one count of raping the girl between 2003 and 2004. Both defendants had pleaded not guilty to a total of 21 charges. The jury acquitted the woman of two further sexual assault counts and was unable to reach a verdict on two others. Regarding the brother, the jury failed to reach a verdict on a further rape count and an oral rape charge. A third accused, a man in his 50s, was unable to be convicted or acquitted on one count of oral rape alleged between 2008 and 2009. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon remanded the woman and her brother in custody. The matter was adjourned, with a sentence date set for next October. The third accused was remanded on continuing bail to the same date for the prosecution to seek instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Adam Mitchell McGrath, 32, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and making threats to kill or cause serious harm. He attacked a former colleague, slashing his face with a blade, causing a deep laceration that required surgery and 120 stitches, severing facial nerve, saliva duct, vein and artery, and leaving him with a visible scar and speech difficulties. The victim also suffered a superficial leg cut and defensive wounds. McGrath's mental health diagnosis of schizophrenia was noted; he had stopped his medication, leading to a return of symptoms. He had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of eight and a half years, then imposed six years with the final two years suspended for two years, and ordered two years of probation supervision and no contact with the victim.
A Brazilian man has received a three-year suspended sentence following an assault outside a Westport nightclub that left his victim requiring extensive dental treatment. Joao Hermino Sousa Correia, aged 23, of Middletown, Manulla, Castlebar, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm outside The Castle on Castlebar Street on December 17, 2023. The victim sustained a fractured jaw and deep lacerations after being struck with a pint glass, resulting in the loss of four teeth and an €11,000 dental bill. At Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Eoin Garavan imposed the three-year sentence, fully suspended for eight years on condition Correia return to Brazil within two weeks and not re-enter Ireland. Correia was ordered to pay €8,000 towards the victim's dental costs within three years. The court also heard of a second glassing incident occurring minutes earlier at the same venue. Leonardo Rodrigo Jesus Rosa, aged 35, of Orlagh Grove, Castlebar, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after throwing a glass on the dancefloor. Judge Garavan sentenced Rosa to 18 months and ordered 200 hours community service.
A man has been convicted of defiling a child under 17 at his home in County Mayo six years ago. The accused, whose identity is protected to safeguard the complainant, pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was acquitted of a separate count of sexual assault arising from an incident at a staff party. Following a week-long trial at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court, an all-male jury returned a 10–2 majority guilty verdict after deliberating for five and a half hours. The complainant was 16 years old at the time; the accused was 28. Judge Eoin Garavan remanded the accused on bail pending sentencing on 6 November, to allow time for a psychological report. The accused was ordered to sign on weekly at his local garda station. The judge commended the complainant's courage but reserved formal comments for the sentencing hearing.
Ian Gillen, a retired Garda and former international bowler, was sentenced to four years in prison, with the final 28 months suspended, for threatening to kill and assaulting his partner Jennifer Clinton on 23 December 2021. The court heard that Gillen's mental health deteriorated after he was the first responder to his son's suicide in his early 20s, leading to increased alcohol use and anger. Clinton recorded 40 minutes of the assault, during which Gillen repeatedly threatened her life and physically struck her. She later escaped and provided a victim impact statement describing lasting PTSD, anxiety and depression. Gillen pleaded guilty, accepted responsibility, and had no prior convictions. The judge noted his long service as a Garda, the tragic loss of his son, and his cooperation as mitigating factors, resulting in the suspended portion of the sentence.
Mark McAnaw, aged 53 and previously of Letterkenny, County Donegal, has been sentenced to an additional ten months in custody following a breach of suspended sentence conditions at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. McAnaw pleaded guilty last month to harassing three female journalists in August 2023 and was handed an eleven-year sentence for those offences. He had been released from custody in July 2023 on the suspended portion of an earlier eight-year-four-month sentence for aggravated burglary, imposed in 2023. Judge Martin Nolan activated ten months of the sixteen-month suspended element, to run consecutively to the existing eleven-year sentence. The court heard McAnaw sent threatening emails and messages to the women and attended their workplace. He is currently detained in the Central Mental Hospital. A lifelong contact prohibition and exclusion order have been imposed.
Ryan Craig, 25, of Shancastle Drive, Clondalkin, appeared at the Central Criminal Court where he entered guilty pleas to the lesser offences of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm and endangerment. These pleas replaced a previous attempted murder charge relating to an incident on October 20, 2024, at Cloverhill Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22. Craig admitted to driving a vehicle in a dangerous manner that caused serious bodily harm to Dillon Gilligan, and to intentionally engaging in conduct that created a substantial risk of death or serious injury to Mr Gilligan. The Director of Public Prosecutions confirmed that Craig could be arraigned on the remaining counts on a full facts basis, allowing the previously set trial date for the attempted murder charge to be vacated. Defense counsel Dominic McGinn SC requested an education report and a probation report, the latter specifically to examine restorative justice options. Mr Justice Paul McDermott directed that an education report, probation report, victim impact statement, and any other relevant reports be prepared. The matter was adjourned to October 28 for sentencing.
In a trial where a mother and her uncle are accused of raping the mother's daughter, the jury paused its deliberations for the weekend. The defendants, all pleading not guilty, face charges of rape and sexual assault. The mother, in her 50s, is charged with 13 counts of sexual assault and one count of rape, while the uncle, in his 40s, faces five counts of rape and one of oral rape. A third man, also in his 50s, is charged with one count of oral rape. The jury will resume on Monday.
A 42‑year‑old man was sentenced to 11 years and six months in prison, with the final six months suspended for one year on strict conditions, after being convicted of two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault against his goddaughter, who was aged six to nine when the offences occurred between 2009 and 2012 in County Clare. The man, who was in his late twenties at the time, was also married to the victim's aunt and had acted as her godfather. He maintains his innocence. The victim, whose identity is protected, gave a victim impact statement describing the abuse as having stolen her childhood, left her with fear, pain, depression and anxiety, and said she may "never be able to be normal." The judge noted the seriousness of the offences, the victim's age and the multiple incidents, and reduced a headline sentence of 13 years to 11½ years after considering mitigating factors and testimonials about the.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 10 July 2025, Hollie Kavanagh, 22, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a group of four females attacked an 18‑year‑old girl in The Lawn Park, Ballyfermot, on 27 April 2022. The court heard that Kavanagh shouted at the victim, pulled her by the hair and that the group took turns kicking her in the groin, legs and abdomen. The victim suffered swelling in the pubic area, bruising to her right thigh and left jaw, a bald patch on her head and was left with "crippling anxiety". Kavanagh made admissions during a voluntary interview, brought €1,850 to court as a token of remorse, and a letter of apology was presented. Judge Elma Sheahan ordered a probation report and directed that the €1,850 be handed over to the National Rehabilitation Centre within two weeks, with sentencing to be finalised on 3 November 2025.
A man in his 30s was jailed for three months after breaching a safety order by calling his former partner and claiming a five‑year‑old girl had dialled the number. He pleaded not guilty under Section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018. The woman, who was preparing her children for school when the call rang on 2 July 2024, said she was frightened and left the house. She did not answer the call, but it was enough to create fear. The accused said he had given the phone to a child in the car and that the child had made the call. He had previously deleted the complainant's number but was using a new phone with a SIM that still contained it. Prosecuting solicitor Tom Conlon questioned the plausibility of the explanation, noting the accused's six prior convictions, including assault and three prior breaches of safety and protection orders.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 10 July 2025, a witness described how Valeriu Melnic (24) of Calliaghstown Lower, Rathcoole, attempted to protect his head while Ion Daghi (39) of The Close, Sallins Park, held a chair leg and threatened to beat him. The witness, Moldovan Alexandru Beccieu (24), testified that the two men had been drinking heavily, with Melnic allegedly consuming a "colossal amount" of whiskey. Melnic had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. A pathologist told the jury that Daghi died from a single 13‑cm stab wound to the chest, causing rapid death. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice David Keane, continues with a jury of eight men and four women. The witness's testimony focused on the altercation, the drinking, and the fatal stabbing, without providing any further legal conclusions.
A trial has commenced at the Central Criminal Court concerning charges against John Irving of Shanwar, Foxford, County Mayo. The prosecution alleges that Mr Irving, along with Francis Harman of Ballina and John Clarke of Ballina, broke into the home of a pensioner at Doonflynn, Skreen, County Sligo in January 2022 and assaulted him. The victim, then aged 73, sustained severe injuries including head trauma, rib fractures and internal bleeding. He died over twenty months later from complications arising from the assault. A medical witness is expected to testify that the injuries were comparable to those sustained in a serious motor collision. Forensic evidence presented includes DNA and blood located on gloves discovered in the area. Mr Irving denies all charges, including unlawful killing, assault causing serious harm, trespass, and false imprisonment. The trial before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon continues.
Patrick Cawley, 35, pleaded guilty to assault, theft and robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He was convicted of four offences against three men, including a German tourist in his 60s. Cawley, described by the judge as an "endemic recidivist offender" with 127 prior convictions and a history of drug addiction, was sentenced to five years and three months, with the final 12 months suspended, leaving an effective term of four years and three months. The judge aimed to encourage treatment of his drug problem and reintegration into society. The German victim suffered anxiety, stress and a fear of crowds, and reported an economic loss of €1,100. Another victim sustained a broken jaw that required wiring. A third incident involved a mugging at a Luas stop, but no conviction was recorded for that event. The court noted Cawley's cooperation during the interview.
Valeriu Melnic (24), of Rathcoole, Co Dublin, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the alleged murder of Ion Daghi (39) at The Close, Sallins Park, Sallins, Co Kildare, on May 12, 2024. Mr Melnic has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Mr Daghi died from a single stab wound to the left chest, which measured 13cm in depth and penetrated the heart's right ventricle. She stated that death would have been rapid due to hemorrhage and shock, with 250ml of blood found in the pericardial sac. Dr Bolster noted blunt force injuries to the deceased's hands, consistent with offensive or defensive actions during an altercation, and confirmed that 73mg of ethanol was detected in his system. A knife blade recovered from the scene measured 19.5cm, consistent with the wound. Prosecuting counsel Carl Hanahoe SC alleged that Mr Melnic armed himself with a kitchen knife and stabbed Mr Daghi following a dispute after they spent the night drinking together. The trial continues before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury.
A 53‑year‑old man was sentenced to eight and a half years' imprisonment for subjecting five children in his care to repeated physical and sexual abuse, causing them irreparable psychological damage. He was in a relationship with the children's mother and the biological father of the younger two. The court heard he threatened a child's dog and used violence and intimidation to control the children. He pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault of one boy (2004‑2011, ages 11‑18), three counts of sexual assault of a second boy (2006‑2013, ages 12‑19), two counts of child cruelty of a third boy (2013‑2015, ages 12‑14), and sexual assault of two girls (2015, ages 14 and 9). These pleas were representative of 107 charges. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs imposed consecutive sentences totalling 11 years, suspended the final two and a half years on strict conditions, and noted the man's remorse and risk assessment.
A 33-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault and defilement of a child following an incident in County Mayo in July 2020. The trial, heard this week at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court, was told the complainant was 16 years old at the time of the alleged offences, while the accused was 28. The defence argued the accused believed the complainant was over 18, citing her appearance, behaviour, and statements she made during a staff party. However, the court heard evidence from a witness who said she informed the accused of the complainant's actual age that night. The complainant testified the accused pressured her for sexual contact after the party. Both prosecution and defence have delivered closing submissions. Judge Eoin Garavan is to sum up to the jury today or tomorrow, after which the twelve jurors will consider their verdict.
A jury has begun deliberating in a trial involving a mother, her uncle, and a third man, all of whom deny the allegations. The mother, in her 50s, faces 13 counts of sexual assault and one count of rape for facilitating her daughter's rape by the uncle. The uncle, in his 40s, is charged with five counts of rape and one of oral rape. The third man, also in his 50s, faces one count of oral rape. All defendants plead not guilty. The jury paused deliberations for the day after a brief session.
In a murder trial, a 24‑year‑old man, Valeriu Melnic, was charged with the fatal stabbing of Ion Daghi, 39, at The Close, Sallins Park, Kildare, on 12 May 2024. Melnic pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The case was heard by a jury of eight men and four women. The prosecution, represented by Carl Hanahoe SC, recounted that Melnic and his friend Alexandru Beccieu had spent the night drinking at Daghi's house, arriving at 8 pm and consuming three bottles of whiskey. Around 3 am a dispute arose between Melnic and Daghi, escalating into a physical altercation involving Beccieu. Melnic allegedly armed himself with a kitchen knife, entered the kitchen, and stabbed Daghi once in the chest. A pathologist is expected to confirm a single stab wound to the left side of the chest, causing rapid death.
A 24-year-old man from St Catherine's Park, Rush, Co Dublin, has been remanded in custody pending sentence next October following his guilty plea to criminal damage on March 31, 2024, and assault causing harm to a woman on April 3, 2024. John Hoey admitted to the charges during a hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The prosecution outlined that the woman, who is pregnant, sustained injuries including a black eye and a cut to her head. Garda Niamh Owens detailed that Hoey had been accessing her Snapchat and accused her of cheating, leading to a violent incident where he pushed her head under water during a bath, threatened her with a Stanley knife, and grabbed her by the throat, causing her to pass out. The woman managed to escape the house with assistance from passersby. Hoey's defence acknowledged his client's history of anger management issues and his attendance at counselling since the incident. The court heard that Hoey and the woman are still in a relationship, and their child was born late last year. The woman did not complete a victim impact statement. Ms Cummings informed the court that if the defence wished to adjourn the case for a probation report, the State would request Hoey's bail be revoked and he be remanded in custody. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned sentence to next October and instructed Hoey to engage with The Probation Service and undergo domestic violence courses.
An 18‑year‑old Dubliner, who was a minor when he first appeared before the courts, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to an additional three years and eight months in prison for burying a sawn‑off shotgun, ammunition and drugs worth more than €55,000 for the Hennessy crime gang. He had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a side‑by‑side shotgun, cannabis, diamorphine and Phenacetin, and to possession of 15 rounds of 9 × 18 mm Makarov ammunition and ten 12‑Gauge ELEY cartridges. The judge imposed a headline sentence of seven and a half years for the shotgun offence, but, after suspending one year and four months, the final term was three years and eight months, to run consecutively with his existing 28‑month sentence for violent disorder at Browne's Steakhouse. Additional concurrent sentences of 20 months for Phenacetin, 18 months for cannabis and three years and four months for diamorphine were also imposed.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a young woman testified that she was raped and sexually assaulted by her mother, her uncle and a third man. The prosecution, represented by Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC, argued that the complainant's statements were consistent and unembellished, urging the jury to consider her reliability. The defence counsel for each defendant highlighted the passage of time, the lack of corroborating evidence, and questioned the complainant's memory of events that occurred when she was very young. The mother, aged in her 50s, pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of sexual assault and one count of rape, while the uncle, in his 40s, pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and one of oral rape. The third defendant, also in his 50s, pleaded not guilty to one count of oral rape. The case remains before Justice Eileen Creedon and the jury.
A 19‑year‑old, who was 18 at the time of the offence, was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for the murder of Aaron Keating, 43, on 13 June 2023. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, noted that the teenager stabbed Keating after an altercation in a public street in Dublin 15. The killing was described as a "drug rage" and the defendant had pleaded guilty. The sentence was reduced from an initial 25‑year headline to 21 years and then to 15 years, with the final two years suspended for two years on conditions including peace‑keeping, drug rehabilitation and mental‑health treatment. The court highlighted the defendant's history of drug use, lack of maturity and the need for rehabilitation. The case was heard in the Dublin District Court.
A 24‑year‑old man, Valeriu Melnic, will be tried for the killing of Ion Daghi, 39, in Kildare on 12 May 2024. Melnic admits he killed Daghi but denies murder, pleading not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter. The Director of Public Prosecutions rejected the plea, and Mr Justice David Keane has sworn a jury of eight men and four women to hear the case. The trial will start tomorrow afternoon and is expected to continue until the end of next week.
A 42-year-old Ballinrobe woman has admitted assaulting two gardaí at Claremorris Garda Station during an incident in June 2022. Rosemary Sweeney, of Bridge Street, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court. She is remanded in custody pending sentencing, which is scheduled for July 16. Judge Eoin Garavan ordered the preparation of a prison governor's report ahead of the sentencing hearing.
In a Central Criminal Court murder trial, Judge Karen O'Connor discharged a jury of five women and seven men after two weeks of proceedings, citing "matters beyond my control" and expressing regret that the trial could not continue. The case involved Joseph Lawlor, 39, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Ryan, 51, outside Lawlor's home in Finglas on 20 June 2024. The prosecution had presented evidence that the two men had been drinking together, with CCTV and neighbour recordings capturing a series of fights that culminated in a fatal stabbing shortly after midnight, leaving Ryan with a single neck wound that severed an artery. The judge thanked the jury for their attentiveness, exempted them from further duty for five years, and postponed the matter to a new trial date of 22 July 2025.
A man from the Glenties area of Donegal has been sentenced to a total of 15.5 years in prison following his conviction at the Central Criminal Court for facilitating a gangland shooting in Dublin. Patrick Fitzgerald, aged 48, was convicted of participating in activities of a criminal organisation between November 2021 with intent to facilitate a serious offence. He provided getaway vehicles used in an attempted murder of Dublin criminal Gary Carey on 17 November 2021. Justice Eileen Creedon imposed a seven-year sentence to run consecutively with an existing 7.5-year sentence for aggravated burglary. The court heard Fitzgerald purchased two vehicles through an online platform and provided them as escape cars following the shooting at Ballyfermot Crescent. Mr Carey sustained gunshot wounds and subsequently relocated his family abroad. The judge noted the case involved a national and international drug smuggling gang and considered the profound impact on the victim's family. Fitzgerald has 72 previous convictions.
The Central Criminal Court has adjourned the sentencing of four family members convicted in connection with the murder of Ashling Murphy to October 7. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs set the date after hearing that the defendants accept the jury's verdict and will not appeal their convictions. Lubomir Puska Jnr and Marek Puska, who pleaded not guilty, were found guilty of withholding crucial information from gardai. Their wives, Viera Gaziova and Jozefina Grundzova, also pleaded not guilty and were convicted of burning bloodstained clothes to impede the prosecution. Lucia Istokova, Jozef Puska's wife, pleaded guilty to withholding information. Counsel for the appellants confirmed their clients now accept the verdicts and have engaged with Probation Services. Ms Justice Biggs extended legal aid to facilitate the preparation of psychological reports, noting she could handle sentencing in one stage or two. She opted for a single date to ensure all probation and psychological reports are available. The matter was adjourned to October 7 for sentence, where the court hopes to have all necessary reports in hand. Jozef Puska, who murdered Ms Murphy in January 2022, is serving a life sentence. The four family members were living with him and their children in Co Offaly at the time of the offences.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 4 July 2025, Stefano Gianluca Macari, 24, pleaded guilty to robbery and assault causing harm after he and two co‑accused attacked an American doctor in his 40s on 27 April 2023. Macari, a member of the Macari takeaway family, was caught by Gardaí with the victim's wallet and bank cards and had been in custody since June. He kicked the victim several times in the head while the trio stole cash and the wallet before fleeing. The victim suffered lacerations and bruising, declined hospital treatment, and was treated with temporary stitches. Macari's co‑accused received four‑ and five‑year sentences. The court noted Macari's 27 prior convictions and ordered a probation report, Governor's report and urine analysis for November, with the matter to be finalised then.
Jordan Mallon, 26, was sentenced by Judge William Aylmer at Tallaght District Court to eight months' imprisonment for assaulting Garda James Cullen on 14 October 2024. Mallon, who had previously pleaded guilty to five charges including violent behaviour in a garda station, criminal damage to a bus stop, and two public‑order offences, spat saliva into Cullen's eye while in custody. The judge noted the incident was highly distressing, though no lasting harm occurred. Mallon's 38‑count criminal record, with recent convictions in March and June 2025, was cited. The sentence, imposed under Section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, was reduced from nine to eight months for the early guilty plea. Four months were suspended for 12 months, conditional on full engagement with the Probation Service, participation in a Restorative Justice programme, and addressing alcohol misuse. Mallon was also ordered to enter a €300 peace bond.
Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the sentencing of Lorenzo Cantaragiu and Robert Burns to July 30 for finalisation. Both men were convicted of impeding the prosecution or apprehension of Mahamud Ilyas's murderers, Viorel Doroscan and Otniel Richardo Clejan, who were sentenced to life imprisonment on June 23 for the murder of Mr Ilyas on December 9, 2022. Cantaragiu, who pleaded not guilty but was unanimously convicted by a jury in May, is alleged to have driven the perpetrators to a remote area in Co Meath. His defence counsel, Michael Lynn SC, highlighted that Cantaragiu has been attacked in prison, labelled a "rat," and placed in 23-hour protective custody. Counsel argued that Cantaragiu, who was 19 at the time, provided assistance to gardaí and abandoned the perpetrators. Burns, who pleaded guilty during the trial to cleaning blood from the crime scene, was represented by Lorcan Staines SC, who requested a non-custodial sentence, citing Burns' fear, age, and role as a primary carer. The court heard that Burns had previous convictions and a medium risk of generic reoffending due to cannabis use. The matter remains adjourned pending finalisation.
Ryan Kearney, aged 39, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after stabbing Jeffrey Jackson, aged 50, 15 times in what he claimed was self‑defence. The Central Criminal Court jury rejected the prosecution's case that Kearney intended to kill or cause serious injury, accepting the defence that he acted to protect himself from Jackson's alleged violence. The jury considered the force used and the partial defence of provocation, concluding that the killing was not murder. Kearney was described as an alcoholic but not violent. The judge remanded him in custody pending a sentencing hearing on 28 July. The case involved 16 knife wounds, with the pathologist noting Jackson was heavily intoxicated. The trial also heard testimony from Jackson's partner and family about his violent behaviour. The judge directed a psychologist and governor's report on Kearney.
Deirdre Arnold, 42, a former HSE addiction counsellor, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for acting as a getaway driver for Brian McHugh, who murdered Lisa Thompson. The Central Criminal Court heard that Arnold drove McHugh to Thompson's home on 9 May 2022, where she waited outside for over an hour before driving him away, and later helped him evade prosecution by checking him into the Clayton Hotel. She also used her silver Hyundai Tucson to dispose of evidence taken from Thompson's house. Arnold had previously complained of domestic abuse and had an interim barring order against McHugh. She pleaded not guilty to the two counts of aiding and abetting and of perverting the course of public justice. The judge noted her history of abuse, her remorse, and her role as a mother, and reduced the headline sentence from five to three years after considering mitigation.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a mother in her 50s pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of sexual assault and one count of rape, claiming she never sexually abused her three‑year‑old daughter or facilitated her uncle's rape. She said she felt "slightly sick" when told she had abused the child before age four and denied any other alleged assaults, including a claim that she bit her daughter. The mother also denied being present when her daughter was raped by her uncle and denied any sexual activity with him. The uncle, in his 40s, pleaded not guilty to five rape counts and one oral rape count, denying all allegations and stating he did not know why his niece would accuse him. A third defendant, aged in his 50s, pleaded not guilty to one oral rape count and denied any contact with the child. The trial continues.
A Ballina man has been sentenced to one year and four months in prison for stabbing another man with a broken beer bottle during an altercation in the town four years ago. Stephen Lawrence, aged 23, of Cloonishlawn pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Oisín McCarron at Greenhills housing estate on 3 April 2021. Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court heard the incident occurred following a verbal and physical row between the two men, then teenagers, after a night of drinking. Judge Eoin Garavan noted elements of provocation and that both parties had been involved in the altercation. The victim suffered deep lacerations to his face, jaw and neck requiring plastic surgery and continues to experience psychological trauma. A family contribution of €5,000 was presented to court in recognition of the harm caused. The judge acknowledged Lawrence's genuine remorse, stable family background and lack of previous convictions. The sentence, comprising two years and three months with eleven months suspended for two years, was backdated to September 2024.
An unnamed man in his 50s was sentenced at Dún Laoghaire District Court after being convicted of breaching a safety order. The defendant had pleaded not guilty to two counts of breaching a safety order under Section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018, alleged to have occurred on 13 and 19 September 2024. Judge Conor Fottrell found the charges proven, describing the incidents as clear breaches of court-imposed restrictions. The man was prohibited from attending his former partner's home under a three-year safety order granted in May 2023, which limited contact to email for child access matters. The complainant told the court that the man appeared at her property twice within a week, causing her to live in constant fear and lose trust in the legal system. Although the accused claimed he believed he had permission to attend on 13 September to drop off money, no email authorizing this was produced to the court. The judge noted the order's terms were unambiguous and found the woman's evidence credible. The defendant received a two-month suspended sentence, suspended for 12 months, on the condition that he stay away from the woman's home and fully comply with the safety order.
A jury of twelve, consisting of three men and nine women, is deliberating a verdict in the murder trial of Ryan Kearney, 39, who stabbed Jeffrey Jackson, 50, to death in a Co Kildare apartment on 8 February 2024. Kearney has pleaded not guilty, claiming he acted in self‑defence. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, instructed the jury to decide whether the killing was murder, manslaughter or a lawfully justified homicide. He explained that if the jury believes Kearney honestly believed he was defending himself and that the force used was reasonable, the verdict should be not guilty. If the force was deemed excessive, the verdict could be not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. If the defence of self‑defence is rejected, the jury must consider a partial defence of provocation. The jury is required to reach a unanimous verdict.
Michael Cash, 33, of Ashlawn Park, Ballybrack, was found by Gardaí on a Luas track in Cherrywood carrying two golden hatchets and a large kitchen knife while riding an e‑scooter. He was wearing a balaclava and attempted to flee when officers arrived. Cash dropped one hatchet, which Gardaí recovered, and the other hatchet and knife were found concealed on his person. He pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of the hatchets. Cash has 116 prior convictions, including false imprisonment, assault, criminal damage and road traffic offences, and a history of alcohol and drug problems. The court noted his guilty pleas, cooperation with Gardaí, and his willingness to enter a custodial sentence. Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain imposed a three‑year sentence, with the final 12 months suspended for two years, and directed Cash to be placed under probation supervision for two years and to engage in a drug treatment programme.
A man aged 33 has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexually assaulting a teenage girl at a staff party in County Mayo in July 2020. The trial is taking place at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Eoin Garavan and an all-male jury. The complainant, now aged 21, gave evidence that she was 16 at the time and had consumed several bottles of cider during the event. She alleged the accused, whom she had not previously met, engaged in sexual contact with her in a bathroom and later in an alleyway without her consent. The woman told the court she objected to the contact and pushed the man away. The defendant faces two counts: sexual assault at the party premises on 14 to 15 July 2020, and defilement of a child under 17 at a separate address on 15 July 2020. He denies both charges. The trial is expected to continue for several days.
Gerry Norman, a 24-year-old abattoir worker from Ballina, Co Mayo, has been sentenced to four years imprisonment with the final two years suspended at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to one man and assault causing harm to another following an unprovoked attack in Diamond's carpark, Ballina on 19 December 2021. Judge Eoin Garavan described the incident as random and fuelled by alcohol and cocaine, noting that one victim sustained a skull fracture and brain bleed, resulting in permanent hearing loss and tinnitus. The judge acknowledged mitigating factors including Norman's lack of prior convictions, completion of an anger management course, and demonstrated commitment to addressing substance abuse. Norman has offered €15,000 in total compensation to the victims. He was ordered to keep the peace for two years upon release.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Ryan Kearney, aged 39, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jeffrey Jackson, 50, who was stabbed at The Lamps, Kilcock, on 8 February 2024. Kearney claimed he acted in self‑defence after a scuffle with Jackson, who he described as prone to rage and violence and whom he called a "complete lunatic." He said he had taken a knife from Jackson's partner and delivered "a few jabs" to the neck, believing the victim was dead, and that he had no intention to kill. The prosecution, represented by Brendan Grehan SC, argued that Kearney's account did not match the pathology evidence, noting that Jackson suffered 16 separate knife injuries, including a 17‑cm wound, and that the knife was "buried to the hilt." Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC countered that the pathologist's findings suggested the injuries could result from a dynamic struggle with momentum from both sides, and that Kearney's actions were a reasonable.
An on‑bail offender, Stephan Obelngoa, 24, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a fully suspended 12‑month term for assault causing harm, assault of a peace officer and resisting arrest. The offence occurred on 2 October 2023 at The Square, Tallaght, when Obelngoa dragged an 11‑year‑old visually impaired girl away from her mother, threw her into a concession stand, and spat blood and saliva at Garda officers who tried to restrain him. He was pepper‑sprayed and subdued by security guards before Garda arrival. The court noted Obelngoa had six prior convictions, was on bail, and had been unmedicated for six months, suffering from schizophrenia. Judge Ni Chulachain accepted the defendant's guilty plea and the victim's young age, imposed a 12‑month imprisonment term, but suspended it in full on strict conditions, citing a low risk of re‑offending under probation supervision.
The trial at the Central Criminal Court involves a woman who denies that she imagined being raped by her uncle but admits she has struggled with memories and misidentified her age at some alleged incidents. She claims she was raped by her uncle on several occasions, including oral rape, and also alleges sexual assault by her mother and a family friend. The defendants—her uncle, her mother, and another man—face 21 counts of sexual assault and rape from 2000 to 2014, mainly at the family home. All three defendants plead not guilty. The woman gave direct evidence that she was about five‑and‑a‑half when her uncle first raped her, that she was eight at a later oral rape, and that she saw her mother and uncle engaging in sex when she was around six. She also testified that she was sexually assaulted by her mother multiple times and by a family friend.
In the High Court, lawyers for Nikita Hand argued that the Director of Public Prosecutions should consider perjury proceedings after Conor McGregor withdrew his bid to introduce new evidence in his appeal of a civil jury's finding that he raped Ms Hand. The civil case, decided last year, awarded Ms Hand €248,000 in damages. McGregor's appeal team had planned to present sworn statements from neighbours Samantha O'Reilly and Steven Cummins, who claimed to have seen an assault. O'Reilly's affidavit suggested she witnessed a man push Ms Hand to the ground and then kick her, but Ms Hand has called the allegations "lies" and "vigorously" disputed them. The court allowed McGregor's withdrawal of the new evidence application, and the appeal will continue tomorrow. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no further decisions yet.
A 46-year-old man has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment following a deliberate fire at a house in Shankill, Dublin in December 2024. Jason Flynn of Longford House, Spencer Dock, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to arson at the address on 5 December 2024 and possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 23 December 2024. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Flynn travelled over 19 kilometres to set fire to a car and Christmas wreath at the family home in the early hours, knowing a family of five was inside. A neighbour's alert enabled their escape. The court was told this was the second fire Flynn had caused at the property; he had previously set a fire there in 2001 after being evicted from the adjacent house, which he then occupied. Judge Martin Nolan noted Flynn acted with malice and forethought, stating that had the family not been alerted, fire could have entered the home with potentially fatal consequences. Flynn has 19 previous convictions including arson and assault causing serious harm.
In a murder trial, Brendan Grehan SC for the Director of Public Prosecutions argued that Ryan Kearney, 39, had stabbed Jeffrey Jackson, 50, with a knife that was "buried to the hilt" and that the injuries described by Kearney as "a few jabs to the stomach" did not match the pathology evidence. Grehan cited State Pathologist Dr Sally Anne Collis, who identified 16 sharp‑force injuries, 15 of which were stab wounds, including a 17 cm wound to the chest. He claimed the evidence contradicted Kearney's account of a self‑defence encounter and that the knife had penetrated deeply, indicating intent to kill. Grehan urged the jury to find Kearney guilty of murder, while defence counsel Michael Bowman SC challenged the prosecution's description of the knife's use. The trial is set to continue tomorrow. Ryan Kearney pleaded not guilty.
A 33-year-old man from County Mayo has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault and child defilement at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court. He denies sexually assaulting a female at a county address between 14 and 15 July 2020, and separately denies defiling a child under 17 at another location on 15 July 2020. The defence indicated the alleged incidents occurred at a work or office gathering. A jury of twelve was sworn in by Judge Eoin Garavan, with the trial expected to conclude within three days.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 39‑year‑old Garda Shane Flanagan pleaded guilty to inciting two men to rape a woman and to six counts of endangerment for impersonating her on FetLife.com and Facebook, inviting violence against her and her two teenage daughters between 2018 and 2020. He also pleaded guilty to possession of four images of child sexual abuse material. The victim, who had no romantic or sexual history with Flanagan, described the impersonation as a calculated, predatory act that left her lifelong scars. Flanagan, who had been suspended in 2021 and retired in March 2024, was remanded in custody for finalisation of sentence. The court heard extensive evidence, including over 2,000 screenshots, 219 doctored images, and the victim's address and personal details shared by Flanagan. The case highlighted the breach of trust by a fellow Garda and the severe impact on the victim's safety and mental health.