Conal Sheridan, aged 32, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to multiple counts of sexual assault, oral rape and defilement of a girl aged nine to sixteen between 2004 and 2011. The abuse began with inappropriate touching and escalated to digital penetration, oral rape, and grooming, including sending pornography. Sheridan's four prior convictions were for minor road traffic and drug offences. The victim, who remained anonymous, testified that the abuse destroyed her life, leading to overdose attempts, self‑harm, drug and alcohol problems, severe mental health issues and complex PTSD. Sheridan's plea of mitigation highlighted his early fatherhood and employment history. Judge Paul McDermott imposed a concurrent seven‑year prison term, suspended the final 18 months for two years on strict conditions, and ordered Sheridan to have no contact with the victim. The sentence reflects the prolonged, repeated nature of the offences and the significant harm caused.
In the Central Criminal Court, a woman accused her mother, an uncle and another man of raping and sexually assaulting her between 2000 and 2014. She denied that friends influenced her to report the allegations to the gardai. During cross‑examination she confirmed that her mother had abused her, including at a family holiday home when she was four, and that she had been raped by her uncle when she was about five and a half. She also testified that her mother and uncle had sex while she was present at age six, and that she had been orally raped by a man in his 50s at age 13. The defendants, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to all 21 counts of sexual assault and rape. The case is still before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
During the trial, Gardaí questioned Ryan Kearney, 39, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jeffrey Jackson, 50, at The Lamps, Kilcock, on 8 February 2024. Kearney claimed he stabbed Jackson in self‑defence after a scuffle, stating he had no intention to kill and was afraid for his life. He said he had taken a knife from Jackson's partner, stabbed him in the neck, and later stabbed him again when Jackson attacked him. Gardaí noted that Kearney's account was inconsistent: he admitted to stabbing Jackson in the back, washing the knife, and cleaning his hands, yet the prosecution's evidence showed 16 separate knife wounds, including one 17 cm deep, and Jackson was over eight times the legal drink‑driving limit. Kearney also admitted to fabricating parts of his story, including claims of intruders in the apartment. The prosecution's evidence was presented, and the trial was set to continue tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury.
A 19‑year‑old, who was 17 when he first appeared before the courts, pleaded guilty to murdering 43‑year‑old Aaron Keating on 13 June 2023. The defendant began using drugs at 12 and had a history of medical and educational disengagement. He stabbed Keating with a knife hidden behind a bin on Main Street, Ongar, Dublin 15, after a brief confrontation that lasted about five seconds. Keating died from a single stab wound that severed his aorta. The court noted the defendant is at high risk of reoffending without support interventions. He will not face a mandatory life sentence because he was a child when the murder was committed, and sentencing is adjourned to 7 July 2025. The case highlights the defendant's drug use, prior disciplinary issues in custody, and the family's profound grief.
A 25‑year‑old sportsman, Calvin Dunne, was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison for the manslaughter of Dylan McCarthy, 29, who died after being assaulted during a melee outside a Kildare pub in August 2022. The judge found that Dunne had delivered a one‑stride kick to McCarthy's head, which caused a traumatic head injury and spinal injury. Dunne had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter but withdrew the plea; he was later found guilty of both manslaughter and violent disorder. The sentence was reduced by 25 % from a headline of nine years, with the final six months suspended for 12 months. A co‑accused, Sean Kavanagh, 27, received a two‑year‑six‑month sentence for assault causing harm, with four months suspended for 12 months. Both defendants were found not guilty of murder. The court noted the impact on the McCarthy family and the defendants' low risk of reoffending.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 49‑year‑old man was found guilty of assault causing serious harm to his then partner, assault causing harm, and two counts of producing a knife. He also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to his stepdaughter. The court heard that on 20 October 2022 he left the home, returned, and attacked his partner in their child's bedroom, dragging her by the hair, punching, kicking, and stabbing her twice in the chest and once in the cheek. He also attempted to stab his stepdaughter, who escaped with a scratch to her neck. The victim spent four days in hospital, suffered permanent facial disfigurement and potentially fatal chest wounds. The judge sentenced the defendant to ten years' imprisonment, citing the domestic setting, trust relationship, and psychological harm, and backdated the sentence to 2022.
A domestic‑violence charity was ordered by the Workplace Relations Commission to pay its former finance manager nearly €35,000 after he was dismissed for voicing concerns that the charity's accounts might not survive an audit. The manager, a chartered accountant, had joined the charity as an independent contractor in June 2023 and became a staff member on 30 September. He emailed the chief executive on 27 October 2023 requesting extra time to investigate a draft loss of €33,000 and to correct accounting anomalies. The CEO responded the next day, and the manager was terminated on 2 November 2023. The WRC found the dismissal was "wholly or mainly" due to the manager's protected disclosure and awarded him €34,737 in compensation. The charity's identity was kept confidential to protect victims of domestic abuse from negative publicity. The case was heard in a private tribunal.
Andrew Cooney, 44, was sentenced to 13 years in prison with a two‑year suspended portion after pleading guilty to aggravated sexual assault, assault causing harm and threats to kill against two escort women. The first victim, who had recently arrived in Ireland, was attacked on 9 October 2022 while at Cooney's home in Collins Place. He threatened her with a knife, forced sexual contact and struck her repeatedly, causing broken nose, lip cuts and other injuries. The second victim was assaulted on 8 September 2023 after Cooney lured her to his house, again using a knife, striking her, removing her clothes and sexually assaulting her. Both women suffered severe physical injuries and reported ongoing fear and inability to work. Cooney had been on bail for the first offence when the second attack occurred.
In a Central Criminal Court murder trial, a 50‑year‑old man, Jeffrey Jackson, was found dead after sustaining 16 knife injuries, one 17 cm deep, in an apartment in Kilcock. The accused, 39‑year‑old Ryan Kearney, pleaded not guilty, claiming he had taken a knife from his aunt's partner during a scuffle and stabbed the victim in self‑defence, with no intent to kill. Kearney told detectives he feared for his life. Pathologist Dr Sallyanne Collis testified that Jackson had been heavily intoxicated, with alcohol levels more than eight times the legal limit, and that the fatal wounds were two chest stab injuries that entered the chest cavity, puncturing the right lung and the aorta. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Burns, continues on Monday before a jury of twelve.
Melissa Whelan's appeal against her sentence was dismissed by Mr Justice John Edwards, who ruled the four-year term was proportionate for the May 15, 2023, offences. Whelan, who pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Court in April 2024, was convicted of producing an article capable of inflicting serious injury, two counts of Section 2 assault, and two counts of criminal damage. The court found she punched one man and slashed another with a knife while under a partially suspended sentence for a prior 2015 assault. Judge Dermot Sheahan originally sentenced her to four years, with the final two years suspended, and re-activated two years of her previous suspended term to run consecutively, resulting in an effective custody period of four years. The appellate court rejected arguments regarding mental health mitigation, noting the sentencing judge had adequately considered these factors. The appeal was not adjourned; the decision was final, upholding the original disposal and the re-activation of the suspended portion.
The State settled a claim by Gerard McCarthy, 55, who alleged that Gardaí in riot gear assaulted him and broke his shoulder while he was cycling to investigate fires near his partner's home on Findlater Street, Dublin, on Halloween night 2008. McCarthy, who was 38 at the time, said he was struck on both shoulders, his back and legs by 10–12 Gardaí in riot gear during a brief attack lasting five to ten seconds. He was taken to Mater Hospital, later had an X‑ray showing a broken shoulder near the collarbone, and reported numbness and shock. The case was brought before Justice Alexander Owens, who struck it out, with no trial costs awarded and no costs imposed on the plaintiff. The settlement was confirmed by counsel for both parties on 27 June 2025.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, a woman testified that her mother repeatedly sexually assaulted her from age three and a half to fifteen, and that her uncle and a third man also raped her. The allegations cover 21 counts of sexual assault and rape, with incidents dated between 2000 and 2014, mainly at the family home. The defendants deny wrongdoing and plead not guilty to all charges. The witness described her mother's violent, alcohol‑driven behaviour, her mother's attempts to normalise the abuse, and her uncle's repeated rapes, including an oral rape. She also recounted an alleged rape by a man in his 50s who was a friend of her mother's partner. The trial is ongoing before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 26 June 2025, Keith Walsh, aged 34, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to his 64‑year‑old mother, Maura Walsh, at their Cabra home on 22 August 2024. The court heard that Walsh had repeatedly punched his mother's head, pinned her against a wall, and held his hands around her neck during a "meltdown" over a cigarette. Garda Aaron McGrath reported that Walsh had been intoxicated when arrested and that the mother had withdrawn her statement after the incident. Walsh's defence counsel described a background of alcohol and drug use, mental health struggles, and a history of work for Red Bull and in construction. Judge Martina Baxter noted the aggravating nature of the assault, urged Walsh to address his addiction, and adjourned sentencing to November to allow probation services to assess his risk. The court did not yet impose a sentence.
Ryan Kearney, 39, of Leixlip, Co Kildare, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Jeffrey Jackson, 50, at The Lamps, School Street, Kilcock, Co Kildare, on February 8, 2024. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury. Witness Emma Farrell, the deceased's partner, testified via video-link from the UK that she lived in a "constant state of fear" of being killed by Jackson, who was an alcoholic and physically abusive when drunk. She described his violence as spontaneous and unprovoked, including incidents of throttling and physical aggression. Farrell stated she separated from Jackson in 2020 after he moved back to Ireland, though they never divorced. In his garda interviews, Kearney alleged he took a knife from Jackson after a scuffle and gave him "a few jabs," claiming self-defence and stating he had no intention to kill. Prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC argued that the 16 knife injuries sustained by Jackson did not align with Kearney's self-defence account. The matter is currently at the trial stage and has not been finalised.
The Court of Appeal has refused an application to extend time for an appeal against the sentence of a 53-year-old man convicted of sexual exploitation, sexual assault, and child cruelty. The appellant, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the injured parties, was found guilty by a jury in the north west on May 19, 2022. He was subsequently sentenced by Judge John Aylmer on November 2, 2022, to nine years and six months in prison, with the final 12 months suspended. The offences, which occurred between June 2011 and September 2015, involved the appellant's daughters, who were in their early to mid-teens at the time. Defence counsel Dara Foynes SC submitted an enlargement of time application, arguing the appellant believed his notice of appeal was on record, though his solicitor stated it was never received. Mr Justice John Edwards noted the appellant had made no engagement with the sentencing judge's remarks and raised no error of principle. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, delivering the ruling for the three-judge court, stated that victims have a legitimate expectation of closure and that courts must not permit cases to be elongated. He emphasized that reopening the case would cause revictimization to the injured parties. The court found no basis to justify ventilating the case afresh and refused the application to extend time, denying the defence an adjournment to file further affidavits.
Jibola Moses Akanni, 27, of Drogheda, Co Louth, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court after being found guilty by a jury of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The offences occurred in a Dublin city centre apartment in February 2018, where the court heard the 17-year-old victim was intoxicated and barely conscious. Mr Justice David Keane noted aggravating factors including the victim's vulnerability and the age disparity. Although Akanni has 28 previous convictions for other matters, the judge stated no credit was given for a guilty plea as none was offered, nor for remorse. The judge determined there was no realistic hope of rehabilitation and refused to suspend any part of the sentence. Akanni was sentenced to eight and a half years on each rape count and three and a half years for sexual assault, all to run concurrently and backdated to November when he entered custody. To protect the public from the risk of sexual reoffending, the judge ordered that Akanni be placed under the supervision of the Probation Services for two years post-release, instructing him to carry out all directions deemed necessary by the service.
During the trial, a jury heard a recorded conversation in which Joseph Lawlor, aged 39, referred to his friend as a "supergrass" and a "rat" and threatened the deceased, Michael Ryan, 51, saying, "I'll stab you straight into your neck." Lawlor denied the murder charge and claimed he would not stab Ryan, adding, "I love you too fucking much." The recording, taken by a neighbour at 9:38 pm, was part of evidence that also included CCTV footage of two earlier fights and a Ring doorbell clip of the fatal encounter after midnight. The footage captured the moment Ryan suffered a fatal stab wound to the neck. Detective Garda Shane Gallagher spent 14 hours reviewing the audio and produced a transcript identifying both voices. The case is proceeding before Justice Karen O'Connor with a jury of five women and seven men.
In a Belfast murder case, the Central Criminal Court heard that Ahmed Abdirahman, a 31‑year‑old Somalian national, faces a serious mental health issue. He is accused of killing his former partner, Mary Ward, on 25 September 2024 at her Melrose Street home. Abdirahman is still awaiting admission to the Central Mental Hospital, where a diagnostic clarification is required before an external psychiatrist can assess his fitness to plead. The court noted that he has not yet been properly diagnosed and remains on the hospital's waiting list. Defence counsel Oisin Clarke highlighted difficulties in engaging with the accused and raised a jurisdictional issue, as the offence occurred in Northern Ireland, requiring the option of trial there. The matter was adjourned to 23 July 2025.
A woman in her 50s was convicted and fined €500 for three breaches of a protection order her husband had obtained in September 2024. The breaches included shouting abusive language at her husband and their daughter, calling the husband "useless", "gay" and a "f**wit", and calling the daughter "an itinerant", "fat" and a "stupid slut". She also shouted "where are your sluts?" and "I'll mop the floor with you," causing fear but no physical violence. The court noted she had voluntarily left the home as a bail condition and had no prior convictions. Judge Conor Fottrell warned of the long‑term emotional impact on the child and expressed concern about the effect on the child's well‑being. He was not convinced a custodial sentence was appropriate, citing the woman's guilty plea, work history and ongoing treatment at the Rutland Centre. She must pay the fine within six months.
In a June 2025 appeal, a 69‑year‑old man named Gary Healy, who had previously pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after slashing his neighbour with a Stanley knife over a dispute about trespassing dogs, saw his four‑month custodial sentence replaced by a 12‑month peace bond. The incident occurred on 28 June 2023 when Healy, who had lived a "blameless existence" for 40 years as a porter at Temple Street Hospital, reacted to a neighbour's presence at his doorstep, feeling threatened. He produced the knife and inflicted cuts on the victim's neck, forearms and hand. Defence counsel argued Healy's panic and regret, presenting community support letters. Judge Jonathan Dunphy acknowledged the potential for a more serious outcome, accepted the overreaction, and ordered €3,000 compensation to the victim or a chosen charity. The peace bond and compensation replace the custodial term.
A mother, her brother, and another man have gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court accused of the sexual abuse of her young daughter. The complainant's mother, her uncle, and another man face a total of 21 counts of sexual assault and rape, which allegedly occurred on dates between 2000 and 2014, mainly at the family home within the State. The three defendants, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the complainant, deny wrongdoing and have pleaded not guilty to all charges. The complainant's mother, who is in her 50s, has pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of sexual assault on dates between 2000 and 2009, and between 2012 and 2014, primarily at the family home. She also pleaded not guilty to one count of rape, in that she facilitated the rape of the complainant by the complainant's uncle. The complainant's maternal uncle, who is in his 40s, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and one of oral rape on dates between 2003 and 2012, all at the same family home. A second man, aged in his 50s, has pleaded not guilty to one count of oral rape between 2008 and 2009 at the same address. The trial continues before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
Ryan Kearney, aged 39, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jeffrey Jackson, aged 50, at The Lamps, Kilcock, on 8 February 2024. He told Gardaí that after a scuffle with Jackson, he took a small black‑handled kitchen knife from a drawer and used it to jab Jackson, claiming he had no intention to kill and was in fear for his life. Kearney said Jackson had been drinking vodka with his aunt, and that Jackson had repeatedly lunged at him. He described the incident as a self‑defence situation, stating he only struck Jackson to stop the attacks. Forensic evidence included a kitchen knife with a serrated blade, 12 cm long, whose handle bore Kearney's DNA and blood from an open wound. The trial, before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury, is set to continue tomorrow.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented forensic evidence indicating that Joseph Lawlor, aged 39, was wearing a blood‑stained stab vest when he was arrested. DNA from the vest matched that of the deceased, Michael Ryan, aged 51. Pathologist Dr Yvonne McCarthy described a single stab wound to Ryan's neck, 9.1 cm below the right earlobe, 2.9 cm long and 5.8 cm deep, penetrating the subclavian artery and causing cardiovascular collapse. The wound was consistent with a kitchen knife found in Lawlor's home. McCarthy also noted 57 bruises and abrasions on Ryan's body, some consistent with earlier scuffles. Toxicology revealed cocaine metabolites, benzodiazepines, a sleeping tablet, and a blood alcohol level 1.5 times the legal limit. The trial, presided over by Justice Karen O'Connor, will continue tomorrow before a jury of five women and seven men. Joseph Lawlor pleaded not guilty.
Joseph Thorpe, aged 73, a former Dublin football club coach, pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault for sexually assaulting a boy aged 12‑14 during a club trip to County Kerry between September 1974 and September 1976. The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, stated that the assault occurred in a shared caravan bed while other children were present. Thorpe has five prior convictions, including a 1990 suspended sentence for indecent assault of another teenage boy. Judge Martina Baxter, noting Thorpe's position of trust and the profound impact on the victim, imposed a 20‑month imprisonment sentence suspended in full for 24 months and ordered 18 months of probation supervision. Thorpe was remanded in custody last week and described the conditions as shocking. The court heard that Thorpe is estranged from his children, has a history of postal work, and has complex medical issues.
A psychiatric report on Riad Bouchaker, 51, who is charged with assaulting a care worker and attempting to murder three children on Parnell Square, has now been completed, the court heard. Bouchaker, of no fixed abode, faces charges of attempted murder of two girls and one boy, assault causing serious harm to a care worker, and possession or production of a knife. The incident occurred on the afternoon of 23 November 2023. The Central Criminal Court heard that a psychiatrist had requested further work by a neuropsychologist and that the treating doctor had faced delays in accessing the defendant and in securing an interpreter. The report was made available in April, but the psychiatrist asked for an additional four weeks to review it. The court noted that the case must be given priority once the psychiatric issue is resolved and that the trial process should be completed within one year if a child is involved.
Alanna Quinn Idris testified in court about prior harassment by Jack Cummins, who procured a gang attack on her, resulting in her being blinded in one eye. Jack Cummins (21) of Rossmore Road, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to procuring the commission of assault causing serious harm to Ms Quinn Idris on Ballyfermot Road on December 30, 2021, and to violent disorder and assault causing harm. He admitted to making two phone calls to his cousin Josh Cummins (20) to orchestrate the attack. Ms Quinn Idris, who was 17 at the time, suffered serious injuries, including a shattered tooth, a broken cheekbone, and a ruptured eyeball, leading to permanent vision loss in her right eye. Her friend Louis O'Sullivan was also assaulted. Josh Cummins pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Ms Quinn Idris, violent disorder, and assault causing harm to Mr O'Sullivan. He received a five-year sentence, with the final two years suspended in November 2023. Darragh Lyons (21) of Weir View, Glenaulin, Chapelizod, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Ms Quinn Idris, assault causing harm to Mr O'Sullivan, and violent disorder. He was sentenced to four and a half years in March 2023. The court adjourned the case to July 29 for finalisation and remanded Jack Cummins on continuing bail.
Aaron Connolly, aged 25, has appealed his 2022 conviction for the murder of 18‑year‑old Cameron Reilly, who was found dead in a field near Dunleer. Connolly argues that Judge Tony Hunt's charge was "disparaging" and "denigrating" of the defence, claiming the judge engaged in "advocacy for the prosecution". He also contends that the judge's handling of Section 22 admissions—statements Connolly made through counsel during the trial—was improper, as the judge accepted them as conclusive evidence without challenge. Connolly's counsel, Michael Bowman SC, cited the Supreme Court's Rattigan decision to argue that the judge's remarks may have crossed a line, undermining the defence's closing. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel defended the judge's approach, stating it was a direct, accessible charge of the evidence. The Court of Appeal will decide the appeal at a later date. Aaron Connolly pleaded not guilty.
Aidan Clohessy, aged 85, was sentenced yesterday to four years for indecently assaulting two boys in the 1980s. He had previously been convicted of 19 counts of indecent assault involving six boys, with five counts from a second trial for assaulting four boys between 1969 and 1986. Judge Martin Nolan, after considering the totality principle and Clohessy's age, imposed an additional 16‑month sentence to run consecutively with the earlier four‑year term, giving a global sentence of five years and four months. The offences involved inappropriate touching and physical chastisement of boys aged 10 to 13 who were pupils, and some boarders, at St Augustine's School in Blackrock, Dublin, where Clohessy served as principal from the early 1970s until 1993. The court noted that Clohessy was in a position of trust and that the victims were vulnerable. The 16‑month term is to be served after the four‑year sentence already imposed. Aidan Clohessy pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 39‑year‑old Ryan Kearney pleaded not guilty to the murder of 50‑year‑old Jeffrey Jackson. Kearney told Gardaí that he had stabbed Jackson in the neck but did not kill him, claiming the victim was a friend. He was arrested on suspicion of murder on 8 February 2024 after arriving at The Lamps in Kilcock. Garda Detective Sergeant Gerard Moore testified that Kearney had tried to stop a neck wound and was unaware of a severe abdominal stab. Kearney was found intoxicated, with slurred speech and an alcohol odor, and was deemed unfit for questioning for six hours. The prosecution presented evidence of 16 knife wounds, describing the attack as ferocious, which contradicted Kearney's self‑defence claim. The trial proceeded before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a jury reviewed CCTV footage showing the fatal stabbing of Michael Ryan (51) outside Joseph Lawlor's (39) home in Finglas on 20 June 2024. The footage captured three drunken altercations, the last of which ended with Lawlor holding a knife and stabbing Ryan in the neck. After the act, Lawlor called 999, describing Ryan as bleeding. Detectives found blood on the ground, clothing, money, a wallet, and a black sports bag containing €3,155 and tablets. A Royal Swiss bread knife was recovered from Lawlor's couch and DNA testing linked it to the stab wound; a sword was also found in the living room. Lawlor denies the murder. The jury was asked to return the next day to consider his intent. The case remains at the evidence‑review stage.
An 85‑year‑old former principal of St Augustine's School, Aidan Clohessy, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment after being convicted of 19 counts of indecent assault against six boys aged 10 to 13. The offences, which took place between 1969 and 1986, involved inappropriate touching and were described by the judge as "atrocities at night time". Clohessy, who served as principal from the early 1970s until 1993, was found guilty in two separate trials at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. In the first trial he received 14 counts of indecent assault, and in the second he received five counts. He was acquitted of three further counts. Victim impact statements highlighted lasting mental health, educational and employment effects. Clohessy denied wrongdoing and acknowledged corporal punishment used at the school. He will not appeal the verdicts. The sentence was imposed with consideration of his age and health.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing in Limerick, Thomas "Tossy" Nyhan, a 60‑year‑old married farmer from Crookstown, Co Cork, was convicted of two counts of rape. The victim, who had been raped by Nyhan in January 2011 and again in April 2019, delivered a victim impact statement in which he described the assaults as "cold, calculated and violent." He said he had told Nyhan about his trauma and vulnerabilities, and that Nyhan had used references to his children to manipulate him. The victim reported feeling constantly anxious, "trapped" and "a ghost" of his former self. He urged the court to impose a sentence that reflected the impact of the rapes and thanked those who had supported him. Justice Mary Ellen Ring revoked Nyhan's bail, remanded him in custody and postponed sentencing to 21 July 2025. Nyhan denied the allegations and his lawyer maintained his innocence. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
An asylum seeker, Omar Haddouche, aged 25, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for violent disorder after he joined others in stamping on a stranger's head during a melee on Dublin's O'Connell Street. The incident began when a group of men, including Haddouche, collided with another group outside the Savoy Cinema. A fight erupted, involving punches, kicks and the use of a belt wrapped around a fist. Haddouche and an accomplice stamped on the victim's head while he was on the ground, causing severe injury that left him with 75 % loss of sight in one eye. The incident lasted about 60 seconds and was captured on CCTV. Haddouche pleaded guilty, admitted his behaviour was unacceptable, and the judge described the violence as "inherently serious." The court imposed a custodial sentence, with no mention of a suspended portion.
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on an appeal by an unnamed 54-year-old woman, with the decision scheduled for July 14. The State has indicated it will not oppose the bid to quash her conviction and will not seek a retrial. The appellant was convicted in July 2024 of four counts of sexual assault against three disabled sons and one count of child neglect. She was sentenced to eight years in prison, with the final two years suspended, by Judge Catherine Staines at Clonmel Circuit Court on December 17, 2024. She remains on bail pending this appeal. Defence counsel argued that the sole evidence against her—admissions made to a psychologist during five days of interviews, including polygraph tests—was not voluntary and may have resulted from inducements. The trial judge had previously expressed serious concerns about the admissibility of these admissions but felt bound by a Supreme Court ruling that upheld their use. The DPP stated that while the Supreme Court's judgment was emphatic, the impact on admissibility in this specific setting is difficult to assess. The court, comprising Ms Justice Tara Burns, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore, and Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, heard the submissions and will deliver its ruling on the validity of the conviction on July 14.
Two drug dealers, Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24), were sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 22‑year‑old footballer Mahamud Ilyas. The court heard that the pair beat Ilyas in an apartment in Blanchardstown, stamped on him, kicked him, and struck his head with a hammer. They tied his hands and feet, wrapped him in a duvet and drove him to a wooded area at Belgree Lane, Co. Meath, where they left him to die. The judge described the killers' conduct as "massive loss of control" and "callous". Ilyas's mother, Muna Ali, spoke of her son's promise and the pain of his death. The sentencing followed a unanimous jury conviction of murder. The case also involved co‑accused Robert Burns and Lorenzo Cantaragiu, who pleaded guilty to impeding the arrest or prosecution of the killers.
A 89‑year‑old Tipperary man, Sid Green, was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment, with the final five years suspended, for 22 counts of rape and one count of sexual assault of a child committed between 1993 and 1998. The victim, who remains unnamed, testified that the abuse began when she was seven and continued until she was about twelve, describing lasting emotional and psychological damage. Green, who has no prior convictions and is now in a nursing home in Offaly, was found guilty at the Central Criminal Court in Tullamore. The judge, Mr Justice Patrick McGrath, noted Green's advanced age and medical difficulties, including limited mobility and the need for nursing care, as mitigating factors. The sentence will take effect from 10 July 2025, with the prison service prepared to accommodate Green's medical needs. The victim praised her resilience and the support she received from her husband and family.
Gary Coffey, 37, was found guilty by a jury of one count of anal rape and one count of sexual assault after a Central Criminal Court trial in March 2025. The offence occurred at Coffey's home in Dublin, where the victim had been invited and had consented to vaginal sex but repeatedly refused anal sex. Coffey persisted, eventually inserting a finger and then raping her anally. The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, reported the assault to gardaí and was taken to a sexual assault treatment unit. Coffey was sentenced to a headline term of seven years, reduced to six years, with the final nine months suspended. He must be supervised by the Probation Service for 12 months after release. The court noted that consent can be withdrawn and that Coffey had no legal consent to perform anal sex. The case also revealed Coffey's prior convictions and possession of tasers and cannabis.
Two men previously charged with the attempted murder of Anthony Dinnegan in Mullingar have pleaded guilty to lesser offences at the Central Criminal Court. Christopher Nevin (31) and Michael Nevin (40) appeared before Mr Justice David Keane regarding incidents on August 2, 2024, at Austin Friars Street. Michael Nevin entered a guilty plea to causing serious harm, while Christopher Nevin pleaded guilty to violent disorder. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Fiona Murphy SC, indicated that nolle prosequi could be entered for the original attempted murder charges. Defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC requested governor's, educational, and counsellor reports for Michael Nevin, while Christina Burke BL asked for a probation report for Christopher Nevin. The court directed the preparation of these reports and set a sentence hearing for October 13. Both men were remanded on continuing bail to that date.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, the State presented evidence that a 50‑year‑old man, Jeffrey Jackson, suffered 16 knife wounds in a Co Kildare apartment, a pattern the prosecution said could not be explained by the accused, Ryan Kearney's, claim of self‑defence. Kearney, 39, had told the first garda that men in balaclavas had attacked the scene and later said he had stabbed Jackson but not killed him. The prosecution argued that the injuries were distributed around the body, including head, face, chest and legs, and that Kearney had only a small cut on a finger. The jury was told Kearney had been arrested at 4.30pm, charged with murder, and that his statements to the garda and to the emergency call taker were inconsistent with the evidence. The trial was scheduled to continue for two weeks before Mr Justice Paul Burns. The unnamed 50-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Thorpe, aged 73, pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault committed between September 1974 and September 1976 during a club trip to County Kerry. The victim, aged 12 to 14 at the time, remains anonymous but described Thorpe as "vile", "evil" and a "danger to children". Thorpe, who had previously been convicted of indecent assault on a teenage boy in the 1980s and received a two‑year suspended sentence in 1990, was found to have lived on a mobile home site in County Meath. The court noted Thorpe's history of five prior convictions, his complex medical issues, and his willingness to engage with the Probation Service. The judge adjourned the case for one week, remanded Thorpe in custody until 25 June, and directed that he receive all required medical treatment while in custody.
Trevor Bolger (48), a former garda detective, pleaded guilty to assaulting his former wife, Margaret Loftus, on October 25, 2012. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, with the validated procedural stage being sentence. Ms Loftus, who is also a garda, described the assault as a 'protracted assault' that had a significant impact on her personal and professional life. She stated that she lost everything and faced a stigma within An Garda Siochana for standing up for herself. Bolger admitted to the charges and was found to have assaulted Ms Loftus 13 years ago. The court heard that the maximum penalty for the assault, under Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, is six months imprisonment or a fine. Judge Martina Baxter described the assault as 'egregious' and said she would seek the assistance of the Probation Service before adjourning the case for sentencing in October. Bolger was remanded on continuing bail, and the matter was adjourned.
A man classified as a "high risk" sex offender, whose name cannot be disclosed, had a six‑month jail sentence for breaching Section 33(1) of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 overturned on appeal. He had pleaded guilty in the District Court to failing to attend a scheduled meeting with a supervising officer after his release in July 2021. The appeal court noted an "overall pattern of non‑compliance" and that he had missed an appointment on 4 November 2022, had a high risk of sexual reoffending, and had used drugs. He had previously been convicted of sexual assault and attempted rape in 2017 and sentenced to five years in custody. On appeal, the judge suspended the custodial sentence for 12 months, conditional on the defendant remaining drug‑free and engaging with probation services.
A 39‑year‑old man, Ryan Kearney of Loughnamona Drive, Leixlip, Co Kildare, has been arraigned in the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Jeffrey Jackson, 50, at The Lamps, School Street, Kilcock, Co Kildare, on 8 February 2024. He pleaded not guilty. A jury of three men and nine women was sworn in by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, and the trial will commence tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul Burns, expected to last two weeks.
An 18-year-old defendant, previously convicted of violent disorder during the fatal assault on Tristan Sherry at Browne's Steakhouse, pleaded guilty to multiple offences at the Special Criminal Court. The charges relate to incidents at Tolka Valley Park, Blanchardstown, on May 7/8, 2024, including the possession of a side-by-side shotgun, 15 rounds of 9mm Makarov ammunition, and ten 12 Gauge shotgun cartridges. He also faced charges for possessing controlled drugs, including cannabis, diamorphine, cocaine, ketamine, and Phenacetin, allegedly for supply. Garda evidence indicated the defendant was burying these items for the Hennessy criminal gang. The court heard that the defendant is currently serving a sentence of two years and four months for the earlier violent disorder conviction, with the final year suspended. Defence counsel argued the defendant acted under the direction of others and cited his difficult background. Judge Karen O'Connor, presiding, adjourned the matter to July 7 for sentencing. The defendant was 17 at the time of the park offences but has since turned 18. The court noted the separate conviction for violent disorder arising from the Christmas Eve 2023 incident where Sherry was beaten to death.
Sean McGovern, 39, previously of Kildare Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, appeared via video link at the Special Criminal Court to change his legal representation. His solicitors, Michael Staines, applied to withdraw from the case, with the accused to be represented by Wayne Kenny solicitors. McGovern confirmed his consent to the application. The matter was adjourned for mention to July 28, when the accused is to be produced in court. McGovern, who was extradited from the United Arab Emirates, faces multiple charges. He is alleged to have murdered Noel Kirwan on December 22, 2016, at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin. He is also charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation in connection with that murder between October 20 and December 22, 2016. Additional charges allege he directed a criminal organisation in surveilling James Gately between October 17, 2015, and April 6, 2017, in preparation for an indictable offence. He further faces charges of facilitating a criminal organisation in the murder of Kirwan and in a conspiracy to murder Gately. In June, his lawyers raised concerns regarding the legality and propriety of his extradition process to Ireland. No plea was entered, and no findings or sentences were recorded at this pretrial stage.
Lucia Istokova, 36, pleaded guilty at trial to withholding information from gardai investigating the murder of Ashling Murphy. The single charge alleged that on January 14, 2022, Istokova failed without reasonable excuse to disclose to An Garda Síochána that Jozef Puska had visible injuries when he returned to their home in Tullamore, Co Offaly. The charge further alleged she failed to tell gardai that Puska admitted to killing or seriously injuring a female with a knife, or that he owned a bicycle found near Ms Murphy's body. It was alleged Istokova knew or believed this information might assist in securing Puska's apprehension or conviction for an offence involving loss of human life or serious personal injury. During a 12-day pre-trial hearing, Istokova had challenged the admissibility of her statements to gardai. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs ruled the statements could be used as evidence for a jury. Following this ruling, Istokova entered her guilty plea. Her co-accused, Jozefina Grundzova, 32, also sought to exclude evidence of two interviews she had with gardai but opted for a trial by jury after the admissibility ruling. Ms Justice Biggs ordered that Istokova's plea could not be reported until verdicts were reached in respect of the other four defendants to protect their fair trial rights. Istokova was released on continuing bail following the plea. Her co-accused were also on bail throughout the trial.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury convicted Jozef Puska's brothers, Lubomir Puska Jnr and Marek Puska, of withholding information from An Garda Síochána regarding the murder of Ashling Murphy. The brothers were found guilty of failing to disclose that Jozef Puska returned home on the night of January 12, 2022, with visible injuries and admitted to cutting a female with a knife. Their wives, Viera Gaziova and Jozefina Grundzova, were convicted of burning Jozef's bloodstained clothes to impede his prosecution. Gaziova was convicted by an 11-1 majority, while Grundzova was found guilty by a 10-2 majority. All four defendants had pleaded not guilty. Jozef Puska's wife, Lucia Istokova, had previously pleaded guilty to withholding information. Ms Justice Biggs ordered probation reports for all five defendants. The matter was adjourned to July 7 for sentencing, with the defendants remanded on continuing bail until that date. Jozef Puska is currently serving a life sentence for the murder, having been convicted in November 2023.
A man in his 20s was denied bail after a court heard that armed Gardaí had to break into his mother's Dublin home to remove him, who is accused of breaching a barring order issued in August 2024 to protect his mother, a woman in her 60s. The order, under Section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018, prohibits the man from being at the residence. Gardaí responded to a midnight call from the mother, who reported her son was present despite the order. The man refused to engage, barricaded himself, and Gardaí forced the back door to gain entry. The mother, who was at a relative's home, later testified that she feared her son, describing him as aggressive when drinking or using drugs, and that he had threatened to kill her and her family. The man's solicitor denied the threat allegations and argued the man believed he had the mother's consent.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a jury will continue deliberating on the trial of four Puska family members charged with obstructing the arrest of Jozef Puska, who murdered school teacher Ashling Murphy. Jozef, convicted of murder and serving a life sentence, was stabbed and slashed by Jozef on January 12, 2022. His brothers, Lubomir Puska Jnr (38) and Marek Puska (36), face charges of withholding information, while their wives, Viera Gaziova (40) and Jozefina Grundzova (32), are charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution by burning Jozef's clothes. All accused pleaded not guilty. The indictment was amended to specify that the brothers knew Jozef had committed the murder or another arrestable offence. Prosecutor Anne Marie Lawlor SC argued that the brothers failed to disclose vital information, while defence counsel Karl Finnegan SC highlighted the right to remain silent to avoid self‑incrimination. The jury, composed of seven men and five women, will resume deliberations tomorrow.
A man in his 50s, unnamed for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to a Section 3 offence under the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act after assaulting his wife at a hotel. He struck her arm repeatedly, held her down on the bed and briefly placed a pillow over her face, but caused no serious injuries. The court noted aggravating factors such as the intimate relationship, the victim's vulnerability, the use of a pillow as a weapon, and alleged threats of serious harm. Mitigating factors included the defendant's impulsive reaction to a suspected affair, lack of prior convictions, early guilty plea, completion of the MOVE programme, and no subsequent Garda attention. Judge William Aylmer sentenced him to seven months' custody, fully suspended for 12 months, with probation supervision and a bond, while recognising the couple's ongoing efforts to resolve their difficulties. The wife does not currently hold a protection order.