In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Judge Caroline Biggs instructed a jury to assess whether the brothers of Jozef Puska, charged with withholding information about the murder of schoolteacher Ashling Murphy, had a reasonable excuse rooted in fear of self‑incrimination. The judge clarified that protecting a family member is not a valid excuse, but the jury must consider if the brothers, Lubomir Jnr (38) and Marek (36), genuinely feared that providing information would implicate them. Puska, who stabbed Murphy to death on 12 January 2022, is serving a life sentence. The brothers and their wives, Viera Gaziova (40) and Jozefina Grundzova (32), are charged with withholding information and burning Puska's clothes to impede his apprehension. All accused pleaded not guilty. The judge emphasized that the prosecution must prove the brothers had no reasonable excuse for failing to disclose the information, and the jury must decide if the fear of self‑incrimination was present.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Marek Puska, Lubomir Puska Jnr, Jozefina Grundzova, and Viera Gaziova is ongoing, with the judge's charge to the jury currently underway. All four accused, who have pleaded not guilty to all charges, are alleged to have been involved in the aftermath of the murder of Ashling Murphy by Jozef Puska in January 2022. Marek Puska and Lubomir Puska Jnr are accused of withholding information relating to the murder, while Ms Grundzova and Ms Gaziova are accused of impeding Jozef Puska's apprehension or prosecution by burning his clothes. Defence counsel argued that the women did not believe Jozef Puska was capable of murder and acted on second-hand information without knowledge of the crime. Counsel for Lubomir Puska Jnr contended that he delayed reporting information due to family loyalty but ultimately cooperated with gardai. The prosecution maintains that all accused knew of the murder shortly after it occurred and acted to prevent Jozef Puska's prosecution. The matter is not concluded; the judge's charge is in progress and will continue tomorrow.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, defence counsel Karl Finnegan SC argued that Marek Puska (36), Jozef Puska's brother, had a reasonable excuse for withholding information from gardai after the murder of Ashling Murphy. Finnegan said Marek was protecting himself, fearing that his statements could implicate him in assisting his brother. He noted that Marek had not believed Jozef had stabbed Murphy when he spoke to investigators two days after the crime. Prosecutor Anne Marie Lawlor SC countered that Marek knew Jozef's confession shortly after 9.30 pm on the night of the murder and, along with brother Lubomir Jnr (38), failed to disclose vital information. Lawlor also accused Jozefina Grundzova (32) and Viera Gaziova (40) of burning Jozef's clothes to impede his arrest, a charge they admit. All accused pleaded not guilty. Jozef Puska was convicted of murdering 23‑year‑old Ashling Murphy and is serving a life sentence.
Bernard Brennan, aged 67 and formerly of Rathfarnham, was sentenced by the Central Criminal Court to four and a half years' imprisonment for 11 counts of indecent assault against his younger sisters, Yvonne Crist and Paula Fay, committed between 1972 and 1975. The sisters, aged 13 and seven at the time, waived anonymity and gave moving statements describing horrific abuse, including forced removal of clothing, inappropriate touching, oral rape, and forced viewing of pornography. Brennan pleaded guilty to four counts against Crist and seven against Fay. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, imposed a headline sentence of 21 months per count, reduced to 15 months, resulting in four consecutive 15‑month terms (five years) before being reduced to four and a half years and backdated to his earlier custody. Brennan had no prior convictions and pleaded guilty before trial. The court noted his age at the time of the offences and the mitigating factors in the final sentence.
Conor O'Donoghue, 27, of Ardrahan, pleaded guilty to one count of assault after punching his housemate in the back garden of a Ballindooley house on 22 October 2020. The victim suffered a blow‑out fracture of the orbital floor and a nasal fracture, requiring surgery at Galway University Hospital. Garda Laura Devaney reported that the incident occurred during the Covid lockdown, that O'Donoghue was not intoxicated, and that both parties had struck each other and rolled on the ground. O'Donoghue admitted to being present, claimed the victim had shouted and head‑butted him, and said he punched in self‑defence. The court, noting no prior convictions and a positive probation report, applied section 1.2 of the Probation Act, ordered O'Donoghue to pay €1,000 to the Galway Simon Community within three months, and discharged him without a recorded conviction. The sentence was delivered by Mr Justice Brian O'Callaghan.
Two brothers, Colin Murphy (36) and Glen Murphy (33), are appealing their ten-year sentences for a Christmas Day crime spree that involved arson, criminal damage, and a serious assault. The appeal is currently before the Court of Appeal. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy noted that the assault on a man in his 60s was at the very top end of the scale and arguably could have been a section 4 assault, which is an offence of causing serious harm. At their sentencing hearing in Kilkenny Circuit Court in March of last year, Judge Cormac Quinn described the offences as a substantial crime spree and jailed both brothers for 10 years each. Glen Murphy was convicted of criminal damage to an MPV, criminal damage to Eir poles, and assault causing harm, with sentences of two, two, and three years respectively. He also received a five-year sentence for the assault that left a man unconscious. All sentences were to run consecutively, with the final two years suspended. Colin Murphy was convicted of arson and assault causing harm, receiving seven and five-year sentences respectively. The matter was adjourned for further consideration.
A man with previous convictions for rape and kidnapping has been sentenced to eleven years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for harassing three female journalists. Mark McAnaw, formerly of Letterkenny, County Donegal, pleaded guilty to charges relating to harassment that occurred in August 2023. He sent explicit and threatening emails to the women, including threats to kill, and attended their workplace. Judge Pauline Codd imposed the full sentence after McAnaw declined to accept conditions that would have suspended the final twelve months. She imposed a lifelong contact ban and ordered McAnaw remain ten miles from the women's homes and workplaces. The judge noted McAnaw's history of violent offending and his failure to engage with mental health treatment while detained at the Central Mental Hospital. McAnaw is assessed as presenting high risk of violent and sexual reoffending.
Sean McGovern (39), who is charged with murder and directing a criminal organisation, has raised concerns about the legality of his extradition to Ireland from the United Arab Emirates. His legal representatives, including Olan Callanan BL, have informed the court that a letter will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) regarding an application. The court was asked to set a date for a hearing, with Mr Callanan expressing concerns about the legality and process of McGovern's arrival in Dublin. Sean Gillane SC, for the DPP, stated that a first book of evidence will be ready by the end of July, with updates on a second book of evidence to follow. McGovern appeared via video-link from prison and confirmed he could hear the proceedings. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor agreed to set a hearing date for Wednesday, June 18th, with McGovern again appearing by video-link. The court also set a date in late July for the service of the book of evidence. McGovern, with a previous address at Kildare Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, is charged with the murder of Noel Kirwan on December 22, 2016, and directing the activities of a criminal organisation in connection with the murder and the surveillance of James Gately between October 17, 2015, and April 6, 2017. He is also charged with contributing to or participating in activity intending to facilitate a criminal organisation in the murder of Mr Kirwan and facilitating a criminal organisation in a conspiracy to murder James Gately. The matter is currently at trial.
Thomas Greene, 33, of Sarsfield Street, Sallynoggin, Co Dublin, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment by Judge Conor Fottrell at Dún Laoghaire District Court after pleading guilty to 14 charges covering theft, public intoxication, abusive behaviour in a public place and repeated failures to appear in court. The offences, committed between March 2021 and March 2023, included stealing €10 worth of petrol from Applegreen, shoplifting four Kindle products and a €25 scarf, stealing €140 worth of Bulmers cider, and pushing a buggy while heavily intoxicated. Greene, who has 107 prior convictions including robbery, assault, drug and firearms offences, was already in custody since June 2 on multiple bench warrants. The court noted his history of drug use, a drug‑induced coma, seizures and fractures, and his current treatment at St Michael's Unit, Beaumont Hospital. Judge Fottrell back‑dated the custodial sentence to June 2 and rejected a cash recognisance in favour of an independent surety.
In a Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing, 39‑year‑old Shane Flanagan of Co Clare pleaded guilty to two counts of inciting men to rape a woman between November and December 2020, and to six counts of endangerment for impersonating the woman on Facebook and Fetlife.com, inviting violence that posed a substantial risk of death or serious harm between 2018 and 2020. He also pleaded guilty to one count of possession of four images of child sexual abuse material. The hearing was adjourned for two weeks after the court was informed that Flanagan had been admitted to hospital earlier that week. A medical report was submitted, and the judge ordered an updated report before the case is mentioned again later in the month. The complainant, who wishes to remain anonymous, was informed of the adjournment. The case remains pending pending the updated medical report.
Two men in their 70s have been granted leave to appeal their extradition to Northern Ireland on charges connected to the 1975 murder of an RUC officer. At the High Court, Mr Justice Patrick McGrath ruled that while authorities had provided detailed explanation for the delay in seeking their surrender, this was incomplete and included lengthy periods of inaction. John Edward McNicholl, of Newmills, Letterkenny, County Donegal, and Seamus Christopher O'Kane, of Scalestown, County Meath, face charges arising from the investigation into the death of Constable Robert John McPherson, shot in an ambush in County Derry on 26 July 1975. Both men escaped from the Maze Prison in May 1976 before trial. The judge certified questions for the Court of Appeal regarding whether the 48-year delay constituted abuse of process and whether the omission to seek surrender for all original offences was an abuse of process. Both men were remanded on continuing bail pending further hearing.
Richard Satchwell, a 59‑year‑old British national, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court in Dublin for the murder of his 45‑year‑old wife, Tina Satchwell, who was found buried under the stairs of their Youghal home. The jury, after nine hours and 28 minutes of deliberation over four days, unanimously rejected Satchwell's defence that he acted in self‑defence during a struggle with a chisel. Witnesses, including Tina's sister Lorraine Howard and niece Sarah Howard, testified that Satchwell had hidden Tina's body in a chest freezer before burying her, and that he had offered the freezer to Sarah. Satchwell's 14 prior convictions include larceny and theft. He intends to appeal the conviction. The sentence was back‑dated to 12 October 2023, the day he entered custody. Tina Satchwell pleaded not guilty.
In Tallaght District Court, Judge Catherine Ghent sentenced a 26‑year‑old man to 11 months' imprisonment for breaching a protection order, criminal damage and obstructing Gardaí. The judge highlighted that the offender, who has been in custody since age 12 and has a "very serious history of violence," has not received the services he needed. She noted that the victims, particularly the man's former partner, are now bearing the consequences of his actions. The partner's victim impact statement described how the man "ruined her mental wellbeing" and left her living in fear. Judge Ghent praised the partner's courage in seeking protection and warned that domestic violence directly affects children, who must be protected. The sentence included five months for breaching a protection order, four months for criminal damage, and two months for obstructing Gardaí, all to run consecutively. A separate five‑month sentence for breaching a safety order was also imposed. The unnamed 26-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a sentencing hearing, the mother of Dylan McCarthy, who died after a fatal assault outside a Kildare pub in August 2022, delivered an emotional victim impact statement. She described her son's life as abruptly ended, noting that money saved for his wedding was redirected to his funeral. Dylan's girlfriend, Aoife Talty, also spoke, recalling his kindness and their future plans. The court heard that Calvin Dunne (25) was convicted of manslaughter and violent disorder, while Sean Kavanagh (27) pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Eamonn McCarthy and was found not guilty of murder. The trial detailed the chaotic melee, with witnesses describing a kick to Dylan's head and a "loud thud." The judge adjourned the case to June 30 for finalisation.
A mature student in his late twenties pleaded guilty to raping a college student on a university campus in February 2022. The victim, who was intoxicated after a night out, could not recall the assault but later discovered semen on her leg and bruises. DNA matched the defendant. He had no prior convictions. The court heard the victim's impact statement, describing the trauma and her refusal to forgive. The Director of Public Prosecution placed the offence in the seven‑to‑ten‑year category. The defendant's counsel highlighted his lack of remorse, his apology, and his character. Judge Paul McDermott sentenced him to six years' imprisonment, with post‑release supervision for three years, and directed him to have no contact with the victim or her family. The sentence reflected the seriousness of the offence and the defendant's guilty plea.
At the Central Criminal Court on 3 June 2025, Nigel Canavan, aged 39, with an address at Erris Gardens, Crossmolina, County Mayo, was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment for the murder of his mother Angela Canavan at her home in St John's Terrace, County Sligo on 1 May 2023. The sentence was backdated to 30 April 2025. On 16 May 2025, a jury had convicted Canavan of murder, rejecting his pleas of provocation and self-defence. The court heard that Ms Canavan, a respected psychotherapist, died from mechanical asphyxia caused by manual strangulation and external obstruction of the airway. She had suffered additional injuries including a head laceration, facial and body bruising, and three broken ribs. During sentencing, Ms Canavan's son Keith delivered a victim impact statement, describing his mother as accomplished and well-loved. Presiding judge Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo stated that it must be beyond any mother's darkest imaginings to die at the hands of the child she bore. Nigel Canavan pleaded not guilty.
A 28‑year‑old man, Martin Gooney, pleaded guilty to coercive control and sexual assault. He was sentenced to three years and two months in prison, with a 12‑month post‑release supervision order. The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, described how Gooney hid in her shed to spy on her, used her phone to send false messages, and repeatedly threatened her with violence, including a plan to hang her dog. He also sexually assaulted her in March 2021 and had other incidents of sexual assault. Gooney has nine prior convictions, including assault and threats of serious harm. He denied wrongdoing during the Garda interview but read a letter of apology at sentencing, claiming he was "young and stupid" and had no regard for the victim's feelings. The judge noted the victim's ongoing fear and the profound, long‑lasting impact of Gooney's actions.
Belinda Daly, 60, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a long‑standing dispute with a neighbour. CCTV showed her standing in her garden, then reaching over the wall, grabbing the victim's hair and holding her against the wall until the victim escaped. The victim suffered alopecia, headaches, migraines, PTSD, anxiety and nose bleeds, and provided a medical letter to court. Daly had no prior convictions and expressed remorse. Judge Orla Crowe noted the history of conflict and the severity of the assault, setting a headline sentence of two years and six months, then imposing a two‑year sentence suspended in full for three years, with conditions prohibiting any contact with the victim. The conviction is expected to affect Daly's employment in the voluntary and domestic‑violence sectors.
In a High Court hearing on 30 May 2025, Susan Magnier, wife of billionaire John Magnier, supported her husband's claim that a €15 million purchase of a 751‑acre tract in County Tipperary had been agreed at a kitchen‑table meeting on 22 August 2023 at the Coolmore estate. She testified that the sellers, represented by estate agent John Stokes, moved to another room to contact trustees and a beneficiary before returning to accept the offer. The Magniers allege that the deal was later abandoned in favour of a higher €22.25 million offer from New York developer Maurice Regan, who they say used a "full‑frontal assault" to undermine the agreement. The defendants deny any agreement, claiming they required trustee consent and ultimately sold to Regan. The case is set to continue before Mr Justice Max Barrett next week.
During a Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing, a 36‑year‑old woman who had endured years of grooming and sexual abuse by her older cousin publicly forgave him, a gesture that moved Judge Caroline Biggs. The man, 40, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and two counts of rape of his younger cousin, with the abuse occurring between 1999 and 2005 when the victim was nine or ten and the perpetrator about fourteen. He had 12 prior minor traffic offences and was named in eight counts on the indictment. The judge, noting the victim's extraordinary capacity for forgiveness and her prior compassion toward the defendant, imposed a headline sentence of seven years, reduced by 10 % for the guilty plea and 30 % for mitigating factors. The final sentence was four years and two months, with the remaining 14 months suspended under conditions to support his reintegration. The judge thanked the victim for her court attendance.
In a 2007 murder case, Darragh Quinlivan, aged 41 and originally from Limerick City but residing in Manchester, UK, is charged with killing Noel Campion, aged 35, on 26 April 2007. Campion was shot while riding as a back passenger on a motorbike in Thomondgate, Limerick City. Quinlivan allegedly stepped out of a phone box and fired multiple shots from a handgun as the motorbike passed. The prosecution successfully moved the case from Limerick to Dublin, and the trial is scheduled for 12 January 2026 at the Central Criminal Court.
Philip Moore, 41, was convicted of assault causing harm and false imprisonment of Alan Rossiter, 44, at his family home in Rathellen on 14‑15 August 2022. He pleaded not guilty to producing a knife and threatening serious harm, but was acquitted on those charges. His co‑accused, Shane Coady, 25, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. The court heard that Moore claimed Rossiter had attacked him the night before, but an investigation found no evidence and no prosecution was brought against Rossiter. Rossiter described being held in a boot, threatened with a kettle and forced to leave the house, and he reported fear for his life and dental injury. The judge adjourned Coady's case for six months and remanded him on continuing bail; Moore's case was adjourned to July with him remanded in custody. The court noted Moore's bipolar medication and his lack of prior assault convictions.
The trial of Richard Satchwell, accused of murdering his wife Tina, was moved from Cork to Dublin because of intense local publicity that could prejudice a jury. Satchwell's counsel argued that the media attention was largely self‑generated and that a local jury would be biased, while the Director of Public Prosecutions contended the publicity was national and largely due to Satchwell's own media appearances. Judge McDermott agreed to the venue change. During the trial, the defence sought to exclude Satchwell's brief reply to the charge, claiming it was prejudicial, but the judge found it voluntary and allowed it. The defence also applied to withdraw the murder charge, arguing lack of evidence of intent, but the judge rejected the application, noting the prosecution's case relied on circumstantial evidence and the defendant's own statements.
This report details the appeal proceedings involving Richard Satchwell, the appellant, and the Casual Inquiry, the defendant. The validated procedural stage is an appeal, though the source text primarily recounts the underlying trial evidence regarding the murder of Tina Satchwell. Richard Satchwell was found guilty of murdering his wife, Tina, who was entombed under the stairs of their Youghal home. The trial heard that Satchwell initially reported Tina missing in 2017, describing the investigation as a 'casual inquiry' before it was upgraded to a formal missing person case. He claimed Tina had left him and taken €26,000, while also alleging she had assaulted him on multiple occasions. However, forensic evidence and witness testimony contradicted his narrative. Satchwell admitted to digging a grave under the stairs and placing Tina's body in it, wrapped in black plastic, before covering it with cement. He stated he wanted to make her burial 'special' by adding tulips. The jury heard that Tina was a kind-hearted woman who adored her dogs, and that Satchwell was 'obsessed' with her. Despite his claims of victimhood, the court found that Satchwell had murdered Tina and concealed her body. The appeal process is ongoing, with no final sentence or disposal recorded in the provided text. The matter remains under judicial review, and no adjournment or final conclusion has been validated in this summary.
Richard Satchwell, a 58‑year‑old British national, was found guilty of murdering his wife, Tina Satchwell, by a unanimous Central Criminal Court jury. The jury, after nine hours and 28 minutes over four days, rejected his defence that he acted in self‑defence or lacked intent to kill. They held that his narrative of a chisel attack and subsequent struggle was "far‑cical" and that he had concealed her body in a secret grave beneath their home for six years. The jury also noted that he had kept her remains in a chest freezer before burial. The judge will impose a mandatory life sentence on 4 June and remand Satchwell in custody until then. The trial highlighted the jury's belief that Satchwell's lies were designed to hide the murder. The verdict was met with tears from Tina's family and some jurors. The case remains at the murder charge stage.
Sean McGovern, 39, appeared before the Special Criminal Court at a late sitting following his extradition from the United Arab Emirates. The accused, with a previous address at Kildare Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, was charged with the murder of Noel Kirwan on December 22, 2016, at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin. He also faces charges of directing the activities of a criminal organisation in connection with that murder and the surveillance of James Gately between October 17, 2015, and April 6, 2017. Additional allegations include facilitating a criminal organisation in the murder of Mr Kirwan and in a conspiracy to murder Mr Gately. All charges are alleged or contested, with no plea entered. Defence counsel Olan Callanan BL reserved the defence's position on the lawfulness of the arrest and the court's jurisdiction. The Director of Public Prosecutions applied for McGovern to be tried before a three-judge, non-jury court. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, sitting with Judges Elma Sheahan and Grainne Malone, agreed to the application. The matter was adjourned to a later date, and McGovern was remanded in custody.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 29 May 2025, the appeal of Martin Hayes, aged 36, was dismissed. Hayes had been found guilty of manslaughter in the death of Amadea McDermott, aged 27, in July 2017, after a Central Criminal Court jury returned a majority verdict. He had claimed that McDermott had stabbed herself, a claim that was rejected by the jury. Hayes had admitted using violence against McDermott and had been convicted of 12 years and six months' imprisonment. His appeal argued that evidence of his former partner, Niamh Higgins, being in fear of him and of his custody was prejudicial. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Tara Burns, held that the evidence was irrelevant and did not undermine a fair trial. The appeal was rejected and the case was scheduled for further case‑management on 20 June. Martin Hayes pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
David Hunter, a Liverpool native convicted of murdering dissident Republican Michael Barr in 2016, appealed to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the Special Criminal Court erred in dismissing witness evidence regarding the height of the gunman and breached his privacy rights by admitting mobile phone data. Hunter, who was found guilty in September 2020, contended that a witness identified the assailant as six feet one or two, whereas Hunter is five feet ten, and that the DNA match on a ski mask was coincidental. The State countered that Hunter and co-accused Eamonn Cumberton were of the same height, and that DNA profiles from latex masks linked Hunter, Cumberton, and Christopher Slator to the getaway car. The State further argued that the phone evidence was lawfully obtained under legislation applicable at the time. The court noted that Hunter's involvement was fully proved by circumstantial evidence, including the DNA match and the abandoned vehicle. The matter was adjourned, with the judges reserving their judgment. Hunter remains one of three men convicted of the murder; Eamonn Cumberton was convicted in January 2018, and Christopher Slator was convicted in July 2022.
Barry Grey, a 23‑year‑old rugby player from Corballis, Castledermot, Kildare, pleaded guilty to assaulting a couple at The Barracks pub, Tullow Street, Carlow, on 25 June 2023. The attack was unprovoked; Grey struck the boyfriend, knocking him down, and then punched the woman in the face, leaving her with severe injuries including a laceration over her eye, a burst lip, swollen tongue, and extensive bruising. The woman was treated at St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny. Grey had no prior convictions. Judge Eugene O'Kelly, after reviewing CCTV evidence and a probation report, found the assault unjustified, noting Grey had misread the situation while intoxicated. He sentenced Grey to three years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on strict conditions, and required a €6,500 restitution payment. The sentence reflected the seriousness of the violent attacks and the impact on the victims.
The jury in the trial of Richard Satchwell, who denies murdering his wife Tina, will continue deliberations into a fourth day. The panel of five men and seven women began considering their verdict at 3.05pm on Tuesday and have spent a total of eight hours and 37 minutes deliberating. They returned to the courtroom at 3.46pm today and a note was handed to the judge from the foreman stating the panel would cease deliberations for the evening and resume on Friday at 11.30am. Mr Justice Paul McDermott told the 12 jurors that there were three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. He explained the two routes to the not‑guilty‑of‑murder‑but‑guilty‑of‑manslaughter verdict, based on lack of intent or partial self‑defence.
In a High Court hearing on 28 May 2025, John Magnier, the Irish bloodstock billionaire, argued that money is not personally significant to him but serves as a metric for business performance. He explained that he had engaged legal and financial experts for decisions beyond his expertise. Magnier claimed that a former exclusive agreement to purchase 751 acres in County Tipperary for €15 million was breached when the estate, Barne, sold the land to Maurice Regan for €22.25 million. He alleged that Regan's actions constituted a "full‑frontal assault" on the deal and that the estate's agent described the situation as "greed." Magnier, together with his adult children, seeks enforcement of the alleged agreement, which they say was signed on 22 August 2023 and remained exclusive until 30 September. The defendants deny any such contract and argue the sale to Regan was lawful. The case remains before Mr Justice Max Barrett.
A man in his thirties was jailed for one month after breaching a protection order by confronting and bullying his former partner in public while on bail for an earlier breach. He pleaded guilty to a phone call and message made just days after the order was granted on 17 January 2024, and was convicted of a second breach on 1 September 2024 during a custody handover. The court heard he shouted abusive remarks, demanded the woman speak to him, and tried to control her in front of their children. He had 12 prior convictions, including theft and assault, and was on bail at the time of the September incident. Judge Anne Watkin imposed the prison term, a 12‑month peace bond with strict conditions, a €500 recognisance, and an independent surety of €500 for appeal. The woman had left the family home due to abuse and feared for her safety. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Lubomir Puska Jnr, aged 37, denied that he had asked anyone to dispose of the knife used to murder school teacher Ashling Murphy or to dispose of his brother Jozef's clothes on the day of the murder. He also denied that he had asked anyone to dispose of the clothes. The court heard that Jozef Puska, aged 35, attacked Ms Murphy, aged 23, on the canal towpath at Cappincur in Tullamore on 12 January 2022, killing her with 12 sharp force injuries, 11 of which were stab wounds. Lubomir Jnr had made two statements to Gardaí, first on 18 January 2022 and again on 26 January 2022, in which he described Jozef's condition and alleged that Jozef had tried to explain his actions. He also denied that he had asked anyone to dispose of the knife or the clothes. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
Philip Moore, 41, of Carlow, was convicted at Carlow Circuit Criminal Court of false imprisonment and assault of Alan Rossiter, who was bundled into the boot of Moore's mother's car between 14 and 15 August 2022. Moore denied the charges and was acquitted of two further charges of threats to kill and production of a knife. He claimed Rossiter had attacked him the previous night and that his friend Shane Coady was responsible, but the jury found no evidence to support this. Coady, 25, pleaded guilty to assaulting Rossiter and is due to be sentenced later this week. After the conviction, Judge Eugene O'Kelly granted Moore bail on strict conditions, including daily sign‑ins at Carlow Garda Station and a curfew, but issued a warrant for his arrest after Moore failed to attend the scheduled sentence hearing. The case was adjourned to Wednesday, with the sentence hearing for Coady set for Thursday.
The jury in the trial of Richard Satchwell, who denies murdering his wife Tina, will return to the Central Criminal Court for a third day of deliberations. The panel of five men and seven women began considering their verdict at 3.05pm on Tuesday and have spent a total of four hours and 42 minutes deliberating. Judge Paul McDermott told the jurors that they should consider all evidence and that there are three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. He explained the two routes to the not‑guilty‑of‑murder but guilty‑of‑manslaughter verdict, based on lack of intent or partial self‑defence, and that the prosecution must prove the accused was not acting in self‑defence.
The Central Criminal Court has ordered that the trial of Riad Bouchaker, aged 50, be prioritised because some of the alleged victims are children. Bouchaker faces charges of attempting to murder two girls and a boy, assault causing serious harm to a care worker, and possession or production of a knife. The case arose from an incident on 23 November 2023 at Parnell Square, Dublin, where Bouchaker allegedly assaulted a care worker and attempted to kill three children. Lawyers for Bouchaker have informed Judge Paul McDermott that they are awaiting a psychiatric report. The psychiatrist, who had requested a neuropsychologist's report, has received it and will complete her assessment within three weeks. Judge McDermott has urged all parties to expedite the matter, noting that the trial will be revisited on 15 June. The Department of Justice has introduced a protocol to fast‑track trials involving children, aiming to conclude the process within one year where possible.
Philip Moore, 41, was found guilty of assault causing harm and false imprisonment of Alan Rossiter after a night of heavy drinking and drug use. The jury did not convict him of producing a knife or threatening to kill. Moore claimed Rossiter had attacked him the night before, but investigators found no evidence and no prosecution was brought against Rossiter. He also blamed friend Shane Coady, who pleaded guilty to assaulting Rossiter. The trial heard that Rossiter was held against his will in a kitchen and then bundled into the boot of Moore's mother's car, where forensic evidence supported Rossiter's claim of being in the boot. Moore was remanded on bail pending sentencing later this month. The jury deliberated for almost three hours before reaching its verdict. Philip Moore pleaded not guilty.
In a Court of Appeal hearing, lawyers for Philip Disney (30) and Sean Carlyle (32) argued that footage of Disney dancing in a pub after the August 24, 2019 murder of Vincent Parsons should not have been shown to the jury. They claimed the clip was prejudicial, suggesting Disney was celebrating the killing, and that the prosecution had failed to prove an act directly committed by Disney. The appeal also challenged the admissibility of comments made by Disney and Carlyle during police searches of their homes, arguing that the searches were conducted without proper caution or procedural safeguards. Counsel for Carlyle further contested the use of inference interviews and the identification of Carlyle in CCTV footage, citing potential bias. The appeal was heard by a three‑judge panel, with the court reserving judgment on the arguments presented. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no verdict or sentencing yet announced.
In a May 2025 decision, Justice Tara Burns dismissed Oliver Berry's appeal against his conviction for sexually abusing his daughter Sharon. Berry, 68, had previously been convicted in 2023 of 25 indecent assault counts against Sharon, who was aged 7 to 12 at the time. He had also been serving a seven‑year sentence for the same offences, to run consecutively with a prison term he was already serving for the sexual abuse of his other daughter, Jennifer. Berry's appeal argued that the trial judge erred in ruling Sharon competent to give evidence and in limiting her cross‑examination. The judge found no evidence that Sharon's schizophrenia diagnosis affected her competency and that the trial judge had acted correctly. The appeal was therefore dismissed, with no change to Berry's sentence or any new legal outcome announced.
In the Central Criminal Court, Lubomir Puska Junior, aged 38, admitted to lying to Gardaí about his brother Jozef Puska's whereabouts on the day of Ashling Murphy's murder. He first claimed Jozef had been "a bit sad" and left the house in the early afternoon, but later apologized and revealed he had seen Jozef again after 9 pm, describing him as looking beaten and with lacerations. The court heard that Jozef, who was convicted of murdering 23‑year‑old teacher Ashling Murphy on 12 January 2022, had been living with Lubomir and another brother Marek at Lynally Grove. Lubomir and Marek are accused of withholding crucial information, while Jozefina Grundzova and Viera Gaziova are accused of impeding the investigation by burning clothes. All accused plead not guilty. The trial is before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs with a jury of seven men and five women.
The jury in the trial of Richard Satchwell, aged 58, will return to the Central Criminal Court to consider their verdict for a second day. The jury, composed of five men and seven women, began deliberating at 3.05 pm and has spent 46 minutes so far. Judge Paul McDermott told them to consider all evidence and to be unanimous. He explained that they could return one of three verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. He outlined the two routes to the manslaughter verdict: an unlawful killing without intent to kill or serious injury, and partial self‑defence. The judge also explained the burden on the prosecution to prove that Satchwell was not acting in self‑defence. The trial has heard that Satchwell denied murdering his 45‑year‑old wife, Tina Satchwell, and that her remains were found in a grave beneath their Cork home in October 2023.
A 33‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for rape, assault causing harm and threats to kill or cause serious harm to his then‑partner, who gave birth to their child in 2023. The jury convicted him on 24 October 2022 after he threatened to "kick the baby out" and told her "die b**ch, die." He had 11 prior convictions and had pleaded guilty to four counts of assault causing harm, coercive control and criminal damage at the start of his Central Criminal Court trial. The victim, who suffered flashbacks and lived in survival mode for nearly two years, described a pattern of violence including smashing a coffee table, kicking doors, grabbing her hair and threatening suicide. The judge noted a probation report placed him at high risk of reoffending in intimate partner violence. The sentence was back‑dated to February for time already spent in custody. The man does not accept the verdict.
Patrick Byrne, 28, formerly of Cloverhill Road, Dublin, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm, one count of production of a broom handle in the course of a dispute, and one count of making a threat to kill at an address in Clondalkin. He also pleaded guilty to one count of threatening a witness in criminal proceedings on dates between April 11 and May 20, 2024. The court heard allegations that Byrne assaulted his then-partner over two days in February 2024, including whipping her with a broom handle and holding a blade to her throat. While in custody, he allegedly threatened the complainant via text messages, urging her to drop charges. Byrne has 44 previous convictions, including a recent two-year, nine-month sentence for assault. Defense counsel Mark Lynam SC described the relationship as toxic and requested a probation report to assist with rehabilitation upon release. Judge Pauline Codd noted Byrne's "horrendous anger issues." The matter was adjourned for sentence on October 20, with the court ordering urine analysis, a governor's report, and a probation report.
Keith Smithers and Peter White were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a trial concerning the death of Brian Hogan on January 13, 2023, at Collins Place in Finglas. Both men had pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing and robbery. Smithers was convicted of manslaughter and robbery, while White was acquitted of the killing but convicted of robbery. Judge Martin Nolan handed Smithers a global sentence of nine years, comprising nine years for manslaughter and a concurrent four and a half years for robbery. White was jailed for four and a half years for robbery. The judge noted there was little formal mitigation, citing extensive previous convictions for both defendants, though he acknowledged Smithers' remorse as a small level of mitigation. The court accepted that the robbery context was serious and that there was a common design. A victim impact statement from Lyndsey Doyle, Hogan's partner, described witnessing the killing as brutal and cruel. The judge directed that both men receive credit for time served and granted a defence application to extend legal aid for a potential appeal.
Patrick Fitzgerald (48), with an address in Glenties, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to facilitating a criminal organisation between November 11 and 18, 2021. The court heard that Fitzgerald, known as 'Mr Fishy', purchased and provided getaway vehicles used in an attempted murder of Dublin man Gary Carey on November 17, 2021. Carey was shot ten times and sustained gunshot wounds to his torso but survived. He subsequently died from injuries sustained in a second attack in August 2022. Fitzgerald was arrested in December 2021 and exercised his right to silence during interviews. The court heard he has 72 previous convictions. While on bail for an aggravated burglary charge, Fitzgerald was jailed for seven and a half years in February this year following a home invasion that terrorised a family including a six-year-old child. Sentencing was adjourned to July 7. Victim impact statements detailed the family's trauma and loss of safety following the shooting.
In the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul McDermott instructed a jury of twelve that they may consider self‑defence in the murder trial of Richard Satchwell, 58, who is accused of killing his 45‑year‑old wife, Tina, between 19 and 20 March 2017. The judge reminded jurors that the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and that Satchwell is presumed innocent. He explained that the jury must assess the credibility of evidence, including Satchwell's Garda interviews, witness statements, exhibits and media footage, and that lies may affect credibility but are not automatically proof of guilt. McDermott outlined how the jury should determine intent, the use of force, and whether the defendant's belief in self‑defence was reasonable. He warned that if the jury is not convinced of intent to kill or serious injury, they may acquit on the basis of manslaughter or not guilty. The judge will continue his charge the following day.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced three defendants convicted of murder and three others for violent disorder arising from the Christmas Eve 2023 killing of Tristan Sherry at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo sentenced David Amah (19) and an unnamed 18-year-old accomplice to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended. Both were 17 at the time of the offence, meaning they were not subject to the mandatory life sentence, a position supported by recent Supreme Court rulings. Michael Andrecut (23), who was an adult at the time, was previously sentenced to the mandatory life term. For the violent disorder convictions, Brandon Hennessy (22) received four-and-a-half years, with the final six months suspended for one year. Jonas Kabangu (19) was sentenced to four years, with the final 12 months suspended for two years. An unnamed 18-year-old received two years and four months, with the final year suspended for two years. The judge noted the lack of premeditation and that the victims were disarmed when attacked, while emphasizing the need to deter unlawful violence.
Martin Tracey, 21, of Kilkenny, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to coercive control, assault causing harm, false imprisonment and sexual assault against his teenage girlfriend, Donna Clifford, over a two‑year relationship from October 2020 to January 2022. Clifford, also 21, waived anonymity to name Tracey and testified that she suffered physical and emotional abuse, including being choked, punched, sexually assaulted and confined in his bedroom. She recorded threatening messages that encouraged self‑harm and threatened violence. The judge, Ms Justice Melanie Greally, praised Clifford for coming forward and noted the severity of the coercive control. Tracey's sentence was set at four years, with three years concurrent and the final year suspended, subject to probation, sex‑offender and domestic‑violence therapeutic programmes. No prior convictions were recorded for Tracey.
The Central Criminal Court has convicted four men of offences arising from the murder of Mahamud Ilyas. Viorel Doroscan and Otniel Richardo Clejan, who pleaded not guilty, were unanimously convicted of murder and remanded in custody. They face a mandatory term of life imprisonment at a sentencing hearing scheduled for June 23. Lorenzo Cantaragiu, who also pleaded not guilty, was convicted of impeding the prosecution or apprehension of Doroscan and Clejan and cleaning his car to impede the prosecution. The jury rejected his defence that he acted under intimidation. Cantaragiu was remanded in custody until June 23, with a probation report directed. Robert Burns, who pleaded guilty to one count of cleaning the apartment where the assault occurred, had his remaining charges indicated for dismissal at a later hearing. The court described the disposal of the victim as grotesquely inhumane. The matter for all defendants is adjourned to June 23 for sentencing or further proceedings.
The trial of four accused persons in connection with the murder of Ashling Murphy continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury. Marek Puska (36) and Lubomir Puska Jnr (35) are accused of withholding information under the Offences Against the State, Amendment Act 1988, while their wives, Jozefina Grundzova (31) and Viera Gaziova (38), are accused of impeding Jozef Puska's apprehension by burning his clothing under the Criminal Law Act 1997. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty. During testimony, Detective Garda Cian Steers detailed Marek Puska's voluntary statement from January 14, 2022, in which he described the family's living situation and his search for Jozef Puska on the day of the murder. Marek stated he wished to provide further information but was hindered by medication for back problems. In cross-examination, it was noted that Marek accurately identified Jozef's bicycle. Garda Joanne O'Sullivan testified that Marek later revealed Jozef returned home on the night of the murder with visible injuries, including holes in his abdomen, and admitted to causing harm to a woman. It is alleged that Marek and Lubomir withheld this information, while the women assisted in destroying evidence. The matter was adjourned and the trial continues on Monday.