A man from Achill has been sentenced to eight years in prison following his conviction for manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court. Dean Caffrey (38) of Beaucort, Achill Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, was found guilty by majority jury verdict of the manslaughter of Sean McCarthy on 2 August 2022 in Drumcondra. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a nine-year sentence with the final year suspended. Caffrey claimed he acted in self-defence when the fatal shooting occurred during a confrontation over drug debts. The court heard evidence that after the killing, Caffrey placed McCarthy's body in a suitcase, disposed of the firearm in the River Tolka, and took steps to conceal the death, including using McCarthy's mobile phone to suggest he remained alive. The judge found Caffrey's conduct after the killing demonstrated no genuine remorse and rejected arguments for leniency based on his drug addiction since 2013 and cocaine dependency since 2016. Gardaí recovered McCarthy's remains from a wardrobe in the apartment after Caffrey directed them to the location. Dean Caffrey pleaded not guilty.
PJ Sweeney has lost his appeal against a 15-year prison sentence for his role in a violent attack on security workers at a repossessed farmhouse in Strokestown, Co Roscommon. In the Court of Appeal, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, speaking for the three-judge court, dismissed the appeal, finding no error in principle in the original sentence imposed by Judge Martina Baxter. Sweeney, of High Cairn, Ramelton, Co Donegal, was convicted in June 2023 of 15 charges, including aggravated burglary, violent disorder, criminal damage, false imprisonment, assault, arson, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC argued the sentence was excessive and disproportionate, citing Sweeney's good character and lack of prior convictions, and requested a suspended element. However, the Appeal Court rejected these arguments, noting there was no evidence of insight, remorse, or apology from Sweeney. The court emphasized the brutal nature of the attack, which aimed to inflict fear and terror, and upheld the maximum penalty for several offences. Sweeney's co-accused, Martin O'Toole and Paul Beirne, had previously dismissed their legal teams ahead of their own appeals. The Appeal Court confirmed that the trial judge was entitled to impose a custodial sentence without suspension given the circumstances.
During a seven‑week trial with a 15‑juror panel, Daniel Blanaru, 37, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his 26‑year‑old partner, Larisa Serban, on 12 August 2022. Serban was found early in the morning on the floor between her bedroom and hallway, having died from a 12‑cm stab wound to the chest that punctured her heart, lung and aorta. The prosecution alleged that Blanaru, described as "controlling and jealous", killed Serban in cold blood after a sustained brutal attack. Blanaru pleaded not guilty but admitted guilt during custody interviews. He has six prior Irish convictions for road traffic offences and four theft offences in France. The sentencing judge, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, imposed a mandatory life sentence, noting the crime involved needless and horrific violence. The victim's family, including Serban's mother, eldest son and siblings, delivered impact statements expressing grief and condemning the killer's actions.
In a sentencing hearing on 10 April 2025, Defence Forces chaplain Father Paul Murphy, aged 52, delivered a victim‑impact statement after being repeatedly stabbed by a 17‑year‑old boy on 15 August 2024 at Renmore Barracks, Galway. Murphy, who has served as a chaplain for 11 years, said he forgave the attacker and urged him to learn from his mistake and return to society as a "wholesome, happy and loving person". The boy, who was 16 at the time of the attack and whose identity is withheld, pleaded guilty to attempted murder. He was arrested on suspicion of assault causing harm and was remanded to Oberstown Detention Centre pending sentencing on 29 April 2025. The court heard the boy had been radicalised online, possessed a hunting knife, and had expressed anger over the Defence Forces' work in Mali. The hearing ended with the chaplain and the boy embracing in the courtroom.
Oisin Mullen, 25, of Rush, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after an unprovoked road‑rage incident on Upper Main Street, Rush, on 25 May 2023. While a passenger in a Volkswagen Golf, he repeatedly punched, kicked and stomped on a female driver who had made a U‑turn at a designated spot. The driver's two children witnessed the assault and shouted at Mullen to stop. Mullen claimed self‑defence, but the court heard he had no prior convictions and that the victim suffered head injuries and abrasions. Judge Martin Nolan described the attack as unprovoked, noted Mullen's anger‑management issues, and imposed a two‑year suspended sentence with strict conditions. Mullen was ordered to pay €3 000 to the Gardaí and an additional €500 within three months, with the total offered to the victim or to charity if declined. No jail time was imposed.
A 22‑year‑old man, Mahamud Ilyas, was found dead in a field on 10 December 2022 after a fight over a stolen bag of cannabis. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Ilyas sustained depressed skull fractures typical of hammer blows, along with multiple lacerations, bruises and scratches consistent with blunt‑force trauma. She noted extensive bruising to the face and body, and that the body was likely dragged after death. No evidence of sharp injuries or intoxication was found. The cause of death was blunt‑force trauma to the head. The accused, Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24), plead not guilty to the murder charge. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court, continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury. Lorenzo Cantaragiu (21) faces separate charges and also pleads not guilty.
Jason Wosser, also known as Jason Bonney, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a number of charges including robbery, attempted robbery, and threats to kill or cause serious harm. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a 10-year sentence but suspended the final year on strict conditions. Prosecution counsel Fiona Pekaar BL alleged that Wosser robbed two taxi drivers on separate occasions, threatening one with a knife and punching another in the face. He was also accused of kicking a man in Smithfield Square and robbing a student of his phone in Merchant's Arch. Wosser has 96 previous convictions. Defence counsel Ian Woodland BL described the defendant as deeply apologetic, citing a drug addiction that began at age 12 following his brother's death in a house fire, as well as ADHD and dyslexia. Judge Sheahan noted that two prior robberies involved vulnerable young men and gratuitous violence. She identified aggravating factors, including the seriousness and repeated nature of the offending, the fact that Wosser was on bail, and the harm caused to the injured parties. The judge acknowledged the value of the early plea to the victims and noted the defendant's desire to seek employment upon release, though she had no discretion over his place of imprisonment.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court convicted 23‑year‑old Brian Ibe of murdering 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy and assaulting Garda Brendan O'Donnell. Ibe had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both charges. The jury found him guilty after deliberating for just under seven hours. The trial described how Kennedy had taken Ibe and his mother into his home after learning of their homelessness, and how Ibe had allegedly stabbed Kennedy with a knife while Kennedy was in his bedroom. Ibe's defence presented psychiatric evidence that he suffered from schizophrenia and was psychotic at the time of the assault, while the prosecution argued he had a dissocial personality disorder and that his actions were goal‑directed. The judge, Justice Melanie Greally, instructed the jury to apply healthy skepticism to expert testimony. Ibe remains remanded in custody awaiting sentencing, where he faces a mandatory life sentence.
Erika Gould, 39, of Kilmacud, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three years' imprisonment, with the final two and a half years suspended on strict conditions. The sentence follows her guilty plea for harassing a neighbouring couple from June 2020 to May 2023, during which she shouted threats from her back window, brandished a phone, threatened to petrol‑bomb the house, and made threats against the couple's children. She also threw empty bottles and sticks into their garden and called the fire brigade falsely. Gould has 209 prior convictions, including assault, threats to kill and criminal damage, most of which were alcohol‑related. She was previously jailed in June 2021 and released in October 2021, after which she continued to make threatening calls. The court noted her acute mental‑health diagnosis and ordered her to be supervised by the Probation Services upon release. The sentence reflects her history of harassment and the impact on the victims.
Levi McCarthy, 33, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for a campaign of violence against his partner, Victoria Keogh, between July 2021 and July 2023. The court found him guilty of coercive control, assault causing harm, making threats to kill or cause serious harm, perverting the course of justice and robbery. McCarthy had previously been convicted of burglary of Keogh's parents' home and other offences, including a French conviction for threatening a former partner. During the period of coercive control, he repeatedly beat Keogh, threatened to knife her dead, and put a bullet in her head. He also sent intimidating letters to Keogh and her parents while on remand. The judge imposed a headline sentence of nine years, a four‑year term for coercive control, and a consecutive two‑and‑a‑half‑year term for assault, and ordered a 15‑year prohibition on contact with Keogh and her family.
A 63‑year‑old man who sexually abused and coerced his two daughters over ten years was originally sentenced to four and a half years in prison. The State appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient. The Court of Appeal quashed the original term and re‑sentenced him to a global term of 12 years. The man pleaded guilty to 20 of 74 counts of sexual assault. The younger daughter was abused from age six to thirteen; the older from age ten to around sixteen, with abuse escalating to oral sex and physical coercion. The court found the original judge had imposed disproportionate sentences of three years and 18 months, respectively, and that the judge had failed to impose a proportionate sentence. The new sentence of 12 years is to run consecutively for both victims, with each victim's portion reduced to six years after mitigation and totality considerations.
Martin O'Flaherty, aged 73, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of 14 counts of indecent assault and one attempted indecent assault against seven boys who were his pupils between 1978 and 1981. He had previously been tried five times since 2022 and had 103 convictions for indecent assault of 22 other boys. He is serving an effective sentence of eight years, two months and three weeks, with an earliest release in August 2028. Reporting restrictions were lifted as no further matters are pending. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a global five‑year sentence for the seven victims in this case, bringing his total convictions to 29 boys. The court heard that O'Flaherty denied the allegations, cooperated with the investigation, and does not intend to appeal. The judge noted his age, health, and past service as mitigating factors but also cited the seriousness of the offences and the breach of trust as aggravating factors.
A 36-year-old man has been sentenced to two years in prison for sexually assaulting his daughter's 13-year-old friend. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury convicted the appellant last November after he pleaded not guilty to a charge of sexual assault committed at his Dublin home on April 10, 2021. Although the man does not accept the victim's evidence, he has stated he will not appeal the conviction. Judge Dara Hayes described the conduct as a serious breach of trust with a considerable impact on the teenager. The judge set a headline sentence of four years, reduced it to three years and three months, and suspended the final 15 months on strict conditions, including engaging with the Probation Service for two years upon release. The sentence was backdated to when the man was first remanded in custody last November. He was registered as a sex offender. The court heard the victim reported the incident to gardaí the same day, alleging the man touched her buttocks, hips, waist, and chest while asking if she had a crush on him. The man claimed he only spoke to her about her clothing. A victim impact statement detailed the teenager's ongoing trauma, including paranoia and trust issues. The Probation Service assessed the man as low risk and willing to work with the service.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 20‑year‑old Dublin woman pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of section 4 rape involving her younger cousin aged 10‑11 between July 2017 and July 2019. She is accused of penetrating the girl with a hairbrush. The prosecution alleges the abuse began before the accused turned 12, with the girls allegedly sleeping over in each other's homes or a mutual aunt's house. Family members of both parties testified that the girls were not close friends and that no sleepovers occurred in the grandmother's house. The grandmother, aunts, uncles, and the accused's mother all denied the alleged sleepovers and stated the girls were different and not particularly friendly. The trial continues before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury.
During the sentencing of a 26‑year‑old man who had orally raped and defiled a 14‑year‑old girl in 2020, Judge Melanie Greally told the survivor that the legal system had failed her. The judge noted that the case had loomed over the victim for far too long and that new protocols now exist to prevent such delays. The man, who was 21 at the time of the offence and whose name is withheld to protect the victim, pleaded guilty to oral rape, defilement and sexual assault. He had no prior convictions. The judge set a headline sentence of 8.5 years, imposed a six‑and‑a‑half‑year term with the final year suspended, and ordered two years of post‑release supervision, prohibiting any occupation that would bring him into contact with underage females.
A jury has begun deliberating on the case of Brian Ibe, 23, who was accused of murdering 65‑year‑old Mr Kennedy after the victim had taken Ibe's mother into his home. Ibe pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity. Two defence psychiatrists, Dr Stephen Monks and Dr Gaurav Malhan, diagnosed him with schizophrenia, stating he could not control his actions and did not understand their nature. The prosecution's psychiatrist, Dr Mary Davoren, disagreed, diagnosing a dis‑social personality disorder and asserting Ibe met the criteria for the special verdict. The trial also covered Ibe's assault on Garda Brendan O'Donnell, for which he pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Justice Melanie Greally instructed the jury to apply a "healthy skepticism" to the conflicting expert evidence and to consider diminished responsibility if the schizophrenia diagnosis is accepted but the disorder did not fully impair his control.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 7 April 2025, Eric O'Driscoll, aged 23, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for possessing a .223 calibre Remington AR‑15 semi‑automatic rifle in Finglas on 1 January 2022. The final 12 months of the sentence were suspended, and the court imposed a one‑year restriction on O'Driscoll's association with six named individuals. The judge noted O'Driscoll's youth, lack of prior convictions, and his willingness to cooperate with probation. The case stemmed from video evidence on O'Driscoll's phone showing him and his brother Glen Ward, aged 32, firing the rifle from the back door of a house in Finglas. Ward pleaded guilty to the same offence and faces sentencing later in 2025. Ward has 20 prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences, and one for assault and criminal damage. The court described the videos as a "display of strength" intended to intimidate. The hearing was presided over by Ms Justice Melanie Greally.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 7 April 2025, 30‑year‑old Robert Broughan was sentenced to a mandatory life term for the murder of his best friend, Roy Hopkins, 34, who was beaten to death with a baseball bat on 31 July 2020. Broughan admitted to striking Hopkins on the forehead, side of the head and nose, intending to make his head "explode" and to kill him. He claimed no prior conflict, stating the friendship had never involved a "cross word". Broughan also confessed to having put petrol on the bat and to having taken Solpadeine tablets before the attack. The court noted his previous convictions for criminal damage and public order offences, and his history of substance misuse. Hopkins' mother delivered a victim impact statement describing the tragedy and the lasting pain inflicted on her family. The sentence was back‑dated to 1 August 2020, when Hopkins died after being taken to Naas General Hospital.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Eric Thomas, 49, was found guilty of false imprisonment and sexual assault of a teenage boy aged 14 or 15 between January 2004 and July 2006. Thomas, who has 34 prior convictions including ten for sexual assault, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended for two years under Probation Services supervision. The victim, who was a happy, class‑clown teenager, described feeling sick, dirty and scared after the assault, and said the incident changed his life, leading to aggression, drug use and a desire to leave. Thomas denied the allegations and claimed he had never known the victim. The court noted Thomas's history of mental health issues, rehabilitation efforts in prison, and his acceptance of the verdict. The judge highlighted the seriousness of the offence and the victim's profound impact. The sentence reflects both aggravating and mitigating factors.
The trial of Brian Ibe, 23, accused of murdering Peter Kennedy, a 65-year-old 'Good Samaritan', is ongoing before Ms Justice Melanie Greally. Ibe has pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity and not guilty by reason of insanity to a charge of assault causing harm to Garda Brendan O'Donnell. The defence, led by Conor Devally SC, argued that Ibe was suffering from schizophrenic psychosis at the time of the alleged offence, citing evidence from two psychiatrists. Conversely, the prosecution, represented by Paul Carroll SC, presented Dr Mary Davoren, who diagnosed Ibe with a dis-social personality disorder and contended he understood the nature of his actions. The jury heard conflicting expert opinions regarding Ibe's mental state, with the defence highlighting prior behavioural evidence of psychosis and the prosecution pointing to deliberate, complex actions such as taking a taxi to the scene. The matter remains at the trial stage, with the judge set to begin her charge to the jury on Monday. No verdict, sentence, or finalisation has been recorded; the case is currently awaiting the jury's decision.
In a trial held in Dublin, Deirdre Arnold, a 42‑year‑old HSE addiction counsellor, is charged with assisting Brian McHugh, who murdered a mother‑of‑two, by driving him away from the scene of Lisa Thompson's murder on 9 May 2022 and later checking him into a hotel. The prosecution argues that Arnold knowingly helped McHugh evade arrest, citing her presence at the victim's home, her fingerprints on a jewellery valuation certificate, and text messages sent to McHugh after the murder. Arnold's defence contends that the prosecution has not proven she knew McHugh had committed murder and that she was merely a reluctant driver. She maintains that she was fearful of being strangled and that McHugh was the one in control of the vehicle. The case is before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath with a jury of eleven, and Arnold has pleaded not guilty to both counts of aiding and abetting and perverting the course of justice.
The High Court refused a 31‑year‑old Georgian man's request to challenge the International Protection Office's refusal to grant him asylum. He had claimed that if returned to Georgia he would face religious persecution as a Jehovah's Witness. The IPO found his knowledge of the faith lacking, citing incorrect answers about baptism, the archangel Michael, the 144,000, and other doctrinal points. The IPO also deemed his claims of threat and assault unsubstantiated. He appealed to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal, which rejected his appeal, citing his substantial lack of knowledge and lack of explanation for it. He then sought judicial review, arguing the Tribunal had erred in its interpretation of the religion and had omitted relevant material. Justice Siobhán Phelan dismissed the application, describing the complaints as trivial and tenuous and refusing leave to pursue the challenge. The case remains at the High Court level with no further action granted.
Marius Elisei, 47, of Whitworth Road, Drumcondra, was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment for assault causing harm after striking an off‑duty Garda with a bottle outside Heuston Station. The incident occurred on 25 September 2023 when the Garda, who had just disembarked from a train, confronted Elisei for drinking in public. Elisei, holding a beer bottle, raised it and hit the Garda on the forehead, causing a gash that required three stitches. The Garda was off work for 15 days following the attack. Elisei, a repeat offender with 22 prior convictions, including 16 public order offences, pleaded guilty. He was in custody since 21 January after a bench warrant was executed. The judge, citing Elisei's history of alcohol‑related aggression, imposed the 20‑month sentence backdated to 25 January. The Garda declined to give a victim impact statement. The court noted Elisei's remorse and his difficulty being away from family. The sentence was imposed by Judge Martin Nolan.
In a Dublin court, a mother testified that she felt "lost and didn't know what to do" after her 10‑ or 11‑year‑old daughter revealed alleged sexual abuse by her older cousin, who is now 20 and has pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of section 4 rape. The mother described the moment her daughter disclosed the abuse, her attempts to seek help, and the subsequent visit to the Garda station. She also recounted her daughter's discovery of pornographic content on a tablet and a note with the word "sex." The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, continues with the jury hearing the mother's account of the alleged abuse and the steps she took after the disclosure. The accused remains legally entitled to anonymity. The case is still in the hearing stage.
Padraic Troy, 29, of Golden Gardens, Dundrum, Co. Tipperary, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for two counts of rape, anal rape and two sexual assaults of a female acquaintance in 2021. The victim, who was discharged from hospital after an ambulance transfer, had called Troy for assistance. He met her at 3:24 am, accompanied her to a car, and during the journey he began kissing her. After another man left, Troy raped, anally raped and sexually assaulted her in her bedroom. The victim reported the assault the next day, and a DNA profile matched Troy. He denied the allegations, claiming consensual sex. The court noted the victim's life was profoundly affected, citing loss of employment, anxiety and trust issues. Justice Melanie Greally imposed the ten‑year sentence, back‑dated to the date Troy entered custody, and a one‑year post‑release supervision order.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 3 April 2025, Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Paul Kelly, 46, to seven and a half years' imprisonment for repeated rape and sexual abuse of his younger brother, Anthony Kelly. The judge noted that the abuse occurred between 1995 and 1999, when Paul was aged 16 to 20, and that it involved 12 counts of sexual assault, two counts of oral rape and 12 counts of anal rape. Anthony, aged 10 to 14 at the time, had suffered lasting trauma and had come forward with a complaint in 2021. Judge Greally said the case was aggravated by the regularity of the offending, the extended period, the breach of trust and the fact that it took place within the family home. She also addressed letters from members of Paul's family, stating that it is "not permissible" to write privately to a judge about reporting restrictions, and that justice must be administered publicly. Paul Kelly was convicted.
In the Central Criminal Court, Dr Mary Davoren testified that Brian Ibe, 23, who is charged with the murder of 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy, displayed goal‑directed, logical thinking rather than schizophrenia when he threatened and demanded money from Kennedy before fatally assaulting him. Davoren, called by the prosecution, disagreed with the defence psychiatrists who claimed Ibe was in a schizophrenic psychosis at the time of the offence. She noted that Ibe's first disclosure of hearing voices occurred a year and 13 days after remand in Cloverhill Prison and that no evidence of psychosis was present during the murder. Davoren described Ibe's threats as "instrumental" and linked his anger to being asked to leave Kennedy's house in 2019, to loss of social welfare money, and to disgust over the state of the house. She also mentioned that Ibe's aggression may have been reduced by taking Olanzapine, an antipsychotic with a sedative effect. Brian Ibe pleaded not guilty.
In a Tallaght District Court hearing, Judge Patricia McNamara refused jurisdiction over a violent disorder case involving five men after viewing CCTV footage of a 15‑year‑old being repeatedly beaten with metal bars on the top deck of a bus at The Square Shopping Centre on 29 February 2024. The footage showed two accused men boarding the bus at 9:30 pm, one initiating the assault and the other also striking the teenager, while a third remained outside. The men—Rasel Chowdhury (42), Gao Jiansheng (44), Shafiulla Shafiulla (40), Kamrul Islam (43) and Md Imrul Mahamud (27)—were charged under the Public Order Act for violent disorder. Judge McNamara described the attack as "relentless" and ruled it too serious for the District Court, granting prosecutors 12 weeks to prepare the Book of Evidence. The accused remain remanded on bail until 19 June, and Mr Gao Jiansheng will require a Mandarin interpreter for future proceedings.
Sean O'Faolain, 48, of Castleknock, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after punching his ex‑partner at Dublin's Olympia Theatre and again outside the venue, leaving her with a permanent scar. He was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 20 months' imprisonment, back‑dated to 19 February 2025. The court noted the victim suffered a deep cut to her chin, fractured jaw, damaged teeth, bruising and ongoing medical and dental costs. O'Faolain had no prior convictions, had pleaded guilty early, and had character references. The judge considered his intoxication and work history but found a custodial sentence appropriate. The sentence was imposed with no suspended portion, and the effective custodial term is the full 20 months. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, a jury heard that Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24) denied murder charges for the death of Mahamud Ilyas on 9 December 2022. Witness Abdi‑Aziz Mohamed testified that Doroscan had told him, in a conversation on that day, that he and Clejan had struck Ilyas with a hammer during a fight and then left him on a field. Mohamed also recounted that Doroscan had made a "callout video" as a joke after claiming to be looking for a person who owed him money for cocaine. Mohamed described seeing a hammer in Doroscan's bag in August 2022 and later learning that Ilyas had been found dead. The jury heard that Doroscan and Clejan had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, while Lorenzo Cantaragiu (21) faced separate charges of impeding prosecution. The court heard no verdict or sentencing, only the evidence presented at this stage of the trial.
During the trial, a 42‑year‑old HSE drugs addiction counsellor, Deirdre Arnold, was questioned by Gardaí about her fingerprint on a jewellery valuation certificate linked to the murder victim, Lisa Thompson. Arnold made no reply when asked to account for the certificate, which was found in a silver Hyundai Tucson registered to her, and also when asked about her fingerprint on the document. She was also asked to explain her presence at Sandyhill Gardens in Ballymun on 9 May 2022, at an Applegreen filling station in Swords on the same night, and her presence in the vehicle on 17 May 2022, but she again made no comment. The prosecution alleged that Arnold acted to impede the apprehension of Brian McHugh, the murderer, and to pervert the course of justice. She pleaded not guilty to both charges. The case was set to continue before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath and a jury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, consultant psychiatrist Dr Mary Davoren testified that the murder accused, Brian Ibe, first reported hearing voices more than a year after being remanded, on the same day his awareness of a possible not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict was documented. Dr Davoren argued that Ibe's dis‑social personality disorder, not schizophrenia, explained his behaviour. She noted no evidence of hallucinations or psychosis at the time of the offence, only regular cannabis use. Ibe, 23, had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy and for assaulting Garda Brendan O'Donnell. Dr Davoren said Ibe's deliberate actions—traveling to Kildare, breaking in, stabbing Kennedy—showed intent and knowledge of wrongdoing, undermining a special verdict. The trial will continue before Justice Melanie Greally and a jury.
John McClean, former Terenure College rugby coach, admitted abusing four additional teenagers but will not receive extra jail time because his sentences run concurrently with a 10½‑year global term for 45 earlier victims. The court, following a Court of Appeal direction, capped his total term at ten and a half years for his overall misconduct. McClean, 80, pleaded guilty to seven counts of indecent assault between 1973 and 1990. He had previously received an 11‑year sentence with the last three years suspended in 2021 for sexual abuse of 22 boys, and a 4‑year sentence reduced to two and a half years in 2023. The judge noted McClean's position of trust and that the new two‑year sentence will run concurrently with the earlier suspended portion, so he will not serve additional custody. Victim impact statements highlighted shame, anger, and the lasting effects of the abuse.
During the trial of Deirdre Arnold, a drugs‑addiction counsellor for the HSE, the jury heard that Arnold claimed a man she alleged had driven away from a murder scene, Brian McHugh, broke her arm by holding it on the bottom step of a stairwell and stamping on it. Arnold said McHugh dragged her down the stairs, placed her arm on the step, stamped on it, then dragged her back up and punched her ribs before fleeing. She also alleged that McHugh punched her ribs. Arnold's statements were recorded by Garda Diane Byrne, who took a complaint from Arnold. The prosecution presented text messages sent from a number identified as "Deirdre" to McHugh's phone, containing threats and references to the murder of Lisa Thompson. Arnold pleaded not guilty to charges of impeding the apprehension of McHugh and perverting the course of public justice. The case is before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath with a jury of eleven.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 20‑year‑old woman pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of section 4 rape against a teenage girl aged 10‑11. The accused, a first cousin, allegedly began the abuse before age 12, when she was said to have watched pornography on her tablet and asked the younger cousin to perform sexual acts. The court heard that the accused digitally penetrated the girl, forced her mouth on her breasts and vagina, and used a hairbrush to penetrate her. The girl reported repeatedly telling the cousin she did not like the acts and that the cousin said "didn't care." She also described being slapped, having her phone used to take photos in a bathroom, and the abuse stopping after the accused tried to kiss her. The mother found notes in the girl's bedroom written by the cousin stating a desire to have sex with her.
Conor Stewart, 29, was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to assault causing harm and possession of a samurai sword at Kilcross Grove, Sandyford, on 18 June 2020. The offence stemmed from an alleged €50 drug debt owed to the victim's brother. Stewart, who lives in Kilcross Court, Sandyford, was accompanied by another man when they attacked the victim, striking him on the back of the head and leaving a cut on the left side of his head. The victim was treated in hospital for a cut to the back of his head and a larger wound to the side of his head, which required stitches, and has since fully recovered. Stewart's previous convictions include criminal damage and burglary. The court accepted his guilty plea as valuable and noted that he had been on remand in prison, only recently receiving a bed in his cell due to overcrowding.
Conor Stevenson, 26, of Abbot Court, Cualanor, Dun Laoghaire, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for a violent robbery that took place on 30 March 2021 in Glenageary, Co Dublin. Stevenson pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The incident involved a 15‑year‑old boy who refused to hand over his backpack. Two men approached the teenager and his friend, demanding the bag. The boy resisted, grabbing his backpack and telling the men to "fuck off." Stevenson grabbed the boy's neck, pushed him to the ground, and dragged him into nearby bushes where he continued to assault him. The teenager eventually yielded, saying "fine – you can take the bag," and the robbers fled. The boy reported the mugging immediately. Gardaí analysed CCTV footage, identified Stevenson as a suspect, and arrested him. During the trial, the prosecution described the robbery as "impulsive" and not pre‑meditated.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Dr Stephen Monks, a consultant psychiatrist, testified that Brian Ibe, aged 23, suffered from schizophrenia and was in an acute psychotic state when he fatally assaulted 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy. Monks argued that Ibe's psychosis, triggered by homelessness and cannabis use beginning in June 2018, contributed significantly to the assault and that Ibe may not have understood the nature of his actions. He suggested the court consider a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. Ibe has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder charge and to assault causing harm to Garda Brendan O'Donnell, who was punched during Ibe's detention. The trial is proceeding before Justice Melanie Greally and a jury of twelve.
Asiah Boudakhan, aged 20 and without a fixed address, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at Temple Bar Square on 14 March 2024. CCTV footage showed her sitting on the victim's legs while restraining him, then punching him, and later another accomplice striking the victim with a bottle. The victim's injuries were described as relatively minor, and no medical report or victim impact statement was presented. Boudakhan was intoxicated at the time and had no prior convictions. Defence counsel noted her history of early drinking and homelessness. Judge Martin Nolan, recognising the victim's full recovery and Boudakhan's lack of a criminal record, imposed a 20‑month suspended sentence, suspending the entire term in full.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Lee Roche, aged 33, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and criminal damage on 15 December 2023. The assault took place at his then‑partner's home in Donaghmede, where Roche dragged her headfirst down the stairs, pulled out her hair extensions, grabbed her breast, pushed into her ribs and struck her on the head, causing her ear to ring. He also hit her again after a brief conversation. Roche had no prior convictions and was reported to have a cocaine‑use problem, which he was addressing. He has since cared for his children and grandfather, and set up a running club in Coolmine. Judge Martin Nolan, citing a letter from the victim praising Roche's current contributions to family and community, imposed a four‑year suspended sentence, fully suspending the custodial term. The sentence was not read aloud in court. The victim's impact statement was submitted but not read.
Christopher Slator, aged 40, was convicted of the 2016 murder of Michael Barr at Dublin's Sunset House pub and is appealing that conviction. He argues that DNA evidence from a mask and runners found in the car used by the murderers should not have been admitted because the items were not fully examined and the defence was disadvantaged. Slator's counsel claims the DNA was taken from the tongue of a shoe and from a contaminated mask, and that further swabs could have been taken. The prosecution maintains that a DNA profile matching Slator was found on the shoes and mask, giving the evidence significant probative value. The appeal is heard at the Court of Appeal, where the defence seeks to exclude the DNA evidence and challenge the weight given to it by the Special Criminal Court. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no new outcome announced. Christopher Slator pleaded not guilty.
Daniel Blanaru, 37, was convicted of the murder of Larisa Serban at the Central Criminal Court. The jury, comprising ten men and two women, deliberated for three hours and two minutes before returning a unanimous verdict. Blanaru had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Serban at her home in Rathmore, Athboy, Co Meath, on or about August 12, 2022. The prosecution alleged she died from a sustained and brutal attack, including a fatal stab wound to the chest. Although Blanaru initially told gardaí he was guilty, he later claimed the stabbing was accidental. The court heard evidence of prior threats and controlling behavior alleged by the victim's family. Following the conviction, Blanaru will be sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment at a sentencing hearing scheduled for April 10. Members of the victim's family will be invited to make statements to the court at that time. The matter is now at the sentencing stage, with the specific disposal to be determined by the judge on the specified date.
A 54‑year‑old man was sentenced to eight years in prison, with the final twelve months suspended, for attempted rape, sexual assault and threatening to kill his step‑daughter in County Limerick between 2011 and 2019. The victim, aged eight to sixteen at the times of the incidents, described repeated sexual advances, an attempted rape while lying on a bed, a sexual assault while she was on a couch, and a threat to kill her with a knife after she warned him she would tell her mother. The man pleaded not guilty and claimed he had cooperated with the investigation and complied with a 2020 barring order. The judge, Justice Melanie Greally, imposed post‑release supervision for two years, forbidding the defendant from any occupation that could bring him into contact with children and from any contact with the victim, her mother or family. The sentence was delivered in the Central Criminal Court. The unnamed 54-year-old was convicted.
Brian McCann, aged 41, pleaded guilty in the District Court to assault under Section 3 of the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 after punching an e‑scooter rider in the face on 24 February 2022. The victim, who was riding an e‑scooter on Belcamp Lane, Coolock, was struck once in the nose, bled, but did not seek medical attention. McCann received a three‑month custodial sentence in April last year. On appeal, Defence counsel Adrian McDonagh BL argued that the victim's impact statement was "remarkably benign and kind" and that the sentence was "too harsh" given McCann's mental health difficulties, including paranoid schizophrenia. Judge Fiona O'Sullivan noted the victim's "extremely generous" statement, acknowledged McCann's medical issues and apology, and agreed to suspend the entire three‑month sentence for 12 months on the condition of good behaviour and maintaining peace.
Gerard Tier, 34, of Casement Drive, Finglas, pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or cause serious harm on 21 August 2021. The court also considered two other counts of possession of an explosive substance and a threat to kill or cause serious damage. A Molotov cocktail was found at Tier's house and he threatened to burn it down. Garda Paul Higgins described Tier as extremely violent, resisting arrest and requiring four officers to restrain him. Tier head‑butted the floor, threatened the officers, and claimed he had previously killed a Garda. While in hospital he admitted to drinking and taking cocaine. The court noted a petrol smell and a bottle with petrol and a rag, confirming the Molotov cocktail. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a custodial sentence of two years, citing Tier's violent conduct and the dangerous nature of the device. The sentence was imposed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Viorel Doroscan and Otniel Richardo Clejan for the alleged murder of Mahamud Ilyas on December 9, 2022, continued with witness evidence. Both accused have pleaded not guilty. Witness Vlady Ndosimau testified that he entered an apartment in Blanchardstown and saw Mr Ilyas restrained on the floor, bleeding from the nose. He described Mr Doroscan holding a fruit knife and shouting about missing drugs, while Mr Clejan held a hammer. Ndosimau stated he observed Mr Doroscan kicking and stamping on the deceased's body and Mr Clejan kicking him in the head and neck before he panicked and left. He learned two days later that Mr Ilyas had died. Also on trial, Lorenzo Cantaragiu denies charges of impeding the prosecution, while Robert Burns's charges were withdrawn following a prosecution accommodation. Under cross-examination, Ndosimau denied fabricating his account to avoid suspicion, stating he had previously omitted details to protect his family. The trial continues before Mr Justice Hunt and a jury.
A 20‑year‑old Dublin woman, unnamed for legal reasons, has gone on trial in the Central Criminal Court on 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of section 4 rape. The alleged offences took place between July 2017 and July 2019 when the accused was aged 12 to 14 and the victim, her younger cousin, was aged 10 to 11. The prosecution alleges the accused penetrated the girl with a hairbrush and digitally penetrated her, forcing her to mouth her breasts and vagina. The complainant claims the abuse began before the accused turned 12, when she was shown pornography on a tablet and instructed to perform sexual acts. She says she repeatedly told the accused to stop, but was slapped when she tried to refuse. The trial is before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury. The unnamed 20-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 25‑year‑old man was sentenced to 12½ years in prison for raping and smothering his wife during an armed attack in Dublin in September 2023. The Central Criminal Court heard that the victim, who now raises her children alone, had been isolated from her Travelling community after bringing her former husband to court. The court noted the man had 35 prior convictions, including theft, burglary, robbery and breach of a protection order. He denied the rape and assault, claiming the victim fabricated the allegations. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo set a 13‑year sentence, suspended the final six months, and imposed conditions including engagement with the Probation Service. The sentence was handed down after the man's supporters shouted at the victim and were removed by Gardaí. The case was placed in the 10‑15‑year headline sentencing category by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
In a County Meath murder trial, a 37‑year‑old man named Daniel Blanaru, from Rathmore, Athboy, has pleaded not guilty to the stabbing death of his partner, Larisa Serban, aged 26, which occurred on or about 12 August 2022. Serban's body was discovered early the next morning in the bedroom‑hallway area of their home, with two stab wounds: one to the chest that punctured the heart, lung and aorta, and another to the arm that fractured a bone. The trial, lasting seven weeks, was heard by an enlarged jury of eleven men and four women. Defence counsel Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha concluded his closing address, while Justice Eileen Creedon explained the law and the evidence, noting that the prosecution bears the burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt. She outlined the possible verdicts—guilty or not guilty of murder, or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter—and instructed the jury to remain dispassionate and objective.
Rachel Redmond, 34, was found guilty by a jury of impeding the Garda investigation into the murder of drug dealer Jordan 'Jordo' Davis. The jury heard that Redmond collected the shooter, Wayne Cooney, from a bus stop minutes after he killed Davis and later checked him into the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport. Redmond denied knowing Cooney had committed murder, claiming she was unaware of his criminality and that she had only helped him because she loved him. The prosecution described her testimony as "risible" and argued that she knowingly obstructed the investigation. The judge remanded Redmond in custody pending a sentencing hearing on 12 May. No other charges or outcomes were reported in this article.