In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Michael Ward, aged 44, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years' imprisonment for assault causing harm after pleading guilty to two separate assaults on a 19‑year‑old woman. The first assault occurred on 16 December 2023 when Ward, who had 53 prior convictions, allegedly locked the woman in an apartment on Parnell Street, struck her, and prevented her escape. She jumped from the first‑floor balcony, sustaining injuries and later receiving medical care. A second assault on 3 March 2024 involved Ward striking the woman, choking her, and threatening her with a pliers. The court noted the woman's repeated attempts to leave and the ongoing relationship between the parties. Ward's plea of guilty and expressed remorse led the judge to reduce the initial seven‑year sentence to four-and-a-half years, backdated for time already spent in custody.
The Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal by a 67-year-old man from Arva, County Cavan, against an extradition order to Northern Ireland. James Donegan is wanted to stand trial for the murder of Joseph James Porter, a member of the Ulster Defence Regiment, at Mountnorris in County Armagh on a date between 22 and 25 June 1979. Mr Donegan faces additional charges relating to possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life, and membership of a proscribed organisation. His legal representatives argued the extradition warrant lacked sufficient specification of his alleged degree of involvement. The Supreme Court determined the case raised no issue of general public importance meeting the threshold for appeal, characterising the complaint as one of insufficient warrant detail rather than a substantive legal question concerning the correspondence between alleged conduct and Irish murder law.
The trial of Rachel Redmond, 34, accused of impeding the apprehension of her then-partner Wayne Cooney following the murder of Jordan Davis, has been adjourned. The jury, comprising three men and nine women, ceased deliberations for the weekend after four hours and 13 minutes of consideration over two days. Presiding Judge Paul Burns instructed the jurors to return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday at 10am. Ms Redmond, from Coolock with an address in North Belfast, pleaded not guilty to two counts of knowingly impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Cooney on or about May 22, 2019. The prosecution alleges she drove Cooney from the scene and checked him into a hotel to help him evade justice. The judge emphasized that the State must prove beyond reasonable doubt that Ms Redmond knew Cooney had committed the murder at the time of her actions, noting that subsequent knowledge is insufficient. He further directed the jury to consider each of the two distinct counts separately and to reach unanimous verdicts. While the jury heard that Cooney was convicted of the murder, and that Ms Redmond's brother, Robert Redmond, pleaded guilty in April 2024 to conspiring with Cooney to murder Mr Davis and was sentenced to seven years in prison, these facts do not constitute a finding against Ms Redmond. The matter remains ongoing, with the jury's verdict pending.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Dr Marie English, a clinical psychologist, testified that she found no evidence that Brian Ibe, aged 23, was feigning or exaggerating schizophrenia symptoms during the murder of Peter Kennedy, a 65‑year‑old man, on 28 April 2020. Ibe, who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, was admitted to the Central Mental Hospital in 2023 after being on the waiting list since 2020. Dr English defined feigning as fabrication or gross exaggeration of symptoms and, after conducting various tests, concluded there was no evidence of such fabrication. The prosecution maintains that Ibe does not meet the legal criteria for a not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. Ibe also pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for assaulting Garda Brendan O'Donnell at Newbridge Garda Station on or about 29 April 2020, where the Garda was left with a bloody nose and a bruise under his eye.
A 21‑year‑old man, who had posed as a teenage girl online, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting a four‑year‑old boy and for multiple offences involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). He pleaded guilty to the assault, to five counts of possession of CSAM, one count of possession of CSAM on Snapchat, two counts of producing CSAM, and two counts of distributing CSAM. The court noted that the victim was aged between 16 and 18 at the time of the offences and that the man had been in custody since his arrest in May 2024. Evidence showed he had over 1,500 files of CSAM, had communicated with boys aged 12 to 15 on Snapchat, and had encouraged them to produce and send sexual content. The judge imposed a six‑year sentence, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions, including probation supervision after release.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Brian Ibe, aged 23, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of Peter Kennedy, 65, who had taken his mother, Martha Ibe, into his home after she was living in a car. Ibe was diagnosed with schizophrenia by consultant psychiatrist Dr Gauruv Malhan, who said the mental disorder prevented him from restraining himself. Kennedy was stabbed repeatedly in the neck on 28 April 2020 and died on 12 May 2020. The prosecution, represented by Paul Carroll SC, argued that Ibe did not meet the legal criteria for a not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict. Martha Ibe testified that Ibe had become aggressive after smoking cannabis, had delusions of "devil worshippers", and had threatened to kill Kennedy.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Rachel Redmond, 34, is currently at the jury deliberation stage. Ms Redmond, from Coolock, Dublin, with an address in North Belfast, stands accused on two counts of impeding the apprehension of her then-partner, Wayne Cooney, following the murder of Jordan Davis on or about May 22, 2019. She has pleaded not guilty to both charges. The prosecution alleges she knowingly drove Cooney from the scene and checked him into a hotel to help him evade prosecution. Defence counsel argued she did not know Cooney had committed a crime and urged the jury not to convict her by association. The jury is currently deliberating and has been adjourned until 10am tomorrow to continue their consideration. In related proceedings, Cooney has been convicted of the murder. Additionally, Ms Redmond's brother, Robert Redmond, pleaded guilty in April 2024 to conspiring with Cooney to murder Mr Davis and was sentenced to seven years in prison. The presiding judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, instructed the jury that the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that Ms Redmond knew Cooney had committed the murder at the time of the alleged acts, and that each count must be considered separately.
A 30‑year‑old man, Adam Corcoran of John Barry House, Connolly Street, Midleton, has been charged with the murder of his 27‑year‑old partner, Daena Walsh, who was pronounced dead at her Midleton apartment on 2 August 2024. The Central Criminal Court has set a trial date for 12 January 2026, with case management scheduled for 11 July 2025.
Three men—Anthony Hickey (39), Fabio Vicente (42) and Matin Zolfaghari (34)—were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for a gang rape and sexual assault that occurred on 31 August 2019 in a Dublin nightclub. Hickey received 16 years, with the final year suspended; Vicente also received 16 years, suspended; Zolfaghari received 14 years, suspended. All three pleaded not guilty. The judge described the conduct as "cruel, cynical and depraved" and noted the victim was in a vulnerable state. The court directed the men to be supervised by Probation Services for three years after release and back‑dated their sentences to the date of custody. The sentencing hearing included the victim's impact statement, in which she accused the men of recording and sharing videos of the assault and of laughing at her refusal. The judge emphasised that blame rested solely with the men and praised the Garda investigation. No further legal outcomes are mentioned in the article. Anthony Hickey was convicted. Fabio Vicente was found guilty. Matin Zolfaghari was convicted.
In a victim impact statement read to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a woman who was sexually abused by her cousin when she was eight years old addressed the 40‑year‑old defendant, telling him: "May you never be free. May you be haunted like I have been." The defendant had pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault committed in 1999 when he was 15 and the victim was eight. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. The court noted the repeated nature of the offences, the victim's ongoing suffering, and the defendant's guilty plea, expressions of remorse, lack of prior convictions and good work history. The victim described the abuse as not innocent curiosity, detailing the impact on her trust, mental health and life trajectory. The defendant was instructed to apologise, and the court considered his family situation as context rather than excuse.
Clyde Keogh, 29, formerly of Pembroke Road, Dublin 2, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm. He pleaded guilty to assaulting a man with a claw hammer at a school in South County Dublin on September 22, 2023. The court heard that following a dispute between parents, Keogh returned to the scene and attacked the injured party, who was pushing a double buggy. Keogh shouted at the victim to put the baby down before swinging a hammer at his head. The victim sustained cuts to his head and hand and scratches on his elbow but declined to make a victim impact statement. Keogh has 75 previous convictions. Judge Elva Duffy noted that while Keogh expressed remorse, she could not avoid imposing a custodial sentence given the seriousness of the offending and the use of an implement. She handed down a two-and-a-half year sentence, suspending the final year on strict conditions. Consequently, Keogh will serve 18 months in custody. His defence counsel stated he is currently working in construction in Cork and has adhered to bail conditions. Keogh's partner was present in court and wept as he was led away to begin his incarceration.
Rachel Redmond, who pleaded not guilty to two counts of assisting Wayne Cooney to evade prosecution after the murder of Jordan Davis, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court. The prosecution alleges that on or about May 22, 2019, Ms Redmond knowingly drove Cooney away from the scene in Darndale and checked him into the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport to impede his apprehension. State counsel Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing SC argued that Ms Redmond's claim of ignorance was "absolutely risible," noting she parked away from the hotel and used her own name for the booking. He submitted that she knew Cooney had committed the killing and was hiding him. In closing, defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC urged the jury not to convict Ms Redmond by association, emphasizing that her brother Robert Redmond was the killer's co-conspirator. Mr McGinn described the bus stop collection as unlike a "slick getaway" and argued there was no evidence Ms Redmond knew of prior threats or the crime. The jury has heard that Robert Redmond pleaded guilty in April 2024 to conspiring with Cooney to murder Mr Davis and was sentenced to seven years in prison. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns.
In a murder trial, Garda Brendan O'Donnell testified that on 29 April 2020 he was punched by Brian Ibe, 23, after detectives attempted to take fingerprints and DNA samples. O'Donnell, who was in charge at Newbridge Garda Station, said Ibe tried to leave the interview room and, when restrained, struck him just below the left eye and on the side of the nose, causing immediate pain, bleeding and bruising. O'Donnell was taken to Naas Hospital, suffered no fractures, and later reported headaches and pain that have since healed. Ibe, who has no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy and to assaulting O'Donnell. The trial, before Justice Melanie Greally and a jury, continues tomorrow. The prosecution maintains that Ibe was not within the special insanity or diminished responsibility criteria. The case remains at the evidence‑gathering stage.
A neuropsychological report on Riad Bouchaker, charged with assaulting a care worker and attempting to murder three school children at Parnell Square, is due by the end of March. Mr Bouchaker, who has no fixed abode, faces charges of attempted murder of two female children and one male child, assault causing serious harm to a care worker, and possession or production of a knife. The incident took place outside a school on 23 November 2023. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring adjourned the matter to 30 April, with the report expected before 31 March.
Michael Murphy, a solicitor at the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) office since 2002 and a prosecutor since 2017, has lodged a complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998 alleging discrimination because he is a recovering alcoholic. He claims the DPP denied him the opportunity to prepare a murder case and failed to transfer him out of the District Court section, which he describes as an "A&E environment." Murphy disclosed his alcoholism to his line manager after a seven‑week residential treatment in early 2019, stating he had been dealing with anxiety, depression and sleepless nights related to court work. He has sought a less court‑heavy post since February 2021 but has not succeeded. The DPP's chief prosecution solicitor, Helena Kiely, acknowledged awareness of his condition but cited pandemic staffing pressures and the need to staff a sexual offences unit as reasons for not granting a transfer.
Rachel Redmond, 34, pleaded not guilty to two counts of assisting Wayne Cooney to evade prosecution following the murder of Jordan Davis in May 2019. The State alleges she drove Cooney away from the scene and checked him into the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport to impede his apprehension. In her defence, Ms Redmond denied having an "agenda," stating she did not know Cooney had committed a crime when she collected him. She told the jury she was in love with him and only realized the severity of his actions after viewing CCTV footage in 2020. The court heard that her brother, Robert Redmond, pleaded guilty in April 2024 to conspiring with Cooney to murder Davis and was sentenced to seven years in prison. Ms Redmond admitted to paying for the hotel room but maintained she was unaware of the murder at the time. She denied directing her friend Stacey Hayes to collect Cooney, claiming she merely asked for a lift. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns.
Brian Ibe, 23, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting Garda Brendan O'Donnell and later charged with the murder of Peter Kennedy, a 65‑year‑old retired probation officer, who died from head injuries on 12 May 2020. Ibe, who has no fixed abode and was formerly of Moore Park, Newbridge, claims he only met Kennedy once and did not want anything to do with him, describing him as a "weird, strange old man". He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both the murder and the assault. The prosecution argues that Ibe was not within the "ingredients" for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity or diminished responsibility. The jury has been told it is not contested that Ibe carried out the fatal attack. The trial is set to continue before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and a jury of twelve.
Glen Duff, 38, of Doon Court, Poppintree, Dublin 11, was given a further five‑year prison sentence for slashing a fellow inmate's face in Cloverhill Prison on 16 October 2021. He pleaded guilty to the assault and to a burglary of a pub on Great Strand Street, where the front door was smashed and €300 worth of alcohol was stolen. Duff already has over 200 previous convictions and is serving a six‑year sentence with the final 15 months suspended for two robberies in Temple Bar in 2022 and an earlier assault on a tourist. The court noted his history of violent attacks on tourists in Temple Bar and his long‑term institutional life. Judge Elva Duffy described him as a "menace to society" and said he was "lucky" to be charged only with Section 3 assault. The five‑year sentence was handed down with the final year suspended on strict conditions.
A 27‑year‑old man who attacked his ex‑partner by choking her and striking her with a plank of timber in her own home had his nine‑month custodial sentence overturned. He had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm under the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997, and was originally sentenced in the District Court to nine months with four months suspended. In the appeal, Sergeant Paul O'Sullivan described the assault, noting the man's hands around the woman's neck, the use of a plank, and punches that injured her wrists. The victim's impact statement detailed bruises, a near loss of consciousness, and lasting mental distress that made everyday tasks feel impossible. The defendant's solicitor said the man had relapsed, was not taking medication, and had since sought mental health treatment.
The court has remanded 23‑year‑old Eric O'Driscoll in custody until April 7, pending sentencing for possession of an AR‑15 rifle. Justice Melanie Greally requested that probation services submit an additional report assessing whether O'Driscoll could undergo intensive supervision before release and what conditions might be attached to any suspended portion of his sentence. O'Driscoll pleaded guilty last year to possession of a .223‑calibre Remington AR‑15 at a Finglas address on 9 January 2022, with evidence suggesting he did not have it for a lawful purpose. The sentencing court will also consider charges of reckless discharge of a firearm and possession of a .380 ACP Ingram M11 submachine gun. His brother, Glen Ward, also pleaded guilty to possession of a .223‑calibre AR‑15 on 1 January 2022 and will be sentenced later.
The trial of four men charged in connection with the murder of Mahamud Ilyas continues at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Viorel Doroscan and Otniel Richardo Clejan have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Ilyas, whose body was found in Co. Meath in December 2022 with blunt force trauma to the head. Co-accused Robert Burns and Lorenzo Cantaragiu, who have also pleaded not guilty, face charges of impeding the prosecution. During proceedings, the jury viewed CCTV footage described by Garda Dermot Sloane as showing two figures in dark clothing carrying a red object containing the deceased to a parked car in Blanchardstown. The footage also depicted a BMW driven by Mr Cantaragiu travelling towards the scene and later returning. The prosecution, led by Eoin Lawlor SC, alleges the defendants were involved in drug supply and that Mr Ilyas was attacked after attempting to sell cannabis taken from Mr Burns's home. The matter is currently at the trial stage and has not been finalised; the proceedings continue.
A 42‑year‑old woman, Deirdre Arnold, has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court on charges of being the get‑away driver for Brian McHugh, the murderer of Lisa Thompson. The prosecution alleges that Arnold drove McHugh to Thompson's home in Ballymun, waited for over an hour, then drove him away and later helped him evade prosecution by arranging accommodation and disposing of evidence. Witnesses will testify that Arnold's car was used to transport items taken from Thompson's house and that fingerprints on a jewellery valuation certificate linked to Thompson were found on Arnold's vehicle. Arnold is charged with two counts: one for impeding the apprehension or prosecution of McHugh, and another for attempting to pervert the course of public justice. She has pleaded not guilty to both counts. The trial will continue tomorrow before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath and a jury.
At the Central Criminal Court, the sister of Sean McCarthy addressed the court during the sentencing hearing of Dean Caffrey, who was convicted of her brother's manslaughter. Nicole McCarthy stated she remained "baffled" at how Caffrey continued his daily life normally after killing her brother in his Drumcondra apartment on 2 August 2022. McCarthy's body was discovered wrapped in plastic inside a suitcase in Caffrey's wardrobe after a five-day search. The court heard that Caffrey, aged 38, of Beaucort, Achill Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, pleaded not guilty to murder. A jury found him guilty of manslaughter by majority verdict in October 2024. The prosecution submitted that the case attracted a headline sentence of between ten and fifteen years. Caffrey's legal team highlighted his expressions of remorse and educational achievements whilst in custody. Mr Justice Paul McDermott will deliver sentence on 31 March.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 24 March 2025, Riad Hamzi, aged 51, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for a single count of rape that occurred on 19 August 2020. The victim, Elena O'Brien, testified that she had told Hamzi she wanted to separate; he denied the allegation, claiming the sex was consensual, but then punched her twice, raped her, and forced his fist into her mouth. Hamzi's sentence was back‑dated to 20 December 2024, when he entered custody, and the final year of the term was suspended for three years on strict conditions. The judge cited the relationship between the parties, the victim's impact statement, and the violence beyond the rape as aggravating factors, while noting Hamzi's health issues, long work history and character witnesses as mitigating. O'Brien's impact statement described ongoing PTSD, sleep difficulties and financial hardship following the assault. The court expressed well‑wishes to O'Brien for the future. Riad Hamzi was convicted.
In a 2025 Central Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Paul McDermott expressed concern that a 23‑year‑old offender, who was 15 when he attempted to murder Stephanie Ng in 2017, might be released from prison without supervision following a Supreme Court ruling. The defendant, who used a dating app and pretended to be 19, lured Ng to an isolated spot on the Sea Front, Queen's Road, Dun Laoghaire, where he choked her and slashed her neck. He pleaded guilty in 2019 and was sentenced to eleven years with a review after five years. The Court of Appeal later increased the review period by two years. However, the Supreme Court held that a sentencing court lacks jurisdiction to review its own sentences, leaving the judge unable to impose post‑release supervision.
Stephen Carberry and Glen Bride, accused of disposing of body parts belonging to murdered teenager Keane Mulready Woods, received a trial date at the Special Criminal Court. The two men appeared before Justice Melanie Greally, who set the trial for January 12, 2026. Carberry, 47, of Dublin 4, faces three charges, including transporting and disposing of body parts to enhance a criminal organisation's ability to commit serious offences, impeding the apprehension of the murderer, and setting fire to a Volvo V40 for the benefit of a criminal organisation. Bride, 31, of Dublin 5, faces two charges: participating in the transportation and disposal of body parts to aid a criminal organisation in committing murder and impeding the apprehension of the killer, and setting fire to the same vehicle. The court agreed to make witness and exhibit orders. The matter was adjourned and will be mentioned again before the Special Criminal Court on October 6. Keane Mulready Woods was last seen alive in Drogheda on January 12, 2020, and was murdered in a house in Drogheda, Co Louth, that month. Body parts were subsequently found in Coolock, Drumcondra, and Rathmullan Park. All allegations remain unproven pending trial.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 65‑year‑old man named Peter Kennedy testified that he was terrified of a teenager, Brian Ibe, who had moved into his home. Kennedy said Ibe demanded money, threatened to kill him, and said he would "slit his throat." Witnesses, including Rita Swords, described Ibe as homeless and mentally unstable, and said he had repeatedly demanded money from Kennedy. Kennedy also alleged that Ibe threatened to stab him on at least one occasion. Ibe has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Kennedy and to assaulting a Garda. The trial, presided over by Justice Melanie Greally, continues next Tuesday with a jury of twelve.
Kevin Braney, aged 49, is appealing his conviction for the murder of Peter Butterly at the Special Criminal Court. The appeal, heard before a three-judge panel, centres on two main issues: the lawfulness of surveillance authorisation and the admissibility of evidence from an accomplice-turned-State's witness. Braney's counsel argues that gardai breached his privacy rights by deploying a listening device at a KFC restaurant in Charlestown Shopping Centre, Finglas without proper district court authorisation. The defence contends a superintendent in County Meath could have sought judicial approval at nearby Balbriggan District Court rather than relying on emergency powers under the Criminal Law (Surveillance) Act 2009. The Director of Public Prosecutions argues the superintendent acted appropriately given time constraints when the criminal meeting emerged. The prosecution also disputes whether private conversation expectations apply in a public restaurant setting. Additionally, Braney's legal team challenges the trial court's reliance on evidence from David Cullen, who pleaded guilty to firearms offences and entered witness protection. The defence characterises Cullen as unreliable and willing to lie in his interests.
Ian Maloney (37) of Cashel Road, Crumlin in Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession of a 9mm semiautomatic firearm with intent to endanger life on February 10, 2022 at an address in Crumlin. Maloney has 109 previous convictions, including two relevant ones for a robbery in 2008 and an assault causing harm in 2009. He was arrested and interviewed seven times over a number of days but made no admissions. However, while in custody in Cloverhill Prison in December of that year, his solicitor contacted gardaí to say Maloney wished to make a statement about the shooting. Maloney admitted to firing several rounds of 9mm-calibre ammunition at the house, where the occupants included a couple, their adult children, and a young child. The householder contacted gardaí to report the incident. Garda Ian Ward stated that the front door, window, and a car in the driveway were damaged with bullets. Maloney became a person of interest due to social media posts showing an ongoing feud with one of the occupants. The judge directed a probation report and remanded Maloney in custody until sentencing on May 22. Maloney was sentenced to 12 years with the last two suspended for that crime.
A 42‑year‑old HSE employee, Deirdre Arnold, will stand trial on Monday for two counts of impeding the investigation into the murder of Lisa Thompson and perverting the course of justice. The charges allege that between 9 and 10 May 2022, Arnold performed acts without reasonable excuse intended to hinder the apprehension or prosecution of Brian McHugh, who was believed to have committed the murder, and that she engaged in conduct intended to pervert public justice. Arnold pleaded not guilty at her arraignment before the Central Criminal Court. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath informed the jury that the victim was Lisa Thompson, who lived at Sandyhill Gardens, Ballymun, Dublin 11, and that the alleged offender was Brian McHugh. An eight‑man, four‑woman jury was sworn in, and the trial is scheduled to last up to eight days.
Dublin man Glen Ward, aged 32, pleaded guilty before a three‑judge Special Criminal Court to possessing a .223 calibre Remington AR‑15 semi‑automatic rifle at a Finglas house on 1 January 2022. Video from a phone seized by gardai showed the weapon fired. Ward's brother, Eric O'Driscoll, 23, had earlier pleaded guilty to possession of the same rifle. In February 2022, gardai searched a Finglas home and recovered the AR‑15, a military‑grade sub‑machine gun and ammunition, all in good condition and successfully fired by a ballistics examiner. A later unrelated search of a taxi on Tolka Valley Road yielded a bank card in O'Driscoll's name and a phone linked to the defendant. Analysts found a clip on the phone showing O'Driscoll taking the AR‑15 from another man and firing it from the rear of the Finglas house, and another clip showing the seized firearms laid out on a table at the same address.
Two men, Robert Costello and Ciaran Whelan, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after attacking a Mongolian couple in Dublin City Centre on 9 August 2016. The male victim suffered a third of his ear separated and required a skin graft, while the female victim sustained a broken nose and underwent surgery in Mongolia. The couple returned to Mongolia after the incident. Costello, aged 35, has 29 prior convictions, last in 2017; Whelan, also 35, has 33 prior convictions, last in 2012. Both men were intoxicated and had addiction issues at the time. The court accepted their guilty pleas and considered their personal circumstances, and adjourned the case for finalisation until 20 June to allow Whelan to pursue rehabilitation and raise additional restitution. The court did not impose a sentence in this article.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Rachel Redmond, who is accused of assisting her then-partner, Wayne Cooney, to evade prosecution for the murder of Jordan Davis. Ms Redmond has pleaded not guilty to two counts of impeding apprehension or prosecution. The prosecution contends that Davis was killed on May 22, 2019, following acrimony with drug dealer Robert Redmond, the accused's brother. Detective Garda Kevin Farrell presented WhatsApp messages from May 3, 2019, sent from a number saved as 'Rew' to Davis, which included threats such as "very soon bang bang." The State alleges Robert Redmond, who pleaded guilty in May 2013 to possessing heroin worth almost €37,000 and was jailed for five years, was involved in the conflict. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury of three men and nine women.
The Court of Appeal is hearing an appeal by Kevin Braney, who was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly. Counsel for Braney argued that the conviction should be overturned because the trial relied on the evidence of David Cullen, a State's witness described as a perjurer and accomplice. Cullen had previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol, receiving a seven-year sentence with half suspended, in exchange for dropping a murder charge. The defence contended that Cullen's credibility was undermined by his admitted dishonesty and personal animus toward Braney. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that the circumstantial evidence, including observed movements of gang members, was compelling and supported Cullen's testimony that Braney instructed the killing. Braney, who was previously sentenced in 2018 to four years and six months for IRA membership, was found guilty of premeditated murder in February 2019. Co-defendants Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and Dean Evans also received life sentences for the murder, with Evans identified as the shooter. The three-judge Court of Appeal will hear further submissions from both parties before making a decision.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, forensic scientist Dr Yvonne O'Dowd testified that blood on Daniel Blanaru's t‑shirt matched the DNA of his partner, Larisa Serban, who was stabbed to death in their Co Meath home. She described extensive blood stains and spatter on walls, floors and doors, noting drip trails and pools that suggested a bleeding victim. O'Dowd examined knives, clothing and swabs, finding Serban's DNA on the t‑shirt and a mixed profile on Blanaru's shorts. No blood was found on a small knife in the house or in Blanaru's car. Blanaru, 37, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 26‑year‑old Serban on 12 August 2022. The case remains before Justice Eileen Creedon and an enlarged jury.
In a Dublin City Centre robbery attempt on 9 November 2020, Samantha Osbourne (33) and Adam Casey (22) were jailed for their roles. Osbourne pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and was sentenced to 16 months in prison, backdated to her custody date. Casey pleaded guilty to one count of attempted robbery and one count of assault causing harm, receiving a four‑year prison term with the final year suspended and probation supervision for one year after release. The victim, who was walking to the city centre, was attacked by all three men, suffered a concussion, facial injuries and a minor brain bleed, and was taken to St James' Hospital. Andrew Cash (32) had already been sentenced to five years for the same attack. The court noted the victim's injuries and the defendants' histories, including Osbourne's 90 prior convictions and Casey's 15 prior convictions. The judge emphasised the seriousness of attacking a defenseless man.
Two men in their seventies will be extradited to Northern Ireland to face charges relating to the 1975 murder of an RUC officer, the High Court has ruled. John Edward McNicholl, aged 73, of Newmills, Letterkenny, County Donegal, and Seamus Christopher O'Kane, aged 74, of County Meath, had argued their surrender would constitute an abuse of process due to the substantial delay in seeking their extradition. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath rejected both applications, finding no evidence to suggest either man would be denied a fair trial in Northern Ireland. McNicholl and O'Kane face charges arising from the investigation into the death of Constable Robert John McPherson, shot dead in County Derry on 26 July 1975. Both men escaped from the Maze Prison in May 1976 before trial proceedings commenced. The matter was adjourned to 3 April, with both men remanded on continuing bail pending their surrender.
A 36‑year‑old man was jailed for assault causing harm and non‑fatal strangulation of his pregnant partner on 24 December 2023. The incident began after an argument at a pub on 23 December, when the woman left the pub and the man followed her home. While she was on a sofa, he held her neck, punched her eye, and then strangled her, dragging her by the hair into the kitchen where she sustained a cut to her lip and a bloodied nose. She later contacted the Gardaí, who found visible injuries and a bruise on the man's wrist. He had previously pleaded guilty, admitted the assault, and expressed remorse. The court, after hearing his background and mitigating factors, imposed a custodial sentence of two and a half years, with the final 20 months suspended on strict conditions, as a warning to his future behaviour.
A 31‑year‑old man, Alan Melia, was sentenced to two years in prison for head‑butting a veteran flower seller at Palmerstown Cemetery on 15 December 2020. Melia, who was on bail at the time, had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. He had 113 prior convictions and was already serving a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for a 2020 robbery. The victim, a man who had sold flowers outside the cemetery for 40 years, suffered broken glasses, a cut on his nose and required stitches. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a headline sentence of three years, suspended the final year, and directed the two‑year term to run consecutively with the sentence Melia is currently serving. The judge noted the assault's profound psychological impact on the single victim and ordered Melia to remain under Probation Services supervision for two years after release. The robbery sentence will expire in May 2026.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that a 65-year-old man, described as 'a kind person who would help people,' died from traumatic head injuries after being attacked by a then 19-year-old man who had been living with him. Brian Ibe (24), of no fixed abode and formerly of Moore Park, Newbridge, Co Kildare, is on trial for the murder of Peter Kennedy in Co Kildare five years ago. There is no contest that Ibe carried out an attack on Mr Kennedy, who died as a result. Ibe has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Mr Kennedy between April 28 and May 12, 2020, and also pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to assault causing harm to Garda Brendan O'Donnell at Newbridge Garda Station on or about April 29, 2020. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Paul J Carroll SC, outlined the proposed evidence and factual matters of the case, stating that the burden of proof rests on the defence to convince the jury that the special verdicts of not guilty by reason of insanity are open to them. The trial continues tomorrow before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and the jury of six men and six women.
Wayne Gilligan, 29, of Rosebank Court, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to violent disorder for an unprovoked attack on Euston Street on 8 May 2023. Garda Chloe Rochford testified that Gilligan instigated the assault, punching the victim several times, kicking and stamping on him, while other men also struck and stabbed the victim with a bladed weapon believed to be a machete. CCTV footage was shown. The victim suffered deep cuts to the head and a finger, was taken to hospital, and refused to cooperate with Gardaí. Gilligan has 137 prior convictions, including affray, assault, endangerment and drug offences. He was sentenced to four years and three months' imprisonment, with an earliest release date of August 2027. The court noted his engagement with services and completion of an anger‑management course, but did not suspend any portion of the sentence.
A jury of twelve was sworn in on 18 March 2025 to hear the trial of Brian Ibe, a 24‑year‑old from Newbridge, who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy, which took place between 28 April and 12 May 2020. Ibe was also charged with assault causing harm to Garda Brendan O'Donnell on 29 April 2020, to which he likewise pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial will last about two weeks, with a possibility of a slight extension. The prosecution will present witnesses including consultant psychiatrist Dr Mary Davoren and clinical psychologist Dr Kevin Lambe, while the defence will call consultant psychiatrists Dr Conor O'Neill, Dr Stephen Monks, Dr Patrick McLoughlin, Dr Gauruv Malhan and psychologist Dr Marie English. A large number of Garda witnesses from Newbridge, Kildare, Athy, Rathangan, Portlaoise, Tallaght and Naas will also testify.
In the murder trial of Daniel Blanaru, the Central Criminal Court heard that emergency services received two 999 calls from a phone linked to Larisa Serban before she was found dead at her home in Co Meath. The first call, at 1.41 am, lasted nine seconds, had no dialogue, and was traced to a cell site in Rathmore. The second call, at 1.46 am, lasted eight seconds and included a female voice speaking in a foreign dialect, though the words were not discernible. Detective Garda Conor Carolan explained the cell site and Advanced Mobile Location data used to locate the calls. The jury also heard from interpreter Stanislav Olaru, who confirmed he had translated Mr Blanaru's statements in real time during Garda interviews, noting that the defence's translator used recorded tapes. The trial continues before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and an enlarged jury. Daniel Blanaru pleaded not guilty.
Michael Molloy, a 25‑year‑old architecture student from Gorey, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for raping a 20‑year‑old woman in a laneway on the night of 1 November 2021. The victim, who had previously known Molloy from school, was forced into sexual activity after he walked her home from a pub. She resisted, but Molloy forced her against a wall, digitally penetrated her, and orally raped her. The court found him guilty on counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault. Molloy maintained his innocence, claiming the acts were consensual. He was sentenced by Mr Justice Paul Burns to a headline term of seven years, reduced to six years with the final year suspended, and will remain under probation supervision for three years. The victim described lasting psychological effects and a loss of confidence following the assault.
Kaitlyn Winston, a 19‑year‑old maternity care assistant, claimed she was forced to quit after a porter sexually assaulted her on 3 May 2022 by putting his hands on her waist. An independent investigation upheld the assault on the balance of probabilities. The porter, a man in his 30s, was kept employed after a disciplinary process that issued a final written warning, removed his allowance and transferred him to a different department. Winston returned to work in February 2023, encountered the porter twice that day, and felt unsupported and intimidated. She took sick leave on 24 February and resigned on 4 May 2023, citing lack of management support and that her complaint was not taken seriously. The Workplace Relations Commission rejected her unfair dismissal and employment equality claims, ruling that the hospital had taken reasonable steps to protect her and that her resignation was not a constructive dismissal. The case is now subject to appeal.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Rachel Redmond, 34, continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns. Ms Redmond, from Coolock, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assisting Wayne Cooney to evade prosecution for the murder of Jordan Davis on May 22, 2019. The prosecution alleges she drove Cooney from the scene and checked him into the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport. Evidence presented includes testimony from Ashling McNally, former partner of Robert Redmond, who stated she collected Robert from Belcamp Lane at 4:13 pm, minutes after the shooting. Robert Redmond, Ms Redmond's brother, previously pleaded guilty in May 2013 to possessing heroin worth almost €37,000 and was sentenced to five years in prison. Detective Garda Shane Kelly identified Cooney in CCTV footage, while hotel staff confirmed a booking under Ms Redmond's name. The jury is tasked with determining if Ms Redmond knew or believed Cooney committed the murder. The trial was adjourned and is scheduled to continue on Tuesday.
A 24‑year‑old pregnant woman was sentenced to 20 months in jail for money laundering after depositing €33,715 into her bank account between January 2021 and April 2022 and spending over €20,000 on designer goods while receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. The court heard that she had no knowledge of the money's source and had not asked her former partner, who was also charged, about it. She is protected by a court order and has fled to a women's refuge due to domestic violence. Gardaí discovered the illicit activity after finding €700 in cash and designer items in a Mercedes Benz in Coolock in June 2021, and later recovered luxury goods from the couple's home. The defendant had a prior theft conviction in Spain and was between 20 and 22 at the time of the offences. The judge acknowledged mitigating circumstances but imposed the custodial sentence for her recklessness and participation in the laundering scheme. The unnamed 24-year-old pleaded guilty.
The murder trial of Daniel Blanaru (37) for the death of Larisa Serban (26) on 12 August 2022 has focused on the missing knife that caused the fatal stab wound to Serban's heart. Detective Sergeant Robert Madden testified that the knife has never been recovered and that Blanaru was the last known person to have it. Blanaru's interviews have shown inconsistent statements about the knife's location, and he has refused to disclose its whereabouts. The court heard video of a third interview in which Blanaru described the knife as a white kitchen knife with a silver blade about six inches long, very sharp and smooth. Gardaí have conducted extensive searches for the knife, but it remains missing, leaving the case to proceed without the weapon as evidence. The trial continues with Blanaru pleading not guilty.
A 46‑year‑old man was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with the final year suspended, for repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting his wife's grand‑nephew over a five‑year period from January 2018 to May 2023. The boy, aged between nine and 14 during the offences, was being minded in the man's home in the south‑east of the country. The jury found him guilty of 13 counts of anal rape and 18 counts of sexual assault. The victim's mother, speaking on behalf of her son, described the abuse as tearing the family apart and leaving the boy with a grief‑like feeling after the loss of his great‑aunt who had minded him. Judge Paul Burns noted the serious breach of trust, the long‑standing impact on the victim, and the man's lack of prior convictions. He ordered the man to remain under Probation Service supervision for three years after release.
Randi Gladstone, a 41‑year‑old from Guyana with 19 prior convictions in the UK, was convicted in the Central Criminal Court of one count of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment against an 18‑year‑old woman in a Dublin holiday complex on 25 August 2023. The victim had been staying at the accommodation for several days and was approached by Gladstone who asked her about her age and boyfriend, offered money and attempted to kiss her. She refused, but he forced her to remove her clothing, kissed her body, and digitally penetrated her. She fled, called her mother, and later reported the assault. Gladstone denied all misconduct and claimed the act was consensual. The court heard a victim impact statement describing severe emotional distress. The Director of Public Prosecutions placed the offence in the ten‑to‑fifteen‑year bracket.