During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Daniel Blanaru (37) denied murdering his partner, Larisa Serban (26). A witness, Adriana Kovaciu, testified that she overheard Blanaru on a phone call with his brother, claiming he had caught Serban in bed with another man and stabbed her. She and her family rushed to the Athboy house where Serban lived, finding her on the floor with a large blood pool and a chest cut. Serban was declared dead after no pulse was found. Kovaciu also recalled a prior argument where Serban had a bruised elbow and was frightened. Blanaru has pleaded not guilty to the murder, and the trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury. The prosecution maintains that Blanaru intended to kill or seriously injure Serban.
At the High Court, counsel for Nikita Hand alleged that Conor McGregor is in breach of a court order regarding the dissemination of CCTV footage from their civil trial. Mr Justice Alexander Owens adjourned the matter to March 6 to allow time to consider an affidavit sworn by Mr McGregor. The judge had previously ordered Mr McGregor to destroy or hand over all case materials and directed him to ensure his business associate, Gabriel Ernesto Rapisarda, also refrained from sharing the footage. Hand's counsel, John Gordon SC, described Mr McGregor's affidavit as "entirely inadequate" and raised concerns about his bona fides, while reserving the right to apply to cross-examine him. Remy Farrell SC, for Mr McGregor, did not object to the adjournment. This follows a November ruling where a jury awarded Ms Hand €248,000 in damages, finding Mr McGregor liable for rape. The jury found co-accused James Lawrence not liable for the assault. The court ordered interim payments of €100,000 in damages and €200,000 in costs to Ms Hand, with the remainder stayed. The judge noted the civil trial was over and the jury had conclusively determined the verdict.
The jury in the trial of Brian McHugh, a 40‑year‑old man from Ballymun, is watching a CCTV montage that the prosecution says shows his movements near the home of Lisa Thompson, a 52‑year‑old mother of two, on the night of her murder in May 2022. McHugh has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Thompson, who was found inside her home with multiple stab wounds and a blind cord around her neck. The prosecution alleges a mixed DNA profile on the cord that could not exclude McHugh as a contributor. Witnesses have testified that Ms Thompson was dealing prescription drugs from her home and that her death was caused by ligature strangulation and multiple stab wounds. The trial is proceeding before Justice Karen O'Connor with a jury of four men and eight women.
Alan Vial, aged 39, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, County Donegal, denied during cross-examination at the Central Criminal Court that he fabricated allegations against his co-accused to evade responsibility for the death of Robert Robin Wilkin, aged 66. Mr Vial, who has pleaded not guilty to murder, maintains he did not strike the deceased with a rock. He claims his co-accused, Nikita Burns, aged 23, of Carrick, County Donegal, struck Mr Wilkin twice on the back of the head with a rock during an altercation in a vehicle near Roshine on 25 June 2023. Ms Burns has also pleaded not guilty to murder. During cross-examination, Mr Vial acknowledged providing false accounts to gardaí during interviews but insisted his current testimony is truthful. He confirmed wading into Teelin Pier to wash blood from his clothing but denied this indicated culpability. The trial continues.
Paul Craven, 55, a former manager of Daughters of Charity family centres, was sentenced to a global term of four years in prison for sexually abusing his nephew, Alan Jenkins, between 1989 and 1999. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court convicted Craven of 11 counts, including sexual assault and indecent assault. The judge noted that Craven breached the trust of a vulnerable boy aged six or seven, using his position as a youth worker to groom and isolate the victim. Aggravating factors included the abuse occurring in the victim's home and the significant age disparity. Although Craven received glowing references and had no previous convictions, the judge highlighted that he did not accept guilt or express remorse. Mr Jenkins, who waived his anonymity, described the abuse as taking away his childhood and criticized a previous Tusla investigation that found his allegations unfounded. He stated that Craven continued working with vulnerable children until 2022. Defence counsel Kathleen Leader SC argued that the offences were not at the top of the scale and highlighted Craven's long history in youth work. Craven was remanded on bail following a previous hearing to sign contracts for a house purchase, which defence counsel confirmed had been completed. The matter was adjourned for the purpose of this bail arrangement prior to the final sentencing.
In February 2025 a Tunisian man, Sami Skhiri, aged 35, was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of assault causing harm and possession of a broken glass shard after he attacked a woman outside her home during a psychotic episode. He held a shard of glass to her throat, slashed her face with a 9‑cm shallow cut that did not require stitches, and continued a stabbing motion before being stopped by bystanders. Skhiri resisted arrest but was handcuffed and searched, where a scissors, a large stone and a broken shard of glass were seized. He was remanded in custody and later sentenced to three years, with the final year suspended on the condition that he leave Ireland upon release and live with his brother in Germany. The court noted his mental illness and medication lapse as mitigating factors, but stressed he must continue his treatment to protect himself and society.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 29‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after attacking his former partner and her 15‑year‑old brother. The assault took place at the woman's home in November 2020, when the man, who had a barring order, forced entry, choked the pregnant woman, punched her, and threatened to kick her unborn child out. The victim's brother was also struck. The woman escaped through a window and reported the incident. The court noted that neither she nor her brother gave a victim impact statement and that the child has since been safely delivered. The man has ten prior convictions. He is now the sole carer of the children, who would enter State care if he were imprisoned. The judge, after considering the children's welfare, imposed a two‑year prison sentence suspended in full on strict conditions, citing the seriousness of the assault but the need to protect the children.
In a murder trial in County Meath, the State presented a case that Daniel Blanaru, 37, stabbed his partner Larisa Serban, 26, to death on 12 August 2022. Prosecutor Eilis Brennan described the relationship as turbulent, jealous and controlling, citing a violent incident on 31 July 2022 at a house in Balbriggan where Serban called emergency services. Brennan said Serban was found early that morning with heavy bleeding from a chest laceration and that a stab wound caused fatal injury to her heart, lung and aorta. She noted that Blanaru's Gardaí interview was confusing and that blood at the scene could link to him. The trial will continue before Justice Eileen Creedon and an enlarged jury. The prosecution maintains that Blanaru intended to kill or seriously injure Serban. Daniel Blanaru pleaded not guilty.
Christine Ward, 37, and her former partner Derek Bewley, 49, were convicted of violent robbery and burglary in Artane on 2 November 2018. Ward was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison, with 18 months suspended, after a judge described the offences as "most serious". Bewley received the same custodial term. Ward appealed, arguing that her previous convictions were not violent and that a psychological report on her mental health and drug use should have been considered. Counsel also claimed Ward was a better rehabilitation candidate than Bewley. The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal, stating that the original judge had treated the offenders similarly and that no error in principle had been proven. Ward's appeal was dismissed, leaving her eight‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence intact. Derek Bewley pleaded guilty.
Alan Vial, 39, and Nikita Burns, 23, are on trial accused of murdering 66-year-old Robert 'Robin' Wilkin and disposing of his body over the cliffs at Sliabh Liag in Donegal. In his direct evidence, Mr Vial admitted to lying to gardai in 2023 regarding the circumstances of Mr Wilkin's death. He accepted that he and Ms Burns fabricated a story claiming the deceased had sexually assaulted Ms Burns, a narrative he initiated to protect her. Mr Vial denied striking Mr Wilkin with a rock, instead alleging that Ms Burns struck the deceased on the back of the head twice during a fight in a car on Roshine Road. He stated he drove to Sliabh Liag with the deceased in the vehicle and placed him over the cliff. Mr Vial also admitted to washing blood from his clothes at Teelin Pier and discarding a blue shirt at sea to destroy evidence, confirming that the shirt found by searchers was his. He rejected suggestions that he had carefully constructed lies to disguise a premeditated killing. The trial is ongoing; the jury was informed that a legal issue has arisen which will delay proceedings, and they are scheduled to return tomorrow.
A 77‑year‑old De La Salle Brother, originally from Northern Ireland, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in November 2024 of five counts of sexual assault against a boy who was about 12 at the time, occurring between April and July 1991 and April and December 1992. The brother, who had been a teacher and a local GAA club member, abused the boy by touching him inappropriately while visiting the family home, sometimes bringing him to football matches and gifting him football gear. The boy tried to resist and later denied the abuse to his father. The court heard the brother's long‑term relationship with the family, his role as a trusted figure, and the boy's emotional and educational impact. Judge Dara Hayes imposed a sentence of two years and three months, with nine months suspended, and directed the brother to probation for 12 months after release. The brother accepted the verdict and will not appeal.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Sean Howard, 38, pleaded guilty to a robbery on Dame Street on 13 April 2024. Howard, who has 151 prior convictions for theft, burglary, criminal damage, drug and traffic offences, was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe to a headline term of six years, reduced to four and a half years with the final six months suspended. The sentence was back‑dated to 13 April 2024 to credit time spent in custody. Howard's attack on a foreign doctor was described by the judge as a "vicious, unprovoked" assault, during which he stamped the doctor's head 151 times and kicked him. The doctor suffered a swollen eye, back pain and knee pain, and was unable to use public transport for two weeks. Howard admitted the offence and expressed remorse, while the prosecution noted the victim's impact statement of fear walking around the city centre for months.
Gareth McGrath, 35, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for a series of violent offences against his then‑girlfriend. The court heard that the couple met while attending residential addiction treatment and that their relationship quickly turned violent. McGrath pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 29 July and 8 August 2023, to threatening to kill her on 8 August 2023, and to intimidating a person assisting Gardaí in the investigation of an offence in August 2023. He had 15 previous convictions. The victim's impact statement described repeated unprovoked assaults, a forced attempt to withdraw her Garda complaint while she was in hospital, and lasting psychological effects. Judge Pauline Codd noted McGrath's history of violence and intimidation, commended the victim's resilience, and imposed a concurrent sentence of five and a half years with the final year suspended, subject to conditions including no contact with the victim and engagement with services.
A 39-year-old man accused of murder has testified at the Central Criminal Court that his co-accused struck the alleged victim with a rock, causing the pensioner's death. Alan Vial, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, County Donegal, told the court he was physically struggling with Robert Robin Wilkin when Nikita Burns hit Mr Wilkin on the back of the head with a rock. Mr Vial admitted he subsequently drove to Sliabh Liag to dispose of the body, which he and Ms Burns then placed over a cliff. He stated he had lied in garda interviews to protect Ms Burns, with whom he was in a relationship. The 66-year-old's body was recovered from the waters below Sliabh Liag eight days after his death on 25 June 2023. A post-mortem examination identified skull fractures inconsistent with injuries from a fall. Both Mr Vial and Ms Burns, of Carrick, County Donegal, have pleaded not guilty to murder. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
Damien Donnan, serving a life sentence for the manslaughter of his mother Jennifer in 2000, is seeking to quash a decision that refused him parole. Donnan, who was 18 at the time of the offence, was convicted after a trial in February 2002. He had originally been charged with murder but was found guilty of manslaughter. The offence involved a dispute over a cigarette, during which Donnan broke his mother's neck and strangled her. In 2006 he received a suspended life sentence, but the suspension was removed in 2007 after he failed to comply with medication and drug‑abuse conditions. The High Court is hearing his application to overturn the parole board's refusal, which was made in September 2024. Donnan's lawyers argue that the board conflated Sections 13 and 30 of the Parole Act, creating an error in law. The court has adjourned the application for leave to seek judicial review to the following month.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, William Ryan, a 41‑year‑old Garda, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment. The offences occurred on 29 September 2020 at Aughrim Garda Station, where Ryan prevented a woman from leaving the station, sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions, and held her captive. The victim, whose identity is protected, described feeling "broken" and "degraded" during the trial and testified that Ryan's version of events was false and "badly‑written erotica." Ryan admitted guilt, resigned from the force, and had no prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan set a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to six years after mitigation, and backdated it to the time Ryan entered custody. The sentence reflects the breach of trust inherent in the offence. The court heard the victim's impact statement, detailing long‑term psychological harm and the effect on her family.
A 17‑year‑old pleaded guilty to attempting to murder Defence Forces chaplain Fr Paul Murphy, who was stabbed on 15 August 2024 at Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Renmore Barracks, Galway. The teenager was 16 when the attack occurred and is not identified because of his age. Mr Justice Paul McDermott ordered a probation report from Oberstown Detention Centre and adjourned the case to 7 March for a sentencing hearing. Fr Murphy, aged in his 50s, will be invited to give a victim impact statement. He received treatment for multiple stab wounds at University Hospital Galway.
Andrew Sankey, aged 57, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexually assaulting a child between September 1996 and October 2000, when the victim was about eight or nine. The abuse occurred while the child's parents were on holiday; Sankey took the child and her brother to a B&B, then forced the child to touch his penis and later digitally penetrated her under the pretext of bathing her. Sankey had previously been convicted of indecent assault in the UK in 1989 and of possession of child abuse material in Ireland, for which he served six months. The complainant, now in her 30s, testified that the abuse had a deep, lifelong impact, causing anxiety, distrust and anger. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Sankey to two and a half years' imprisonment, a reduction from the headline sentence of three and a half years. The sentence reflects the maximum five‑year term for the offence.
Kian Gill, 22, of Stillorgan, Co Dublin, appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on appeal regarding an assault charge. He pleaded guilty to assaulting a teenager, causing him harm at Sutton Cross, Dublin, on July 18, 2022. Prosecution evidence, presented by Edward O'Mahony BL, described an unprovoked attack following a dispute in a takeaway restaurant. CCTV footage showed Gill kicking the victim in the head while the teenager lay on the ground, causing him to lose consciousness briefly and sustain a head cut requiring hospital treatment. Gill was identified as a person of interest following an appeal on RTE's Crimecall and was subsequently arrested. He made no admissions during his interview. Judge Martin Nolan had previously revoked Gill's bail and remanded him in custody for two days pending sentence. Today, the Judge handed down a sentence of two years, which was suspended on a number of conditions. The court noted that Gill would return to custody if he breached any of these conditions. Gill, who has no previous convictions, is currently living in a hostel and working as an apprentice carpenter. His defense counsel, Vanessa Frawley BL, attributed his actions to extreme immaturity and a turbulent living situation, while acknowledging he did not strike the first blow.
A geologist has given evidence at the Central Criminal Court that a bloodied rock allegedly used in the murder of a pensioner near Sliabh Liag in Donegal was most likely transported to the scene by human activity rather than occurring naturally there. Dr Sophie O'Connor of the Geological Survey Ireland told the trial she used Google Street View to trace a rock matching the alleged murder weapon to a wall on Roshin Road between Sliabh Liag and Killybegs. The 3.5-kilogramme quartzite rock bore strong similarities in shape, size and lichen staining to the rock recovered by gardaí, she said. DNA evidence previously heard matched the rock to the deceased, Robert Robin' Wilkin, aged 66. Alan Vial of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs and Nikita Burns of Carrick both deny his murder on 25 June 2023. The prosecution case has now concluded, with closing speeches to begin on Monday. Alan Vial pleaded not guilty. Nikita Burns pleaded not guilty.
The jury that had been sworn to hear the murder trial of Brian McHugh, a 40‑year‑old accused of killing Lisa Thompson, was discharged by Justice Karen O'Connor after an issue arose. The jury, composed of eight men and four women, had been sworn in earlier this week and the case had opened the following day. Justice O'Connor thanked the jurors for their service and announced that a new panel would be sworn in at the Central Criminal Court on Monday. The trial remains ongoing. Brian McHugh pleaded not guilty.
Calvin Dunne, 24, was convicted of the manslaughter of Dylan McCarthy and violent disorder following a trial at the Central Criminal Court. The jury returned a 10-2 majority verdict for manslaughter and a unanimous guilty verdict for violent disorder, acquitting Dunne of murder. Dunne had pleaded not guilty to all charges, alleging self-defence during a melee outside a pub in Monasterevin on August 21-22, 2022. Co-accused Sean Kavanagh, 26, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on Eamon McCarthy, with a charge of violent disorder taken into consideration. Following a defence application, Ms Justice Biggs directed the jury to find Kavanagh not guilty of murder, a charge he had denied. After the verdicts, Ms Justice Biggs remanded Dunne in custody, rejecting his request to remain on bail. Kavanagh was permitted to continue on bail. The matter was adjourned to May 12 to allow time for the preparation of probation reports for both defendants, a Governor's report for Dunne, and Victim Impact Statements from the McCarthy family.
Eamon McCarthy, father of the deceased, testified that he and his son Dylan went to Monasterevin to celebrate a grandchild's birth. After leaving a pub, a melee outside the Bellyard pub escalated. The prosecution alleged that Sean Kavanagh punched Dylan and Calvin Dunne kicked Dylan's exposed head, causing Dylan's death. Both accused denied kicking Dylan and claimed they were defending themselves, asserting that Dylan and his father were the aggressors. The court heard Eamon's account of the fight, his injuries, and the subsequent ambulance transport. Witnesses described a chaotic scene with multiple punches and a kick. The prosecution's case focused on the alleged kick by Dunne as the fatal blow, while the defence argued uncertainty over which blow caused the fatal injury and the legitimacy of self‑defence. The trial concluded with the jury given options of murder, manslaughter or acquittal, but the article reports no verdict.
The murder trial of Brian McHugh, 40, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Justice Karen O'Connor and a jury. McHugh, of Ballymun, Dublin 11, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Lisa Thompson, 52, at Sandyhill Gardens on May 9, 2022. Prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC outlined that Ms Thompson's body was found with multiple chest stab wounds and a window blind cord around her neck. A mixed DNA profile on the cord could not exclude McHugh as a minor contributor. Witness Sandra McMahon testified that Ms Thompson dealt prescription drugs, including Zimovane, from her home and had given a neighbour €20,000 to hold in case of a Garda raid. Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan stated the cause of death was a combination of ligature strangulation and eleven stab wounds to the left chest, including six penetrating the heart. She noted it was impossible to determine which injury occurred first or if both were inflicted by the same person. Detective Garda Janette O'Neill reported the property was ransacked with no signs of forced entry. The trial continues tomorrow.
Martin Hayes, aged 34, was convicted of manslaughter for the 2017 death of Amadea McDermott, aged 27, after a domestic‑violence relationship. He was found not guilty of murder by a majority verdict in the Central Criminal Court. Hayes admitted using violence against McDermott and was sentenced to 12 years and six months' imprisonment. He appealed, arguing that evidence from a subsequent partner, Niamh Higgins, was highly prejudicial. Higgins had testified that Hayes had helped her stab herself and that she feared he might be released on bail. Hayes' counsel claimed this evidence should have led to a jury discharge, while the prosecution contended it was irrelevant and outweighed by other evidence. The Court of Appeal will decide the appeal at a later date.
At the Central Criminal Court, a witness told how he harboured growing concerns about his sister's wellbeing in the period preceding an alleged murder in Donegal. The brother of Nikita Burns said he was worried that she had ceased taking prescribed medication for her bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety, and that she appeared to be consuming alcohol during daylight hours. Burns and Alan Vial, both of Co Donegal, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Robert Wilkin, a 66-year-old whose body was recovered from the sea beneath Sliabh Liag in June 2023. State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster informed the jury that whilst the fall down the cliff complicated her assessment, she identified two depressed fractures to the back of the deceased's skull inconsistent with cliff-fall injuries and consistent with blunt force trauma. A rock recovered from the cliff top bearing blood and hair matching the deceased was presented as evidence. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
The jury in the trial of 24‑year‑old Calvin Dunne, charged with the murder of 29‑year‑old Dylan McCarthy outside the Bellyard pub in Monasterevin, has been informed that a majority verdict is now permissible. The case, heard at the Central Criminal Court, involves an incident on 22 August 2022 in which McCarthy was struck on the head by Dunne, who claims he was acting in self‑defence. Witnesses described a "loud thud" when McCarthy was hit, and the State alleges that Dunne delivered a punch and a "vicious kick" to the head. Dunne denies the murder charge and has pleaded not guilty to violent disorder on 21 August 2022. Justice Caroline Burns explained that the jury can now return a ten‑to‑two majority verdict if unanimity cannot be achieved, and the deliberations will continue for a further 30 minutes before the next day's session. The jury remains at its fourth day of deliberation.
The body of Lisa Thompson, aged 52, was discovered inside her home in Sandyhill Gardens, Ballymun, with multiple stab wounds to the chest and a window blind cord wrapped around her neck. A mixed DNA profile was found on the cord, indicating that Thompson could not be excluded as a major contributor and the accused, Brian McHugh, could not be excluded as a minor contributor. Gardai recovered jewellery linked to Thompson from McHugh's home and found her medication and house keys during a search of the wasteland. CCTV footage shows a Hyundai Tucson, owned by a named woman, arriving at the scene, with McHugh exiting the vehicle and later returning to refuel it. The prosecution will present evidence of a neighbour's testimony, CCTV, DNA, and forensic findings, while McHugh has pleaded not guilty to Thompson's murder. The trial is set to continue before Justice Karen O'Connor and a jury.
The jury in the Central Criminal Court trial of Calvin Dunne, 24, has continued its deliberations for a third day. Dunne, of Monasterevin, Co Kildare, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Dylan McCarthy, 29, on or about August 22, 2022, and to violent disorder on August 21, 2022, at Dublin Road, Monasterevin. The State alleges Dunne punched and kicked McCarthy in the head while he was on the ground. Dunne maintains he acted in self-defence, claiming he lightly kicked McCarthy in the chest. Eyewitness David O'Neill testified that he heard a loud thud and saw McCarthy's eyes roll back after being struck in the head, though he admitted being highly intoxicated and acknowledged it was possible Dunne hit the chest. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs directed the jury that they could find Dunne guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. In a separate matter, co-accused Sean Kavanagh, 26, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on Eamon McCarthy, the deceased's father, at the same location and date. A charge of violent disorder was taken into consideration. Kavanagh had previously denied a charge of murder, to which Ms Justice Biggs directed the jury to find him not guilty. The jury, comprising ten men and two women, was requested to review the transcript of O'Neill's evidence and will continue deliberating tomorrow.
Osama Sarhan, 27, of Belvedere Place, Dublin, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and assault on two women on 11 February 2024, and to two further burglaries on 14 February 2024. He broke into a woman's apartment while she and her roommate slept, entered the bedroom armed with a knife, and struck one woman, who was taken to hospital with severe hand injuries. The knife was later found discarded under a car. Sarhan was arrested three days later after smashing a window with a tree branch at another burglary scene. He also broke into the Cassidy Hotel, smashing a window and stealing a till worth €300. In court, the judge accepted his guilty plea and mitigating circumstances, including drug use and a difficult period, and imposed a five‑year prison sentence with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions for rehabilitation.
Raymond McGuire, 40, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, criminal damage and harassment after breaking into his former partner's home in July 2018. He entered the house, attacked the woman in her bedroom, threatened her, and later returned to smash a front‑door pane and punch her. He also sent 54 abusive WhatsApp messages. The court heard that McGuire had been drinking and was in a heightened emotional state. A victim impact report was submitted but not read. Judge Martin Nolan found the incidents a severe lapse in judgment, imposed a two‑year custodial sentence, but suspended it in full and ordered McGuire to pay €4,000 to the victim. The judge stated that the payment would serve as punishment, concluding McGuire did not deserve imprisonment. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Three men—Anthony Hickey (39), Fabio Vicente (42) and Matin Zolfaghari (34)—were found guilty of rape, oral rape and sexual assault against a woman who was recorded repeatedly saying "no" during the attack. The offences took place on 31 August 2019 at an unknown location in a car and in a Dublin house. The jury, after 13 hours of deliberation, returned guilty verdicts on six of the seven charges. Hickey was convicted of rape, oral rape and sexual assault; Vicente of two counts of rape; and Zolfaghari of oral rape. The men pleaded not guilty to the remaining counts. The judge remanded all three men in custody, adjourned the case for sentencing to 10 March and directed the preparation of a victim impact statement. The complainant was present at the verdicts and the court heard her testimony of being drugged, of memory gaps and of being raped twice in a car and once in a house.
A judge has warned that the governor of the Midlands Prison will be summoned to the Central Criminal Court to explain why a psychiatrist hired by defence lawyers was denied access to a prisoner awaiting a murder trial on two separate occasions. The prisoner, who is in custody, is seeking a psychiatric assessment to determine whether he qualifies for a defence under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act, which allows a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity or manslaughter due to diminished responsibility. Mr Justice Paul McDermott has repeatedly highlighted that the lack of psychiatric services in Ireland forces lawyers to seek experts abroad, causing significant trial delays and increasing trauma for victims' families. The defence team, represented by Morgan Shelley BL, secured a UK psychiatrist who was scheduled to meet the prisoner twice, only to have the meetings cancelled by the prison without explanation.
Kyle Lawrence, aged 19, was jailed for three and a half years after taking part in the Dublin riots on the day he turned 18. He pleaded guilty to two counts of violent disorder and one count of trespass and theft at Arnotts. CCTV footage showed him throwing items at Garda units, damaging an abandoned Garda car and a Dublin Bus, and looting several shops, including Asics, Footlocker, Arnotts, Penneys, Lifestyle Sports and JD Sports. He admitted to following the crowds and having no reason for the violence, describing it as an adrenaline rush. The judge accepted that he was not an instigator and reduced the headline sentence of seven and a half years to four and a half years, suspending one year on conditions including probation supervision. The sentence reflects his youth, immaturity and cooperation.
The jury in the trial of three men accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman they met at a Dublin nightclub is set to continue deliberations for a fourth day. The defendants, aged 39, 42 and 34, have pleaded not guilty to a total of seven counts, including rape, oral rape and sexual assault at an unknown location, in a car and in a Dublin house on 31 August 2019. After about three and a half hours of discussion, Justice Paul Burns instructed the jury to pause and resume the next day. He also read evidence from a Garda to whom the victim first reported the incident and clarified the legal definitions of rape and consent. The case remains at the deliberation stage, with no verdict yet reached.
Three men have been sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a violent home invasion in Monkstown, Co Dublin on August 21st, 2023. Michael Royal, Thomas Dwyer and Patrick Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and false imprisonment. The court heard that four men, one of whom remains unidentified, forced their way into the family home in the early morning, restraining a man in his 70s with cable ties and removing his wife, daughter and six-year-old grandchild from their beds. During the attack, the homeowner was struck on the head with a metal bar, requiring 13 staples, and his daughter was dragged by her hair when attempting to escape. The intruders demanded information related to a bank where the victim had worked two decades earlier. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a headline sentence of ten and a half years, sentencing Royal and Fitzgerald to seven and a half years each and Dwyer to five and a half years, taking account of his comparative youth and lesser criminal history.
A 50-year-old woman, November Phelan, was remanded in custody until March 3, when she will be sentenced, following a sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court. Phelan pleaded guilty to manslaughter when she was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court, admitting to the charge of manslaughter when she fatally stabbed her partner, David Ennis (36), in a Dublin apartment. The court heard that Phelan used excessive force in self-defence, claiming she was in 'total fear' and did not intend to kill him. The incident occurred in the early hours of November 8, 2022, at Claddagh Court in Ballyfermot. The court was informed that Phelan and Ennis had been in a relationship for two to three years, during which drugs were a significant factor. The deceased had a history of drug use and had suffered a fall from a balcony a few days before the incident. CCTV footage showed Ennis arriving at Claddagh Court at 11.30pm on November 7, and Phelan arriving around 1.20am on the morning of November 8. The court heard that Phelan had a history of 26 previous convictions, mostly for public order offences and non-appearance before court. The matter was adjourned and will be finalised on March 3, when the sentence will be determined.
Brian McHugh, aged 40, is set to stand trial for the murder of Lisa Thompson, aged 52, who was found dead in Sandyhill Gardens, Ballymun, Dublin 11, on 9 May 2022. He was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty. Mr Justice Paul Burns has convened a jury of eight men and four women, and the trial is scheduled to commence tomorrow and is expected to last three weeks.
Three men who were convicted of a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed farmhouse in Roscommon appeared before the Court of Appeal on 4 February to challenge the severity of their sentences. Martin O'Toole, aged 60, from Claremorris, County Mayo, discharged his legal representation and walked out of court after being refused permission to read a statement into the record, effectively withdrawing his appeal. Paul Beirne, aged 58, from Boyle, County Roscommon, subsequently indicated he would not continue with his appeal. PJ Sweeney, aged 59, from Ramelton, County Donegal, proceeded with his appeal, with counsel arguing the 15-year sentence was excessive and disproportionate, citing mitigating factors and good character. The Director of Public Prosecutions contended the sentence was appropriate given the serious and violent nature of the December 2018 attack at Strokestown. The court reserved judgement.
Alan Vial, aged 39, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, County Donegal, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Robert Robin Wilkin, a 66-year-old pensioner, on 25 June 2023 in Donegal. Mr Wilkin's body was recovered eight days later in the sea below Sliabh Liag cliffs. During interview at Ballyshannon Garda Station, Mr Vial acknowledged a physical altercation at the cliff-top location but maintained that Mr Wilkin was alive and breathing when he last saw him. He denied striking the deceased with a rock or throwing him from the cliff, though he acknowledged placing Mr Wilkin over a fence approximately four metres from the cliff edge. Nikita Burns, aged 23, of Carrick, County Donegal, has also pleaded not guilty to the charge. The trial is proceeding before the Central Criminal Court.
Sharif Kelly, 54, of Balbriggan, Co Dublin, has failed in his bid to pursue a conviction appeal before the Supreme Court regarding the 2013 murder of dissident Republican Peter Butterly. Kelly, who pleaded not guilty, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court in April 2017. The court heard that Dean Evans, who pleaded guilty to the murder, fired the three fatal shots into Butterly at the Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co Meath, while Kelly was the getaway driver. Kelly's earlier Court of Appeal challenge in April 2022 was dismissed, with judges unimpressed by his objections to the evidence of protected witness David Cullen. Cullen, who turned State's witness, had previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol at the scene and was sentenced in July 2014 to seven years in prison, with three and a half years suspended. Kelly's lawyers also sought to introduce fresh evidence concerning Garda Joseph Doyle, who was later jailed for corruption and deception offences. The Supreme Court refused leave to appeal, determining that issues regarding the admissibility of accomplice-type evidence are primarily for the trial court to analyse and that the Court of Appeal correctly applied established principles governing fresh evidence.
Edmund O'Sullivan, 32, was sentenced to 15 years in prison with an eight‑year post‑release supervision order after the Central Criminal Court heard that he had stabbed and raped a woman in her bedroom just ten days after his release from a three‑year sentence for a knife attack. The court noted O'Sullivan's 108 previous convictions, including four for assaults on women, and that his prior partly suspended sentences had failed to change his behaviour. The judge emphasised the need for close monitoring and protection of society, particularly women, and highlighted the victim's traumatic impact statement. O'Sullivan pleaded guilty to rape, anal rape and threats to kill, and the court set a headline sentence of 23 years before imposing 16 years, suspending the final year on strict conditions. The case was placed in the 15‑years‑to‑life category.
Alan Harte, who is serving a 30-year sentence for the false imprisonment and assault of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney in County Cavan in September 2019, has been ordered to pay the State's costs following the dismissal of his appeal at the Court of Appeal. Harte had challenged the High Court's refusal to judicially review the Director of Public Prosecutions' decision to prosecute him in the non-jury Special Criminal Court. The three-judge panel found that the legal issues raised were moot and declined to depart from the standard procedure against hearing moot cases. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy delivered the costs order, noting that the appellant had been unsuccessful and there was no reason to depart from normal procedure. Harte's legal team had acknowledged that even without the time restriction issue, the case would have failed on its merits. Alan Harte was convicted. Kevin Lunney was convicted.
The jury in the murder trial of 24‑year‑old Calvin Dunne, accused of killing Dylan McCarthy during a melee outside a pub in Kildare on 22 August 2022, will begin deliberations next week. The State alleges Mr McCarthy died after receiving punches and a "vicious kick" to the head from Mr Dunne while he was trying to rise. Mr Dunne claims he acted in self‑defence, stating he was drawn into the fight when Dylan and his party were "out of control and extremely violent." He says he only struck Dylan after Dylan attempted to hit Sean Kavanagh, and that he "lightly kicked" Dylan in what he believed to be the chest area. The jury has heard that a state pathologist could not determine whether a punch or kick caused the fatal injury. Sean Kavanagh pleaded guilty. Calvin Dunne pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the trial of three men accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman they met at a Dublin nightclub has been instructed to pause deliberations for the bank holiday weekend. The men, aged 39, 42 and 34, have pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault, involving a car and a Dublin house on 31 August 2019. After about four hours of discussion, Mr Justice Paul Burns directed the jury to resume on the following Tuesday.
A 66-year-old man from Arva, County Cavan, has been ordered by the High Court to be extradited to Northern Ireland to face murder charges. James Donegan is wanted in connection with the death of Joseph James Porter, a part-time Ulster Defence Regiment member, at Mountnorris, County Armagh, between June 22 and 25, 1979. Mr Porter's body was discovered near his farm entrance on June 24, 1979, with a post-mortem examination revealing fatal gunshot wounds. Mr Donegan is also charged with firearms offences and membership of a proscribed organisation. He was arrested at Dublin Airport in June 2024. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath rejected arguments from Mr Donegan's legal team regarding abuse of process and the fairness of trial proceedings following the significant passage of time. The judge found no evidence suggesting he would not receive fair treatment in the prosecuting jurisdiction. The court adjourned proceedings to February 7 pending surrender.
Patrick Flynn, 60, of Islandbridge, Dublin 8, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to having child pornography at his home in June 2020. The court heard that gardaí, acting on information from the US National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children regarding suspicious online activity, searched Flynn's residence. Officers discovered multiple images and videos of child abuse material, including a screen recording of a child rape upload. Flynn, who has a mild to moderate learning disability, admitted the material was on his phone but claimed he had deleted it, a statement Detective Sergeant Elaine Murtagh described as "patently untrue." Prosecutors noted Flynn's previous 2018 conviction for sexual assault. Defense counsel highlighted Flynn's intellectual difficulties and his willingness to work with Probation Services. Judge Martin Nolan considered whether a custodial sentence was just, noting Flynn's "serious deficiencies" and reclusive lifestyle. The judge stated it would be "unfair and unjust" to imprison Flynn given his personal circumstances. He imposed a two-year prison sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions. These conditions require Flynn to place himself under the supervision of the Probation Services for one year.
The jury in the trial of three men accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman at a Dublin nightclub remains in deliberation. The defendants, aged 39, 42 and 34, have pleaded not guilty to seven counts, including rape, oral rape and sexual assault at an unknown location, a car and a Dublin house on 31 August 2019. Jurors spent about four and a half hours today considering their verdicts. Judge Paul Burns instructed them to pause for the day and resume tomorrow to continue their deliberations.
Jason Paget, aged 38, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on charges of possessing stolen property taken from a Dublin 8 apartment on 6 December 2021. The items included a motorised skateboard and headphones belonging to a young woman whose home was broken into. Paget pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of stolen property. Judge Patricia Ryan noted aggravating circumstances, including that Paget was on bail for 25 matters and serving a suspended sentence at the time of the offence. The judge imposed the sentence with a backdated commencement of 23 March 2023. Paget, currently imprisoned at the Midlands, has an extensive criminal history including convictions for aggravated sexual assault and aggravated burglary dating to 2003, when he was 16 years old.
The trial of Calvin Dunne, 24, accused of the murder of Dylan McCarthy, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Dunne, of Monasterevin, Co Kildare, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr McCarthy on or about August 22, 2022, and to violent disorder on August 21, 2022, at Dublin Road, Monasterevin. His co-accused, Sean Kavanagh, 26, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on Eamon McCarthy, the deceased's father, on the same date and location; a charge of violent disorder was taken into consideration. The judge directed the jury to find Kavanagh not guilty of the murder charge he had denied. Defence counsel argued that Dunne acted in self-defence and that the jury must acquit if there is any doubt regarding whether Dunne kicked the deceased in the face or chest. The State alleges the kick to the head caused death, while the defence cites pathologist evidence that the cause of fatal injury is indistinguishable. The judge outlined three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with the judge's legal charge to the jury continuing.