Dean O'Brien, 39, of Blakestown Cottages, Clonsilla, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 9.5 kg of cannabis worth €194,940 found in a vehicle parked in Whitestown Park, Blanchardstown on 5 August 2023. Garda Conor Finnegan noticed a smashed back window and suspected the car had been stolen; the registered owner was O'Brien's partner. The car was searched, revealing 1,000 tablets worth €2,000 in the front seat and cannabis in the boot. O'Brien admitted he had taken full responsibility for the drugs, explaining he had stored them to pay a €10,000 debt to violent criminals owing to his cocaine habit. He claimed his partner was unaware of the drugs. O'Brien has since undergone drug rehabilitation. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment, citing his cooperation, guilty plea, and steps taken to address his addiction. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and the circumstances presented.
A jury of ten men and two women has been sworn in to hear the trial of Sean Kavanagh, 26, and Calvin Dunne, 24, both from Monasterevin, Co. Kildare, accused of murdering Dylan McCarthy, 29, on or about 22 August 2022. The trial, to be held before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs at the Central Criminal Court, is expected to last just over two weeks and will involve 97 witnesses. Kavanagh will be represented by Michael Lynn SC and Carol Doherty BL, while Dunne will be represented by John Fitzgerald SC and Aoife O'Leary. The Director of Public Prosecution's Senior Counsel, Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing, will appear with Jane Horgan Jones BL. The jury was instructed that any research or external information would be "totally improper" and that verdicts must be based solely on evidence presented in court. The trial is scheduled to begin tomorrow and is expected to conclude by 4 February. Sean Kavanagh pleaded not guilty. Calvin Dunne pleaded not guilty.
A key prosecution witness, Kallum Coleman, 23, who was due to testify in the trial of barrister Diarmuid Phelan, 56, was arrested on a warrant issued during Phelan's trial. Coleman had left Ireland for Spain after the trial began and later agreed to return, but the jury heard he had a "change of heart" and fled when gardai stopped for refreshments en route to a Spanish airport. Coleman was involved in a trespassing incident on Phelan's Hazelgrove Farm on 24 February 2022, during which Phelan shot Coleman's dog and then fired three shots from a handgun, killing Keith Conlon. Phelan was acquitted of murder after a 10‑week trial that ended on 3 January. Coleman failed to appear on 30 October, leading to a warrant and his arrest last week. The Director of Public Prosecutions has informed the court that Coleman faces contempt proceedings before Ms Justice Lankford, who is currently conducting a trial in Cork.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, lawyers for Eric O'Driscoll, aged 22, requested maximum leniency in sentencing for a firearms offence. O'Driscoll was filmed on a phone video taking a .223 calibre Remington AR‑15 semi‑automatic rifle from another man and firing it from the rear of a Dublin home in Finglas. The rifle, seized in February 2022, was in good condition and had been successfully fired by a garda ballistics examiner. O'Driscoll pleaded guilty in January 2022 to possession of the rifle at that address, with circumstances suggesting unlawful possession. He also faces charges of reckless discharge of a firearm and possession of a .380 ACP calibre Ingram M11 sub‑machine gun. The court will consider a probation and governor's report before deciding the sentence. The maximum penalty for the offence is 14 years, but the counsel argued for a lower, rehabilitative sentence.
Jonathan Cummins, 38, of Henrietta Place, Dublin 1, was sentenced to 16 years' imprisonment by a jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after a November 2023 series of unprovoked knife attacks. On 2 November, Cummins slashed the face of a homeless woman from mouth to ear, then later that day attacked a male victim in Wolfe Tone Square, slashing his face from mouth to ear, and assaulted another woman. He was found guilty of intentionally causing serious harm to a man, assault causing harm to a woman, producing a knife in the course of an assault, and possessing a scissors. Cummins had 18 prior convictions, including assault offences. The court noted the attacks were entirely unprovoked and the injuries were appalling. Cummins has been in custody since the offences.
Law professor Diarmuid Phelan, aged 56, was acquitted of murder after a ten‑week trial at the Central Criminal Court. The jury, after six hours and 51 minutes of deliberation over two days, found that Phelan acted in self‑defence when he fired three warning shots at trespassers on his farm. The prosecution had argued that the third shot, fired with the gun pointed toward Keith Conlon, intended to kill or seriously injure him. Phelan maintained that he had no intention to kill and that the fatal shot was accidental, caused by stress‑related misalignment and Conlon's movement uphill. The jury rejected the State's case, concluding that Phelan's belief in an imminent attack and the force used were reasonable under the circumstances. Phelan left the courtroom free, while Conlon's family expressed hurt and disappointment at the verdict. The judge thanked the jurors and exempted them from further service for life. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court trial of Diarmuid Phelan, the jury heard extensive background evidence regarding repeated trespassing and criminal damage at his Hazelgrove farm in West Dublin. The defence argued that understanding the defendant's history was essential to contextualizing the events of February 24, 2022. Testimony detailed numerous incidents, including arson, vehicle theft, and assaults, which Phelan reported to gardai. Specific attention was given to a 2017 District Court case involving three young men, including Kallum Coleman and Robin Duggan, who were accused of trespassing. Although the source text notes that three individuals were previously convicted of trespassing and criminal damage in that earlier matter, the current trial focused on the subsequent murder charge against Phelan. The defence highlighted that Phelan had been threatened by these individuals in court, leading to his fear of returning. The trial also examined the context of badger baiting, an illegal activity, which Phelan allegedly encountered when he shot a dog he believed was threatening his livestock. The jury was presented with Phelan's account of the confrontation that followed, where he claimed the men emerged from the bushes and screamed at him. The proceedings emphasized the long-standing conflict between Phelan and local trespassers, with the defence urging jurors to consider the cumulative impact of these alleged crimes on the defendant's state of mind.
Diarmuid Phelan, a law professor and farmer, was accused of murdering Keith Conlon by shooting him in the back of the head on his farm. During a March 2022 High Court bail hearing, the State opposed release, citing flight risk. Phelan, appearing via video-link from Cloverhill Prison, denied any intention to evade justice. The court heard he held significant assets, including farms in Wexford and Tallaght, and was a US citizen. Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy refused bail, finding him a serious flight risk with a powerful incentive to evade justice. Phelan subsequently appealed to the Court of Appeal. Mr Justice George Birmingham noted Phelan had left the High Court judge "totally in the dark" regarding his finances. The Court of Appeal granted bail, requiring a personal bond of €50,000 and an independent surety of €50,000. Phelan's murder trial later opened before Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford. He did not take the stand to give evidence in his defence. The prosecution suggested he was a skilled shooter, while his defence included a US firearms expert. The report details his professional background, financial arrangements, and the procedural history of his bail application and subsequent trial proceedings.
A jury has paused its deliberations for the New Year and will resume on Friday to decide the verdict in the trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, who denies murdering a trespasser on his Tallaght farm. The jury, consisting of nine men and three women, has spent four hours and two minutes considering the case. Judge Siobhan Lankford reminded the jurors to remain silent about the case until their return and to be unanimous in their verdict. She explained the three possible verdicts—guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty—and outlined the paths the jury may take based on intent, self‑defence, and the reasonableness of force. Phelan, 56, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Keith 'Bono' Conlon, 36, who was shot on February 24, 2022, after trespassing on Phelan's property.
A jury is set to begin deliberations on the murder trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, who denies killing a trespasser on his Tallaght farm. Judge Siobhan Lankford has delivered her charge to the 12 jurors, who will start deliberating at 10 am tomorrow. The trial, which began on 12 December, has been delayed by juror unavailability and extended beyond its original six‑week schedule. Phelan, 56, is charged with murdering Keith 'Bono' Conlon, 36, who was shot in the back of the head on 24 February 2022. The prosecution alleges Phelan fired a loaded revolver at Conlon, while the defence claims the shot was accidental. The jury will consider whether Phelan's conduct was objectively dangerous and whether self‑defence applies, with possible verdicts of guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The jury will return to the Central Criminal Court at 10 am on Tuesday to begin deliberations.
Cailean Crawford, 28, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of murdering Thomas McCarthy, 55, at his mother's home in Ballyfermot on 27 July 2020. Crawford pleaded not guilty but was found guilty of the murder and of perjury during the trial. He had a prior conviction for conspiring to murder gangland figure Wayne Whelan, for which he served five years. The jury deliberated eight hours and twenty minutes before returning a unanimous verdict that Crawford fired several shots from a blue Ford Fiesta, killing McCarthy. Judge Tony Hunt sentenced Crawford to mandatory life imprisonment, backdating the sentence to 1 June after his previous term ended. The sentencing followed the prosecution's case that Crawford was the assassin who carried out the execution and that he had lied in court to avoid responsibility. The judge noted Crawford's prior criminal history and the seriousness of the murder.
Thomas 'Nicky' McConnell, aged 38, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of murdering Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch's nephew Gareth Hutch in a Dublin ambush eight years earlier. The court, led by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, concluded that McConnell was the second gunman alongside Jonathan Keogh, who fired the fatal shots. McConnell's firearm was later discovered with the safety engaged and did not discharge, yet the court determined his preparatory actions and intent linked him to the murder. Evidence included mobile phone data, CCTV footage, and McConnell's own false statements to Gardaí. McConnell had previously pleaded not guilty. He now faces a mandatory life sentence, to be imposed on January 27, 2025. The verdict follows earlier convictions of Regina Keogh, Jonathan Keogh, and Thomas Fox for the same murder. The trial, delayed for 16 months, relied heavily on digital and forensic evidence to establish McConnell's role.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 19‑year‑old Scott Cahill was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the last two years suspended on strict conditions, including probation supervision. Cahill, who had been on bail when he attacked British tourists in Temple Bar on 11 August 2023, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault causing harm. CCTV footage showed him punching three men and stamping on one's head. Two victims were taken to hospital, one with a broken nose and lacerations, the other with a cut to the back of the head. Victim impact statements described lasting physical injuries and psychological effects such as PTSD and hyper‑vigilance. Cahill has four prior convictions, was deemed high‑risk of re‑offending, and has not behaved well in custody since September 2023. The judge noted his guilty pleas, remorse, youth and reports from psychologists and probation staff as mitigating factors.
Anthony Nugent, 38, was sentenced to five years and six months' imprisonment for raping three children between 1999 and 2002 when he was a teenager. The Central Criminal Court heard that the victims, aged eight to ten at the time, suffered lasting harm. Nugent was convicted of sexual assault, oral rape and anal rape of the first boy, and of anal and oral rape of a second boy, and of anal rape of a third boy. The judge applied headline sentences of 14 years for the first two offences and eight years for the third, then reduced them to seven and four years respectively, citing Nugent's youth as a mitigating factor. The final sentence was back‑dated to 24 October, with the last six months suspended under strict conditions and a two‑year probation order.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Liam Whelan, aged 43 and homeless, was convicted of assault causing serious harm and robbery after he attacked a cardiologist with a champagne bottle at the victim's home. The attack left the doctor with a skull fracture, a large blood clot, permanent hearing loss in one ear, and a six‑month work‑disability due to seizure risk. Whelan, who has 63 prior convictions, pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a unanimous jury. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to ten years and six months, with the final twelve months suspended for three years on strict conditions. The court noted the severity of the injuries, the unprovoked nature of the assault, and the use of a bottle as a weapon in determining the sentence. The case highlighted the victim's significant physical and financial losses following the incident.
In a Court of Appeal hearing, Mr Justice John Edwards increased the sentence of Soufiane Mountassir, a 40‑year‑old on‑the‑run arsonist, from three to five and a half years for false imprisonment and assault causing harm. Mountassir had forced his former partner into the boot of her car, driving her to dark locations where he beat her for an hour and 40 minutes, causing her to fear for her life. He had been drinking, taking Dalmane, cocaine and cannabis during the attack. The Court noted the dominance, coercion and abuse of power in the intimate relationship, and that the original sentence was too lenient. The new headline sentence was set at eight years, with a two‑and‑a‑half‑year reduction for mitigating factors, resulting in the final five‑and‑a‑half‑year term. The decision was based on the aggravating nature of the violence and the victim's prolonged trauma. Soufiane Mountassir pleaded guilty.
The Court of Appeal has rejected an appeal against conviction by a Donegal man sentenced to ten years imprisonment for the repeated rape of a teenager. Liam Carr, aged 62, with an address in Ballina, Falcarragh, County Donegal, was convicted following trial at the Central Criminal Court in Sligo in 2021 of 31 counts including sexual assault, anal rape and oral rape of the boy between September 1995 and September 2000. The trial was the fifth proceeding on the same charges, after juries in three earlier trials were discharged for legal reasons and a fourth jury could not reach agreement. Carr argued the multiple trials breached his right to a fair trial and raised concerns about witness evidence and jury directions. Justice Isobel Kennedy rejected these grounds, finding no abuse of process and noting the trial judge had properly directed the jury on the standard of proof and presumption of innocence. The conviction appeal has been dismissed.
A secondary school teacher from Donegal Town has had her conviction upheld by the Court of Appeal following a challenge to her trial proceedings. Jacinta McSherry O'Connor, aged 64, was found guilty in October 2023 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of two counts of indecent assault against a male student in 1985. The assaults occurred in the student's home while she was providing grinds; she was 24 at the time and the boy was 13. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy dismissed McSherry O'Connor's appeal, which contended that the jury should not have heard evidence of disclosures she made about her own alleged sexual assault. The court determined that such evidence was relevant to establishing grooming behaviour. McSherry O'Connor was sentenced to three years on each count concurrently, with the final six months suspended. McSherry O'Connor pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Philip Griffin, aged 37, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended, after pleading guilty to manslaughter on the basis of gross negligence for his role in a house fire that killed Anthony O'Brien, 30, and his five‑year‑old daughter Nadine. Griffin, who had 41 prior convictions, did not start the fire but saw it lit and left without raising the alarm or attempting to extinguish it, despite knowing people were inside. He admitted his involvement ten years after the incident, when he was already in prison for another offence. The judge noted that the fire had been treated as accidental until Griffin's statement, and that the sentence reflected mitigating factors including his remorse. The O'Brien family, led by mother Kelly O'Brien, expressed shock and grief, describing the sentence as a "joke" and demanding justice for the loss of her husband and child.
A 35‑year‑old convicted sex offender was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for raping a 17‑year‑old girl who was staying with her family after becoming homeless. The offender, who is the mother's partner's nephew, had previously been convicted of child defilement in 2018. He pleaded guilty to one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The court noted that the victim was intoxicated and homeless, and that the offender had repeatedly assaulted her in a car and at home, culminating in rape. The judge imposed a headline sentence of 12 years for rape, but, after mitigation, sentenced him to eight years with the final 12 months suspended for two years, and directed strict conditions and a five‑year post‑release supervision order. The offender was ordered to have no contact with the victim. The victim's impact statement described lasting physical and psychological harm. The offender expressed remorse and accepted his punishment.
John Tate, 62, of Iveagh Trust, Kevin Street, Dublin 8, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after being charged in Dublin District Court with two counts of arson, two counts of violent disorder and two incidents of obstructing traffic at Parnell Street and O'Connell Street on 23 November 2023. Judge Elva Duffy adjourned the case to 25 February for arraignment, remanding Tate on continuing bail. He will decide whether to plead guilty or request a trial date.
A man with previous convictions for rape and kidnapping has pleaded guilty to harassing three female journalists at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Mark McAnaw, aged 52 and previously resident in Letterkenny, County Donegal, admitted to three counts of harassment against Sunday World staff members on various dates in August 2023. Judge Martin Nolan ordered the preparation of victim impact statements. McAnaw was remanded in custody pending sentence, scheduled for March 7 next. McAnaw has an extensive criminal history including a nine-year sentence imposed in 2012 for sexually assaulting a student in Donegal in 2010, and a 1989 conviction for kidnapping. He received an eight-year and four-month sentence in June 2023 for a separate assault, with the final 16 months suspended for 16 years subject to probation supervision.
Three men convicted of the kidnap and torture of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney have had their appeal adjourned for three months by the Court of Appeal. Alan Harte (43), Alan O'Brien (43) and Darren Redmond (30), all from East Wall, Dublin, sought to overturn their December 2022 convictions for false imprisonment and intentionally causing harm. Their barristers argued that key DNA evidence from a van destroyed by fire while in garda custody should have been inadmissible, and raised concerns about the admissibility of phone records and CCTV footage obtained in breach of law. The three-day hearing before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and colleagues did not conclude as scheduled. The men were originally convicted following the abduction of Mr Lunney from his home in County Fermanagh on September 17, 2019, and his subsequent assault at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, County Cavan. Harte received a 30-year sentence, O'Brien 25 years, and Redmond 18 years with the final three suspended. The appeal will resume on March 11, 2025.
The Court of Appeal has increased the prison terms for Adam Murphy and Keith McCormick-Smith, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter and multiple vehicle thefts. The court ruled that their original sentences were unduly lenient. Murphy, who admitted to manslaughter and seven other offences committed in a spree in Dublin on January 23, 2022, had his combined sentence raised from nine and a half years to 12 years. The Court of Appeal found that the sentencing judge erred in principle by fully suspending the two-and-a-half-year consecutive sentence for the theft offences. The court imposed four years for the unauthorised taking counts, consecutive to the manslaughter term, resulting in a total of 12 years after reductions and a six-month suspension. McCormick-Smith, who also pleaded guilty to the same theft charges plus possession of stolen property, saw his sentence more than double from two years and two months to five years. The court determined that the original headline sentence was a substantial departure from the norm. It imposed two consecutive four-year sentences for the thefts, reduced to six years, with the final 12 months suspended. Both men were convicted of leaving a victim, Ian McDonnell, to die after he was thrown from a stolen car during the crime spree.
The trial of Riad Bouchaker, 50, accused of seriously assaulting a care worker and attempting to murder three children outside a primary school in Dublin, has been postponed. Lawyers have requested a neuropsychologist's report, which is expected by the end of February. The court has adjourned the case to February 26 for an update. Bouchaker faces charges of attempted murder of two girls and a boy, assault causing serious harm to a care worker, and possession or production of a knife. The incident occurred on 23 November 2023 outside the school.
The State has withdrawn the attempted murder charge against Philip Cox, a 40‑year‑old man, after a second Central Criminal Court jury failed to reach a verdict. The charge was dropped following a nolle prosequi entered by the Director of Public Prosecutions, as the judge noted the high standard required to prove an attempted murder, which demands proof of both an attempt to kill and an intention to kill. Cox had pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of his former partner, Cristal O'Brien, but had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and the production of a knife. The judge directed that the case proceed to a sentence hearing on the three remaining charges, with Cox remanded in custody until the hearing on 20 January. The victim, Ms O'Brien, expressed satisfaction with the decision, and the judge highlighted the difficulty juries face in proving the specific intent required for attempted murder.
A member of the Irish Defence Forces has been convicted of raping a fellow soldier at a Dublin hotel in July 2021. Kielan Mooney, aged 30 and from Londonderry, was found guilty at the Central Criminal Court this month on charges of anal rape, oral rape, and rape. He had pleaded not guilty to six charges in total; the jury could not reach verdicts on three remaining counts. The complainant, also a serving member of the Defence Forces, chose not to be publicly identified. According to evidence, the assault occurred in a hotel room in Dublin city centre. The woman stated she had instructed Mooney to stop, but he continued. She subsequently contacted friends, who arrived at the hotel and removed him from the room before gardaí were called. In a victim impact statement, the woman described the lasting trauma and its effects on her career and mental health. Mr Justice Tony Hunt remanded Mooney in custody pending sentencing on 20 January 2025.
A man from Galway, whose name is withheld for legal reasons, was convicted on 30 November 2022 of five counts of indecent assault against two sisters‑in‑law and one brother‑in‑law, all of whom were children at the time of the offences. The jury at the Galway Circuit Court found him guilty and Judge Brian O'Callaghan sentenced him to 23 months' imprisonment on 15 June 2023. The defendant appealed to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the verdict was "perverse" because of alleged inconsistencies in the evidence and that the trial judge had erred by refusing to sever the indictment. Ms Justice Tara Burns dismissed the appeal, stating the appellant failed to meet the high threshold for a perverse verdict and that the trial judge had not erred in refusing to separate the cases. The conviction was upheld and the appeal against conviction was dismissed. The unnamed appellant pleaded not guilty.
Thomas Collins, 59, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the sexual abuse of his three cousins, Gretta Conlon, Catherine Conlon, and Gerard Conlon. Collins pleaded guilty to 21 sample counts of indecent assault, attempted rape, and rape committed between 1978 and 1992. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring handed down a sentence of 12 and a half years, suspending the final year on conditions. The sentence was backdated to Collins' guilty pleas in October this year. He is currently serving a separate nine-and-a-half year sentence for abusing another person decades later. The court noted that Collins made "wholesale admissions" to gardaí in 1997 and 2002, yet was not charged until 2023. Ms Justice Ring stated the case should have been dealt with decades ago and highlighted that a garda's conduct in discouraging the victims from proceeding in 1997 had "all the hallmarks of misconduct in public office." The judge praised the victims' determination after waiting 27 years for justice. Collins' barrister argued he was a juvenile for much of the offending and that his early cooperation spared the complainants further re-traumatisation. The victims, who attended the sentencing, described the long struggle for justice and the lasting impact of the abuse.
In a Central Criminal Court case, Mr Justice Tony Hunt explained the difficulty of deliberating on an attempted murder charge after a second jury of 12 failed to reach a verdict. The case involved 40‑year‑old Philip Cox, who had stabbed his former partner, Cristal O'Brien, twice with three knives. Cox pleaded not guilty to attempted murder but guilty to assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and knife production. The jury deliberated for seven hours over three days, then for five hours after the judge offered a majority verdict option. When no ten‑member majority emerged, the judge declared the jury deadlocked and discharged them, noting the high standard of proof required for attempted murder. He advised the jury not to reproach themselves and highlighted that the case was highly contentious, with the outcome dependent on the Director of Public Prosecutions. The judge thanked the panel and wished them a happy Christmas, exempting them from service for ten years.
Paul Bissett, 38, was sentenced to three years in prison for burglary and criminal damage after stealing seven designer watches from Cullen Jewellers in Dublin 2 on 18 November 2023. The shop owner was alerted by an alarm at 6.45 am, found the window broken and the case of 10 Tag Heuer watches opened, with seven taken and three left on the ground. The stolen watches were valued over €13,000 and the damage to the shop was between €15,000 and €20,000. Later that day Bissett and another man tried to sell the watches to Dawson Jewellers, but the owner, already aware of the theft, called the gardaí and Bissett was arrested. Five of the watches were recovered, worth over €10,000. Bissett had 75 prior convictions, including assault, and had recently received a four‑year sentence for a robbery committed a month after the jewellery heist. Paul Bissett pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Philip Griffin, 37, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Anthony O'Brien, 30, and his five‑year‑old daughter Nadine after a house fire in Tralee on 12 May 2012. Griffin, who had no fixed abode and was originally from Tralee, had previously been convicted of 41 offences. He voluntarily approached Gardaí in May 2022, admitting that he and another man had entered the O'Brien home, set fire to a couch with a lighter, and fled. The fire caused the deaths of Anthony and Nadine; Kelly O'Brien survived but fractured her heel. Griffin, who appeared by video link from prison, said he could not live with the guilt and wants to be locked up. The court heard that the case had been closed after a 2013 inquest that found no evidence of a criminal act.
The Special Criminal Court concluded its six‑week trial of six men charged in the killing of gunman Tristan Sherry on Christmas Eve 2023. Sherry and a second gunman entered Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on 24 December, where Jason Hennessy Snr and about 30 others were celebrating. Sherry shot and fatally wounded Hennessy Snr before being dragged to the ground and beaten to death. The three men charged with Sherry's murder are Noah Musueni (18), David Amah (18) and Michael Andrecut (23). Jonas Kabangu (18) and Diarmuid O'Brien (18) are charged with violent disorder, as is Brandon Hennessy (21). All pleaded not guilty. The prosecution argued that Sherry was subjected to a sustained, controlled and continuous attack, beaten to death, spat on, photographed and left to die in a pool of blood, constituting murder. The court adjourned the matter until 20 January 2025.
A jury of eight men and four women has deliberated for a third day in the trial of Philip Cox, a 40‑year‑old man accused of attempting to murder his former partner, Cristal O'Brien, at the York Street Flats in Dublin 2 on 1 December 2022. Cox has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder charge. He is also charged with producing a knife, aggravated burglary and assault causing harm, for which he has previously pleaded guilty. O'Brien testified that Cox threatened to stab her "to pieces", kicked her twice, broke a knife, and tried to stab her again after she fled to a neighbour's flat. She said he also stabbed her twice in the leg. Neighbour Alice McGrath gave evidence that Cox threatened to kill her.
David Dunne, 40, was convicted of murdering fellow inmate Robert O'Connor, 34, at Mountjoy Prison on 29 July 2022. CCTV footage showed Dunne luring O'Connor into his cell, where he was knocked to the ground and stamped on the head repeatedly. Prison officers heard a yell and a cry of "No, no" before silence, and later saw Dunne stamp on O'Connor's head more than once. O'Connor was taken to Mater Hospital, placed on life support, and pronounced dead three days later after brain‑stem testing revealed no activity. Dunne, who had 123 convictions since 1998 and was serving a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for robbery, was found guilty by a jury in less than three hours. Robert O'Connor pleaded not guilty.
Lisa O'Meara, who waived her anonymity, told the Central Criminal Court that she had been kept hostage in her own home by Barry Murphy, who repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted her between February 2018 and February 2020. Murphy, 39, was convicted of three rapes, one sexual assault, three assault causing harm, one false imprisonment and coercive control over an 18‑month period. He was also found guilty of a separate assault abroad. The court heard that the front door of the couple's house was riveted shut and that O'Meara had no means of communication until she escaped the night after the final rape. Murphy's bail was revoked when O'Meara lived with him. The judge imposed a headline sentence of 17 years for the rapes, four years for coercive control, and other sentences for the remaining offences, all running concurrently. The final global sentence was 15½ years, with the last year suspended on strict conditions.
A man has been convicted of manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court following a ten-week trial in connection with the death of a drug dealer in Dublin. Dean Caffrey, aged 38, of Beaucort, Achill Road, Drumcondra, was acquitted of murder but found guilty of the unlawful killing of Sean McCarthy, 28, on August 2, 2022. The jury reached their majority verdict after more than twelve hours of deliberation. The court heard that Caffrey, a cocaine and cannabis user with accumulated drug debts, allowed McCarthy to use his apartment to store drugs as part payment. On the day in question, Caffrey told gardai that McCarthy arrived agitated and armed, accusing him of theft and making threats. During a struggle, Caffrey claimed the gun discharged fatally. Following McCarthy's death, Caffrey placed the body in a wardrobe, where it remained for four days whilst he continued his daily routine. He attended work and visited his ex-girlfriend before presenting himself at Ashbourne Garda Station and directing gardai to the remains. Dean Caffrey pleaded not guilty.
Patrick Murphy, 52, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Joseph Brosnan, 53, who was stabbed to death in Abbey Court, Tralee, on 22 May 2022. Murphy had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, yet the jury found him guilty of murder after a two‑hour deliberation. The judge described the attack as a "cowardly" and "vicious" knife assault carried out in a "drunken rage" against a "defenceless and unarmed" man. Murphy had been drinking and had brought a large kitchen knife to the apartment where he and Brosnan had shared drinks with a Polish friend, Kamil Lisowski. The victim's family delivered emotional impact statements, describing Brosnan as a beloved son, father and grandad, and expressing profound grief and anger at the loss. The court noted Murphy's 15 prior convictions, mainly for traffic, public order and drug offences. The judge thanked the family for their statements and emphasised the seriousness of the crime.
Martin O'Brien, 54, of Gurrane, Tuam, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for four counts of sexual assault against a teenage babysitter, Áine McHugh, aged 16‑17, between 2012 and 2014. O'Brien had previously pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a 10‑year‑old child when he was 13‑14, a conviction still on appeal. In the current case, McHugh described O'Brien as a "sub‑human, monster" who groomed and repeatedly assaulted her while she cared for his children, giving her alcohol and assaulting her at home and in pubs. The judge noted aggravating factors such as the abuse occurring in O'Brien's home and his position of trust, and imposed a headline sentence of nine and a half years, but ultimately imposed a six‑year term with the final six months suspended on strict conditions, including probation engagement for twelve months.
The family of 26‑year‑old Cian Gallagher, murdered on 2 November 2022 in Tallow, Co. Waterford, delivered an emotional victim impact statement at the Central Criminal Court during the sentencing of Maurice Boland. They urged Irish society to consider who should be role models for young men, citing the three young men who helped Cian as examples of kindness and self‑lessness. The family described Cian as shy, kind, and principled, and expressed profound grief over his loss. They condemned the attacker's boast that he had punched Cian "like Conor McGregor in the UFC" and highlighted the senseless violence that ended a promising life. Boland, 37, was found guilty of murder and received the mandatory life sentence, to commence after the expiry of his earlier assault conviction. The statement underscored the lasting trauma endured by the Gallagher family. Maurice Boland pleaded not guilty.
A Central Criminal Court jury has begun deliberating in the attempted murder trial of Philip Cox, a 40‑year‑old man accused of attacking his ex‑partner, Cristal O'Brien, at York Street Flats in Dublin 2. Mr Justice Tony Hunt directed the jury that to find Cox guilty they must be satisfied that an attempt to kill was made and that Cox had the intention to kill. He explained that an intention to cause serious harm or to frighten would not suffice, and that intention can arise instantly and may disappear just as quickly. O'Brien testified that Cox threatened to "stab her to pieces", broke two knives, kicked her twice in the face, and tried to stab her twice in the leg before she fled to a neighbour's flat. Alice McGrath also testified that she heard Cox say "I'm going to stab you" and "I'm going to kill you dead".
A 43‑year‑old homeless man, Liam Whelan, was convicted in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of assault causing serious harm and robbery after he attacked a cardiologist with a champagne bottle in the victim's home on 25 August 2023. The attack left the doctor with a skull fracture, a large life‑threatening blood clot, permanent hearing loss in one ear, and a six‑month work‑inability due to seizure risk. Whelan pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a unanimous jury in November. He claimed self‑defence, alleging the victim had assaulted him, but the court rejected this defence. The case was adjourned for sentencing, with the prosecution seeking 10‑15 years, the maximum being life imprisonment. The court considered medical reports, CCTV footage, and Whelan's 63 prior convictions in its deliberations.
The Special Criminal Court trial of six men accused of murder and violent disorder arising from a shooting at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on December 24 last year is ongoing. David Amah, Noah Musueni, and Michael Andrecut, all of whom pleaded not guilty to the murder of Tristan Sherry, face charges following the fatal wounding of Jason Hennessy Snr by Sherry. Counsel for Amah argued he lost self-control in reaction to the horror of seeing his friend shot, rejecting prosecution claims his actions were calm. She urged the court to consider his age and lack of prior convictions. In closing submissions for Jonas Kabangu, who pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, counsel argued he returned to the scene fearing a live threat from a second gunman and could not have known Sherry was no longer a danger. The court heard pathologist evidence that Sherry died from blunt force trauma to the head. The trial was adjourned and will resume on Monday when lawyers for Brandon Hennessy and Diarmuid O'Brien, both of whom deny violent disorder, deliver their closing speeches. All accused remain on trial, with no verdicts or sentences recorded at this procedural stage.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has paused deliberations after approximately eleven hours of consideration in the trial of Dean Caffrey, who denies murdering Sean McCarthy. The twelve jurors will resume their discussions on Monday after being unavailable tomorrow. Mr Caffrey, aged 38 and from Achill Road in Dublin, faces charges of murder in connection with the death of Mr McCarthy, a 28-year-old drug dealer. Mr McCarthy died from a single gunshot wound to the head sustained at Mr Caffrey's residence. The defence maintains Mr Caffrey acted in self-defence during a struggle, while the prosecution contends he intentionally killed his victim. Mr McCarthy's body was discovered four days after he went missing on 2 August 2022, concealed in a wardrobe at the accused's home. Mr Justice Paul McDermott has instructed the jury they must determine guilt on the charge of murder, manslaughter, or acquittal. Mr Caffrey presented himself to gardaí days after the incident and disclosed the location of the deceased's remains. Dean Caffrey pleaded not guilty.
A 26-year-old Dublin man will become the fourth accused to face trial for the alleged murder of Tristan Sherry at a Dublin steakhouse on Christmas Eve. Wayne Deegan, of Linnetsfield Avenue, Phibblestown, Dublin 15, pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder. His trial was previously delayed while he awaited specialist reports. Michael O'Higgins SC, representing Mr Deegan, informed the Special Criminal Court that his client is ready to proceed. Justice Kerida Naidoo set a trial date for April 28 next year and ordered that a transcript of the current trial be made available to Mr Deegan's legal team. Currently, three other men are on trial for the alleged murder of Mr Sherry: Noah Musueni, David Amah, and Michael Andrecut. Additionally, three others are accused of violent disorder arising from the same incident: Jonas Kabangu, Diarmuid O'Brien, and Brandon Hennessy. All accused have pleaded not guilty. Closing speeches are being heard this week in relation to the six individuals currently before the court. The matter regarding Mr Deegan is not yet concluded, as his trial is scheduled for next year.
The Special Criminal Court trial concerning the Christmas Eve shooting at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown continues, with counsel for Noah Musueni arguing his client acted in shock and fear. Mr. Musueni, 18, is accused of murdering Tristan Sherry, who fatally shot Jason Hennessy Snr. Defence barrister Seamus Clarke SC contended that Musueni's actions, lasting 41 seconds, were an instinctive reaction to the 'unimaginable scene,' suggesting a total loss of self-control. He urged the court to find a verdict of manslaughter due to provocation, stating the prosecution failed to disprove this defence. The trial, ongoing for over a month, involves three men accused of Sherry's murder: Musueni, David Amah, and Michael Andrecut. All have pleaded not guilty. Additionally, three others, including Brandon Hennessy, are charged with violent disorder arising from the incident; they have also pleaded not guilty. Closing speeches for David Amah and the defendants charged with violent disorder are scheduled for Friday and Monday. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no final verdict or sentence delivered.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 12 December 2024, Ms Justice Tara Burns dismissed the appeal of a 59‑year‑old man convicted in July 2022 of rape, sexual assault, threats to kill, assault causing harm, intimidation of a witness, property damage and trespass. The appellant had threatened to cut his former partner's fingers with secateurs, broken into her home, and claimed he had paid €10,000 to kill her if he went to prison. He argued that the trial judge erred by not fully outlining the defence case and by misdirecting the jury on the victim's demeanour. Justice Burns found the judge's conduct appropriate, noting that the defence evidence was presented in memoranda of interview and that the judge had re‑charged the jury correctly. The appeal was therefore rejected, leaving the original ten‑year sentence intact. The case involved the victim's two adult sons and her subsequent temporary displacement from her home.
The jury for the trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, who denies murdering trespasser Keith 'Bono' Conlon, will take a long break and will not deliberate until after Christmas. The jury, made up of nine men and three women, had previously informed the judge that they were unavailable to attend the Central Criminal Court on several dates, including December 22 and 23. Judge Siobhan Lankford explained that the trial had already run nine weeks, longer than the initial six‑week estimate, and that the jurors could return to work during the break if they wished. She will resume the charge on December 30 and will summarise the prosecution and defence cases then, giving the jurors a document outlining the legal questions they must consider before reaching a verdict. The case remains at the trial stage, with the jury yet to decide on the murder charge against Mr Phelan. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court is continuing deliberations in the murder trial of Dean Caffrey, aged 38, of Beaucourt, Achill Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9. The twelve-person jury has now deliberated for just under seven hours across three days in the case concerning the death of Sean McCarthy, aged 28, between 2 and 7 August 2022. Mr Caffrey has pleaded not guilty to murder. The prosecution alleged Mr Caffrey deliberately killed Mr McCarthy, while the defence maintains he acted in self-defence during a struggle over a firearm at Mr Caffrey's apartment in Achill, Mayo. Mr McCarthy's body was subsequently discovered concealed in a wardrobe. The jury must determine whether Mr Caffrey is guilty of murder, manslaughter, or not guilty of any offence. Yesterday the jury requested to examine the firearm involved. Deliberations will resume on the following day.
A trial is ongoing in the Special Criminal Court regarding the death of Tristan Sherry, who was allegedly beaten to death, spat on, and photographed by his attackers following a vigilante revenge attack at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on Christmas Eve. Prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC described the attack as a 'sustained, controlled and continuous attack' on Sherry, who was disarmed and left in a 'foetal position' on the ground. She called for the conviction of three men for murder and three others for violent disorder. The accused include Noah Musueni, David Amah, and Michael Andrecut, who are charged with murder, and Jonas Kabangu, Diarmuid O'Brien, and Brandon Hennessy, who are charged with violent disorder. All accused have pleaded not guilty. Defence speeches are continuing, with the three judges to consider their verdicts after the closing speeches. The trial has heard that Sherry shot and fatally wounded Jason Hennessy Snr before being dragged to the ground and beaten to death. The accused charged with murder may argue that provocation by Sherry's actions led to a sudden and total loss of self-control, which could result in a manslaughter conviction rather than murder. The trial is expected to continue with closing speeches from the remaining accused over the coming days.