During the murder trial of Brandon Gavin, an eyewitness described a brief, seconds‑long episode in which Gavin, described as "calm and collected," entered the back seat of a black Audi, slowly drew a knife and stabbed Marius Mamaliga on the left side of his neck before fleeing. The witness, David Octavian, testified that he saw Mamaliga's hand on his throat, that he called an ambulance, and that Mamaliga was unconscious for about ten minutes. Octavian also confirmed that Gavin and Mamaliga had previously met over drug matters, with Gavin owing Mamaliga €2,000 for cocaine. The prosecution argued that Gavin intended to kill or seriously injure Mamaliga, while Gavin claimed self‑defence, stating that Mamaliga had attacked him. The trial is ongoing before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury. Brandon Gavin pleaded not guilty.
Evidence heard at the Central Criminal Court on Monday has revealed that modified blank-firing pistols are becoming increasingly prevalent, with one such weapon used in a 2022 fatal shooting in Dublin. Detective Garda Janette O'Neill testified that a converted Zoraki blank pistol was recovered during the investigation into the death of Sean McCarthy. The firearm had been deliberately altered with a new barrel and had its serial number removed, making it capable of firing .32 calibre ammunition. Det Gda O'Neill stated that such modifications are illegal under the Firearms Act and that these weapons appear to be arriving from Europe with growing frequency. Dean Caffrey, aged 38, of Achill Road, Drumcondra, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to Mr McCarthy's murder between August 2 and 7, 2022. The prosecution contends Mr Caffrey intended to kill or cause serious injury when discharging the firearm. The trial, heard before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, continues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 1 November 2024, Feliks Andrianov, 54, was found guilty of assault causing harm after an incident at a McDonald's restaurant near Dublin Airport on 5 July 2019. The case involved a security guard, Michael Norris, who had clamped Andrianov's taxi after the driver left the car to visit a nearby Circle K. Andrianov returned, confronted the guard, and grabbed him, resulting in a dislocated left shoulder for Norris. Andrianov claimed he had been struck first, but CCTV and body‑cam footage showed no contact from the guard. The prosecution presented a victim impact statement detailing Norris's injuries and subsequent employment loss. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting the seriousness of the offence and mitigating factors such as Andrianov's good character and family ties, sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment, suspended in full for 18 months. Andrianov represented himself at the sentencing hearing.
The jury in the trial of barrister Diarmuid Phelan, accused of murdering Keith Conlon on his farm, was sent home for a second day after Judge Siobhan Lankford announced a difficulty because the next prosecution witness was unavailable. Phelan, 56, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Conlon, 36, which occurred on 24 February 2022 at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght. The judge said the jury had heard a lot of evidence but not all, and that more would come. She warned the twelve jurors, nine men and three women, against discussing the case or using social media and instructed them to refrain from independent research. The trial, expected to last six weeks, will resume on Monday at 2 pm. The case continues before Judge Lankford and the jury.
At the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard that the family of Dean Caffrey became fearful when three men visited their parents' home in Achill, County Mayo, seeking information about the accused. Alan Caffrey, the defendant's brother, testified that he received a concerning phone call four days after drug dealer Sean McCarthy was last seen, with the caller asking if his brother had "answers to questions" and making reference to "dead bodies". Alarmed for his family's safety, Alan Caffrey resolved to locate his brother and bring him to gardaí. Dean Caffrey subsequently attended Ashbourne Garda Station in County Meath, where he informed officers that Mr McCarthy's body could be found in a wardrobe in his apartment. Mr Caffrey has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Sean McCarthy between 2 and 7 August 2022. The prosecution contends he discharged a firearm with intent to kill or cause serious injury. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
A 22‑year‑old man, Brandon Gavin, is on trial for the murder of 19‑year‑old Marius Mamaliga, who died from a neck stab on 26 February 2023. The jury heard that the incident lasted about 14 seconds, during which Gavin entered the rear passenger seat of Mamaliga's black Audi, reached forward and stabbed him once in the neck. Gavin allegedly dropped his mobile phone and two HSE appointment cards in the rear footwell, which were recovered by gardaí. He claimed he stabbed Mamaliga in self‑defence, fearing for his life because he owed €2,500 for drugs. Gardaí also recovered a knife with Gavin's DNA on the handle and the victim's blood on the blade. Gavin has pleaded not guilty. The trial is before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 22‑year‑old defendant pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual assault against a former girlfriend who was 16 at the time of the offences. The victim, who has not been named, criticised the Director of Public Prosecution's decision to accept the plea, stating she did not want to take the deal and felt her privacy had been exploited again. She described a pattern of intimidation, including the defendant waiting for her at school gates and sitting near her in classrooms, and detailed the emotional and psychological impact of the abuse, such as nightmares, panic attacks, self‑harm and suicidal ideation. Mr Justice Paul Burns noted the defendant's juvenile status and the controlling behaviour, and imposed a sentence of four years with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions for three years.
The trial of Prof Diarmuid Phelan, a barrister and law lecturer accused of murdering Keith Conlon, was adjourned until Friday morning. Phelan, 56, pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Conlon, 36, at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght, Dublin 24, on February 24, 2022. Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford sent the 12 jurors away for the day, stating there was no work for them due to reasons outside her control. She noted the trial is ahead of schedule and expected to conclude within the estimated six-week timeframe. In her opening address, Roisin Lacey SC outlined the State's case, alleging that three men, including Conlon, trespassed on Phelan's land while hunting. Phelan told gardai he shot a loose dog with a Winchester rifle, after which the men threatened him. He claimed he fired a Smith & Wesson revolver in the air in self-defense, but Conlon was struck in the back of the head. The State asserts Phelan intended to kill or cause serious injury. The defense is expected to argue the shooting was an accidental result of a legitimate act of self-defense. Conlon died at Tallaght University Hospital two days after the incident. The matter was adjourned and continues before Ms Justice Lankford on Friday.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the accused, law professor Diarmuid Phelan, 56, is charged with the killing of Keith Conlon, 36, at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght on 24 February 2022. Phelan, a barrister and farmer, pleaded not guilty. The jury heard that Conlon had previously been arrested for burglary in 2010, during which he became "extremely violent", kicked a Garda and tried to jump from a patrol car. Conlon had pleaded guilty to burglary and assault in Dun Laoghaire District Court and received a 12‑month probation order. The prosecution alleged that on the day of the shooting, three men, including Conlon, trespassed on Phelan's land while hunting, and that Phelan fired a Smith & Wesson revolver in self‑defence, unintentionally killing Conlon in the back of the head. The trial continues tomorrow before Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury of nine men and three women.
Jamie Geoghan, aged 28, was one of four men who entered a Dublin boys' secondary school on 13 October 2022 and violently confronted a teenage student. CCTV showed Geoghan throwing a steel pole at the student, narrowly missing him and a staff member, while the student had taken a hammer from his bag in self‑defence and fled. Geoghan pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, back‑dated to 22 July 2024. He is already serving a six‑year sentence for another offence. The other three men – Jack Craig (21), Josh Neary (22) and Scott Purdue (25) – had already been sentenced to 16‑month terms, with Craig's sentence suspended in full. No physical injuries were reported, but the incident caused widespread fear among students and staff, leading to the retirement of one staff member. The court noted Geoghan's long history of offending, with 79 convictions since 2013, and his previous promising football career.
A 41‑year‑old man, Mihail Ciorici, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with the final year suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to rape and oral rape of a college student in Fermoy, Co. Cork. The victim, who was intoxicated and attempting to hail a taxi, was taken from a car, raped, and left to survive in freezing conditions. She was found the next morning in an abandoned house, critically hypothermic and covered in cuts and bruises. Ciorici had previously been convicted of drunk driving, theft and a Moldovan conviction for assault and false imprisonment. The court noted the victim's lack of a victim impact statement and her desire not to engage further with the case. The sentencing considered his guilty plea and family support, and he was ordered to undergo five years of post‑release supervision. The case was prosecuted by Anne Rowland SC.
A 25‑year‑old man was sentenced to six years' imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for raping a 20‑year‑old woman in Galway in July 2021. The victim, whose identity is protected, gave a victim impact statement in which she blamed herself for being naïve and expressed that she could no longer live independently, having moved back in with her parents. She described how the assault occurred after she invited the man to her home, how he forced her to surrender her phone, and how he later feigned a heart attack. The man, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted by a unanimous jury. He has five prior convictions and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. The judge set a headline sentence of seven‑and‑a‑half years, reduced to six years after mitigating factors, and ordered post‑release supervision for two years under the Probation Service, with penalties for non‑compliance.
A 32‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to raping a woman on 23 August 2020 at his home in County Cork and to possessing child sexual abuse material. The victim, who had met him through social media in May 2020, was present with his young child when the assault occurred. He forced her to kiss, then raped her, covering her mouth and forcing her to masturbate. After the incident he apologized and sent messages to the victim, who later complained to Gardaí. Gardaí found three videos and two images of child abuse material on his phone, which he admitted were sent by a third party. He had no prior convictions. Mr Justice Paul Burns sentenced him to a headline term of seven years for rape, reduced to four and a half years with 12 months suspended, and a concurrent six‑month sentence for possession of child sexual abuse material.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard evidence concerning the day after a man's death in a Drumcondra apartment. A work colleague testified that Dean Caffrey, who is accused of murdering Sean McCarthy on August 2, 2022, appeared to be in good form while working at Dublin Airport three days after the alleged incident. The witness said Caffrey chatted about sport and women during their shift and was frequently on his phone, mentioning plans for a holiday. Separately, Caffrey's ex-girlfriend told the court she had planned to visit his home that day but changed her mind after he said he had been napping. The trial heard that Caffrey later attended Gardaí voluntarily and directed officers to McCarthy's body, which was found wrapped in plastic inside a suitcase in a wardrobe. Caffrey, aged 38, of Beaucort, Achill Road, Drumcondra, has pleaded not guilty to murder. The prosecution alleges he intended to kill or cause serious injury. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
A 23-year-old man from Longford has been sentenced to three years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction for the rape and sexual assault of his younger cousins. The defendant was found guilty of orally raping his cousin when she was aged eight or nine, and of sexually assaulting her younger sister when she was between seven and eight years old. The offences occurred between 2016 and 2021, when the defendant was between 14 and 18 years of age. The first victim, now 16, detailed the profound psychological impact of the abuse, including night terrors and anxiety. The second victim, now 12, said she initially remained silent about the assault before coming forward after her sister disclosed her own experience. In sentencing, Mr Justice Paul Burns acknowledged the defendant's age at the time of the offences and reduced the headline sentence accordingly. The final 12 months of the three-year sentence on the rape charge are suspended, subject to probation supervision for three years following release.
Ruth Lawrence, 42, of Clontarf, faces trial for the murders of Anthony Keegan, 33, and Eoin O'Connor, 32, whose bodies were discovered on Inchicup Island, Lough Sheelin, on 26 May 2014. The trial was scheduled for 7 October 2024 by Mr Justice David Keane, but the State reported that Lawrence's lawyers had not yet received full disclosure. At the Central Criminal Court, Michael O'Higgins SC for the Director of Public Prosecutions informed Ms Justice Karen O'Connor that disclosure remains incomplete, while James Dwyer SC for Lawrence noted several outstanding matters and could not predict when the trial would be ready. Justice O'Connor adjourned the case to a mention on 21 November. Lawrence was charged in May 2023 with two counts of murder following the discovery of the bodies, which were found after a fisherman detected a smell from the island. The men were described as "inseparable" friends at their June 2014 funeral.
Soufiane Mountassir, 39, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for false imprisonment and assault causing harm after he forced his former partner into the boot of her own car and beat her for one hour and 40 minutes. The victim, who was his partner at the time, was subjected to repeated blows, was forced to drive to dark locations, and suffered injuries including blood on the steering wheel and gearstick. Mountassir, who was drinking, taking Dalmane, cocaine and smoking cannabis, claimed to be Moroccan and gave vague answers to Gardaí. He was also wanted in Germany for arson, for which a separate sentence of three years and one month had been imposed. The State argued the sentence was too lenient, citing the severity of the assault, the abduction, and the aggravating factors, while Mountassir's counsel maintained the judge had imposed an appropriate sentence. The Court of Appeal will reserve judgment. Soufiane Mountassir pleaded guilty.
The jury in the trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, accused of murdering an unarmed trespasser at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght, has viewed dashcam and mobile phone footage from the day of the incident. Garda Dara Kelly presented seven segments totalling 12 minutes, six from an ATV dashcam and one from the deceased Keith Conlon's phone. The mobile footage shows Conlon speaking to Phelan before being shot, with male voices saying "You're f**ked now" and "this is not the end of it mate, I'm telling you, you shot the f**king dog for nothing." The dashcam footage captures Phelan's movements, including retrieving a rifle, conversing with farm workers, and driving off. Phelan, 56, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Conlon, 36, who died two days after the February 24, 2022 shooting. The trial continues before Justice Siobhan Lankford and a 12‑member jury.
A child-rapist GAA coach has been denied leave by the Supreme Court to appeal against a four-year increase in his sentence for what a judge described as 'unusual, shocking and extremely disturbing' crimes. The man, who cannot be identified to protect the victim's identity, was sentenced in December 2021 to 10.5 years imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath. The accused pleaded guilty to 15 counts with consent to the facts of all the offences being considered as part of the sentencing process. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, where the man had entered guilty pleas in April 2021 in relation to 15 sample counts including oral rape, attempted anal rape, sexual assault, false imprisonment, assault causing harm and criminal damage. The court heard evidence of further sexual assaults during a trip to London, but these counts were dropped as they had taken place outside the jurisdiction. The offences occurred between 2004 and 2010 at locations including the man's home, a midlands sports grounds and a hotel in Dublin. The accused had been extradited from the US to face the charges. At the Court of Appeal in March, Eilis Brennan SC, for the State, submitted that the original nine-year sentence was too low as the victim had endured a 'continuum' of sexual and physical abuse as well as 'emotional torture' over a six-year period. The Court of Appeal increased the sentence to 14 years and six months with the final 18 months suspended. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, noting that the Court of Appeal had conducted a 'thorough examination of the facts' and that there was 'nothing' to suggest that any law was mis-applied in what was a 'difficult case that was sensitively considered'. The matter was adjourned at the appeal stage.
A 40‑year‑old Wicklow man was sentenced to seven years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, for raping his wife after a child entered the room. The offence occurred while the couple were still living together for their children, despite a broken relationship. The victim was preparing for a bath when the man offered a back rub, refused, and then forced her to strip and raped her. A child witnessed part of the assault. The man denied the rape, claiming it was consensual, and later sent messages acknowledging the act but also demanding the charges be dropped. He maintains his innocence. The judge noted the man's acquired brain injury but found no diminished responsibility. The sentence considered the victim's severe harm, the child's witness, and the man's lack of prior convictions, imposing strict probation conditions upon release.
In the Special Criminal Court, Thomas 'Nicky' McConnell, aged 38, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gareth Hutch, 36, on 24 May 2016. Barrister Mark Lynam SC argued that McConnell does not match the description of the gunman given by witnesses. Key witness Mary McDonnell, who spent hours in the gunmen's apartment, could not identify McConnell from photographs and described the gunman as having a blonde hair‑lock from the forehead, whereas McConnell has closely cropped black or dark hair. Another witness also described the alleged gunman as blonde. CCTV footage cited by the prosecution, showing McConnell with the second gunman, Jonathan Keogh, was said by Lynam to depict a man of smaller build with different facial features. Lynam acknowledged that McConnell was involved in criminal activity before the shooting and was in possession of a BMW intended as a getaway vehicle, but he stressed that this does not prove McConnell was a shooter. Nicky' McConnell was acquitted.
James Kilroy, 51, from Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo, has been granted legal aid to appeal his murder conviction. He was unanimously convicted at the Central Criminal Court of murdering his wife in June 2019, following his third trial after two previous proceedings collapsed. The jury rejected Kilroy's insanity defence, which centred on cannabis-induced psychosis. During the trial, psychiatric experts disagreed on whether such a condition constitutes a valid legal defence under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. The trial judge noted the jury's verdict accorded with legislative policy, as self-induced scenarios are not recognised defences. Kilroy received a life sentence last summer. The Court of Appeal granted him legal aid for two counsel to pursue his conviction appeal, one of twelve applications heard that morning.
Donna Dineen, aged 28, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for hijacking a taxi on 26 July 2023. She used a seat belt to choke the driver, who was in his late 60s, and then dragged him out, punching or kicking him before driving off. The victim was left battered and bruised and has not returned to taxi driving. Dineen pleaded guilty to unlawful seizure of a vehicle and assault causing harm. The judge noted the brutality of the assault and the victim's inability to resume work, but also acknowledged Dineen's rehabilitation efforts. The final nine months of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation supervision. Her co‑accused, Gillian Byrne, will be sentenced separately next year after pleading guilty to the same offences. The court heard Byrne had called 999 voluntarily and expressed remorse. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Gerry Harte, 71, was sentenced to eight years in prison at the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty on a trial date to 15 counts of indecent assault. The court heard that Harte sexually abused his two younger sisters and younger brother during the 1970s and 1980s at their family home in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan. The victims, who waived anonymity, described growing up in a "house of horrors" and detailed the long-term psychological impact, including PTSD and anxiety. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath noted the offending was of a "gross kind" and marked the serious, persistent nature of the abuse by setting a global headline sentence of 11 years. However, the judge reduced the overall sentence to eight years to account for mitigation, specifically Harte's guilty plea and his lack of previous convictions. Defense counsel Michael O'Higgins SC highlighted Harte's remorse and rehabilitation, while the judge commended the victims for their dignity and courage in coming forward after decades. The matter was concluded with the imposition of this custodial sentence.
The Central Criminal Court sentenced a 54‑year‑old man to ten and a half years' imprisonment for a series of violent offences committed at his family home in County Tipperary. He raped his stepdaughter and forced her to watch while he raped his wife, using an axe during the assault. Earlier that year he was convicted of sexual assault, sexual exploitation of a child, oral rape, assault causing harm and threats to kill against his stepdaughter, and of rape, oral rape, assault causing harm, assault causing serious harm and a threat against his wife. The court noted that both victims were afraid to speak and that the man had threatened to kill the stepdaughter if she disclosed the abuse. He denied the allegations and claimed a conspiracy.
During a murder trial for the death of Keith Conlon, a video recorded by a trespasser moments before the shooting was shown to the jury. The clip captures male voices shouting threats and remarks such as "You're f**ked now" and "this is not the end of it mate, I'm telling you, you shot the f**king dog for nothing." The prosecution described a heated exchange between Diarmuid Phelan and the trespassers after Phelan shot a dog on his farm. Witness Julien Roudaut, a 24‑year‑old French farmhand, testified that Phelan fired warning shots into the air and that it was difficult to believe Conlon was actually shot. Roudaut also noted that Phelan's first shots were aimed at the air, and that the shooting occurred in a flash. The trial continues with the jury hearing further evidence of the incident. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
The High Court has heard arguments regarding the extradition of John Edward McNicholl and Seamus Christopher O'Kane to the UK, where they face charges related to the 1975 murder of Constable Robert John McPherson in Co Derry. Mr McNicholl is alleged to have murdered the constable and attempted to murder a second officer, while Mr O'Kane is charged with possession of firearms, including an RUC-issued weapon recovered during the ambush. Defense counsel argued that the extradition proceedings are oppressive and constitute an abuse of process, citing a nearly 50-year delay in seeking surrender. They contended that the pursuit of the men, initiated days before the UK's Legacy Act came into force, breached their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights and was driven by a change in the political climate. The State, represented by Remy Farrell SC, countered that arguments regarding abuse of process by Northern Irish prosecutors are matters for the courts in Northern Ireland, not the Dublin High Court. The court was told that previous extradition requests were refused on political grounds under the 1965 Act, but subsequent legislation removed such refusals. Mr Justice Pat McGrath deferred judgement and adjourned the matter to December 16.
A secondary school teacher from Donegal Town has appealed her conviction for indecently assaulting a 13-year-old male student in 1985. Jacinta McSherry O'Connor, now 64, was found guilty following a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial in October 2023 and sentenced to three years imprisonment on each of two counts, with the final six months suspended. At the Court of Appeal, her legal team contended that the trial judge erred in allowing the jury to hear portions of her garda interview in which she disclosed being a victim of sexual assault herself. The prosecution argued this evidence was relevant to establishing a pattern of grooming behaviour. The court heard that McSherry O'Connor had discussed sexual matters with the boy, who had developed a crush on her, during private tutoring sessions in his home. Judges expressed concern about a teacher sharing such details with a young pupil. Judgment has been reserved.
In a High Court decision on 24 October 2024, a ruling against the security company Sablecross Limited (trading as Frontline Securities) in a case brought by Frank Reidy of Limerick was set aside. Reidy, who claims to be heavily involved in the GAA, alleged that after the 2018 All‑Ireland Hurling final at Croke Park he entered the pitch to collect jerseys and was suddenly assaulted by security and stewards. He says his arm was twisted behind his back and he was forcefully ejected. Reidy's action names the GAA, represented by Tom Ryan, and Sablecross. The court noted that the GAA had filed a full defence and the case was awaiting a hearing. The judge found that a miscommunication about correspondence had caused a default judgment against Sablecross and, in the interests of justice, set that judgment aside, while the proceedings against the GAA continued as normal.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, a 27‑year‑old man, who was on probation, attacked his former partner in her home shortly after she ended their two‑year relationship. The victim, who was present at home alone after meeting friends, was assaulted inside the house, sustaining bruises on her face, neck, arm, abdomen and back, as well as marks on her leg caused by a knife handle. Her iPhone and a flowerpot were also damaged. The man, who has nine prior convictions, was convicted last July of assault causing harm and criminal damage. He was found not guilty of false imprisonment and production of an article capable of causing serious harm, and the jury could not reach verdicts on rape and threats to kill or cause serious harm. The Director of Public Prosecutions entered nolle prosequi on those two charges, dropping them.
In the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution presented DNA, CCTV and mobile phone evidence linking Thomas 'Nicky' McConnell to the 2016 murder of 36‑year‑old Gareth Hutch. Fiona Murphy SC argued that McConnell was involved in both planning and execution alongside Jonathan Keogh, who was already convicted. Evidence included CCTV of McConnell parking a BMW in front of Hutch's home, the car's use as a getaway vehicle, and a Skoda Octavia parked nearby. DNA from the BMW matched McConnell, and a Blackberry phone showed extensive contact with other suspects and instructions to flee to the UK. McConnell denied the charge, pleading not guilty. The court heard that McConnell's movements were misrepresented to Gardaí, and that he was "at least very similar" to the man identified by a witness. The case remains pending, with the defence scheduled to present its closing argument on Friday.
During the murder trial of law professor and farmer Michael Phelan, witness Alexandra Fernandes testified that she was "frozen to the spot" and afraid when she saw two intruders walking toward Phelan on the farm. She described seeing a rainbow and telling co‑workers to make a wish, and that one said, "I just want to stay alive for today," which astonished her. Fernandes said she had seen the intruders, described as determined, walking up the field and that Phelan fired a third shot at the same time the intruders were turning to leave. She reported hearing a noise like a firecracker and that the shots were fired quickly, with no time between them. Fernandes also stated she had not seen the first intruder reach for his pockets. The testimony was given in direct evidence on Tuesday and was cross‑examined by the defence. The trial continues before a jury.
Graham McGuinness, aged 32, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to causing serious harm for a violent attack on Martin Reilly on 11 June 2020. McGuinness, who has 53 prior convictions, repeatedly slashed Reilly's neck, arms, torso and face with a homemade blade wrapped in tissue, shouting "I'm going to kill you" during the assault. The attack began near Busáras and continued toward Store Street Garda Station, where Reilly attempted to seek help. The court noted the severity of the injuries, including a gash exposing Reilly's jawbone, and the public nature of the violence. Mitigating factors included McGuinness's guilty plea, remorse and difficult upbringing, while aggravating factors were the viciousness, duration and weapon used. The suspended portion requires McGuinness to pay a €100 bond, remain at a listed address, provide a phone number, address drug addiction and attend all probation appointments.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 23 October 2024, Mr Justice Paul McDermott highlighted that murder trials are being delayed because psychiatrists at the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) cannot provide private reports for the courts. He spoke to lawyers in 13 murder cases where the accused's psychiatric condition is a potential issue. Both defence and the Director of Public Prosecutions reported mixed success in securing consultant psychiatrists willing to produce court reports. The judge explained that psychiatrists are overworked, with duties extending beyond contracted hours, leaving no time for private work. He also noted that psychiatrists may be barred from reporting if they treat the accused as a CMH patient, and that some legal teams complain about inadequate payment from the legal aid system. Mr Justice McDermott said he would continue to monitor progress but has no control over securing psychiatrists, stating his hands are tied.
A 26-year-old man, who cannot be named, has appealed his conviction for raping a vulnerable 17-year-old girl at a house party on New Year's Eve 2018. The appellant, a repeat offender, was found guilty by a 10-2 majority verdict of one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. He does not accept the verdict, arguing that the trial judge pressured the jury by suggesting shorter lunch breaks and refusing to inform them of their right to disagree, leaving them in "hurry up mode." Defence counsel also contended the judge erred by failing to recharge the jury on legal principles regarding reasonable doubt after a question about a doctor's report. The State rejected these arguments, noting the judge had emphatically explained the standard of proof. The three-judge Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment on the matter. At sentencing, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor described the man's conduct as predatory, noting he took advantage of the victim's intoxication and vulnerability. She handed him a sentence of eight years and three months, with the final nine months suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months of Probation Service supervision. The man has six previous convictions, including a 2019 guilty plea for sexual assault, which resulted in a five-month prison sentence later reduced on appeal to 120 hours of community service in lieu of a two-month prison term.
In the murder trial of law professor and farmer Mr Phelan, French farmhand Alexandra Fernandes, aged 48, testified that on 22 February 2022 she was working on his farm when two unarmed trespassers approached. She claimed she heard Mr Phelan fire three shots from his revolver while the men were turning away. Fernandes described seeing the first man turn back as the third shot was fired, and that blood appeared on his head. She said Mr Phelan had then approached the injured man, offered first‑aid, and left in a buggy. The prosecution alleges the third shot killed Keith Conlon, 36, who died two days later. The case is being heard by Justice Siobhan Lankford with a jury of nine men and three women. The trial continues tomorrow. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Thomas 'Nicky' McConnell, who denies murdering Gareth Hutch, resumed after a more than one‑year adjournment. McConnell, aged 38, is accused of shooting Hutch, 36, outside his home in 2016. The trial had been paused in June 2023 when a judge could not continue, and was further delayed by a year while awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on the admissibility of mobile‑phone data. On resumption, Judge Alex Owens rejected arguments that McConnell's arrest was unlawful and that the Gardaí had exceeded their authority in seizing mobile phones found beside his bed. McConnell has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleges he and Jonathan Keogh used an apartment opposite Hutch's home as a lookout, followed Hutch from his front door, and shot him dead. The final evidence will be heard tomorrow before the court's closing speech. The case follows earlier convictions of Regina Keogh, Jonathan Keogh and Thomas Fox for the same murder.
The trial of Diarmuid Phelan, a 56‑year‑old barrister and farmer, for the murder of Keith Conlon, a 36‑year‑old trespasser, is ongoing. Judge Siobhan Lankford informed the jury that a translation issue arose concerning a French‑speaking witness, Pierre Godreu, who described Phelan as "really p***ed off" before the shooting. The judge clarified that the French word "énervé" was translated as "pissed off" but is not a vulgar term and lacks the intensifier "really." The judge explained the nuances of translation and the range of meanings of "énervé." The trial resumed with evidence from a Garda mapping expert, Detective Padraig Coone, who described the terrain of Hazelgrove Farm and the trajectory of the fatal shot. The prosecution's case, presented by Roisin Lacey, alleges that Phelan fired a third shot at Conlon's head, intending to kill or cause serious injury. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
Two cousins, aged 23 and 20, received suspended sentences after being convicted of sexually assaulting a 15‑year‑old girl in a car in the Midlands on 11 July 2020. The younger cousin, 16 at the time of the offence, was acquitted of an attempted rape charge. Both were 16 and 19 when the assault occurred, after the girl and the younger cousin arranged to meet secretly. The court ordered them to inform their wives, parents and siblings of the crime. The judge, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, noted the defendants' remorse, their marital status, low cognitive ability of the younger man and the influence of their environment. The younger man was sentenced to 18 months and the older to three years, both suspended in full on conditions including participation in victim‑focused and sexual‑offending courses. The court also praised the victim's resilience and acknowledged her ongoing mental health difficulties. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court.
Barry McDonagh, a 60‑year‑old from Midleton, Cork, was convicted by a jury of 17 counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against his teenage sister‑in‑law between 1999 and 2000. The victim, aged 15‑16 at the time, waived anonymity and testified that the abuse began when McDonagh kissed her and then digitally penetrated her while she was lying on a couch. Subsequent rapes occurred during a birthday trip and at a B&B. McDonagh maintains his innocence and remains married to the victim's sister, who supported him in court. The judge sentenced him to ten years, suspended a quarter, and back‑dated the term to time already spent in custody, giving a final custodial term of seven‑and‑a‑half years. The victim described the lasting psychological impact and her struggle to pursue her planned career. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court.
A German farmhand, Ms Hannah Felgner, testified at a murder trial that she witnessed Barrister Diarmuid Phelan shoot a man in the back on Phelan's Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght. Felgner, who had arrived in Ireland to learn English and work on farms, described the incident as occurring on her third day. She said that after a verbal confrontation with two intruders, Phelan fired a shot into the air, after which the intruders turned and ran. A few seconds later Phelan fired a fatal shot into the back of one intruder, Keith Conlon, who fell and later died. Felgner expressed that she felt terror and was overwhelmed by the sudden gunfire. The trial is hearing Phelan's defence of self‑defence and the circumstances of the shooting. The case remains ongoing. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
A 16‑year‑old girl told the Central Criminal Court that her 25‑year‑old cousin repeatedly raped her from age seven to ten, saying the abuse "ruined her life before it had started". She described the cousin's early exposure to pornography at 11, which she said gave him a "warped view of sexuality". The girl's victim impact evidence detailed nightmares, anger, pain and a sense that her body was no longer her own. She recalled the first assault in the cousin's bedroom when she was about six and he was 14, and estimated the sexual assaults occurred up to three times a week, roughly 50 times in total. The cousin pleaded guilty to three counts of oral rape, two of anal rape and five counts of sexual assault in County Cork. He has no prior convictions, is diagnosed with Asperger's, and is completing an apprenticeship. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 29 October.
In the murder trial of law professor Keith Conlon, the jury heard three 999 calls made on 22 February 2022. The first, by accused Mr Phelan, described intruders on his farm and a "violent situation" before the fatal shooting. The second, by Hannah Felgner, reported a man shot on the farm and provided first‑aid instructions. The third, by Robin Duggan, a trespasser, claimed a farmer had shot him. The prosecution argued that Phelan fired a gun at trespassers who had "exploded" from the woods, and that a third shot killed Conlon in the back of the head. The defence contended that Phelan acted in self‑defence, firing in the air and that the fatal bullet was accidental. The case is heard by Justice Siobhan Lankford with a jury of nine men and three women.
During the opening of Mr Diarmuid Phelan's murder trial, an eyewitness, farmhand Pierre Godreu, described the events on the Tallaght farm on 22 February 2022. Godreu said Phelan, who was 56, drew a pistol from his pocket and fired two shots into the air before discharging a third shot "towards" an unarmed trespasser, Keith Conlon, who was 36. Conlon was seriously injured and died two days later. Godreu testified that the trespassers were advancing and that Phelan had been "really pissed off" after a dog ran onto his land. He also said Phelan had told the trespassers to leave and that the third shot was fired in quick succession. The prosecution argues the third shot was aimed at Conlon, while the defence contends it was an accidental act of self‑defence. The trial is set to continue before Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
The court heard that CCTV footage captured a man, Sean O'Neill, 22, lying injured on the ground in Dublin City Centre after an assault. The footage showed several people standing over him and stealing his belongings, including a watch valued at €9,000. O'Neill had previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder on 4 October 2023 and robbery on 19 September 2023. He was arrested the following day after a warrant was issued. During interrogation he claimed he could not remember the incident and said he was "strung out," but he identified himself on the footage. The court noted his 39 prior convictions, including drug offences, and his history of homelessness. The judge, Martin Nolan, accepted his guilty plea and admissions, and imposed a four‑year prison sentence, back‑dated to the time he entered custody, with the final year suspended for one year. The victim and the injured man declined to give victim impact statements.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Arslan Cheema, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault committed on April 4, 2021, outside a student accommodation in Dublin city centre. The victim, aged 19, described how Cheema placed his hand on her genitals and attempted to kiss her, causing her to feel "frozen and shook" for about ten seconds. She later suffered a breakdown, required hospital treatment, and was prescribed anti‑depressants and anti‑psychotics. Cheema, who had previously worked for a food delivery service, is now employed as a Bus Eireann Expressway driver and has a young child. The court adjourned the case to November 4 to consider mitigation and to impose a sentence. No prior convictions were noted. The hearing focused on the victim's impact statement and Cheema's admission of guilt.
The Court of Appeal was told by the Director of Public Prosecutions that the sentences imposed on Adam Murphy, aged 22, and Keith McCormick Smith, aged 23, for a crime spree that left businessman Ian McDonnell dead were too lenient. Murphy had been sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for manslaughter, with the final two and a half years suspended on strict conditions, and also pleaded guilty to multiple vehicle‑theft offences. McCormick Smith received a sentence of three years and two months' imprisonment, with the final twelve months suspended. The DPP argued that the suspended portions should not have been fully suspended and that the headline sentences should have been higher, citing the seriousness of the offences and the fact that McDonnell was left to die while the offenders continued their crime spree. The court reserved judgment on the matter.
A woman who has filed a damages claim for alleged assault against mixed‑martial‑arts star Conor McGregor has been granted permission by Ms Justice Denise Brett to subpoena witnesses, including potentially Gardaí, for the case that will be heard by a High Court jury next month. The brief hearing took place at the High Court today, where Ms Justice Brett noted a small amount of overlap in witnesses but allowed the solicitor, David Coleman of Coleman Legal Partners, to issue subpoenas on behalf of the plaintiff. The costs of the proceedings will be dealt with when the case is heard next month. Mr Justice Alexander Owens had previously set the hearing for 5 November, after the plaintiff's application to adjourn was opposed. The claim, brought in 2021, alleges events in 2018 in Dublin and is one of two actions against McGregor.
Diarmuid Phelan, a 56‑year‑old law professor and farmer, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Keith Conlon, 36, who was shot in the back of the head on 22 February 2022 at Hazelgrove Farm, Tallaght. Phelan told the Gardaí that he was terrified and "scared sh**less" when he fired a Winchester rifle at a loose dog and then, after three men emerged from the woods, he fired a Smith & Wesson revolver in the air. He claimed the third shot struck Conlon accidentally while he was turning away. The prosecution, represented by Senior Counsel Roisin Lacey, argued that the gun was pointed at Conlon when the fatal shot was fired, implying intent to kill or cause serious injury. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, will examine the circumstances of the shooting, the witnesses' accounts, and the forensic evidence regarding the bullet and the revolver's ammunition.
The Central Criminal Court has heard evidence during the murder trial of Dean Caffrey, aged 38, of Beaucourt, Achill Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9. Mr Caffrey has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Sean McCarthy between August 2 and 7, 2022. Garda Brian Davis confirmed to the defence that the deceased was known to gardaí as a drug dealer in the Ballymun area. According to the prosecution, Mr Caffrey presented himself at Ashbourne Garda Station two days after Mr McCarthy was reported missing and disclosed the location of a body in his apartment wardrobe. The accused has stated that Mr McCarthy was fatally shot during a struggle over a firearm after demanding €5,000. State Pathologist Dr SallyAnne Collis confirmed death resulted from a gunshot wound to the head. CCTV evidence charting the deceased's movements on August 2, 2022, was presented to the jury. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.