Michael Murray, a convicted rapist and child abductor, lost an appeal against a disciplinary sanction imposed by the Governor of the Midlands Prison for throwing a bible at Judge Karen O'Connor during a sentencing hearing in July 2021. The sanction, which removed ordinary privileges for 40 days, was upheld by the High Court and the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal agreed with the lower court that the Governor was lawfully entitled to discipline Murray under the 2007 Prison Rules Act, even though the incident occurred while he was in court custody. The Court of Appeal dismissed all but one of Murray's arguments, finding that the Governor's action was within jurisdiction. The Court also allowed an appeal concerning the High Court's refusal to recommend payment to legal representatives under the Legal Aid Custody Issue Scheme. Murray, aged 51, had previously been sentenced to 16 years for threats and harassment, and had earlier convictions for rape and sexual assault.
A 35‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment for assaulting his former partner and breaching a protection order. The court heard that the woman had obtained a live protection order two months earlier. On the night of the assault, the man, who had been watching their son, became agitated, appeared intoxicated and violently struck the woman, banging her head against a wall three or four times, throwing her to the ground, pulling her by the hair, shouting and stamping on her head. She blacked out, managed to escape, called the Gardaí and was taken to Beaumont Hospital for head injuries. The man had previously been granted High Court bail with a condition to stay away from the woman's home and not contact her or their son. He breached this bail and the protection order by returning to the house, where he also struck a babysitter. The unnamed 35-year-old pleaded guilty.
A Central Criminal Court jury has convicted two men of raping and sexually assaulting a teenage girl in a hotel car park in Leinster in December 2017. The first defendant, aged 25, pleaded not guilty to rape, oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault. The second defendant, aged 24, pleaded not guilty to rape and oral rape. The State alleged the then 17-year-old victim was assaulted by the men, who were aged 17 and 18 at the time, after going for a drive with them. This was the second trial in the case, following a hung jury in 2023. After seven and a half hours of deliberation, the jury convicted the 25-year-old of all charges against him. The 24-year-old was convicted of oral rape, while the jury indicated it was not in a position to reach a verdict on the rape charge against him. Both defendants broke down in tears as the verdicts were read. They were remanded in custody pending sentence on April 22 next, when a victim impact report will be submitted to the court. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon thanked the jury for their time.
Glen Duff, 36, of Doon Court, Poppintree, Dublin 11, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for two robberies and an assault causing harm in Temple Bar. The first offence occurred on 17 April 2022 when Duff and an accomplice attacked a tourist, kicking and stomping on his head before taking a €300 wallet. The victim suffered concussion and ongoing memory problems. The second offence took place on 23 June 2023, when Duff and another man robbed an American tourist who had just arrived in Ireland, stealing his wallet, passport and driving licence and leaving him with a broken finger. Both incidents were captured on CCTV and led to charges in May 2023 and November 2023, respectively. Duff pleaded guilty to all charges.
Ryan O'Toole, aged 34, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment after a cocaine‑fueled assault on Garda Karl Byrne outside a Dublin apartment block on 11 December 2022. O'Toole, heavily intoxicated, repeatedly punched, bit and knocked Byrne unconscious, also lifting him into a headlock and throwing him to the ground. Byrne suffered a concussion and a fractured nose, though the fracture's cause was uncertain. O'Toole pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and had seven prior convictions, none for serious offences. Judge Martin Nolan noted O'Toole's extreme intoxication and aggression, concluding he deserved prison. Garda Sergeant Paul Daly confirmed Byrne returned to work two weeks later. O'Toole's early guilty plea was seen as a sign of remorse, and he has since addressed his addiction issues. The court imposed the 18‑month term without further details on suspension or custody.
Lisa Lee, 41, was granted bail after a bench warrant was issued for her arrest following a failure to appear at the Central Criminal Court. Lee had previously received a half‑suspended four‑year sentence for discarding a knife used by Noel Lennon in the fatal stabbing of Isaac Horgan on 29 March 2021. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, described Lee as being in the "last‑chance saloon" and emphasized that her bail conditions would require her to reside at a named hostel in south Dublin, remain sober, keep her phone on hand for Garda and probation officers, and stay out of Dublin 2. The court noted that Lee had breached release conditions by committing public order offences and allegedly stealing a mobile phone. Mr Justice Hunt adjourned the matter to 8 April, stating that Lee's engagement with probation services could affect future cases. Lisa Lee was found guilty.
A 73‑year‑old man, whose identity is withheld to protect victims, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to four counts of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault. The offences occurred between 2012 and 2019 in County Tipperary, involving two young girls who were cousins of the complainants. The first victim, aged about ten or eleven at the time of the first contact, described a pattern of inappropriate touching, kissing and an attempted rape that ended when she entered secondary school. The second victim, aged about four or five, was raped on three separate occasions, the first when she was five or six. Both girls, now 17 and 16, gave impact statements detailing how the abuse has left them unable to recall happy childhood memories, caused them to feel unsafe, and led to shame, suicidal thoughts and trust issues.
John Doyle, 49, of Littleton, Co. Tipperary, was convicted in Wexford of two counts of rape and four counts of sexual assault against his two daughters and his niece. The offences occurred between 2006 and 2017 in the family home and a mobile home. Doyle denied wrongdoing and maintains his innocence. The judge, Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford, described the acts as a "breach of trust of the gravest kind" and imposed concurrent sentences of 12 years for the rape counts, with one year suspended on strict conditions. He received additional sentences of six and four years for the sexual assault counts, all to run concurrently, and was directed to remain away from the victims for five years post‑release under probation supervision. The court noted Doyle's refusal to accept responsibility and the impact on the victims' safety and trust.
Mamadou Alpha Bah, 27, was sentenced to six years in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a violent sexual assault that occurred on 2 September 2020. The offence involved Bah chasing a 43‑year‑old woman through a hotel corridor after she had gone to his room, where he pinned her to a bed, threatened her, punched her, forced her to remove her clothes and sexually assaulted her through her clothing. He also attempted to force her legs open and followed her to the bathroom, where she escaped. CCTV footage captured the chase. Bah pleaded guilty on the morning of his trial and was found remorseful. He had no prior convictions at the time of the offence but had been convicted of sexual assault and false imprisonment in August 2021, receiving a five‑year sentence with one year suspended in October 2023.
The 19‑year‑old accused of assaulting a male in a 2020 incident now seeks to halt his criminal trial in the High Court, arguing that the prosecution has been delayed by 43 months. He was 15 when the alleged altercation near a railway station occurred, and was arrested, fingerprinted and interviewed by Gardai shortly thereafter. Despite this, he was not charged until September 2023, when he was 18 and no longer protected by the Children's Act. He claims the Director of Public Prosecutions failed to secure an expeditious trial, and that the delay is "inexcusable" and "unexplained". Represented by James Dwyer SC and Sarah Connolly BL, he has brought judicial review proceedings to restrain further prosecution. Ms Justice Niamh Hyland granted permission to proceed on an ex‑parte basis, with the matter to be returned to a date next month.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the family of 78‑year‑old John O'Neill, who was killed by his nephew Thomas Lorigan (34), expressed profound grief and fear. The niece, Niamh Higgins, described the murder as a "heinous" act that left a "hollowness" in the family. She highlighted the brutality shown in CCTV footage and the impact on the community of Lisdoonvarna, where elderly residents now feel a shared trauma. The court heard three victim impact statements, all detailing the emotional devastation and the sense that the crime was "beyond torture" because it was committed by a relative. Judge Paul McDermott noted the mandatory life sentence imposed on Lorigan, back‑dated to his 2022 arrest, and emphasized the importance of the victim's voice in such proceedings. The sentencing reflected the severity of the violence and the lack of remorse from the offender. The family thanked responders and expressed that John's memory would remain with them forever.
Andrew 'Andy' Cash, aged 30, was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment with the final year suspended for the manslaughter of his brother‑in‑law John Cash, aged 40, who was stabbed to death on Hebron Road, Kilkenny City, on 3 May 2022. Cash was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after a jury verdict of 10‑2. The judge noted that the attack occurred in broad daylight on a busy street, in front of John Cash's wife, and that Cash had continued to shout threats and abuse at the victim while he lay on the ground. Cash had been drinking and taking tablets at the time of the incident. He had previously been accused of assault causing harm to John Cash's wife and of producing a knife during a dispute, but was found not guilty of those charges.
Gerard O'Brien, a former Circuit Court judge aged 59, was convicted in December 2023 by a Central Criminal Court jury of one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault involving six young men. The offences, which took place between March 1991 and November 1997 in Dublin, were committed while O'Brien was a teacher in his 30s. The complainants, four of whom were his students, were aged 17 to 24 at the time. O'Brien denied all charges. He resigned from the judiciary in February 2024. Defence counsel requested a delay of the sentence hearing to allow completion of several reports, which are expected to be ready by mid‑April. The court agreed to adjourn the hearing to 29 April, and O'Brien remains on continuing bail.
Hamid Zatout, aged 26, had been sentenced to six and a half years for a series of robberies in which he snatched designer watches from vulnerable victims, some worth up to €47,000. The Court of Appeal, after reviewing the evidence of multiple robberies and an attempted robbery, warned his lawyers that an appeal could result in a higher sentence. Following a discussion with the court's president, Mr Justice George Birmingham, Zatout's lawyers withdrew the appeal, citing the court's willingness to increase the sentence if an error was found. The court noted that the offence was very serious and that the sentencing judge had considered a "double figures" sentence. Zatout had pleaded guilty to four robbery charges, one assault causing harm, and one attempted robbery, and had been living in a hotel in Dundalk at the time of his arrest. The case involved extensive CCTV evidence and the involvement of accomplices who followed victims before the robberies.
In February 2024 the Court of Appeal quashed the convictions of John O'Donoghue, a 54‑year‑old from Rathkeale, who had been jailed for ten years for assault causing serious harm to a 74‑year‑old Willie O'Driscoll Sr. in December 2017. The appeal was based on the prosecution's failure to obtain and preserve CCTV footage that a local resident had confirmed was operational at the time of the incident. The court found that Gardaí had an established duty to seek out such footage, but had not done so, depriving O'Donoghue of a reasonable prospect of defence. The court also noted that a Garda notebook was disclosed to the defence during the trial without prior notice, a procedural fault that was deemed unsatisfactory but not sufficient to overturn the conviction on that ground alone. The convictions were quashed and the case was adjourned for a possible retrial on 22 March 2024. John O'Donoghue pleaded not guilty.
A 27‑year‑old former rugby player, Buti Sashi, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four and a half years imprisonment, to run consecutively to his existing ten‑year sentence. The new sentence follows Sashi's guilty pleas to assault causing harm, two counts of aggravated burglary, robbery, false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm on two separate occasions in 2017. In one incident he stabbed a male sex worker seven times, stealing a mobile phone and €200, and in another he stabbed a female sex worker seven times, inflicting potentially life‑threatening wounds and a fractured eye socket. The court noted Sashi's pattern of contacting victims for sex before attacking them, and described the offences as "very serious crimes". The judge reduced the new term from an earlier proposed ten years, citing the totality principle.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 48‑year‑old man, Derek Bewley, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for two violent offences committed on the same day. Bewley, armed with a claw hammer, and his 36‑year‑old accomplice, Christine Ward, attacked a 79‑year‑old widower, stabbing him repeatedly and robbing him of €600, his phone, and his car. The widower, now 84, survived the assault and suffered significant physical and psychological harm, including multiple stab wounds, hearing loss, and PTSD. Bewley pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, possession of a hammer, and theft of a wallet. Ward had previously been sentenced to five and a half years for aggravated burglary, with 18 months suspended. Bewley's sentence was reduced by two years to ten years, with 18 months suspended for three years, and he will be supervised by Probation Services for 18 months after release.
A Roscommon man convicted of repeatedly sexually assaulting a teenage girl employed as a babysitter has had his sentence reduced on appeal. Michael King, aged 53 and resident of Warren View, Boyle, was originally sentenced to five and a half years imprisonment by Roscommon Circuit Criminal Court in May 2023 following his conviction on twelve counts of sexual assault. The Court of Appeal has now reduced his term by fifteen months. King had pleaded not guilty but was unanimously convicted by jury of all charges relating to offences against a girl aged 16, committed over a nine-month period ending in September 2005. The Court of Appeal found the trial judge erred in imposing consecutive sentences, determining the cumulative headline sentence of ten and a half years was excessive. The court re-sentenced King to five years imprisonment with the final nine months suspended. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy cited mitigating factors including the passage of time since the offences and King's subsequent pro-social conduct, though noting the absence of a guilty plea.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of a 49‑year‑old man who had been convicted of raping his partner's seven‑year‑old son. The appellant argued that the trial was unfair because the child had been given incorrect information that the man had previously been jailed for raping a girl, and that this had influenced the child's initial complaint and interview. The Court found that the alleged erroneous information did not affect the fairness of the trial and that the trial judge had properly exercised her discretion to refuse a directed acquittal. The conviction, obtained at the Central Criminal Court in July 2024, remains in force. The man was sentenced in October 2022 to eight years' imprisonment for rape and three years and six months for sexual assault, to run concurrently, after the judge noted his position of trust and deception of the child. The Court of Appeal upheld the original verdict and sentencing.
Erika Gould, 38, with 208 prior convictions, was sentenced to two months' imprisonment for common assault on her mother and harassment of her sister. On 12 May last year, while her mother was driving, Gould threw scrambled egg at her mother's face and punched her left eye. Within 24 hours she sent abusive texts to her sister and later entered the sister's apartment after 1 a.m., threatening and throwing a rock at a window, actions captured on the sister's Ring camera. Gould pleaded guilty to the assault and harassment. She has a serious alcohol problem and a borderline personality disorder diagnosis. She is currently serving a six‑month sentence for violence in a Garda station. The court ordered that she have no contact with her sister for ten years. Judge Martin Nolan noted her extensive offending history and the need to protect society.
Shane Cooney, aged 33, of St Anthony's Road, Rialto, Dublin, pleaded guilty to a robbery and a vicious, unprovoked attack on a neighbour on 17 July 2023. The victim was sitting outside his house drinking coffee when Cooney demanded his phone, then pulled him to the ground and repeatedly kicked and punched him. Cooney smashed the victim's phone, urinated on the front of the house and fled. The victim suffered psychological consequences, was afraid to leave his house, and temporarily relocated with his wife. Cooney, who has 117 previous convictions including robbery, attempted robbery and assault, was arrested at the scene and brought to Kilmainham Garda Station. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to six years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on strict conditions, and backdated the sentence to 18 July 2023.
Patrick McDonagh, aged 52, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 73‑year‑old neighbour Peter McDonald on 25 July 2020. McDonagh used a machete and a knife to stab, slash and chop McDonald inside his own home on Whitechapel Road, Blanchardstown. The Central Criminal Court judge, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, described the killing as merciless, ferocious and sustained, noting the shock and trauma to neighbours, paramedics and gardai. McDonagh pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter, claiming diminished responsibility due to a mental disorder. The defence presented psychiatric evidence of schizophrenia, while the Director of Public Prosecutions argued the symptoms were likely due to cannabis use and malingering. A jury unanimously rejected the defence and found McDonagh guilty of murder. The judge imposed a mandatory life sentence, citing the brutality of the attack and the victim's quiet, kind nature.
Stephen O'Reilly, 44, of Upper Churchtown Road, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing two garages in May 2021 and attempting to rob a Spar shop in June 2021, and to a public order offence and driving without insurance or a licence in April 2020. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a global sentence of four years and eight months, back‑dated to 21 October 2022, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. The sentence includes a four‑year driving disqualification. O'Reilly was already in 24‑hour lock‑up at Midlands Prison since June 2021 and is taking significant medication. The judge noted his use of weapons, threats of violence, and the escalation of his offending, while considering his guilty pleas, personal circumstances, attempts to address addiction and expressions of remorse. The sentence reflects the aggravating features of his previous convictions, the impact on victims, and his history of drug use and mental health issues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 13 February 2024, Michael Quinn, aged 23, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, possession of a hurley, and three counts of assault at Ennafort Roard, Raheny, on 27 June 2018, and to stealing a Google Pixel phone at Harmonstown Dart Station. Quinn, who has 20 prior convictions, was sentenced to three and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended under strict conditions. The court heard that Quinn had repeatedly struck the victim with a child's hurley after refusing to return the stolen phone, causing injuries to the victim's jaw, left arm, and hip. The victim's phone, valued at €730, was not recovered. Quinn was intoxicated at the time and had a history of drug addiction and cognitive impairment. The judge noted Quinn's guilty plea and young age as mitigating factors but imposed a custodial sentence back‑dated to 22 July 2023.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 55‑year‑old man accused of raping his wife's friend pleaded not guilty to one count of rape. He testified that he and the complainant had consensual sex that night. Prosecuting barrister Sean Gillane SC argued the accused's defence was "obviously untrue", likening it to a horse's kick if whispered. Gillane highlighted the complainant's reluctance to be walked home, her post‑incident washing, and her friend's testimony of trauma as evidence of rape. Defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC urged jurors to view the case dispassionately, noting the accused's admission of lying to Gardaí and his continued contact with the complainant as inconsistent with a violent assault. The jury paused deliberations for the day, to resume the next morning. The case remains at the trial stage.
Samy Taib, aged 22, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended for two years, for a series of offences including assault, coercive control, endangerment and dangerous driving. The court noted that Taib's victim endured significant psychological and physical harm, including permanent damage to her foot. Taib pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm, one count of coercive control, and several traffic offences. He was found to have a history of mental health issues, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia after the offences, and was taking medication at sentencing. His defence argued that his undiagnosed mental state should have led to a greater reduction in the sentence. The Court of Appeal considered the mitigating factors but did not alter the imposed term, leaving the suspended portion and custodial period unchanged. The case remains at the appeal stage.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Ivan Kelly, aged 17 at the time of the offence, was sentenced to four years and nine months' imprisonment, with the final nine months suspended on strict conditions. The judge noted the rape involved force, the victim's distress from Kelly's extradition, and his 27 prior convictions. Mitigating factors included his youth, personal circumstances and fatherhood. The court imposed a prohibition on any contact with the victim. The victim, who was 23 when she was raped, described the offender's apology letter as "disingenuous" and said he showed no remorse during the trial. She detailed the assault, her subsequent physical injuries, emotional trauma, drug use and the lasting impact on her life. The sentencing hearing was conducted by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath. The sentence was back‑dated to Kelly's entry into custody on 29 June 2022. Ivan Kelly pleaded not guilty.
In a sentencing hearing, Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a six‑year jail term on Andrew Lacey, 35, for the fatal stabbing of Derek Reddin, 31, in Loughlinstown. The judge also suspended 18 months of the sentence, citing the impact on Lacey's children, who would be left fatherless during critical developmental years. Lacey had pleaded not guilty to murder but was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury. The Court of Appeal heard arguments from the DPP's counsel, who contended that the suspension constituted an error in principle, and from Lacey's counsel, who defended the judge's discretion. The appeal was adjourned to March 1, with the court reserving judgment on the suspension issue. The case highlights the judge's consideration of family circumstances in sentencing.
Christina Anderson, 41, of Brownsbarn Wood, Kingswood, Dublin 22, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for the murder of Gareth Kelly, 38, who she stabbed five times outside her home on 25 February 2020. She had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted a plea of guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility due to a bipolar affective disorder. The State also rejected cannabis intoxication as a defence. In the Court of Appeal, the appeal was dismissed. Justice Isobel Kennedy upheld the eight‑year sentence, noting that the original judge had reduced the headline manslaughter term from 20 to 13 years, then to 11 years with a three‑year suspended portion, and that the final sentence reflected Anderson's mental condition and mitigating factors. The appeal court found no error in the sentencing decision.
A 51‑year‑old Offaly man pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to 27 offences, including oral and anal rape and sexual assault, committed against a boy aged 10 to 14 between 2015 and 2019 in 11 locations such as the victim's home, a boat and vehicles. The boy, now 18, gave a victim impact statement describing the abuse, his fear of the perpetrator's guns, and the emotional toll that has left him hyper‑vigilant and angry. The victim's mother also gave a statement, calling the man a monster and demanding justice for the trauma inflicted on her son. The court revoked the man's bail and remanded him in custody pending sentencing on 11 March. The case highlights the prolonged nature of the abuse and the ongoing impact on the victim and his family.
Sean Downes, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of defilement of a child under 17 at a Dublin address in April 2021. The victim, a 16‑year‑old non‑binary teenager under State care, was intoxicated and later reported the assault. Forensic DNA matched the teenager to a sample from Downes' boxer shorts. Downes had 23 prior convictions. Mr Justice David Keane set a headline sentence of five years, reduced to four years, and suspended the final two years. He imposed a two‑year post‑release supervision order, requiring engagement with the Probation Service and any suitable treatment programmes. The teenager read a victim impact statement, expressing ongoing distress and a desire for the pronoun "he." Downes was ordered to comply with the supervision order and treatment requirements. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
A 28-year-old man pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to two counts of rape and one count of attempted rape committed between January and August 2021. The court heard that the defendant, who had been remanded in custody since August 2021, attacked three women working as escorts at his residence. During the incidents, he allegedly used a rope, hammer, and screwdriver to threaten and assault the complainants. Although originally facing 15 counts, a proposal was made on the first day of the trial, which the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted on the basis that full facts would be outlined during sentencing. The defendant also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply, for which he received a suspended sentence. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the case to April 8, when victim impact statements and a plea of mitigation will be heard. The matter was adjourned and is not yet concluded.
Joseph Hillen, 29, was taken back into custody following an appeal regarding the activation of his suspended sentence. Hillen was originally convicted by a ten-to-two majority jury of the manslaughter of Martin Mulligan in 2018. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with the final year suspended. The State appealed this sentence as unduly lenient, and in November 2019, the Court of Appeal increased the term to nine years, with the final 12 months suspended. Hillen was released from Mountjoy prison on March 30, 2022, after serving five years and 11 months. Two weeks later, on April 14, 2023, he allegedly drove a car at his mother, assaulted her, and committed other offences. He pleaded guilty at Lisburn Magistrates Court to assaulting his mother, criminal damage, dangerous driving, assaulting a police officer, possession of cocaine, driving while unfit, aggravated theft, and driving without a licence or insurance. In July 2023, he received an eight-month fully suspended sentence. The State subsequently applied to activate the suspended portion of his manslaughter sentence under Section 99 of the Criminal Justice Act. On January 29, 2024, Ms Justice Creedon activated nine months of the 12-month suspended sentence, resulting in Hillen being taken back into custody.
In February 2021, former Terenure College rugby coach John McClean, aged 79, was convicted of sexually abusing 23 pupils and sentenced to four years. In February 2023, he was convicted of further abuse of 22 pupils and received an additional four‑year sentence, to run consecutively, making a total of 12 years. The State argued that a concurrent sentence would not reflect the suffering of the 22 new victims. McClean's sentences were imposed by Judge Pauline Codd and Judge Martin Nolan, respectively, with the second term set to begin after the first term ends in February 2027. McClean will be about 84 upon release. The case involved indecent assault and sexual assault between 1971 and 1993 while he was a teacher and rugby coach at Terenure College. The Court of Appeal was urged to consider whether the consecutive sentences were fair and just.
Patrick McDonagh, aged 52, was found guilty of murder after a two‑week trial at the Central Criminal Court. He stabbed, slashed and chopped 73‑year‑old Peter McDonald with a machete and a knife, leaving the victim so badly injured that he was identified by dental records. A jury unanimously rejected McDonagh's defence that an acute episode of schizophrenia substantially diminished his responsibility. The prosecution argued that any mental abnormality would likely be due to cannabis use and that McDonagh's symptoms were malingering. McDonagh had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He will be sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath on Wednesday. Witnesses described McDonald as a gentle man who kept to himself and lived with cats. The trial included testimony from two psychiatrists with differing views on McDonagh's mental state.
Adam Murphy, aged 22, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Ian McDonnell on 23 January 2022. Murphy and co‑accused Keith McCormick Smith, also 22, were involved in a spree of vehicle thefts. On the day in question, Murphy stole McDonnell's car while he was at work, drove off with McDonnell on the bonnet, and threw him from the bonnet onto the road where he died shortly after. The court heard CCTV footage of the incident and the subsequent disposal of McDonnell's vehicle. Judge Dara Hayes sentenced Murphy to 12 years' imprisonment, suspending the final 2½ years on strict conditions, and disqualified him from driving for 12 years. McCormick‑Smith received a three‑year, two‑month sentence, with the final 12 months suspended, and a seven‑year driving disqualification.
Charles McClean, aged 35, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to a global term of 20 years for his role in three gangland shootings. He already serves a 16.5‑year sentence for facilitating a criminal organisation and an eight‑year sentence for conspiracy to murder Wayne Whelan. The new sentence adds three and a half years for impeding the apprehension of the person who murdered Mark 'Guinea Pig' Desmond in December 2016. McClean pleaded guilty to the offence and showed no remorse. The judge noted that the three offences were separate, each with its own victim and family, and that McClean's involvement was "very unusual." The three‑and‑a‑half‑year term is to run consecutively to his existing sentences, bringing the total to 20 years in custody. The sentence reflects the seriousness of McClean's escalating criminal conduct.
Dale Kavanagh, 29, of Arklow, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for assault causing harm, unlawful seizure of a vehicle and driving without insurance. He was driven to Dublin by a man to buy crack cocaine, then attacked that man, hijacked his car with a knife and dragged the owner about ten metres. Garda Tom Balfe reported that Kavanagh had been driven to Dublin for drug purchase, that the car owner was known to him, and that the hijacking involved a knife and the theft of €200. Kavanagh pleaded guilty, was found to have a history of drug use from age 14 and heroin addiction from 21, and was described by his lawyer as remorseful and drug‑free.
Brandon Crosbie, aged 25, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for violent disorder in Mountjoy Prison on 18 December 2018, when he and five others attacked a prisoner, stamping on his head and leaving him unconscious. He also pleaded guilty to several charges for a high‑speed car chase on 22 May 2022, including endangerment, unlawful use of a vehicle, reckless conduct creating a substantial risk of death, criminal damage, driving without insurance and without a licence. The chase involved breaking red lights, driving on the wrong side of a roundabout, forcing a taxi to swerve, and driving at up to 160 km/h, culminating in a tyre deflating after a stinger was fired. Crosbie was arrested when he exited the vehicle. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to six years for the violent disorder and four years for the endangerment, with both sentences running concurrently, and disqualified him from driving for five years.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Shane Byrne (35) and his brother Luke (28) pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and criminal damage after a St Stephen's Day incident at Boomers Bar, Woodford Walk, Clondalkin. The brothers, who had been refused further drinks, entered the pub, damaged the exterior and several parked cars, and then attempted to re‑enter after the pub was closed. A customer tried to stop Luke, who pushed him to the ground, causing a 90‑degree ankle twist and a bad fracture that required surgery. Both brothers then kicked and punched the victim, who was off work for three and a half months. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Shane to 16 months in prison, describing him as the "initiator" of the "obstreperous behaviour", while Luke received a fully suspended 16‑month sentence and was ordered to pay €4,000 to the victim or a charity of the victim's choice.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a jury was instructed by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath that they could only return a verdict of guilty of murder or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for Patrick McDonagh, 52, accused of killing his neighbour Peter McDonald, 73, on Whitechapel Road on 25 July 2020. The jury had spent about three hours deliberating and would reconvene on Monday, as one juror was unavailable on Friday. McDonagh had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State had not accepted. The judge explained that if the prosecution proved all elements of murder, the jury must then consider the defence of diminished responsibility under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006, which requires the defence to prove that a mental disorder substantially reduced McDonagh's responsibility.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 8 February 2024, a 55‑year‑old woman accused a man of raping her in a park after a party at his house. She denied any prior romantic or friendly relationship with the accused. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, featured testimony from a friend who described the woman's distress and her refusal to discuss the alleged assault. The woman's own statements to the jury included that the accused entered a bathroom and said, "I could have you now," which she interpreted as a violent threat rather than a sexual one. She denied being coerced into sexual acts, rejecting defence claims that she had engaged in oral sex or other sexual activity with the accused. The case remains pending before the jury. The unnamed 55-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a February 2024 court hearing, Andrew Smith, 38, was sentenced to four years in prison for possession of an improvised firearm, to run consecutively with a two‑year sentence for assault causing harm. Smith, who has 94 prior convictions, was found guilty of using a sweeping brush to attack a shop worker who had tried to stop him from shoplifting. The victim, a Chinese man who had worked in the shop for eight or nine years, suffered two broken fingers and could not resume work, eventually returning to China. Smith's defence argued for a suspended portion of the sentence, but Judge Pauline Codd refused. The court noted Smith's racist language, the use of the brush, and his history of violent offences as aggravating factors, while his acceptance of responsibility and prior bail status were considered mitigating. The improvised firearm was seized during a search of Smith's home, where a shotgun and live cartridges were found.
A 55‑year‑old man was brought before the Central Criminal Court on 7 February 2024, accused of raping a woman who was a friend of his wife in a Dublin park in September 2019. The accused, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to the rape charge. The complainant, now 51, testified that she had known the accused's wife for about 17 years and had helped her friend prepare for a party at the accused's house. She described spending the evening in the back garden, drinking champagne and wine, and later being in the bathroom where the accused allegedly entered, made a threatening statement, and raped her. The complainant said she struggled to move, felt cold and wet, and was unable to resist. She later reported the incident to Gardaí, attended a sexual assault treatment unit, and gave a statement. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury.
A 41‑year‑old Dublin woman pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on her 16‑year‑old daughter on 10 November 2021. The court heard that the dispute escalated from verbal to physical, with the mother punching the daughter and striking her with an object. The daughter suffered swelling, bruising and a head laceration. Police found a smell of alcohol and the mother admitted drinking wine with a neighbour that night. She was arrested, admitted to causing injuries, and expressed remorse, calling herself a "bad mother" and vowing never to drink again. The court, Judge Martin Nolan, described the case as "sad" and imposed a 16‑month suspended sentence, deciding she did not deserve prison at that point. Tusla took the three children into care; the victim has used Tusla's after‑care services and a safety plan has been put in place. The mother has complied with all instructions and engaged fully with the agency.
Gerard O'Keeffe, 44, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on his phone. He was found with four videos, ranging from 2½ to 30 minutes, three classified as Category 1 (explicit sexual acts involving female children) and one as Category 2 (children exposing genitalia). Gardaí, alerted by the Garda Online Child Exploitation Unit, seized his phone under a warrant; he cooperated, handed it over, and admitted to downloading the material from a chat website used by 50–60 users over three to five months. O'Keeffe, who has a prior assault conviction from his teens, expressed remorse and shame, and a letter of apology was presented. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a fully suspended two‑year sentence, noting no aggravating factors and ordering one year of probation supervision. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 7 February 2024.
A jury in Dublin must decide whether Patrick McDonagh, 52, who killed 73‑year‑old Peter McDonald in a brutal machete attack, should be convicted of murder or manslaughter on the basis of a mental disorder. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath instructed the jury that if they find the prosecution has proved all elements of murder, they must then consider the defence of diminished responsibility under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. The defence must prove it is probable that McDonagh had a mental disorder that substantially reduced his responsibility. Two psychiatrists gave conflicting diagnoses: Professor Patricia Casey, representing the defence, said McDonagh suffered acute schizophrenia; Dr Mary Davoren, for the prosecution, argued any abnormality was likely due to cannabis use. The judge emphasised the jury's role in determining responsibility, not the experts, and urged them to weigh all evidence, including witnesses describing McDonagh's behaviour before and after the killing. Patrick McDonagh pleaded not guilty. Peter McDonald pleaded not guilty.
In a sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court, 35‑year‑old Charles McClean admitted that he had called his "associate" Mark 'Guinea Pig' Desmond to a drugs meeting in Griffeen Valley Park, Lucan, where Desmond was shot dead. McClean said he later removed Desmond's mobile phone at the request of gangster Wayne Whelan. He had previously pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Desmond on 2 December 2016, knowing or believing Desmond to be guilty of an arrestable offence. McClean is already serving a 16.5‑year sentence for facilitating a criminal organisation and for conspiring to murder Whelan. The hearing also noted that McClean had a motor business linked to Whelan and that he had travelled to Northern Ireland and Tenerife shortly after the shooting. The court remanded him in custody until his sentencing.
Patrick McDonagh, aged 52, is on trial for the murder of his neighbour Peter McDonald, aged 73, who died on 25 July 2020 after a brutal machete attack. The prosecution, represented by Philipp Rahn SC, argues that the multiple slash, chop and stab wounds inflicted with a machete and knife prove beyond reasonable doubt that McDonagh intended to kill or cause serious injury, and therefore the appropriate verdict is murder. McDonagh has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State has rejected. The defence, led by John Fitzgerald SC, contends that McDonagh was suffering from schizophrenia at the time of the attack, and that his mental disorder substantially reduced his responsibility, arguing for a manslaughter verdict. The case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court, with the judge to charge the jury tomorrow.
Four men entered a Dublin secondary school at about 2 pm on 13 October 2022 and violently confronted a teenage boy. CCTV showed the men entering the school, the boy taking a hammer from his bag in self‑defence and fleeing, and the fourth man—who is not yet before the courts—throwing a steel pole at the boy, narrowly missing him. The third man, Josh Neary (22), grabbed the boy's bag and threw it. Staff removed the men from the school; no physical injuries were reported. Garda Aisling Halligan told the court that students were frightened and a staff member retired because of the incident. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced the three men who pleaded guilty to violent disorder to 16 months' imprisonment, suspending the sentence in full for Jack Craig (21) who had no prior convictions and played a minor role. Neary and Scott Purdue (25) received the full 16‑month terms.