Dainius Sakevicius, 54, pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm on 26 December 2022 after drinking for five days. He entered his former partner's bedroom about 30 minutes after she had gone to bed at 10.10pm, looking for a speaker, and punched her repeatedly on the forehead, right eye, nose and mouth. The victim sustained bruising, swelling, a loose tooth and arm soreness, and was treated at St Vincent's Hospital before being referred to St James's Hospital. Photos and a medical report were presented to the court. Gardai found Sakevicius intoxicated at his Bray address and deemed him unfit for interview. The victim later withdrew her statement and declined a victim impact statement. The case was adjourned to 14 April for finalisation, with a probation report to be compiled. The court noted Sakevicius had no prior convictions and had paid over €4,000 for the victim's medical costs.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 64‑year‑old man was found guilty of rape and indecent assault by a jury in December. The victim, a deaf woman with a mild intellectual disability who was 24 at the time of the offence, gave a victim impact statement that described feeling "dirty, sad, scared, sick, confused, embarrassed" after the assault, which occurred in a rural area of the west of Ireland between September and November 1985. She was taken in a white vehicle, forced into a mobile home, and had her clothing removed before the perpetrator forced sexual contact. The court heard the victim's sister also read a statement, noting the severe impact on the woman's independence and personal space. The defendant, who had worked as an emergency first responder, had no prior sexual convictions and was arrested in 2017. The case was adjourned to April 8 for sentencing.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Thomas Lorigan, 34, pleaded not guilty to the killing of his 79‑year‑old uncle, John O'Neill, who was found dead on the kitchen floor of his home on St Brendan's Road, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare. The prosecution alleged that Lorigan repeatedly kicked O'Neill to the head while wearing steel‑capped boots, causing severe injuries that left the body unrecognisable. Garda John Costello testified that he discovered a pair of blood‑stained boots and blue jeans behind an armchair in the victim's house on 7 January 2022. Sergeant Joe Fallon later seized the boots, noting a small splatter of blood under them, and collected a swab. Witnesses, including Walter Burke and several pub staff, described Lorigan's visits to the house and his alleged quarrels with O'Neill. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, continues with a jury of five men and seven women.
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Mohamed Axmed, aged 20, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for his role in a violent robbery of two UK tourists in Temple Bar on 17 September 2022. The court heard that Axmed, part of a group of young men, manhandled and assaulted the visitors, taking a bag that contained £1,050 sterling, bank cards, passports and a mobile phone. He pleaded guilty before the hearing, and the judge noted his prior convictions and the fact that he is already serving a sentence that will end in June 2025. Judge Martin Nolan extended his current stay in prison, citing his youth and the seriousness of the offence. The sentence was imposed with the intention that it would be a deterrent, though the judge acknowledged that the outcome might change upon his release. The other co‑accused have either taken trial dates, received bench warrants or remain unlocated.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, a 49‑year‑old woman pleaded guilty to sexual assault and robbery at a Luas stop on 26 January 2023. The court described the assault as "vicious, humiliating and degrading," noting that the victim was forced to strip naked, had her legs held open, and was searched for items. The attacker threatened to kill her and throw her into the canal. The victim was found in a state of undress, upset, and later examined at a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit, where she had bruises and cuts but no vaginal injuries. Witnesses, including a man with a golf club, intervened and recovered a stolen mobile phone. The defendant had 49 prior convictions, many for drug offences, and was under the influence at the time. Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced her to four years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions, citing her early guilty plea and remorse as mitigating factors.
In a landmark Court of Appeal judgement, the court ruled that Section 93 of the Children Act applies only to a child, defined as a person under 18. The decision means that a child who turns 18 during proceedings or before an appeal can no longer be protected by anonymity. The case concerned a 21‑year‑old who was 17 when he pleaded guilty to the murder of Cameron Blair. The court held that reporting restrictions do not extend to those who age out before proceedings conclude. Justice Isobel Kennedy emphasised that the Act's language is clear and that extending anonymity would require rewriting the legislation. Mr Justice George Birmingham announced a stay on lifting reporting restrictions to allow a potential appeal to the Supreme Court. The ruling will affect child defendants who turn 18 before their trial or sentence is completed.
Craig Ryan, 35, of Killarney Court, Dublin, pleaded guilty to five separate burglary offences dating from 2014 to 2023. He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Court to five years' imprisonment. The offences involved ransacking offices and stealing expensive equipment from businesses in Dublin, including a florist in Monkstown, a photographer's office on Burgh Quay, a car on Strand Street, a building on Arran Quay, and a convenience store on Cabra Road. Ryan's 235 previous convictions include theft and criminal damage. He cooperated with Gardaí, and no violence was involved. The judge noted his long history of offending and addiction challenges, but also his cooperation and lack of violence. Ryan is currently in custody and has shown remorse and engagement with treatment services.
Stephanie Hoey, 33, told the court that a 23‑year‑old ex‑partner, Conor Murphy, punched her in the eye during an unprovoked attack at her Clondalkin home, causing a blow‑out fracture and permanent vision loss. She described the assault as "foaming at the mouth" and detailed the severe physical injuries, including the need for hip bone graft surgery, ongoing migraines, nerve and muscle damage, and PTSD. Murphy had previously pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm, burglary and knife possession. Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of ten years, then imposed seven and a half years in prison with the final 18 months suspended, and ordered probation for one year after release. Hoey's victim impact statement highlighted how the attack has torn her life apart, affecting her mental health, daily functioning and her daughter's well‑being. The court noted Murphy's drug use and prior convictions, and that he had been in custody since May 2023.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a woman who was violently assaulted by her then‑partner in her own home told the court that she sometimes wished he had killed her that night. The victim, who had a protection order in place, described how the man entered through an unlocked door, threatened to kill her, smashed her car, punched her, and choked her. She sustained a black eye and other injuries. The man pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, making threats to kill or cause serious harm, and breaching a protection order. He was intoxicated and had no prior convictions. The judge, noting the severity of the assault and the victim's fear, imposed a custodial sentence of three years, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions.
A 41‑year‑old man was ordered to serve a full three‑year, four‑month prison term after the Court of Appeal rejected his appeal against the severity of the sentence for sexually assaulting his nine‑year‑old daughter. The Court of Appeal found that the trial judge had not erred in sentencing. The offence occurred between 1 January 2017 and 30 April 2017 at the family home, when the father touched the girl's private parts while she was asleep. The appellant pleaded not guilty. He was first convicted in May 2021 after a second trial, had that conviction quashed in May 2022, and was convicted again in November 2022, receiving the three‑year, four‑month sentence. The appeal argued the sentence was too harsh, citing a comparable case with a four‑year headline. The Court of Appeal upheld the original sentence, noting the breach of trust and the lack of a guilty plea.
A Garda witness described to the Central Criminal Court jury the moment she discovered the body of a 79‑year‑old widower, John O'Neill, who had been severely beaten to the point of being unrecognisable. The body was found on the morning of 7 January 2024 at O'Neill's bed and breakfast on St Brendan's Road, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare. Garda Louise Keogh, on duty at 8.06 am, received a call about an altercation the previous night and, after failing to open the front door, entered the house through a broken window. She saw the victim lying on the ground with blood around his head, a broken vase beside him, and scattered cards including a PPS card. Paramedic Melissa Power confirmed the death at 9.15 am. The accused, Thomas Lorigan, 34, of no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty to the murder.
Cameron Curtis, aged 20, received an 18‑month jail term for a series of violent assaults, false imprisonment and threats against his partner, Alannah Corrigan. The Court of Appeal found the sentence unduly lenient, noting that the original headline sentence was 3 years 4 months, reduced to 2 years 6 months after mitigation, with the last year suspended for two years. Curtis's attacks spanned four dates, involving punches, kicks, strangulation, a chokehold, and threats with a knife and scissors. He repeatedly locked Corrigan in a bathroom for 45 minutes and prevented her from leaving a kitchen. The Court highlighted the aggravating factor of their intimate relationship and the prolonged nature of the assaults. Curtis has now served his sentence, having spent about 14 months in prison, and the Court has called for an updated probation report before finalising matters. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
A 40‑year‑old man with no prior convictions, Michael Crotty, is on trial before the Special Criminal Court for allegedly topping up a prepaid mobile phone that was used in the murder of Christopher 'Noel' Kirwan, who was mistakenly linked to the Regency Hotel shooting. Crotty pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleges he purchased a top‑up for the third phone at a Spar shop in Naas on 21 December 2016, the day before Kirwan's murder. They claim he knew or was reckless about the phone's potential use in a serious crime. Crotty was arrested in March 2021 and questioned by Gardaí. He is charged under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act for participating or contributing to the murder of Kirwan. The court will consider a media application regarding a party named only as AB in evidence. The trial is ongoing.
In a murder trial, the State presented evidence that 79‑year‑old widower John O'Neill was killed by his nephew Thomas Lorigan, 34, who allegedly repeatedly kicked him to the head with steel‑capped boots. The prosecution described O'Neill as a fit, healthy man who had lived alone after his wife's death and had recently run a bed and breakfast. On the night of 6 January 2022, O'Neill returned home after drinking and was attacked by Lorigan, who was described as "Mossy" and living in a derelict house. Witness Walter Burke testified that Lorigan left his house after an argument with O'Neill, and emergency services found O'Neill dead in the kitchen the next morning. The State's pathologist reported severe blunt‑force trauma to O'Neill's face, consistent with multiple kicks. CCTV footage showed a man assaulting another outside the B&B, with the attacker later seen heading toward Burke's house. Thomas Lorigan pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Ivan Kelly, 23, was found guilty of raping a woman in a secluded lane after a drug transaction. The victim, who had initially approached Kelly to buy drugs, was led to a consensual encounter that turned violent when Kelly removed her iPod and became forceful. He pushed her, causing a head injury, then raped her from behind. Medical evidence confirmed bruises and scratches consistent with assault. Kelly, who had previously denied the rape, now accepts the verdict and expressed remorse, stating he is prepared to accept any punishment. He has 27 prior convictions and has been in custody since June 2022. The case was adjourned to February 13 for sentencing. The victim's impact statement described profound emotional trauma and the lasting effect on her life. Ivan Kelly pleaded not guilty.
A 17‑year‑old was warned that detention is the only option after pleading guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and a count of production of an article. The first assault occurred on 5 December 2022 on the Luas red line, where the teenager and others attacked a passenger, striking him with a vice grip and causing a tooth injury. The second assault took place on 17 January 2023, when the teenager and four others attacked a man on the street, kicking and punching him until he fell and sustained a head wound requiring staples. CCTV footage of both incidents was shown to the court. The judge, citing the Children Act, adjourned the case to 22 January and directed that the teenager be placed in detention until that date. The defendant accepted responsibility, showed remorse, and has a supportive family and psychological reports indicating vulnerability and a history of autism and ADHD.
Peter Guerin, 65, was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years in prison, with six months suspended, for engaging in a sexual act with a highly vulnerable learning‑disabled woman. The woman, travelling from sheltered accommodation to Limerick, was taken by Guerin from a bus station to his home, where he offered her money and attempted sexual contact. She later reported the assault and was examined at a sexual assault treatment unit. Guerin pleaded guilty to the offence of engaging in a sexual act with a protected person on 30 April 2018. The judge accepted the plea on the basis of recklessness, noting the woman's low cognitive function and vulnerability. Conditions of the suspended portion include staying away from the complainant, maintaining peace and good behaviour for three years, and engaging with the Probation Service for twelve months after release.
Kartikey Gupta, 22, an Indian visitor, received a fully suspended 21‑month prison sentence for a single count of sexual assault at a Marlay Park concert. The judge directed him to leave Ireland within two weeks and not return for ten years. The victim, in her early twenties, described feeling a hand repeatedly touch her under her skirt for about seven minutes, causing lasting distress. Gupta admitted a single accidental touch but denied further contact. He was cooperative after arrest, had no prior convictions, and had only one beer at the event. The court noted the assault was "not too insidious" yet "very distressing." A €2,500 token of remorse was offered but declined; it will be given to charity if she refuses again. The judge emphasised the full suspension and strict conditions of the sentence. Kartikey Gupta pleaded guilty.
Thomas Lorigan, 34, of no fixed abode, is set to stand trial for the murder of 79‑year‑old John O'Neill in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, between 6 and 7 January 2022. He pleaded not guilty. The prosecution is led by senior counsel Eilis Brennan; the defence is headed by Michael Bowman SC. Judge Paul McDermott noted Lorigan's former residence in Lucan, Dublin, and that O'Neill ran a bed and breakfast on St Brendan's Road until 2021. The jury, five men and seven women, will hear the case, which is expected to last up to four weeks.
Bill Irish, aged 30, was jailed for five and a half years at the Central Criminal Court after a jury convicted him of sexual assault and oral rape of his young cousin Hannah Irish, aged 25, between 2004 and 2010. The offences occurred when Bill was a minor, aged 12 to 17, and Hannah was between seven and 12. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo commended Hannah for coming forward and for waiving her anonymity so her abuser could be named. He noted the importance of victims speaking up for themselves and others. The judge acknowledged the profound impact of the abuse on Hannah's life, her struggle to move forward, and her desire to help other abuse survivors. The sentence reflected the seriousness of the crime, Bill's youth, and mitigating circumstances, with an 18‑month suspended portion. The court did not alter the final imposed term or effective custody beyond the stated suspension.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 30‑year‑old Dublin man was convicted of one count of rape on 9 February 2018. The victim, who remains unnamed, described how the defendant, who claimed to suffer from a sleep disorder called sexsomnia, had carried out the assault while supposedly asleep. The incident occurred after a night out on 8 February, when the couple had been socialising in a group. The man invited the group back to his apartment, where the victim was invited into his bedroom to sleep. She woke to find him having sex with her. DNA evidence linked his semen to her clothing. The victim's impact statement expressed feelings of weakness and humiliation, questioning the belittling nature of the defendant's claim. The court heard that the defendant had made sexual comments to the victim before the assault. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 25 January.
Michael Crotty, 41, of Aras na Rí, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, pleaded not guilty to a single charge of facilitating a criminal organisation in the murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, 62, who was shot six times in his car on 22 December 2016 at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin 22. The charge alleges that between 20 October 2016 and 22 December 2016, Crotty participated in or contributed to the commission of the murder while aware of the existence of a criminal organisation, contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act. The trial, scheduled to last up to five weeks, will commence at the Special Criminal Court on Wednesday. Crotty's co‑accused, Declan Brady, 57, a senior Kinahan cartel member, pleaded guilty to the same charge and will also appear on Wednesday for sentencing. Brady was previously sentenced to 11.5 years in prison, with the final year suspended, for firearms offences and money‑laundering.
A 65‑year‑old man from Co Cork was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment for 71 counts of rape, oral rape, indecent assault and sexual assault of his daughter between 1988 and 1997. The Central Criminal Court found he abused her while she was aged seven to 17, manipulating her and favouring her over his other children, which caused a rift with her siblings. The abuse progressed from touching to rape and oral rape over a two‑to‑three‑year period in her teens, continuing until she turned 18 and left the family home. The judge described the abuse as an egregious breach of trust in a place that should have been safe. The victim, who did not realise the abuse was wrong until later, said her life was significantly affected and that her father had ruined her childhood. The defendant, who has serious health issues, will require medical support while in custody. The unnamed man was found guilty.
Bernard Corrigan, 39, with 147 prior convictions, was further sentenced for head‑butting a prison officer at Mountjoy Prison on 27 December 2021. The officer suffered bruised and bulging spinal discs, left‑arm, torso and neck injuries, and was unable to work for six months. Corrigan pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a prison officer. Judge Orla Crowe described the attack as unprovoked and reprehensible, noting the large number of prior convictions as an aggravating factor, while mitigating factors included his guilty plea, the officer's full recovery and Corrigan's apology. She sentenced him to two years and nine months, back‑dated to his guilty plea on 25 October 2023, to run concurrently with his existing sentence, with an earliest release date of 2 March 2027. The court heard the officer's victim impact statement detailing the pain, fear of future assault, and financial costs. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 12 January 2024, Aaron Costello, 24, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a male victim in Ballymun on 12 October 2022. The court noted that the victim, who had no animosity toward Costello, accepted the apology and expressed a "generous and spirited" attitude, stating he did not wish the defendant to be jailed. Judge Pauline Codd, after viewing CCTV footage showing Costello striking the victim from behind and kicking him twice while he was on the ground, found the assault unnecessary and placed the offence in the upper mid‑range of offending. Costello had no prior convictions and expressed genuine remorse, bringing €5,000 to court as a token of regret. The judge sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment, suspended in full for two years, and imposed a lifetime criminal conviction.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 12 January 2024, Declan 'Mr Nobody' Brady, aged 56, pleaded guilty to a single charge of aiding the Kinahan cartel in the murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, an innocent man shot six times on 22 December 2016. Brady admitted that between 20 October and 22 December 2016 he participated in or facilitated the commission of the murder while aware of the cartel's existence. He will appear again next Wednesday for a sentencing hearing. Brady's co‑accused, Michael Crotty, 40, was due to trial but the case was adjourned to Monday morning to allow him to consult his lawyers. Brady has previously pleaded guilty in 2019 to supervising a firearms arsenal and in 2021 to laundering over €400,000 in crime cash, receiving 11.5 years with the final year suspended. The court noted that Kirwan's murder was "disturbing" as it appeared to be a targeted killing with no criminal motive.
A 70‑year‑old man was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for raping and repeatedly sexually abusing his two younger sisters in Leinster between 1966 and 1974. He pleaded guilty to one count of rape and 14 counts of indecent assault. The first sister was aged five to nine when first abused, with the abuse pausing during his boarding‑school year and resuming in 1971–72 when she was ten to twelve. The second sister was eight to ten during indecent assault and was raped when aged eleven to thirteen. Victims described lasting fear, depression and anxiety, and the court noted the abuse had profoundly distorted their lives. The judge imposed a headline sentence of 13 years for the rape and 18 months for each indecent assault, but ultimately gave a global nine‑year term with the final 12 months suspended, directing the defendant to have no contact with the sisters.
A 27-year-old man has been jailed at the Central Criminal Court for sexually assaulting a woman while she slept at his apartment in County Donegal on 30 June 2019. He pleaded guilty to the offence. The victim, then 18 years old, was known to the accused and they had socialised together that evening before returning to his home. She fell asleep but woke to find him on top of her with his clothing removed. She asked him to stop and he did so. The woman reported the matter to gardaí the following day. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a sentence of three years, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. The judge noted the accused was aware the victim was asleep and had denied her the fundamental right to refuse intimacy. He took into account the man's expressions of remorse, his difficult personal history, and lack of previous convictions. A no-contact order was directed. The victim's statement was read to the court, in which she expressed hope that her reporting would help others.
A barrister, Brendan Grehan SC, told Mr Justice Paul McDermott that the Legal Aid Board's fixed fee of €1,800 for psychiatric expert reports is too low, making it hard to secure psychiatrists for murder trials where up to 20 per cent involve psychiatric issues. Grehan explained that a psychiatrist charged €120 per hour, so the cap would cover only about 15 hours, insufficient for the extensive assessments, evidence review, and interviews required. He said the board had not agreed to raise the fee and that the situation could delay many trials. Justice McDermott adjourned the matter to the end of the month, insisting that an expert must be obtained before the case can proceed and that the board must explain the difficulty. This follows a similar issue raised in October last year, which was resolved without board intervention.
A secondary school teacher from Donegal Town has been sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment following her conviction for indecently assaulting a male pupil in 1985. Jacintha McSherry O'Connor, aged 63, was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after a trial in October 2023. The offences occurred when she was a student teacher and the complainant was 13 years old. Judge Elma Sheahan considered the serious breach of trust, the age disparity between the parties, and the lasting impact on the victim in determining sentence. Mitigating factors included the defendant's previously unblemished record and her cooperation with gardaí. McSherry O'Connor was sentenced to three years on each count to run concurrently, with the final six months suspended. She will be supervised by the Probation Services for six months following release and must register as a sex offender.
In a Circuit Court trial, Gerard O'Brien, a former secondary school teacher and then Circuit Court judge, was found guilty of one count of attempted rape and eight counts of sexual assault against six male complainants, some of whom were his students. The alleged offences took place between March 1991 and November 1997 in Leinster, when O'Brien was in his 30s and the complainants were aged 17 to 24. Evidence included accounts of O'Brien skipping classes to drink with students, inviting them to his home, and engaging in non‑consensual sexual acts while they were asleep or under the influence of alcohol. The jury deliberated for seven hours and thirty‑four minutes before delivering the verdicts. O'Brien, who has a rare birth defect, was remanded on continuing bail until sentencing on 4 March 2023. The judge thanked the jurors and noted O'Brien would be automatically added to the sex offenders register. Gerard O'Brien pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the trial of a 59‑year‑old teacher accused of sexually assaulting six young men, including students, has retired for the evening after a day of deliberation. The teacher, who was in his 30s at the time of the alleged offences, pleaded not guilty to one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault. The State alleges that five complainants were assaulted in shared beds and one in a pub toilet, while the accused denies wrongdoing. The jury will resume tomorrow.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Adam Murphy, aged 22, pleaded guilty to manslaughter after he threw businessman Ian McDonnell from the bonnet of McDonnell's own car while attempting to steal it. Murphy also pleaded guilty to multiple counts of vehicle theft, attempted vehicle theft, property theft and possession of stolen property. His co‑accused, Keith McCormick Smith, also pleaded guilty to similar offences. The court heard that McDonnell was stopped at his business, Ozone Car Sales, and that Murphy and Smith had stolen several cars earlier that day. CCTV footage showed Murphy driving McDonnell's car, accelerating, and throwing McDonnell 46 metres before the car was abandoned. McDonnell was taken to Tallaght Hospital but died on 28 January 2022. The court noted the maximum sentence for manslaughter is life, but the Director of Public Prosecutions suggested a 10‑15 year range. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 12 February.
Soufiane Mountassir, 39, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for false imprisonment and assault causing harm after he attacked a woman who had let him into her home. The court heard that on the night of 13 November 2022 he forced the woman into the boot of her car, repeatedly punched and smashed her face against the vehicle's interior, and drove the car onto the footpath, damaging the wheel. Witnesses described him as "full of anger" and "entering into a blind rage", and the victim said she was left with blood all over her face and body. Mountassir pleaded guilty, was described as remorseful and ashamed, and the judge noted his lack of prior convictions in Ireland. He is currently under 23‑hour protection in Wheatfield Prison and is wanted in Germany for arson. The sentence was back‑dated to the date he entered custody on 13 November 2022.
Tony Hudson, 61, of Ballymurray, Enniscorthy, was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of 70 charges of sexual offences against four children aged 12 to 17 between 2000 and 2009. The offences included oral rape, sexual assault, buggery, gross indecency and defilement. Hudson had befriended the children, invited them to his house for chores, paid them modest sums and gave them cigarettes and alcohol. He began touching them sexually, forced them to masturbate, and in some cases forced them to have sex with each other. One victim was recorded having anal sex with Hudson and the video was shown to another victim. Hudson denied the allegations. Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford sentenced him to 13 years in prison, with the final two years suspended, back‑dated to his custody entry on 27 October. The sentence was imposed on 21 December 2023.
A 42‑year‑old man was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for four counts of sexual assault of a girl aged between four and seven, committed between 2016 and 2020 while her mother was away. The assaults included one on the girl's sixth birthday. The judge highlighted the man's position of authority, the large age gap, and the impact on the victim as aggravating factors, while noting his good work history and mental health difficulties as mitigating factors. The sentence was back‑dated to the man's entry into custody on 29 July. The court heard that the man had begun a relationship with the mother in 2015, moved in with her family, and looked after the children when the mother worked. He had taken the victim into the mother's room on several occasions, touched her private parts, and told the child not to inform her mother. The unnamed 42-year-old was found guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 59‑year‑old teacher faces one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault involving six complainants aged 17 to 24 between March 1991 and November 1997 in County Dublin. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC urged the jury to consider the historical context of gay discrimination in 1990s Ireland, arguing that the accused's alleged self‑preservation and fear of repercussions may explain his alleged false statements. He highlighted inconsistencies in the complainants' accounts and suggested the accused's emotional immaturity and the age disparity between him and the victims. Prosecutor Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC countered, stressing the need to disregard sympathy, noting the implausibility of multiple similar allegations, and emphasising the lack of consent in five incidents where victims were asleep. The judge, Mr Justice Alexander Owens, began his charge, with the trial expected to continue tomorrow. The unnamed 59-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a High Court hearing, Garvagh Homes Limited presented evidence that its agents were assaulted with bricks, rocks, delft and other objects while attempting to secure parts of properties it claims have been illegally occupied for months. The judge, Justice Rory Mulchay, had earlier granted an injunction requiring all alleged trespassers to vacate the properties, including a former carpet showroom, flats over disused commercial units and a garage on the North Circular and Phibsborough Roads in Dublin 7. The injunction applied immediately to the commercial sections, while a stay was placed on the residential part until 8 January. Garvagh's counsel sought to vary the order, arguing that the assault constituted an affray and that the residential area should be vacated immediately. The court accepted that some named defendants were not involved, but others, whose identities remain unknown, were throwing objects from the residential side.
In a Galway apartment on 1 November 2019, a 25‑year‑old former defence forces member raped, sexually assaulted and repeatedly choked a 20‑year‑old college student. The attacker, who was serving in the military at the time, taunted the victim with remarks such as "You like all this Ted Bundy shit" and used force that included biting, punching and headlocks. The victim, who survived the night, later gave a victim impact statement describing the terror and the physical injuries she sustained. The accused pleaded guilty to one count of rape. Mr Justice David Keane sentenced him to nine years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on strict conditions. The sentence was back‑dated to the day he entered custody on 7 June. The court noted the offender's good character, lack of prior convictions and exemplary military service as mitigating factors, while the extended nature of the assault and repeated choking were aggravating factors.
A 40‑year‑old Galway man was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury in Mullingar of sexual assault, attempted vaginal rape, anal and oral rape of his niece between 2007 and 2017. The victim, aged eight to ten and later fifteen to eighteen, described the abuse as relentless and degrading, noting the uncle's threats and grooming. The court imposed a headline sentence of 17½ years for the rape offences and seven years for the assault charges, but the judge set a global sentence of 15 years with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. The defendant, who has a prior assault conviction and struggles with mental health and addiction, maintains his innocence. The judge cited the prolonged period of offending, the victim's profound harm, and mitigating factors such as the defendant's cooperation and family support. The sentence was confirmed after a three‑week trial.
A teenager from Sligo pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to sexually assaulting his eight-year-old cousin and recording the incident on St Stephen's Day 2021. The boy, who was 14 at the time and cannot be named due to his age, attempted to upload the video to YouTube, which intervention by the platform prevented. The attempt to upload led authorities to identify him. He has been sentenced to 16 months in detention followed by 16 months of probation supervision. Ms Justice Melanie Greally noted aggravating factors including the victim's age, breach of trust, premeditation, and efforts to upload the recording to social media. She accepted mitigating circumstances including the guilty plea and expressions of remorse. The judge set a headline sentence of 12 years had the defendant been an adult, reducing it to four years due to his age, then imposing the 16-month custodial term. The case has been referred to Tusla. The victim and her family provided impact statements describing ongoing distress.
The 59‑year‑old teacher, accused of attempted rape and eight counts of sexual assault against six students aged 17‑24 between 1991 and 1997, pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. He testified that he initially lied to Gardaí during voluntary interviews, denying any sexual contact with the complainants out of panic and shame. He later provided statements clarifying his position, admitting he had lied. During cross‑examination he denied grooming or pressuring the students, claimed some were mistaken or lying, and described his actions as "mutual" or "happened" without intent to assault. He denied attempting anal sex and said he stopped when a student did not want it. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, continues with the jury hearing his direct evidence and the prosecution's case.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal of Darren Murphy, who was convicted of the 2012 murder of Eamon Kelly. Murphy, of George's Place, Dublin 1, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court in November 2021 for acting as a "spotter" in the gang's common design to ambush Kelly. He was sentenced to life in January 2022. The court also found Murphy not guilty of possessing a Glock pistol with intent to endanger life due to insufficient evidence. Murphy's legal team argued that the CCTV identification process was flawed and that Garda witnesses lacked credibility, claiming officers had prior knowledge of the case. Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh rejected these submissions, stating the identification process was excellent and that the trial court's findings on witness credibility were not perverse. The appellate court agreed with the trial judge that the evidence demonstrated careful planning and advance surveillance, confirming Murphy's involvement in the joint enterprise. Separately, Sean Connolly, of Bernard Curtis House, Bluebell, Dublin, was jailed for life by the Special Criminal Court in 2015 for the same murder. The appeal hearing concluded with the dismissal of Murphy's bid to overturn his conviction.
The 17‑year‑old serving a life sentence for the murder of Urantsetseg Tserendorj shouted "f**k off, get me out of this court" when the Court of Appeal refused to reduce his term. He also shouted insults at staff as they escorted him to the cell. The appeal was dismissed by Ms Justice Tara Burns, who upheld the life sentence with a 13‑year review, citing the pre‑meditated knife attack on a defenseless woman. The appeal had argued the sentence was disproportionate for a 14‑year‑old at the time of the offence and that mitigating factors such as drug addiction had not been adequately considered. The court noted the defendant's intent to rob and the use of a knife, and rejected the claim that the sentence was too harsh. The judge said the defendant must work toward rehabilitation by the review date. Urantsetseg Tserendorj pleaded guilty and was found guilty.
A 26‑year‑old man was jailed for six and a half years after a Central Criminal Court jury convicted him in October of 31 counts of sexual assault, oral rape and attempted anal rape of a boy who lived next door. The offences took place between January 2012 and August 2017, when the accused was aged 14 to 19 and the victim 7 to 10. The court heard that the man touched the boy's penis, forced the boy to touch his, and escalated to oral rape and attempted anal rape. The victim said the assaults were repeated many times and described them as a "complete nightmare." The accused denied the charges and did not accept the verdict. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo set a headline sentence of 14 years, reduced to eight years, and suspended 18 months on strict conditions. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court.
In a case described as "difficult", a 17‑year‑old Galway teenager pleaded guilty to one count of anal rape and two counts of sexual assault against his nine‑year‑old sister. The court, noting that both the victim and defendant still live in the family home, imposed a fully suspended detention of three years for the rape and one year for each assault. All periods were suspended for two years on strict conditions, including the teenager's continued education and completion of his Leaving Certificate or an equivalent programme. He was placed under Probation Service supervision for 12 months. The judge cited a "positive" report and urged the boy to remain grateful to his sister and family, while acknowledging the family's ongoing trauma and the need to keep the matter behind them. The teenager's mother attended the hearing. The case was handled with sensitivity by the court and involved reports from Tusla, Probation and psychological services.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a woman whose husband of 20 years repeatedly raped her with household objects while she was unconscious revealed her shock upon discovering "perverse, indecent, hideous images" of the assaults on his home computer. She described the moment as "like a bomb went off in my head" and said the abuse had altered her past, present and future. The 49‑year‑old man was found guilty of 11 counts of sexual assault, including penetration with a knife, cheese grater, bottle, carrot, banana, cucumber, tulip, wooden spatula, decanter stopper, part of a shoe and bicycle pump, between January 2005 and September 2014. The verdict followed a retrial after the first jury returned not‑guilty on four counts and could not agree on the rest. The woman, now 50, was unconscious and unable to consent during the assaults. She had a drinking problem and was on medication for depression.
The 59‑year‑old teacher, accused of sexual assault, pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault involving six complainants aged 17‑24 between 1991 and 1997. In his testimony, he described a 1997 incident where an 18‑year‑old student stayed at his house and slept in his bed. He claimed the student entered the bed because the house was cold, that he left after the student was dressed, and that he later returned to sleep. He called the student's presence a "major mistake" and denied any sexual contact. He also addressed allegations from other complainants, stating he had no recollection of the incidents and denied sexual interaction, though he later admitted performing oral sex in some cases. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
Joe Dunne, 82, a former priest, was given a fully suspended four‑year sentence in March 2023 for five counts of indecent assault on a young woman who was already vulnerable. The victim, who had been abused previously, described the abuse as violent and terrifying, noting that Dunne exploited his chaplaincy role and repeatedly assaulted her in remote locations. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, overturned the suspended sentence, citing the gravity of the offences and the impact on the victim. Edwards imposed a headline six‑year custodial sentence, discounted two years for guilty pleas and personal circumstances, and suspended an additional two years, leaving Dunne with a two‑year jail term. The decision was made after the court considered Dunne's age, health, and the dependency of his 94‑year‑old sister, whom he solely cares for. The case was originally uncovered in 2019 when Gardaí found letters from the victim to her bishop.
A woman accused of murdering her former housemate became visibly distressed when a jury at the Central Criminal Court failed to reach a verdict following a month-long trial. The jury of twelve spent seven hours and 33 minutes deliberating before informing Mr Justice Paul McDermott that unanimity was impossible. The judge had indicated he would accept a majority verdict of at least ten jurors before they returned unable to agree. Nicola Brennan, 33, of no fixed abode, had denied murdering Juris Viktorovs at Shillelagh, Ballyconnell, County Cavan, on 10 February 2022. The prosecution case centred on eye-witness testimony and forensic evidence. The defence challenged the consistency and reliability of the key witness account and questioned whether guilt had been established beyond reasonable doubt. Mr Justice McDermott adjourned the matter until 24 January 2024, when a date for retrial will be set. The jurors were discharged and exempted from further service for ten years. Nicola Brennan pleaded not guilty.