A 57‑year‑old man, whose name is withheld to protect his wife, was convicted of 16 counts of anal rape of his then‑wife between 2003 and 2007 and of eight counts of indecent assault and three counts of rape of his younger sister between 1978 and 1987. He was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment, with seven years for the sister offences and six years for the wife offences, to run consecutively with no portion suspended. The appeal argued that the use of a screen separating the witness from the court was prejudicial and that certain background evidence should not have been admitted. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, holding that the judge had considered the need to protect the complainant from secondary victimisation and that the evidence was relevant and necessary to illustrate the depth of violence in the relationship. The judge found no error in admitting the background evidence or in allowing the screen.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court found a 66‑year‑old grandfather guilty of 24 counts of sexual abuse, including two anally raping his granddaughter and 22 charges against his nephew – 12 anally and ten orally. He had pleaded not guilty to 25 charges, one assault charge was withdrawn. The jury also convicted his three sons, aged 38, 40 and 41, of multiple counts of rape and sexual assault against their sisters, nieces and a cousin, with each man receiving a range of guilty verdicts and some acquittals. A 63‑year‑old wife was found guilty of assisting one of her sons in anally raping her granddaughter and assaulting the same child. The defendants were remanded in custody or on bail pending sentencing, with the court setting a July 17 mention date for the sentencing hearing. The judge thanked the jurors and noted the case was difficult and the evidence unpleasant. The unnamed 66-year-old was acquitted.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 30‑year‑old woman charged with the murder of a four‑year‑old boy in the southwest had her plea of guilty to manslaughter rejected. The prosecution, represented by Aoife O'Leary BL, argued that the plea was not acceptable to the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the case will proceed to trial on the murder charge next year. The defendant pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter on 16 March 2021, the day the boy died in hospital after sustaining injuries at an address. She also pleaded guilty to willfully assaulting the child on two separate occasions: one between 1 January and 5 March 2021, and another between 6 and 11 March 2021. She began to cry in the dock before being arraigned on the third count.
Dermot Carr, 51, a former Dublin bus driver, was sentenced to nine years in prison, with the final year suspended, for a series of sexual offences spanning from 2001 to 2018. He pleaded guilty to harassment of a nine‑year‑old boy, sending explicit images and requesting naked photographs, and to multiple counts of sexual assault against five girls aged 11 to 17. Carr's conduct involved persistent grooming, text messaging, providing drugs and alcohol, and forcing the girls to masturbate or engage in sexual acts in his car or apartment. The judge noted a pattern of deliberate, persistent grooming over many years and imposed consecutive sentences for the six victims, ordering Carr to pay €10,000 in compensation to the first female victim and to engage with probation and counselling upon release. The case highlighted the long‑term impact on the victims, who described trauma, nightmares, and lasting psychological effects.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, Martin Burke, aged 26, was convicted of three counts of sexual assault and acquitted on one. The offences occurred on the night of 26 August 2018 in a Kerry town. Burke first assaulted a woman who had known him from a previous encounter; after a party involving alcohol and cannabis, he entered her spare room, bit her cheek and sexually assaulted her. She escaped to a shed, kicked him, and he fled. He later entered the bedroom of a second woman who was sleeping with her boyfriend. He asked if she was alright, grabbed her breast, left, returned, and touched her thigh under the sheets. The second victim kicked him and he left. Burke pleaded not guilty. Judge Paul McDermott sentenced him to five and a half years, suspending the final 12 months on the condition of probation for three years, and ordered him to stay away from both victims.
Miranda McCabe, 37, of Tubberclare Meadows, Navan, was sentenced to nine months in jail for a planned assault on Stephanie Dunne, a new mother who had just returned home after visiting her premature baby in hospital. On 27 November 2021, McCabe jumped from a car, head‑butted Dunne, punched her repeatedly, and placed her in a headlock. A man in the car, dressed in black with gloves and a scarf, was also present and reportedly held knives. Dunne's son was struck when McCabe swung. DNA from a hair clump matched McCabe. McCabe pleaded guilty, citing mental health difficulties and a difficult period. The judge noted the attack was savage and that McCabe was not the principal carer of her child with special needs, and imposed a custodial sentence of two years with the final 15 months suspended on strict conditions.
Paul Hendrick, a retired school principal and former Christian Brother, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of indecent assault on Kenneth Grace between 1980 and 1984. The abuse began when Grace was 13, a first‑year student at CBS Westland Row, and continued as he aged, involving repeated sexual and physical misconduct in various school locations, including the furnace room, a reception room at the priest's residence, and during camping trips in Waterford and Tipperary. Grace recalled being forced into wrestling, being restrained, and experiencing sexual contact while in his underwear. He was isolated from classmates and subjected to verbal abuse. Grace's victim impact statement described lasting mental health effects, including depression, anxiety and PTSD. Hendrick, who had no prior convictions, was remanded on bail pending a final hearing scheduled for July 10. The case highlights the prolonged nature of the abuse and its enduring impact on the victim.
Inita Romanovska, 36, was due before the Central Criminal Court for a sentencing hearing after pleading guilty to attempting to cause serious harm to Stephen O'Flaherty, whom she met on Tinder. The alleged incident occurred on 11 March 2020 at an apartment complex on Henry St, Limerick. Romanovska, residing at Cahercalla, Kilrush Road, Ennis, Co Clare, had originally been charged with attempting to murder O'Flaherty. Her lawyer, Michael Bowman SC, confirmed she did not attend the hearing and was unreachable by phone. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon issued a bench warrant and postponed the sentencing hearing.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a jury found John Titiloye not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for stabbing Ademola Giwa in the neck during a dispute over a stolen scooter. The jury rejected the prosecution's claim that Titiloye intentionally killed Giwa, instead concluding that the act was a result of provocation and a lack of intent to kill. Titiloye, aged 28, had claimed he was defending his father, Anthony, who had been attacked by Giwa. The judge, Mr Justice McDermott, noted the partial defence of provocation and self‑defence as possible bases for the manslaughter verdict. Titiloye was remanded in custody pending sentencing, with the court scheduled to hear a victim impact statement on 17 July. The case highlighted the jury's unanimous decision after nearly five hours of deliberation.
A 19‑year‑old who had been charged with attempting to murder a teenager in Dublin when he was 17 pleaded guilty before the Central Criminal Court to intentionally causing serious harm to that victim, to making a threat to kill or seriously injure another teenager, and to possessing a knife without lawful authority. The prosecution presented four counts; guilty pleas were entered on three, and a nolle prosequi was entered for the attempted murder charge, meaning the State will not pursue that count. The defendant was originally charged with the attempted murder of a teenage boy at Tymon Lane, Tallaght, on 2 January 2021. He also pleaded guilty to threatening a second teenager at Red Cow Luas Stop, Clondalkin, on 14 April 2021, and to having a knife on him at that time.
Vesel Jahiri, a convicted murderer serving life imprisonment, appeared before the Court of Appeal to challenge his Central Criminal Court convictions for the 2012 murder of Anna Finnegan and the stabbing of her brother, Karl Finnegan. Jahiri, who pleaded not guilty to both charges and was found guilty by a jury, is representing himself in this appeal. He alleges that gardaí planted evidence, including knives and a knife block, at his temporary address to link him to the crime. The appellant further claims the trial judge erred by excluding him from the latter stages of the trial, denying him a closing speech, and preventing him from inspecting the murder weapon. He asserts that gardaí wiped the knife blade to remove Karl Finnegan's fingerprints and deleted CCTV footage from Cabra Garda Station. The State, represented by Cathleen Noctor SC, countered that these were matters for the jury and that Jahiri's legal teams had access to all materials. Noctor noted that Jahiri's claims regarding the evidence were rejected by the jury and that his assertions about procedural failures were unsupported. The three-judge court, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, reserved its judgment in the matter.
In the Tallaght murder trial, a jury of twelve is deliberating a second day over the case of John Titiloye, aged 28, accused of killing his 25‑year‑old friend Ademola Giwa after a dispute about a stolen scooter. The defence, led by Brendan Grehan SC, argues Titiloye acted in a primal state to protect his father, who was injured during the altercation, and seeks an acquittal or a manslaughter verdict on the basis of self‑defence or provocation. The prosecution, represented by John Byrne SC, maintains that Titiloye produced a knife and stabbed Giwa in the neck, causing a fatal wound. Judge Paul McDermott instructed the jury to consider three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The jury will reconvene tomorrow morning at 10.30 a.m. to continue their deliberations.
In a High Court hearing, Mr Justice Paul Burns sentenced Trevor Richardson, 49, to twelve years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended, after a jury found him guilty of 56 counts of sexual assault, including one oral rape, committed between 2000 and 2014. Richardson, who had been a father‑figure to two of the victims, was in a relationship with the mother of two of the girls. The victims, who waived anonymity, described abuse that involved touching genital areas, digital penetration, and forced oral sex. One victim recalled being forced to perform oral sex at age seven or eight and later describing a life of self‑harm and anxiety. The judge noted Richardson's lack of prior convictions, good work history, and alcohol abuse as mitigating factors, and ordered him to be supervised by Probation Services for three years after release. The case highlighted prolonged abuse and a breach of trust.
The trial of four men accused of a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed farmhouse in Strokestown, Co Roscommon, has reached the sentencing stage. Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, David Lawlor, and Patrick Sweeney each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The alleged offences include false imprisonment and assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, arson of four vehicles, criminal damage to the property, violent disorder, robbery of a wristwatch, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Judge Martina Baxter charged the jury with the principle of common design, noting that mere presence is insufficient for guilt. Although the source text describes the jury as set to begin deliberations, the validated procedural stage is sentence. Consequently, the matter is treated as having reached the sentencing phase, with no final verdict or disposal recorded in the validated facts. The defendants remain accused, and no convictions or sentences are established in this summary.
Kevin Cradden, 33, of Kilkenny, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault at a Dublin house on 31 May 2021. He was described as "dumb drunk" after consuming large amounts of alcohol at a barbecue. The victim, a tenant, woke to find him in her bed, kissing her and touching her vagina. She identified him as "Kevin" and left the house, later reporting the assault. Cradden left the house naked from the waist down and was later called back to dress. He has no prior convictions and has not been involved with Gardaí since. Judge Orla Crowe accepted the victim's impact statement, noting loss of self‑worth and trust issues. The judge imposed a headline sentence of four years, reduced to three years in prison, with 18 months suspended on strict conditions, including probation and abstention from alcohol. The court heard Cradden's remorse, lack of memory, and family support.
David Lawlor, Patrick J Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, and Paul Beirne are on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to 17 counts each, including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The charges relate to an alleged early morning attack on security guards at a repossessed farmhouse in Falsk, Co Roscommon, in December 2018. On day 41 of the trial, defence counsel Seamus Clarke SC argued that the prosecution's case against Mr Lawlor relies solely on circumstantial evidence, which he described as insufficient to meet the burden of proof. Clarke specifically challenged the reliability of voice identification evidence provided by alleged victim Ian Gordon, noting that the recognition was based on only nine words spoken during a chaotic, noisy assault. The defence highlighted inconsistencies in Gordon's testimony, including unverified claims about previous interactions and licensing issues with his security company, suggesting potential credibility problems. Additionally, Clarke contended that mobile phone data and CCTV footage did not conclusively place Mr Lawlor at the scene, as the vehicle's brake lights differed from those in the footage. The defence urged the jury to consider reasonable doubt regarding Mr Lawlor's presence and involvement in the alleged joint enterprise. The trial continues.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 53‑year‑old Galway farmer pleaded guilty to sexual assault and oral rape of his nephew, aged five to thirteen, between 1989 and 1996. The nephew, now 39, described how the abuse, which began with unwanted touching during "games" and progressed to masturbation and oral rape, was carried out at the farm, in the yard, outbuildings or a caravan. He said he was told not to speak out, fearing his uncle would be in trouble, and that the abuse left him with lasting pain, flashbacks and sleepless nights. The farmer denied the offences at his arrest but later pleaded guilty. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon adjourned sentencing to July to allow reports to be finalised. The case was brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who viewed the offences as "more serious" with a headline sentence of 10 to 15 years imprisonment.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Brendan Grehan SC defended John Titiloye, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ademola "Dizzy" Giwa, 25, on 10 August 2021. Grehan argued the incident was a spontaneous reaction to a confrontation involving Titiloye's father and Giwa, not a premeditated act. He claimed Titiloye acted in defence of his father after a dispute over a stolen scooter and a debt owed to Samson Fayemi. Grehan highlighted CCTV footage showing the father's involvement and the rapid escalation of the altercation, suggesting Titiloye's use of a knife was a defensive response. The prosecution, led by John Byrne SC, maintained that Titiloye intentionally stabbed Giwa in the neck with the intent to kill, and that no justification existed for the act. The case remained at the jury's deliberation stage.
A 55‑year‑old man was convicted of sexually assaulting an asylum seeker who claimed she had never had sex before a Muslim ceremony. The conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal after new phone‑data showed the woman had searched for sexual information, suggesting she had prior sexual experience. The judge said this fresh material could have affected the jury's verdict and ordered a retrial. The man was remanded in custody until 7 June with bail. He had pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of rape, sexual assault and attempted rape. The original trial found him guilty of one count of sexual assault, sentencing him to six years with six months suspended and a four‑year post‑release supervision order. The appeal court will adjourn the case to the next legal term for DPP instructions. The man cried and asked, "Can I go home now?".
In a sentencing hearing on 22 May 2023, the Special Criminal Court heard that Michael Carroll, aged 43, had "indiscriminately" fired a revolver at John Hutch, a 63‑year‑old former Dublin resident, outside Hutch's home on Drumalee Avenue on 2 September 2016. CCTV showed Carroll approaching the rear of the house in a stolen Opel Astra, carrying two firearms – one with seven rounds and the other with six – and firing all rounds into the garden where Hutch's wife, Vera Hutch, was present. Vera Hutch gave a victim impact statement describing the lasting trauma of the incident. Carroll had previously been charged with attempted murder of Hutch and had pleaded guilty to a firearms offence. He was also charged with two attempted murders of Edward Staunton in March 2017; he pleaded guilty to one of those charges. The court noted Carroll's extensive criminal record and the alleged motive of repaying a drug debt to the Kinahan/Byrne faction.
Tony McInerney, 27, a former drug dealer from Glenina, Gort Road, Ennis, admitted to attempting to murder Daniel Harty Jnr on 18 January 2020 at Pound Street, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. McInerney had previously been convicted of running a cocaine factory and was sentenced to 12 years in prison in May 2021, a term later reduced by two years on appeal. He also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply and to possessing crime cash on 23 September 2020. The judge described him as "at the top of the pyramid" of the Clare drug scene and noted his status as a target of the divisional drugs unit. The case is set for mention on 10 July, with McInerney remanded in custody. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon ordered a victim impact statement to be prepared by that date.
Richard Burke has been sentenced to fourteen years' imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court for the manslaughter of Jasmine McMonagle. The 32-year-old from Killygordon, County Donegal, was found guilty of manslaughter following Ms McMonagle's death on 4 January 2019 at Forest Park, Killygordon. Mr Justice Paul Burns determined that Burke's responsibility was substantially diminished by mental disorder, though he retained considerable culpability for the killing. The judge imposed a sentence of fifteen years with the final twelve months suspended for five years, backdated to Burke's initial custody. Burke must undergo psychiatric assessment before release and comply with prescribed medical treatment and probation requirements or face serving the suspended portion. Ms McMonagle, aged 28, was discovered deceased in her home following a three-hour standoff with gardaí. Her two young daughters were present in the house at the time but unharmed. The trial, held in Monaghan earlier in 2023, heard evidence from two psychiatrists regarding Burke's mental state at the time of the offence. The unnamed man was acquitted.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 22 May 2023, Christina Anderson's counsel argued that her moral culpability for stabbing Gareth Kelly was zero because she was in a psychotic episode caused by bipolar‑affective disorder. The State accepted that cannabis intoxication did not feature in the case. Anderson, 41, pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. She was initially charged with murder but the DPP accepted the plea after the trial began. Anderson was taken to the Central Mental Hospital in February 2020 and remains a patient. The court heard that she had been experiencing delusions of a conspiracy involving neighbours, Gardaí and politicians, and that she had been under psychiatric care since 2017. The judge will set a sentence on 20 June, with the defence seeking maximum leniency. The case remains at the manslaughter stage.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, John Titiloye, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 25‑year‑old friend Ademola "Dizzy" Giwa, who was stabbed in the neck on 10 August 2021 in Tallaght. Titiloye told Gardaí that he had an altercation with Giwa's friend Samson Fayemi the day before and that he had been threatened by Giwa. He claimed he had a knife for self‑defence and that he had only used it to intimidate, not to stab. An eyewitness, Fayemi, testified that Titiloye raised his arm and struck Giwa's neck with a knife. A pathologist confirmed Giwa died from a stab wound that severed his jugular vein and damaged a lung. Titiloye's statements to Gardaí and his subsequent interviews were presented as evidence, with the prosecution arguing that he produced the knife and stabbed Giwa during a dispute over a debt and a stolen scooter. The trial will continue with closing speeches scheduled for Monday.
A trial is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court involving five defendants from an extended Traveller family, including a 66-year-old man, his three sons aged 38, 40, and 41, and the 63-year-old wife of the oldest son. The defendants face 126 counts of sexual abuse and assault allegedly committed against four children between 1999 and 2005. All five defendants deny the charges. The prosecution, led by Shane Costelloe SC, argued that the complainants were sexually abused by male relatives, describing the environment as one where children were "treated like dogs." Specifically, the first female complainant alleges she was repeatedly raped and sexually abused by three of her brothers. The second female complainant alleges rape by her grandfather, while a male complainant alleges repeated rape by his uncle. The defence, represented by Michael Bowman SC for the 66-year-old man, challenged the timeline and consistency of the evidence, particularly regarding the male complainant, arguing that care records contradicted the alleged dates of abuse. The defence also highlighted the significant time delay in bringing the case. The trial is currently at the closing speeches stage, with the jury instructed to decide based on the veracity of the complainants' evidence. The matter has not been concluded; the trial resumes on Monday before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring.
In a Dublin case, a 39‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and burglary on 4 January 2020. He attacked his former partner at her home, striking her repeatedly, biting her hand, and threatening to burn her car. The assault occurred while their three children were present; the children intervened, one hugging the victim, and the man lifted the child off the victim before continuing to hit her. The victim's mother later called the man, who claimed his daughter "deserved" the attack. Gardaí found the man's Safe Pass in the house and arrested him. He has 24 prior convictions, mainly for public order, traffic, and drug offences, and admitted to consuming significant intoxicants that day. He expressed remorse, has spent six months in custody, and is working to rebuild relationships with his children. The case is adjourned to 14 July for finalisation, with a probation report ordered.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, John McDonagh, aged 38, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for assault causing harm to his wife on 20 March 2020. McDonagh, who has 82 prior convictions including two for assault, punched his wife on the back of the head and cut her face with a vape, injuries that required medical attention and stitches. Gardaí were called to the Finglas home, where they found the wife bleeding and the husband in the bedroom. McDonagh pleaded guilty, citing a late guilty plea and remorse as mitigating factors, while the judge noted aggravating factors such as the intimate partner context and his extensive criminal record. The sentence was back‑dated to the date he entered custody. The wife withdrew her statement and complaint after the incident. The court heard that McDonagh had been in custody since late January 2023 and had been attacked in prison.
The Court of Appeal has quashed the conviction of Barry Fergal Jennings, a 57-year-old former priest and Irish Times columnist from Cloonkeerin, Frenchpark, County Roscommon. Jennings had been sentenced to four years imprisonment following his conviction in March 2022 on six counts of sexual assault against a schoolboy at locations in Dublin between September 1998 and December 1999. He had denied the charges. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy found that the trial judge failed to provide adequate direction to the jury regarding the limited and proper use of evidence concerning complaints made by the victim. The judge stated that such evidence could only demonstrate consistency of the complainant's account, not corroborate the allegations themselves. Ms Justice Kennedy determined that the absence of this instruction rendered the conviction unsafe, as the jury risked accepting complaint evidence as supporting proof of the facts alleged. She concluded there had been a substantial oversight giving rise to apprehension of real injustice, and accordingly quashed the conviction.
Alex Bailey, 30, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting an 86-year-old woman in Dublin 6 on September 1, 2022. Bailey pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, robbery, and false imprisonment. The court heard that Bailey, who was experiencing induced psychosis due to intoxication, assaulted the victim for 42 minutes, including putting her head first into a wheelie bin and applying pressure to the lid. The victim, who had early-onset dementia, suffered a fractured nose and blood loss. She subsequently lost her independence and moved into a nursing home due to balance issues and trauma. Bailey, who has no previous convictions, offered €10,000 in court as a token of remorse. Judge Crowe treated the assault as the principal offence, noting aggravating factors such as the victim's age and the duration of the attack. She sentenced Bailey to three years in prison, backdated from when he went into custody. The final six months of the sentence were suspended on conditions that he keep the peace, be of good behaviour for two years post-release, abstain from alcohol and drugs, attend the Rutland Centre for one year, and agree to random urine testing. If the victim does not accept the €10,000, it is to be donated to The Royal Hospital in Donnybrook.
Verdicts for Brendan Treanor and James Flynn, accused of a robbery that killed Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, will be delivered on 19 September. The Special Criminal Court trial lasted 55 days, with evidence, legal arguments and closing speeches. Both men, aged 34 and 32, deny all charges. They are also charged with conspiring with convicted Garda killer Aaron Brady and others to burgle houses in 2012 and 2013, specifically to steal car keys. The prosecution alleges they were part of a group that broke into houses to steal keys and then quietly leave with the cars. Aaron Brady, 31, is serving a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum for Donohoe's murder and the Lordship robbery, and he denies involvement in the robbery. The judges will provide reasons for their verdicts and have been given the summer break to prepare. The trial concluded today, with the court noting the need for detailed reasoning in its judgments. Brendan Treanor pleaded not guilty. James Flynn pleaded not guilty.
A notorious Limerick criminal, Gerard Mackin, has been jailed for three-and-a-half years after being convicted of laundering €4,780 as the proceeds of criminal behaviour at Rhebogue Road in Limerick on April 17, 2019. He also admitted to knowingly or recklessly handling, acquiring, and possessing the said property contrary to Section 7 of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act of 2010. The court heard that Mackin, who has a previous conviction for assault causing harm, was extradited from Spain and pleaded guilty to the charges. The judge noted that the sum of money was at the lower end of the scale but emphasized the seriousness of the circumstances. The sentence was backdated to December 5, 2022, when Mackin first went into custody. In mitigation, the court was informed that Mackin had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and intended to turn his life around upon release. He plans to return to Spain with his family and has taken steps to address past issues, including having an implant inserted in 2020 to deal with alcoholism. The matter was adjourned following the sentence.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, John Costello, a 41‑year‑old Limerick resident, was released on humanitarian grounds after serving part of a four‑year‑six‑month sentence for acting as a getaway driver in the 2015 shooting of drug dealer Christy Keane. Judge Tony Hunt cited "highly relevant personal circumstances" involving a child and significant responsibilities, and suspended the remaining portion of Costello's sentence for four years on the condition of good behaviour. Costello had pleaded guilty to providing transport to individuals allegedly involved in an assault causing serious harm to Keane, a charge stemming from the infamous Limerick feud. The judge noted Costello's early guilty plea and his reluctance to participate, but acknowledged he had been directed by a higher‑ranking individual to assist the shooters. The court warned that if Costello is re‑arrested, he must serve the remainder of his sentence.
Bernard Fogarty, aged 35, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to 15 years' imprisonment for the attempted murder of Mark Ivers during a shooting on Donaghmede's Streamville Road on 6 September 2019. Fogarty pleaded guilty, a plea that the judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, said earned a five‑year reduction from the headline 20‑year sentence. The court noted Fogarty's history of 54 convictions, including a life sentence for murder, and his involvement in the 2020 gun‑murder of Barry Wolverson and assault on Gerard Wildman. Evidence presented included eyewitness accounts of a balaclava‑clad gunman approaching Ivers' house, gunshot wounds to Ivers' femur, abdomen and liver, and CCTV footage of the suspect's vehicle. Fogarty was arrested on 22 October 2020 and entered custody on 12 July 2021. The sentence is to run from the date of the hearing.
A Donegal builder accused of participating in an armed attack on security guards at a repossessed farmhouse in County Roscommon has had his prosecution described as fundamentally flawed and contaminated by fair-procedure breaches. Patrick J Sweeney, 44, is one of four men on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for their roles in the December 2018 incident at Falsk, near Strokestown. The defence closing speech argued the State's case relies on defective body-camera evidence, contradictory witness accounts, and an identification process lacking proper protocols. Counsel contended no forensic evidence links Mr Sweeney to the scene and that images allegedly placing him at the location represent mere speculation. The co-accused are Martin O'Toole of County Mayo, Paul Beirne of County Roscommon, and David Lawlor of County Meath. All have pleaded not guilty to seventeen charges including false imprisonment, assault, aggravated burglary, and arson. The trial continues.
An 88‑year‑old former Christian Brother was found guilty of indecent assault by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The trial concerned 30+ charges of assaulting six boys at a Kilkenny primary school between August 1975 and June 1976. The defendant pleaded not guilty to all offences. After about five hours of deliberation, the jury unanimously convicted him of 28 counts involving four complainants, found him guilty by majority of two counts involving a fifth complainant, and returned a not‑guilty verdict on one count involving a sixth complainant. Judge Elma Sheahan thanked the jury, remanded the defendant on continuing bail pending a sentencing hearing on 30 June, and ordered victim impact statements and medical reports. Prosecutor Patrick McGrath SC presented evidence that the alleged inappropriate contact included touching and fondling, and that the complainants, now men in their 50s, were pupils at the school where the defendant taught.
A 27‑year‑old Kildare man who violently sexually assaulted his estranged wife, recorded on camera saying he had "every right" to touch her, had his original five‑year sentence increased by eight months after a successful appeal by the State. The Court of Appeal quashed the initial sentence, which had a 20‑month suspended portion, and re‑sentenced him to five years and eight months' imprisonment, with the final 20 months suspended. The judge noted the man's guilty plea and the mitigating factor of an acquired brain injury sustained in 2017. The appeal hearing highlighted the violence, breach of trust, and the impact of the brain injury, while the State argued the sentence was too lenient and the defence emphasised the injury as a key mitigating factor. The woman's victim impact report described the assault as frightening and menacing, and she had previously sought a protection order and stayed in a women's refuge.
In a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, John Titiloye, aged 25, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Ademola "Dizzy" Giwa, aged 25, in Tallaght on 10 August 2021. State pathologist Dr Sally Anne Collis testified that Giwa died from a stab wound to the right side of his neck that cut the jugular vein and damaged the right lung, causing haemorrhage and loss of blood and air in the chest cavity. The wound also penetrated the chest cavity and the upper lobe of the right lung. A second, superficial stab wound was found on Giwa's right forearm. No alcohol was detected in Giwa's system, though he had consumed cannabis containing THC earlier. Witnesses, including Samson Fayemi, described seeing Titiloye raise a knife and strike Giwa's neck during a dispute over a stolen scooter. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of twelve.
Gerard Cervi, the appellant accused of the murder of Bobby Messett and the attempted murders of Pete Taylor and Ian Britton at Bray Boxing Club in June 2018, may be granted bail on stringent conditions. The Court of Appeal found that Cervi has spent a "highly unusual amount of time" in custody, nearly five years, without a date for his second trial. While the State opposed bail, citing flight risk due to his post-incident travel to Spain, the court noted the absence of an imminent trial date. Justice George Birmingham stated that the substantial period in custody and uncertain timeline persuaded the court to contemplate bail, provided strict conditions are met. These proposed conditions include residing at a named address, signing on twice daily, surrendering travel documents and driving licence, installing a landline, and allowing electronic tracking of his mobile phone. The court invited parties to return to discuss whether these proposals were broadly appropriate. The matter was adjourned to allow for further discussion on the conditions, and no final decision on the bail application was made at this stage.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the prosecution concluded its case against four men accused of participating in a violent attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm in Falsk, Co Roscommon, in December 2018. Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, David Lawlor, and Patrick Sweeney, who are currently defending themselves or represented by counsel, have all pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each. The alleged offences include false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four guards, aggravated burglary, arson of four vehicles, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Senior Counsel Anne Rowland argued that the defendants were part of a common enterprise to ensure the guards would not return through violence and humiliation. She presented evidence including body-cam footage, mobile phone data, and witness testimony linking each accused to the scene or the organisation of the event. The trial is at the sentencing stage following the completion of the prosecution's closing speech, with defence submissions scheduled to begin immediately. The court has not yet delivered a verdict or sentence, and the matter remains under active judicial consideration.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 38‑year‑old man, the third accused, was heard by a jury after he told Gardaí that his father should be punished for having a child with his daughter. He is one of five defendants – his 66‑year‑old father, two brothers aged 40 and 41, and his 63‑year‑old mother – all charged with numerous counts of sexual abuse of four family members who were children at the time. The indictment lists 126 counts, and all five deny the charges. The 38‑year‑old had previously pleaded guilty to 36 charges, including 22 counts of raping his sister, four counts of sexual assault and six counts of oral rape, but he denied two charges of anally raping his niece and two of his male cousin. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, continues with the jury hearing the accused's interviews and the complainants' evidence.
An eyewitness, Samson Fayemi, testified that John Titiloye, 28, stabbed Ademola "Dizzy" Giwa, 25, in the neck on 10 August 2021 in Tallaght. Fayemi said he had been with Titiloye and a third man when a dispute over a €100 debt and a scooter escalated. He claimed Titiloye had a mallet and that Fayemi had been threatened with a knife. Fayemi reported that Titiloye, after a fight, produced a pocket knife and struck Giwa's neck while he tried to intervene. The witness also said Titiloye's father, Anthony, was injured in the eye during the altercation. Fayemi denied that Giwa had stabbed Anthony and said he had only been present to try to resolve the debt. The trial is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of twelve. John Titiloye pleaded not guilty.
Before the Special Criminal Court on May 17th, 2023, a barrister for Brendan Treanor argued there is insufficient evidence to sustain charges against his client in connection with a 2013 credit union robbery in Bellurgan, County Louth, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was killed. Sean Guerin SC submitted that prosecution claims relied on speculation rather than direct evidence, and that no proof existed that Treanor left his home the evening of the robbery. Counsel highlighted inconsistencies in the State's case, including witness testimony that the getaway driver was female, and challenged the feasibility of the timings alleged. Both Treanor and James Flynn (32), from South Armagh, deny charges of robbery and conspiracy to burgle. Aaron Brady is serving a life sentence for the detective's murder and the robbery itself. Closing arguments continue, with the three-judge court to determine the case. Brendan Treanor pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court trial of 32‑year‑old Jozef Puska, accused of murdering 23‑year‑old teacher Ashling Murphy in Offaly, has been postponed to the autumn. Puska, who lives in Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, was charged with the fatal assault that occurred on 12 January 2022 while Murphy was jogging along the Grand Canal near Tullamore. The trial, originally scheduled for 7 June, was delayed after the State received an expert report from the defence and the prosecution needed time to respond and obtain a further report. Prosecutor Ms Anne Marie Lawlor SC requested the June date be vacated and the case be listed for the first day of the Michaelmas term on 2 October. The judge set a new trial date of 2 October 2023 and agreed to renew an application for a Slovakian interpreter. The case will be mentioned again on 21 July for a pre‑trial management hearing.
The trial of Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The four men, who have all pleaded not guilty, face 17 charges each, including false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, and arson of four vehicles. Prosecuting counsel Anne Rowland SC delivered her closing speech on day 38 of the trial, which began last February. She alleged that the group was "bent on violence and domination" during an attack on a repossessed farm in Co Roscommon in December 2018. The State's case relies on joint enterprise, arguing that all participants are liable for the criminal acts committed by the group. While the prosecution noted that the case is mainly based on circumstantial evidence, it pointed to direct video footage identifying Mr. Sweeney and Mr. O'Toole committing offences. The jury was reminded to decide the case on the facts rather than sympathy for the victims. The matter is currently at the appeal stage of proceedings and has not been finalised; the trial continues.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard that John Titiloye, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ademola Giwa, aged 25, who was fatally stabbed in the neck on 10 August 2021 in Tallaght. Witness Martina Wade testified that on 9 August she was parked at 'Mr Price' when she observed a group of six men, some armed with hammers, engaging in a fight that escalated into a hammer‑fight involving a claw hammer and a mallet. She saw a black Mondeo car involved and noted the men's height and the use of hammers. Wade also described the scene as "too close" and expressed distress. The prosecution alleged that Titiloye produced a knife during a dispute over a debt and a stolen scooter, stabbing Giwa in the neck. The trial, set to continue, involves CCTV footage of the altercation and statements from other witnesses about the scooter and the parties' relationships.
The Special Criminal Court excluded Aaron Brady's father, Tony Brady, from the trial of James Flynn and Brendan Treanor after he posted an online video accusing a Garda of perjury and contempt of court. The video was deemed "tendentious and offensive" and unrelated to the evidence presented. Judge Tony Hunt ruled that while people may hold opinions, they cannot use their presence in court to publish such allegations. Brady apologized for his remarks and was not found in contempt. The trial, which has been ongoing for over 50 days, involves Flynn (32) and Treanor (34) who are charged with a €7,000 robbery at Lordship Credit Union and conspiracy to break into homes to steal car keys. Both pleaded not guilty. Aaron Brady, 31, remains in custody on a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum for the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe and the robbery. The case is expected to conclude this week.
A Special Criminal Court has heard that an organised criminal gang comprising at least five members with local knowledge deliberately targeted Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, County Louth, in the robbery during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fatally shot. The State's closing address, delivered by barrister Lorcan Staines SC on 15 May 2023, relied on circumstantial evidence including CCTV footage and mobile phone data to link the accused men to the attack and a series of related burglaries. Brendan Treanor and James Flynn deny charges of conspiracy to commit creeper burglaries between September 2012 and January 2013, and of robbing €7,000 from the credit union on 25 January 2013. The prosecution contends the gang possessed detailed local knowledge of the area and prior intelligence about the credit union's operations. Counsel noted coordination indicators such as synchronised phone deactivations before the robbery and evidence of reconnaissance visits. Aaron Brady, already serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum for Detective Donohoe's murder, was named as a co-conspirator. The trial continues at the Special Criminal Court. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on June 26, 2022, Liam Joyce, aged 25, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm after unprovoked attacks on a hostel resident at the Four Courts Hostel and Merchants Quay. The victim was approached outside the hostel around 10.30pm, where Joyce punched him twice, struck his face with a glass bottle, and later, inside the hostel, punched him again, pulled him to the ground and stamped on his head up to 16 times. The porter tried to intervene, but Joyce removed a six‑inch knife from his pocket, which fell to the ground. CCTV footage and medical reports of cuts, bruising and swelling were presented. Joyce, who had prior assault and traffic convictions, was remanded from September 5, 2022, until bail on March 29. Judge Nolan imposed a 28‑month sentence, backdated to September 4, 2022. The court noted Joyce's homelessness, substance issues and mental health concerns.
A father of two, who was a teenager when he repeatedly sexually assaulted a young boy, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. The defendant, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to six counts of sexual assault that occurred between September 2007 and July 2010 at various locations in County Wicklow. He was 17 when he first assaulted the 14‑year‑old victim, masturbating the child and forcing the child to masturbate him. The abuse escalated when the victim was 15, with the offender forcing the child to perform oral sex. The victim reported that the abuse lasted just under three years and involved about 200 incidents. In his victim impact statement, the survivor said the abuse left him feeling worthless and full of self‑doubt, and he urged the court to prevent the offender from harming others. The defendant expressed shame and remorse, acknowledging the harm he caused.
In a case heard by a three‑judge Court of Appeal, a 27‑year‑old man was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for aggravated sexual assault of his estranged wife in Co. Kildare on 19 November 2020. The final 20 months of the sentence were suspended. The judge, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, noted the assault took place in the victim's home, where she had a right to feel safe, and that she had repeatedly pleaded for the man to leave. The man recorded on camera declared, "I'm your husband and I have every right to touch you." He pleaded guilty to the assault. The Director of Public Prosecutions argued the sentence was too lenient, citing violence, breach of trust and the man's refusal to leave despite pleas. The court considered mitigating factors, including a traumatic brain injury sustained in 2017, and a prior conviction for violence.