Daniel Lynch, aged 25, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for coercive control of his pregnant partner between 19 September 2020 and 15 January 2022. He had full access to her phone and social media, took her money every Monday, and verbally abused her, telling her no one loved her and hoping she would miscarry. He threatened to kill her in a WhatsApp voice message on 15 January 2022, breaching a protection order. He also left a voicemail saying he would murder her the first chance he got. The judge noted his lack of remorse and imposed a concurrent sentence of three and a half years, suspending the final six months, with strict conditions including victim‑focused work and substance‑abuse treatment. The offence of coercive control carries a maximum penalty of five years. The court heard the victim's impact statement describing physical abuse, isolation, and drug use. The sentence reflects the seriousness of Lynch's conduct.
Four men have gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accused of involvement in a sustained and brutal attack on security personnel at a repossessed property near Strokestown, County Roscommon in December 2018. Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne and David Lawlor each face 17 charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and arson. The prosecution alleges that approximately 20 to 30 people arrived at the rural house around 5am on 16 December 2018, armed with various weapons, and attacked four security guards who were guarding the property. The court heard that the guards were seriously assaulted, had their hands tied with cable ties and their shoes removed. A German Shepherd dog at the property was beaten and subsequently had to be put down. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty. The prosecution intends to rely on the legal principle of joint enterprise to establish liability. The trial, before Judge Martin Baxter, is scheduled to run for five weeks.
Stephen Silver (46), from Aughavard in Foxford, County Mayo, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the murder of Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. During evidence, Mr Silver described experiencing mental health episodes since age nineteen, including believing himself to be "the second coming of Jesus" and experiencing paranoid delusions. He told the court he has been hospitalised between sixteen and seventeen times and has schizoaffective disorder. On the day of the incident, Mr Silver said he was at a hotel where he became suspicious of companions and believed English builders present were members of the SAS. He stated he checked underneath his van for explosives due to paranoia and fear. The defence argues Mr Silver's state of mind at the time of the shooting is the central issue in the case. The trial before Ms Justice Burns continues.
A former detective garda told the Special Criminal Court how he feared for his life during an armed robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, County Louth, on 25 January 2013, when a man pointed a shotgun at his face and threatened to shoot. The officer recounted discovering his colleague Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe fatally wounded by a gunshot to the head following the incident. A credit union volunteer also gave evidence, describing how a robber smashed her car window and demanded money while she heard gunshots outside. Brendan Treanor, aged 34, formerly of Dundalk, and James Flynn, aged 32, from South Armagh, have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burgle residential premises and to robbing seven thousand euro from the credit union. Aaron Brady, previously convicted of Detective Garda Donohoe's murder, is serving a life sentence with a forty-year minimum term and is appealing his conviction. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of a 38‑year‑old man who had been sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with two years suspended, for repeatedly defiling and sexually assaulting a girl who was 13 when the first offence occurred. The man had pleaded guilty to defilement of a child under 15, defilement of a child under 17 and a single count of sexual assault. He claimed he believed the girl was 16 and that he had ceased the relationship when he discovered her true age, but he returned and continued the abuse for over three years, during which the girl gave birth to their daughter at age 15. The appeal argued the sentence was excessive, citing the man's early age and the fact that he had pleaded guilty, but the court upheld the judge's decision, noting the protracted nature of the abuse, the man's violent and manipulative conduct, and the lack of mitigation from the families.
Stephen Silver (46), from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court on a charge of murdering Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon, on 17 June 2020. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury has been directed that the central issue concerns his state of mind at the time of the shooting. Video footage from his fifth police interview, conducted on 19 June 2020, was viewed in court on Tuesday. In the footage, Mr Silver stated the garda would not be dead had he remained in his vehicle. Detective Inspector Brian Hanley put it to the accused that Garda Horkan had identified himself and announced an arrest for assault, and that Mr Silver was aware of the firearm the garda carried. Mr Silver declined to respond. Witness statements were read to the court, including one from a resident of Castlerea who heard shouting and gunshots in rapid succession.
In the Central Criminal Court, a care worker testified that the dispute over land between Chrissie Treacy and her nephew Michael Scott became more apparent in the ten weeks before Treacy's death. The care worker, who had looked after Treacy from 2016 until her death in April 2018, described Treacy's physical frailty and occasional low mood, noting that she was "subdued" and "down on herself" during that period. She also reported that Treacy's concerns about her welfare were raised with her coordinator. The court heard that Treacy and her brothers farmed about 140 acres at Derryhiney, that after their deaths Michael Scott owned half the land and Treacy owned the other half, and that she had leased both her Derryhiney and Kiltormer farms to him. The trial continues with the case that Michael Scott, aged 58, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 76‑year‑old aunt on 27 April 2018.
In February 2021, 20‑year‑old Gavin Dooner stole a delivery cyclist's electric bike outside Lidl in East Wall, Dublin. He drove off on his moped with the bike over his shoulder, having previously been seen driving dangerously and smashing windows. Dooner confronted delivery drivers Guillherme Quieroz and George Gonzaga Bento over the theft. Teenager Josh Dunne (16) and friends were nearby, hoping to buy pizza. A confrontation erupted; Dunne was stabbed by Bento, who was later acquitted of murder and other offences. Dooner pleaded guilty to stealing the bike, assault causing harm to Quieroz, dangerous moped driving, driving without licence or insurance, and criminal damage. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment and a four‑year driving disqualification. Tiernan Ryan, who joined the assault later, received nine months' imprisonment. The court noted Dooner's youth, guilty pleas and prior convictions in determining the sentence.
Stephen Silver, aged 46 from Aughavard in Foxford, County Mayo, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court accused of the capital murder of Garda Colm Horkan on June 17th, 2020 at Castlerea, County Roscommon. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder while knowing or being reckless as to whether the deceased was a garda acting in the course of duty, but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The jury's central consideration concerns the accused's state of mind at the time of the shooting. During interview footage presented to the jury on Monday, Mr Silver disputed accounts provided by witness James Coyne, describing them as "lies, absolute bullsh*t". He claimed Garda Horkan "never at any stage indicated he was a detective" and questioned why identification had not been produced. Mr Silver's behaviour during the interviews included refusing to answer questions, whistling, singing, and at one point claiming to be a captain in a cavalry reserve unit. Detective Inspector Brian Hanley testified that the accused was aggressive, angry and threatening prior to his fourth interview.
The High Court heard that a 21‑month delay in charging two 15‑year‑old teenagers with false imprisonment and sexual assault has denied them the chance to be tried as minors, creating a prejudice that should halt their prosecutions. The alleged incident took place in a public park in June 2019, where a teenage girl claimed she was prevented from leaving by about eight boys, one of whom allegedly forced her to perform a sexual act and another who allegedly pulled down his trousers. The girl said she was touched, forced to kiss a boy, and could not escape until friends arrived. A complaint was made to Gardaí in early 2020, and the boys were arrested and interviewed in August 2020.
A 59‑year‑old Limerick man was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for raping and repeatedly sexually abusing his partner's daughter, aged 12‑14, over a two‑year period between 1994 and 1997. The jury found him guilty on 31 counts, including sexual assault, oral rape, attempted rape and attempted anal rape, all committed in the family home. He had no acceptance of the offences and no remorse, but the judge noted his otherwise blameless life and financial support for his family. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed concurrent sentences totalling 12 years and ordered six years of post‑release supervision, during which the man must not contact the victim, must be supervised by the probation service and must not be alone with children under 18. The victim, who was not present at sentencing, described lasting trauma, anxiety, depression and complex post‑traumatic stress disorder caused by the abuse.
A Leaving Cert student, aged 12‑15, was found guilty by a jury of five counts of sexual assault against his step‑sister, aged 8‑11, committed between July 2016 and August 2018 in Dublin and a location outside Dublin. The victim, who cannot be named, wrote a note to her father in December 2019 stating that the accused sometimes touched her private parts when he visited. She described multiple incidents: being touched in front of her trousers in her home and a restaurant, having her pants pulled down in her bedroom, a failed attempt to hug and expose his penis, and an attempt to touch her mouth. She also recounted a moment when he forced her hand onto his penis. A victim impact statement, read by Garda Sergeant Gary Sexton, expressed how the abuse altered her life and caused anger toward her brother.
Tony Gummerson, aged 42, was sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually assaulting and raping his step‑niece when he was 17 and she was between seven and eight years old, between September 1997 and March 1998. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of four counts of sexual assault, two counts of oral rape and one count of rape. Gummerson had previously been convicted of sexual assault and served a three‑year sentence in 2012. He was babysitting the child at the time and was ten years older, breaching a significant trust. The judge noted the abuse was pre‑meditated and occurred behind closed doors, often after waking the victim from sleep. Gummerson did not accept the verdict, showed no remorse or apology, and the judge imposed a nine‑year sentence with the final two years suspended on conditions. The sentence was back‑dated to his June 2022 custody entry.
A Central Criminal Court jury has heard garda interview footage in which Stephen Silver, charged with the capital murder of Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon, on 17 June 2020, presented varying accounts of the fatal shooting. The accused, who has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter, told detectives on 18 June 2020 that Garda Horkan discharged his own firearm accidentally during a struggle. In the interviews conducted by Detective Inspectors Brian Hanley and Patrick Farrell, Mr Silver initially claimed he did not fire shots, later stating he fired only into the air, before subsequently denying he fired at all. He maintained he acted in self-defence against an armed assailant whilst en route to purchase food. The court was told Mr Silver had been off medication since September and had not slept for approximately thirty hours at the time of interview. The trial, where Mr Silver's state of mind is the central issue, continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns.
In the trial of Michael Scott for the murder of Chrissie Treacy, care workers and witnesses described a tense environment at Treacy's home in Portumna. Susan Keane, a care worker, reported that she had raised concerns about Treacy's welfare due to disputes over land with Scott, and that she had left her duties because the setting was "draining." She also noted that Treacy's beloved dog, Bradley, vanished after the house doors were locked, an event that caused Treacy great distress. Other witnesses, including Caitriona Starr, described ongoing arguments between Scott and Treacy, restrictions on access to the farm's shed, and Treacy's fear of going outside. The prosecution alleges that Scott deliberately ran over Treacy, while the defence maintains it was a tragic accident. The case is being heard by Ms Justice Caroline Biggs with a jury. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
A 26-year-old man from Sligo has received an concurrent 18-month prison sentence following his guilty plea to threatening a prison officer at Mountjoy Prison. Paul Darcy of Calry Court, Stephen Street, Sligo, made the threat on August 17, 2019, after refusing to return to his cell during the evening lock-in. When instructed by the officer to comply, Darcy charged towards him aggressively, shouting threats of violence, and subsequently warned he would harm both the officer and his home upon release. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that gardai were contacted due to the menacing nature of the threat. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence concurrently with an existing sentence, Darcy being due for release in 2026. The court noted that Darcy has since apologised to the officer and caused no further difficulties in custody whilst studying for his Junior Certificate.
Gezim Idrizi, 37, of Lutterstown Heights, Castleknock, was found guilty by a jury of one count of assault causing harm after punching a salesman in the face during a prolonged "serious assault" on 1 February 2016 at GZ Security, Rosemount. He was acquitted of a false imprisonment charge. Idrizi had two prior road traffic convictions. Judge Patricia Ryan, citing the injuries sustained, the effect on the victim, and the prolonged nature of the assault, imposed a custodial sentence of three years and nine months, with the final six months suspended for two years. The judge considered his cooperation, lack of relevant prior convictions, and the hardship to his family as mitigating factors. The victim suffered facial fractures, a lip laceration, bruising, and incurred €200 in medical bills and €4,000 in lost wages. Idrizi denied wrongdoing and offered compensation. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Court.
Miranda McCabe, 37, of Navan, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Stephanie Dunne at Priorswood Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin, on November 27, 2021. The court heard that Ms Dunne, who had just returned from visiting her premature baby in hospital, was attacked by McCabe on her porch. Garda Mark Reilly stated that McCabe head-butted and punched the victim, while a male co-accused, who is still before the courts, held knives and later dragged McCabe away. DNA from a hair clump found at the scene matched McCabe. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as a "savage" attack on a vulnerable woman, noting the motive remained unclear. Although the judge expressed an instinct to imprison McCabe, he cited concerns for her three children, one of whom has significant medical needs. Considering McCabe's five previous convictions and her status as a single mother, Judge Nolan did not finalise the sentence immediately. Instead, he ordered a Probation Services report to assess her suitability for community service. The matter was adjourned to May 12.
A man has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment following a burglary at a residential property in Dundrum, south Dublin on July 2nd, 2022. Gary Bailey, aged 45, of Gleann Na Ri, Druids Valley, Loughlinstown, pleaded guilty to the offence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. During the incident, the male occupant confronted the intruder and a struggle ensued in which Bailey grabbed the homeowner by the groin. As Bailey attempted to escape through a bedroom window, the resident struck him several times with a golf club, causing Bailey to become briefly suspended upside down from the window blinds before falling. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Bailey's primary objective upon being confronted was escape rather than violence. The court heard Bailey had acted impulsively, telling gardaí the burglary was not premeditated and that he had been under the influence of medication at the time. The judge accepted that Bailey had displayed remorse and wished to apologise to both victims.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 16 February 2023, Meraj Ahmed, a 27‑year‑old pizza chef from Lucan, was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment for a knife attack on a housemate. The incident occurred on 18 February 2018 when Gardaí were called to a Lucan property where Ahmed was found with severe hand injuries. Ahmed pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. The court noted that he had attacked the victim with punches and attempted to stab him in the stomach, while the victim defended himself and sustained serious hand injuries. Judge Martin Nolan highlighted Ahmed's guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, work history and cooperation as mitigating factors, but ruled a custodial sentence was unavoidable. The sentence was imposed from the date of the hearing. The case involved a history of conflict between the two men and the victim's injuries were treated at Blanchardstown Hospital. The court did not consider any future appearance of Ahmed.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 16 February 2023, Des Roche, 60, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a drunken confrontation with a tenant over Airsoft rifles in his home. The tenant, a student, had discovered two Airsoft pistols and a rifle in a locked bedroom and the dispute escalated when Roche, intoxicated, brandished a knife. The tenant sustained temporary marks on his hands from the knife, but no serious injury. Garda Alan Butler reported that Roche was unfit for questioning for six hours after arrest. Judge Martin Nolan suspended in full a 21‑month prison term, conditional on Roche keeping the peace and good behaviour for the period. The court noted the tenant's privacy was invaded and that Roche had no prior convictions. The case ended with Roche's release and no further incidents reported.
During the murder trial of Michael Scott, the first Garda to arrive at the scene described how the flesh of his 76‑year‑old aunt, Ms Treacy, was completely ripped from her left forearm and strewn in the yard in front of her home. Sergeant Gerard Cleary noted that the marks on the ground suggested a wheel from the agricultural teleporter had spun, and that the flesh was found on the back left wheel of the machine. Scott, aged 58, was seen by the Garda on his hunkers and appeared to show little emotion. He claimed he did not know how to call emergency services and said he had not known the number 999. The prosecution alleges that Scott deliberately ran over Ms Treacy following a long‑running land dispute, while the defence maintains it was a tragic accident. The trial is proceeding before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs with a jury of seven men and eight women. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
Ross Donoghue, a 31‑year‑old former resident of Northway Estate in Finglas, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted robbery in the Malahide area on 28 June 2020. He tried to rob a 16‑year‑old girl and a 64‑year‑old man on the same morning. The girl was forced to remove her earphones when Donoghue demanded her phone and threatened to stab her; she escaped after Donoghue fell. The man, Robert Ennis, was tackled by Donoghue, who kicked him several times. Ennis suffered facial bruising and mild orbital swelling. Donoghue had a long record of convictions for assault, criminal damage, attempted robbery, drug possession and obstruction, and was on bail at the time of the offence. Judge Martin Nolan, after noting Donoghue's remorse and admissions, imposed a custodial sentence of 21 months, consecutive to his current term, citing his long‑standing addictions and prior convictions as aggravating factors. The sentence was delivered on 15 February 2023.
Martin Cunningham, 28, of Mulhuddart, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for a sustained campaign of harassment against his former partner while he was in Mountjoy Prison. Between 1 January and 30 March 2021, he made 3,800 calls, many from a private or blocked number, and left voicemails threatening to kill or cause serious harm. The court found the calls were made from prison, where he should not have had a phone, and that they were part of a callous, calculating, cruel and sustained course of harassment. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, back‑dated to 10 August 2021, and suspended the final six months for two years on strict conditions, including probation supervision for one year after release. The sentence also directed Cunningham to avoid any contact with the victim while in custody and during the suspended period. Martin Cunningham pleaded guilty.
Stephen Silver, a 46-year-old mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. At the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard a video recording of Mr Silver's first interview with gardaí at Castlerea station. In the interview, Mr Silver stated that Garda Horkan initiated a struggle after approaching him on the street, and that the officer went for his gun after losing the ensuing confrontation. Mr Silver told detectives he was certain he would have been killed had he not gained control of the firearm, which he said discharged during the struggle. He said he was "a law-abiding citizen" unaware of the garda's identity. The prosecution presented evidence from Detective Inspector Brian Hanley regarding observations made during the interview. Detective Sergeant Eric Godfrey, who trained with Garda Horkan at Garda College in 1994, gave emotional testimony. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns and a jury of twelve.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, witness Ms Regina Donohue testified that she had urged 76‑year‑old Chrissie Treacy to move into a retirement home in Portumna for her safety, a suggestion she said Treacy declined. Donohue described a series of deteriorating conditions on Treacy's farm, including damaged fencing, a switched‑off oil heater, and the disappearance of her dog Bradley. She also recounted an incident where Michael Scott, Treacy's nephew, entered her home and demanded her whereabouts after she had left to celebrate her birthday. Donohue further alleged that a letter from an agricultural consultant had informed Scott that Treacy was applying for a single farm payment on land she owned but had previously leased to him, a development that upset him. The prosecution maintains that Scott deliberately ran over Treacy with a teleporter on 27 April 2018, an act he denies, claiming the death was a tragic accident. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 15 February 2023, Mr Justice John Edwards upheld the constitutionality of the Children Act 2001, rejecting a challenge that the legislation was defective. The case concerned a 17‑year‑old boy, who was 13 when he raped his seven‑year‑old cousin, and who had been found guilty of rape and four counts of sexual assault. Mr Justice Edwards noted that the Act provides no mechanism for deferring or suspending a custodial sentence for a minor, and that the trial judge, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, had no alternative but to impose immediate detention. Mr Justice Edwards said the law must be applied as it stands, and that any amendment would be the responsibility of the Oireachtas. The appeal will be heard by a non‑jury, three‑judge court on 27 February, as the defendant turns 18 next month. The boy's sentence appeal remains pending. The judge denied bail for the defendant. The unnamed 17-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Hamid Zatout, 25, was jailed for six and a half years after pleading guilty to four robbery charges, one assault causing harm and one attempted robbery. The crimes, committed in July and August 2019, involved targeted muggings of expensive designer watches ranging from €5,000 to €47,000, including a €20,000 watch from an American tourist in Dublin's Temple Bar. Gardaí used over 57 CCTV clips to show Zatout and accomplices following victims before forcibly breaking watch straps to steal the timepieces. Zatout had lived in a Dundalk hotel at the time of arrest and had previously left Ireland via Belfast in September 2019, returning under a different name. He had no prior convictions in Ireland, and the court accepted his guilty pleas, noting his remorse before sentencing.
In February 2023 the Court of Appeal increased the jail term of a 78‑year‑old man convicted of raping and sexually abusing a child over a decade. The man, whose name is withheld to protect the victim, had been jailed for seven years after a 2021 conviction on 72 counts, including rape, oral rape, anal rape and sexual assault, committed between 1991 and 2001. The State appealed on grounds of undue leniency. Judge John Edwards ruled that the original 15‑year headline sentence had been too low, citing aggravating factors such as the child's age, the duration of the abuse and the breach of trust. The new headline sentence was 14 years, with a one‑year discount for lack of prior convictions and good character, and a four‑year suspension, leaving nine years to be served. The victim's impact statement described lasting trauma and the loss of her childhood. The man's appeal last month was dismissed. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Silver, a 46-year-old motorbike mechanic from Foxford, County Mayo, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the capital murder of Garda Colm Horkan on 17 June 2020 at Castlerea, County Roscommon. He has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter. Prosecution witnesses testified that Silver engaged in ordinary conversation about sport, politics and work with hotel guests on the morning of the garda's death. Forensic and pathology evidence detailed extensive gunshot injuries sustained by the deceased officer. A retired garda sergeant stated that Garda Horkan had escorted Silver to a psychiatric unit following a family incident in 2003. A superintendent confirmed Garda Horkan was temporarily appointed as a detective aid and authorised to carry a firearm in plainclothes duties. The defence has acknowledged Silver's responsibility for the shooting. The trial continues before Justice Tara Burns and a jury of twelve.
In February 2023 the Court of Appeal heard the appeal of Renato Gehlen, a 40‑year‑old Brazilian who was convicted of murdering his wife, Anne Colomines, in October 2017. Gehlen had denied the murder and claimed that Colomines stabbed herself during a struggle. The jury had rejected this claim, finding the wounds unlikely to be self‑inflicted, and had convicted Gehlen of murder, sentencing him to mandatory life imprisonment. At the appeal, Gehlen's lawyers argued that a defence of provocation and loss of self‑control had not been allowed to be presented to the jury. The judges, however, noted that there was no evidence of Gehlen's loss of control and that a provocation defence would be inconsistent with the evidence of the fatal wounds. The court reserved its judgment on the appeal. The case remains at the appellate stage.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 14 February 2023, Daniel Keane, a 36‑year‑old Irish Army NCO, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, production of an article and making off without paying for a taxi. The incident occurred on 7 December 2019 when Keane and his partner, both intoxicated, had a verbal dispute with a taxi driver at St Anthony's Crescent, Crumlin. Keane left the vehicle, entered the driver's house, and used a 2‑ft black fire poker to strike the driver on the hip and face, causing injuries that required hospital treatment. He also stole €100 from the driver's wallet, later returned it, and took the driver's phone. The court imposed an 18‑month prison sentence, suspended in full for two years on strict conditions, and ordered Keane to pay the driver the €20.80 fare.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 62‑year‑old man from County Kilkenny was sentenced to ten years and ten months in prison, with four and a half years suspended, for indecent assault and rape of his sisters between 1973 and 1979. The younger sister, aged five‑half to twelve at the time of abuse, was assaulted and raped, while the older sister, aged twelve to fifteen, was assaulted and raped in 1978‑79. The defendant admitted indecent assault of both sisters but denied rape of the younger sister. He had prior convictions for sexual assault in the mid‑1990s, receiving a two‑year suspended sentence in 2005. The judge imposed consecutive sentences, citing the family's poverty, dysfunction and the victim impact statements. The defendant was ordered to have no contact with the sisters. The case highlighted the sisters' survival and the defendant's alleged history of abuse and bipolar disorder. The unnamed accused pleaded guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court, a witness testified that Stephen Silver (46), of Aughavard, Foxford, Co Mayo, appeared "looking crazy" following the fatal shooting of Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, Co Roscommon on June 17, 2020. The garda was shot eleven times with his own firearm. Ms Makulova, a resident of Castlerea Main Street, told the jury she heard gunshots that she initially mistook for fireworks, and observed a man with a ponytail holding a gun standing beside an injured man on the road. A second witness, business owner Dermot Mulvihill, corroborated hearing explosions and described seeing the man discard an object with a metallic sound. Forensic evidence presented showed a palm print matching Mr Silver's on the gun. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter. The defence acknowledged the accused's responsibility for the shooting, with the central issue being his state of mind at the time. The trial, before Ms Justice Tara Burns, continues before a jury of seven men and five women.
The Central Criminal Court heard that a 40‑year‑old woman and her 52‑year‑old partner abused their five‑year‑old daughter and three‑year‑old son. The abuse included repeated rape, forced oral sex, and the girl being glued to a chair. The children later disclosed that the mother forced the girl to perform oral sex on the partner and that the boy was made to perform oral sex on the man. The mother and partner were tried last year and convicted of multiple counts of rape, oral rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, false imprisonment and reckless endangerment. The mother was convicted of four counts of sexual assault, four of sexual exploitation, four of oral rape, one of false imprisonment and one of reckless endangerment. The partner was convicted of one count of rape, six of oral rape, one of false imprisonment, one of anal rape and one of sexual assault of the boy.
Stephen Silver, a 46-year-old motorbike mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, stands trial at the Central Criminal Court on a charge of capital murder in connection with the death of Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. During proceedings, psychiatric evidence was presented regarding Mr Silver's mental state at the time of arrest. Dr William Monteiro told the court that Mr Silver refused psychiatric assessment but displayed no evidence of active mental illness when observed, appearing lucid and capable of engagement. Dr Greg Kelly, a general practitioner from Castlerea, testified that Mr Silver had disclosed his mental health declined during Covid restrictions and that he had been living in a shed. Dr Kelly noted Mr Silver's demeanour appeared inappropriate for his circumstances and that psychiatric care had diminished due to Covid-related service restrictions. The trial, before Ms Justice Tara Burns, continues.
At the Special Criminal Court on 10 February 2023, Paul Crosby of Rathmullan Park, Drogheda, was sentenced to ten years imprisonment with the final six months suspended for two years, following his guilty plea to facilitating the murder of seventeen-year-old Keane Mulready-Woods. His co-accused Gerard Cruise, with addresses in Drogheda and Dublin, received seven-and-a-half years with the final six months suspended. Both men pleaded guilty to charges under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 of assisting a criminal organisation in the killing, which occurred in January 2020. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described the treatment of the teenager's remains as "disgraceful and inhuman". Evidence established that Crosby arranged to meet the victim and travelled with Cruise to Rathmullan Park where the murder took place. The judge found Crosby held a higher level of involvement in the criminal organisation than Cruise. The court heard the chief suspect, Robert Lawlor, was subsequently shot dead in Belfast. The victim's mother provided a detailed impact statement to the court.
The Special Criminal Court has heard testimony concerning a credit union robbery in County Louth in January 2013 during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fatally shot. Staff from Lordship Credit Union and Cooley Credit Union in Bellurgan described a coordinated assault as they prepared to transport takings to a bank in Dundalk under Garda escort. The secretary at Lordship reported that three men blocked the exit and forced entry to his vehicle, stealing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques before gunshots rang out. A colleague from Cooley Credit Union, who remained in her car during the incident, witnessed the attack and subsequently discovered the detective wounded nearby. Brendan Treanor and James Flynn face charges of robbery and conspiracy to commit creeper-style burglaries across four counties between September 2012 and January 2013. Both have pleaded not guilty. Aaron Brady, convicted of Detective Donohoe's murder and serving life with a forty-year minimum, is named as a co-conspirator. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges.
Stephen Silver, aged 46, of Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the capital murder of Garda Colm Horkan. The trial heard that Garda Horkan was shot eleven times with his own firearm at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter. Civilian witnesses gave evidence that after the shooting, Mr Silver repeatedly told gardaí: "If I hadn't killed him, he would have killed me." Garda witnesses testified that Mr Silver was agitated and aggressive in custody, and that he later spat at officers and urinated on the floor of his cell. During cross-examination, the defence counsel indicated that Mr Silver's state of mind at the time of the incident remains the central issue in dispute. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 19‑year‑old Josh Conlon received a fully suspended three‑year sentence for his involvement in a two‑hour assault on Ms Lyndsey Byrne in November 2021. Conlon pleaded guilty to assault causing harm but was deemed not the "prime mover" of the attack, which was led by Paul Clarke. Judge Martin Nolan noted Conlon's lesser role, early guilty plea, youth and lack of prior convictions, and ordered him to maintain good behaviour under Probation Services supervision for one year. Clarke, aged 29, was sentenced to four years and three months for the assault, while Craig Kelly, 38, received a five‑month sentence for simple assault. The court highlighted the brutality of the attack, including the use of a broom handle and boiling water, and the severe injuries sustained by Byrne. The sentences were back‑dated to the November 2021 incident.
At the Central Criminal Court, a garda has given evidence describing the fatal shooting of his colleague Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Stephen Silver, aged 46, from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter. Garda Aidan Fallon testified that he witnessed the incident and found Garda Horkan shot eleven times with his own firearm. The court heard that Silver made comments and behaved disruptively as emergency procedures were performed. Multiple witnesses provided accounts of the struggle and subsequent gunshots on Main Street. Sergeant Michael O'Hara and other gardaí testified regarding Silver's statements and demeanour following his arrest. The defence has indicated that Silver's state of mind at the time remains the central issue in dispute. The trial before Ms Justice Tara Burns continues.
An unnamed 17-year-old appellant, who was 13 at the time of the offences, was sentenced to one year of detention for sexually assaulting and raping his seven-year-old cousin. The defendant was found guilty by a jury of orally raping his cousin following a trial earlier this year. He also pleaded guilty to four counts of sexually assaulting her on unknown dates between October 1 and December 31, 2018. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor imposed a headline sentence of four years for the juvenile defendant, reduced to one year of detention after considering mitigating factors such as his age, lack of previous convictions, and cooperation. She also imposed nine-month sentences for each sexual assault count, all to run concurrently, and ordered two years of post-release supervision. The court noted aggravating factors including the age disparity, the power imbalance, and the fact the offences occurred in the victim's home. Last month, Ms Justice O'Connor agreed to defer finalisation of the case for two weeks while defence counsel made an application to the Court of Appeal. Defence counsel Lorcan Staines SC stated the intention was to lodge an appeal, challenging the "novel" approach taken during the trial where no cross-examination was conducted to avoid trauma to the victim. The matter was adjourned pending this application.
The Central Criminal Court adjourned sentencing of a 17‑year‑old convicted of murdering Urantsetseg Tserendorj to allow the Oireachtas to consider legislative reform for juvenile serious offenders. Judge Tony Hunt noted the Children Act 2001 lacks provisions for suspended sentences or post‑release conditions, making a 13‑year review unsuitable. He preferred a life detention with review but, due to the law's gaps, would have to impose a life sentence without review. The defendant, 14 at the time of the offence, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was found guilty of murder. The judge highlighted the victim's background, the violent nature of the stabbing, the defendant's prior convictions, and mitigating factors such as family support and rehabilitation signs. The sentencing was postponed to 22 February pending legislative response.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Paul Clarke (29) was sentenced to four years and three months' imprisonment for assault causing harm to Lyndsey Byrne, who was tied up, struck with a stick and repeatedly scalded with boiling water during two attacks in November 2021. Clarke, described as the "main man", was accompanied by Josh Conlon (19) on the first day and Craig Kelly (38) on the second. Conlon pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, while Kelly pleaded guilty to simple assault. Clarke's sentence was back‑dated to the date of his arrest. The court noted Clarke's 79 prior convictions and the severity of the assault, while Kelly received a five‑month sentence and Conlon's sentence was to be decided the following day. The proceedings focused on the assault and the guilty pleas, without reference to any subsequent developments.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled that burglary and robbery charges against two men will be heard together, rejecting an application to separate the trials. Brendan Treanor, aged 34, formerly of Dundalk, County Louth, and James Flynn, aged 32, from South Armagh, face conspiracy charges relating to house burglaries between September 2012 and January 2013, and robbery charges stemming from a credit union incident in Bellurgan, County Louth on 25 January 2013. Both have pleaded not guilty. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding over the three-judge court, exercised his discretion to combine the trials while confirming each charge will be considered separately. The court heard evidence from Virginia and Monaghan residents describing break-ins and car thefts during the relevant period. Detective Garda Laura Bolger provided maps charting distances between alleged theft locations and properties connected to the accused. Aaron Brady, previously convicted of murder and burglary in the same matter, is serving a life sentence with a forty-year minimum and is appealing his conviction.
At the Central Criminal Court, a garda recounted attending to her colleague Garda Colm Horkan after he was fatally shot at Castlerea, Co Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Garda Helen Gillen described witnessing two men grappling before one was shot multiple times with his own firearm. She performed CPR on Garda Horkan after realising he was the victim. Stephen Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Foxford, Co Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial heard evidence from eyewitness James Coyne, who was with Silver that evening, describing how an interaction with Garda Horkan escalated into violence. Another witness, Paul McGarry, a local resident, testified to hearing gunshots and disturbances in the area. The defence has indicated that Silver's state of mind at the time remains the central issue, with responsibility for the shooting accepted. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns.
Mr Justice Paul McDermott, a senior judge at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, criticised the persistent delays affecting criminal trials. He noted that only three of the ten trials scheduled for the day were ready to proceed, while seven were adjourned. McDermott highlighted that some of these cases had been listed since 2020, and that the courts have been offering case‑management support to lawyers. He accused barristers of presenting "tales of woe" about predictable issues, such as difficulties in obtaining reports from government agencies, late disclosure by the Director of Public Prosecutions, and unready expert reports. The judge also mentioned the challenges faced by complainants, especially in murder cases, and the impact on families of the bereaved. His remarks underscored the need for accountability to address the systemic causes of trial delays.
Dean Paget, 34, pleaded guilty to attempting to murder his former partner Lisa Ward and to intentionally ending the life of their unborn child. At a Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing, Judge Paul McDermott imposed a 14‑year sentence, with the final 12 months suspended for two years on the condition that Paget work with probation services and continue treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. The court considered Paget's violent assault on Ward on 25 April 2021, during which he punched, kicked, choked and threatened her, and threatened to "rip" their unborn daughter, Ruby Rose, out of her. CCTV evidence showed a series of vicious assaults and appalling threats. Paget's guilty plea and admission of remorse were noted as mitigating factors, but the judge emphasised the severe and terrifying nature of the violence and the lasting impact on Ward. The suspended portion of the sentence was tied to addressing violence and addiction issues.
Brendan Martin, 55, pleaded guilty to a single count of indecent assault on his seven‑year‑old nephew in 1982. The victim, Joseph Martin, waived anonymity and gave a video statement from Spain, describing the abuse as "unquantifiable" and its far‑reaching, destructive impact. He said the assault destroyed his relationship with his father, caused bed‑wetting until age 14, and left him with lasting emotional difficulties. Judge Martin Nolan noted the offender was a child at the time, aged 15, and suspended a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, ordering Martin to register as a sex offender. The court heard that Martin had been babysitting the nephew for months, that the abuse involved fondling and forced kissing, and that the victim's mother had stopped allowing him to babysit. Martin had previously been convicted of sexual assault in 2003‑2004 and was fined. He is now homeless and lives in his car.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence on Thursday that Stephen Silver, a forty-six-year-old mechanic from Foxford in County Mayo, was shouting in a Castlerea street on the night Garda Colm Horkan was fatally shot, daring armed gardaí to confront him. Witness testimony established that Mr Silver had visited Castlerea Garda Station earlier that day to lodge an angry complaint about a garda raid on a neighbouring property. Several residents of Knockroe estate told the court they observed Mr Silver riding a motorbike recklessly around the area at approximately ten-thirty that evening, engaging in erratic behaviour including aggressive shouting. One witness stated she heard him challenge the armed squad to come down. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Garda Horkan on June seventeenth, twenty twenty, but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. His defence team has indicated that Mr Silver's state of mind at the material time remains the central issue in the trial before Ms Justice Tara Burns. The case continues.