In a Central Criminal Court hearing, farmer Michael Scott, aged 58, is accused of murdering his 76‑year‑old aunt Christine Treacy after a long‑running land dispute. The prosecution alleges that Scott deliberately ran over Treacy with his agricultural teleporter outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna, on 27 April 2018. Witness Francis Hardiman, a neighbour and cousin of Treacy, testified that after the incident Scott was hysterical, crying and shouting "I can't deal with this" and that he later grabbed a double‑barrel shotgun from his jeep. Hardiman described Scott's emotional state and the scene where Treacy's body was found lying face‑down on concrete near the teleporter, with tyre marks on her trousers. The defence maintains that Treacy's death was a tragic accident, while the prosecution seeks a murder conviction based on intent. The trial continues before Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury of fifteen. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
Christopher Kearney, 36, of Isaacs Hostel, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Anthony O'Toole at Aston Quay on 21 January 2022. The assault, captured on CCTV from a Dublin Bus, was described by Judge Martin Nolan as "particularly violent" and followed a dispute between the men. Garda Eric Downey reported that the pair had earlier attracted police attention during a disagreement, claiming they were friends, before walking toward Ha'penny Bridge. Later, Gardaí found O'Toole unconscious, bleeding from nose, mouth and head, with facial injuries; he was taken to hospital but discharged himself and did not cooperate with the investigation. Kearney received a 16‑month prison sentence, with no victim impact statement submitted. He has 77 prior convictions, including theft and violent behaviour, and is homeless, on a social housing waiting list, and engaged with drug‑difficulties services.
Derek Reid, 35, of Clonliffe Road, Dublin 3, was jailed for five and a half years after repeatedly attacking, degrading and sexually assaulting his then partner over a six‑day period in March 2018. He slapped her, choked her, head‑butted her, dragged her by the hair, sat on her chest and forced her to give him oral sex while threatening her family. He also held her in her flat against her will, threatened to make her son go missing and defecated on her bed. Reid pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and to false imprisonment. The court imposed concurrent sentences of six and a half years for the sexual assaults, suspending the final year, and five and a half years for the false imprisonment, with conditions to keep the peace, attend drug and alcohol treatment and remain drug‑free. The victim described the ordeal as a "nightmare on repeat.".
In a 2023 Court of Appeal hearing, the court increased the sentence of Costel Pirvu, a 39‑year‑old non‑English‑speaking foreign national, for raping a 19‑year‑old woman with a mild intellectual disability three times after forcibly taking her to his apartment. The original six‑and‑a‑half‑year term was quashed and replaced with a ten‑year imprisonment, with the final year‑and‑a‑half suspended. The appeal judge criticised the trial judge for giving an excessive discount for Pirvu's language barrier, describing it as "extremely high" and "excessive". The judge noted Pirvu's prior convictions, including attempted rape, and a disturbing probation report that showed no remorse or empathy toward the victim. The new sentence was back‑dated to the date Pirvu entered custody in August 2018. The decision was made after a nine‑day trial at the Central Criminal Court where Pirvu pleaded not guilty to all counts. Costel Pirvu was found guilty.
In the trial of 58‑year‑old Michael Scott, accused of murdering his 76‑year‑old aunt Christine 'Chrissie' Treacy over a land dispute, the jury was shown photographs of the deceased lying on a concrete pavement with tractor tyre marks on her legs. Garda Geraldine Doheny described the images, noting tyre impressions on Ms Treacy's blue slacks and the dirty windows of the tractor driven by the accused. The prosecution maintains that Ms Treacy was deliberately run over, while the defence argues the death was a tragic accident. Det. Sgt. David Conway also presented photographs, including one of the deceased's clothing, and agreed with defence counsel that one image was a "distressing photo" of the lower half of Ms Treacy's body. Justice Caroline Biggs explained to the jury that the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused killed the deceased with intent, while the accused retains the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
A 58‑year‑old farmer, Michael Scott of Gortanumera, Portumna, has been brought before the Central Criminal Court on a murder charge. He is accused of driving a JCB tractor over his 76‑year‑old aunt, Christine 'Chrissie' Treacy, in a yard outside her home at Derryhiny on the afternoon of 27 April 2018. The prosecution, represented by Dean Kelly SC, argues that the incident was not an accident but a deliberate act carried out in the context of a long‑running land dispute that had eroded the relationship between the parties. Mr Kelly described the case as a "most terrible and dark" crime, noting that Mr Scott had a sense of being wronged and that he "callously and wilfully" drove over his aunt. Mr Scott has pleaded not guilty. The trial, which may last up to ten weeks, is set to continue tomorrow.
Leon Wilson, aged 19, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm after he threw a plastic bottle at a supermarket security guard, resulting in severe injuries. The victim suffered a fractured orbital bone, nose, bruised cheekbone and eye, with potential loss of sight. Wilson, who was 16 at the time of the incident, pleaded guilty and had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year prison sentence suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months under Probation Service supervision. Wilson was identified via CCTV, and a search warrant was executed at his home. The case was delayed, causing Wilson to lose the benefit of the Children's Act. Wilson expressed remorse and submitted a letter of apology; a psychological report was also presented. The judge noted mitigating factors such as the guilty plea and lack of previous convictions.
The trial of Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, who denies the murder of David Byrne, heard evidence regarding a YouTube video showing the victim dead after the Regency Hotel attack. Co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, both pleading not guilty to facilitating the murder by providing vehicles, face charges of participating in criminal activity. The court heard from Detective Garda Paul Darley about the clip, which captured voices discussing the scene and a van exiting the premises. The prosecution also presented evidence from taxi driver Paul Brady, who rented a plate to Murphy, and Detective Alan Crummey, who took statements from Murphy regarding a potential vehicle clone. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns. Separately, former co-accused Patrick Dowdall (65) was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for facilitating the murder by booking a hotel room. His son, Jonathan Dowdall, pleaded guilty to the same facilitation charge and was jailed for four years by the Special Criminal Court. A nolle prosequi was entered on Jonathan Dowdall's murder charge following his guilty plea. The validated procedural stage for the current defendants is sentence, though the trial is ongoing.
Keith O'Reilly, 31, of County Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed in May 2022. He pleaded guilty to one count of assault, criminal damage, and production of a realistic firearm at Harold's Cross, Dublin. The court heard that O'Reilly broke into the home of his wheelchair-bound ex-girlfriend, assaulted her, and threw her dog onto the road. Gardaí discovered an imitation firearm in his rucksack upon his arrest. Judge Martin Nolan suspended a three-year term of imprisonment on full strict conditions. The judge noted that O'Reilly had no previous convictions and was remorseful, though somewhat intoxicated at the time. Crucially, the judge cited a letter from the victim, who requested he not be imprisoned due to his past good behaviour and her belief in second chances. Judge Nolan stated that it was only because of the woman's Christian views that O'Reilly avoided immediate custody. The matter was finalised with this suspended sentence.
In a murder trial held at the Central Criminal Court, a 24‑year‑old man named Oliver Doran pleaded guilty to the axe murder of Kwok Ping Cheng, a 76‑year‑old vulnerable pensioner. The victim's mutilated body was discovered covered in blood in the living room of his own home at Robinson's Court, Cork Street, Dublin 8, on 28–29 April 2021. Doran had initially pleaded not guilty but, after discussions with his counsel, chose to enter a guilty plea on the third day of the trial. He expressed remorse and requested forgiveness from Cheng's family, providing a letter to be given to them. The court accepted the plea, directed a probation report and victim impact statements, and remanded Doran in custody for sentencing. The jury heard that Cheng died from multiple traumatic injuries, including a fractured skull and arm, chop wounds, bruises and lacerations, caused by an axe.
During a sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 16 January 2023, Judge Pauline Codd addressed the case of Dean Pouch (31) and Jacek Luczyn (31), who pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and violent disorder for an incident on Jervis Street on 26 May 2021. The judge noted that the accused had opportunities to walk away but chose not to, and that Gardaí had been called at 10:45 pm after reports of an assault. CCTV footage showed Pouch kicking and punching the victim, who sustained a fractured cheek, and Luczyn also kicking and punching. Both men were intoxicated and expressed remorse. Judge Codd imposed a five‑year sentence for the violent disorder charge, suspending the final two and a half years on strict conditions, and a two and a half year sentence for assault causing harm, to run concurrently.
Costel Pirvu, 39, was convicted of three rapes and one false imprisonment after a nine‑day trial at the Central Criminal Court. He was sentenced to ten years, with the final three‑and‑a‑half years suspended and back‑dated to his arrest in August 2018. The Court of Appeal heard that the judge had applied a 50 % mitigation factor because Pirvu, a foreign national who does not speak English, would find prison life more difficult. The appeal argued this discount was extraordinary. Pirvu's defence said the judge acted within discretion and that Pirvu had medical concerns and limited access to English‑speaking support while in custody. The appeal was adjourned for judgment on 19 January 2023. The case involved a 19‑year‑old woman who was raped on a side‑street, taken to Pirvu's apartment, and raped twice more before being released the next morning. The victim suffered physical injuries and ongoing PTSD, depression and suicidal thoughts. Costel Pirvu pleaded not guilty.
CCTV footage shows Oliver Doran entered the home of 76‑year‑old Kwok Ping Cheng at Robinson's Court, Dublin, through a rear window on 28/29 April 2021 and stayed for about an hour and thirteen minutes. He allegedly dropped an "axe‑like tool" after leaving the flat and tried to retrieve it, falling in the process. Doran, who lives at Sophia Housing, Cork Street, has pleaded not guilty to the murder. The trial heard that Doran claimed he killed Cheng with an axe he had brought from his own home, but he could not recall details due to intoxication. Witnesses, including the victim's son and a neighbour, described finding Cheng's body covered in blood and with multiple broken bones and scalp lacerations, injuries consistent with an axe blow. The case is being heard by the Central Criminal Court with a jury of nine women and three men.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of a 78‑year‑old man convicted of raping and sexually abusing a child over a decade while he was in a relationship with the child's mother. The man was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment in 2021 for 72 counts, including rape, oral rape, anal rape and sexual assault, committed between 1991 and 2001. He argued that Gardaí failed to interview potential witnesses such as a grandmother and an uncle, who are now deceased, and that the investigation was incomplete. The appeal judge, Mr Justice John Edwards, found no evidence that the failure to interview those witnesses prejudiced the case and upheld the conviction. The State is appealing the sentence as unduly lenient, but the appeal against the conviction was rejected.
The Regency Hotel murder trial heard evidence from a senior garda regarding four shootings linked to the Hutch-Kinahan feud. Detective Superintendent David Gallagher testified about the still open investigation into the shooting of Patrick Hutch Junior and the murder of Eddie 'Neddie' Hutch in 2016. The prosecution case against Gerard Hutch and his co-accused is expected to conclude on Thursday. Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch (59) denies the murder of Mr Byrne (33) during a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016. His co-accused, Paul Murphy (61) and Jason Bonney (52), have pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of Mr Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. Patrick Dowdall (65) was jailed for two years before the Regency trial started after he admitted his part in booking the hotel room for the raiders. James Quinn (role: convicted_person) was convicted of facilitating Mr Byrne's murder and participating in activity intending to facilitate the commission of a serious offence by making a room available at the Regency Hotel on February 4, 2016. The court also ruled that CCTV footage concerning the movement of a silver Toyota Avensis taxi associated with Paul Murphy can be admitted as evidence against him. The procedural stage is sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old boy was sentenced to three years' detention for stabbing another 16‑year‑old seven times with a kitchen knife outside Vela nightclub's car park. The attack, lasting 10‑15 seconds, left the victim with life‑threatening injuries, including a collapsed lung and severe blood loss, requiring intensive care, surgery and a period in a wheelchair. The perpetrator, who had no prior convictions at the time, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, violent disorder and producing a knife. He was later convicted of knife possession a week after the incident. The court noted the boy's abandonment by family, homelessness and lack of support, and highlighted the need for rehabilitation in detention. The victim's mother gave a victim impact statement, while the victim declined to speak. The knife was never recovered. The sentence was back‑dated to the boy's custody in September.
Bryan Kennedy, aged 35, was sentenced by the Central Criminal Court to four‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for attempting to hire a hitman to murder two women who were exchanging intimate online messages with his former wife. The judge, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, adjourned the sentence until 17 April to allow the child‑care agency Tusla to arrange support for Kennedy's children, who are his primary carers. Kennedy had previously been convicted of possession of child pornography, but the judge noted the images were few and old. He paid €8,000 to the would‑be assassin, named only as AL, after learning of the couple's online contact with his ex‑wife. Kennedy pleaded guilty, admitted the plan, and expressed remorse, citing depression and a difficult personal life.
A 27-year-old Donegal man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a teenager as she slept at his home on 4 June 2017. The Central Criminal Court heard that the then-19-year-old was staying at the accused's apartment when the assault occurred. The woman provided a victim impact statement describing the profound effects of the offence over the subsequent five and a half years, including flashbacks, nightmares, and lost family support. She expressed how the ordeal had been life-changing but stated she now views herself as a survivor rather than a victim. The accused initially claimed the contact was consensual but now accepts he caused harm to a woman who did nothing to provoke the assault. Defence counsel noted the accused had been drinking, which does not excuse the crime. Mr Justice McDermott adjourned finalisation of the case to April 2023 to allow completion of a probation report and full mitigation hearing. The judge remarked that the five and a half year delay had compounded the complainant's suffering.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Jonathan Dowdall, a former co-accused of Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch who has turned State's witness, asked a garda 'is there any way out' and 'if him and his family could get into the Witness Protection Programme' in the days following his arrest. The status of Dowdall's Witness Protection Programme (WPP) application remains unknown, with a decision expected in the middle of this month. Gerard Hutch (59), of The Paddocks, Clontarf, Dublin 3, denies the murder of David Byrne (33) during a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016. His co-accused, Paul Murphy (61), of Cherry Avenue, Swords, Co Dublin, and Jason Bonney (52), of Drumnigh Wood, Portmarnock, Dublin 13, have pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of Mr Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. The court also heard that Patrick Dowdall was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in June 2017 and later re-sentenced to 7 years and 11 months after successful appeals, following his guilty plea to falsely imprisoning Mr Hurley and threatening to kill him at Jonathan's family home on January 15, 2015. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
A Central Criminal Court judge agreed to postpone sentencing for a 17‑year‑old Kildare teenager who was found guilty of orally raping his seven‑year‑old female cousin and of four counts of sexual assault between 1 October and 31 December 2018. The defendant, who was 13 at the time of the offences, is a minor and cannot be named. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, after hearing the case, decided to adjourn the matter for two weeks to allow the defence to lodge an appeal application to the Court of Appeal. She noted the trial was unusual, with no closing speech by defence counsel and no cross‑examination, so the victim did not attend court. The judge expressed that a period of detention would be imposed, taking mitigating factors such as the defendant's age and cooperation into account, and that the sentences would run concurrently.
Mum-of-three Christina Anderson has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility for stabbing a man to death outside her home after spending over a month on trial accused of murder. Ms Anderson, who has been a patient at the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) since shortly after she stabbed 39-year-old Gareth Kelly to death, had previously pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has considered a plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter, and Ms Anderson was arraigned on the new charge of manslaughter and pleaded guilty in front of the jury. Patrick McGrath SC, for the DPP, said the plea was accepted and the DPP intends to enter a 'nolle prosequi' in relation to the murder charge at a sentencing hearing next April. Michael O'Higgins SC, who acted for Ms Anderson, said that the plea decision was taken 'after lengthy consideration and appraisal of this case'. The court has previously heard that Professor Harry Kennedy, a consultant psychiatrist, disagreed with Dr Brenda Wright, a consultant psychiatrist called by the defence, who said that Ms Anderson was suffering from bipolar affective disorder and as a result of her mental disorder she was unable to refrain from stabbing Mr Kelly. Professor Kennedy had written a report in which he said that Ms Anderson's behaviour was better explained by cannabis intoxication. Intoxication cannot be used as a defence under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. Following today's plea, Ms Anderson began to cry as Mr O'Higgins told the court that his client's first instruction was to 'apologise profusely' to the Kelly family for the events that led to Mr Kelly's death. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor will hear evidence and submissions relating to sentencing on April 17 when the Kelly family will also be invited to make impact statements to the court. The judge remanded Ms Anderson in custody after hearing that the accused will be taken to the Dochas women's prison before being transferred back to the CMH where she is undergoing treatment for her psychiatric condition. Gareth Kelly, the defendant, faces a charge of murder by reason of insanity and has pleaded not guilty. The matter was adjourned.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, witness James Ellis testified that he discovered the body of Kwok Ping Cheng, 76, in his sheltered accommodation on 29 April 2021. Ellis said he had visited the pensioner's home several times a week to check on him, and that on that morning he entered the apartment, found Cheng "covered in blood" in the sitting room, and called emergency services. State Pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers gave evidence that Cheng suffered multiple broken bones and scalp lacerations, most likely caused by an axe, and that his death was due to hypovolemic shock from blood loss. The accused, Oliver Doran, 24, pleaded not guilty to the murder, claiming he was intoxicated and could not remember much of the incident. The prosecution presented CCTV footage and DNA evidence linking Doran to the axe used in the killing. The trial continues before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury.
A 49-year-old Dublin man has pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to facilitating the murder of teenager Keane Mulready-Woods. Gerard Cruise, with an address at Lower Sherrard Street in Dublin 1, was originally charged with the murder at a house in Rathmullan Park, County Louth, on January 12 or 13, 2020. He pleaded guilty today to participating in activities with intent to facilitate the serious offence, with knowledge of a criminal organisation's existence, contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The 17-year-old was last seen alive in Drogheda on January 12, 2020. His remains were discovered in various locations over subsequent months. A co-accused, Paul Crosby, pleaded guilty to the same charge last month. Mr Justice Tony Hunt remanded Cruise in custody until January 23 for sentencing.
A 39‑year‑old Dublin security guard was sentenced to nine years in prison for grooming, molesting and raping his partner's daughter, aged eight to ten, between 2018 and 2019. He threatened the girl with violence if she disclosed the abuse and was found guilty of sexual assault and one count of rape at several Dublin locations, including his home. The judge noted the defendant's admission of wrongdoing, his attempts to blame the victim, and his ambiguous moral stance. The victim, now a mid‑teen, described her childhood as a period of terror and expressed fear and guilt. The judge praised her courage for coming forward. The sentence includes a suspended final year, conditions for psychiatric and drug‑abuse treatment, and a post‑release supervision order to protect the victim and other children.
Oleg Mihalas, 28, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a verbal row over a football pitch at UCD. He tackled a 13‑year‑old boy to the ground and kicked him in the face, causing bleeding, a swollen lip, a graze to the arm and bruising to the leg. The boy fully recovered. Mihalas was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe to an 18‑month prison term, fully suspended for three years on strict conditions. He was described as remorseful, had no prior violent history, and had cooperated with Gardaí. He brought €2,500 to court as a token of remorse, covered the boy's GP costs and clothing, and handed a letter of apology. The court noted the seriousness of the charge and the victim's trauma. The sentence was imposed with full suspension and strict conditions.
Jamie Walsh, 18, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for assault causing harm after he and a co‑accused attacked a man on Naas Road, Dublin, on 18 November 2021. The incident began when the victim and his partner were kissing on a Luas stop; a boy shouted "It's so gay" and the two teenagers then punched and kicked the victim, leaving him unconscious with bruises, a swollen lip and a broken eye. CCTV identified Walsh and he was arrested a month later. Walsh had 48 prior convictions, including theft, robbery and assault. The court noted his upbringing in state care and his parents' criminal history. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended the final 16 months, and ordered good behaviour and probation supervision for one year upon release. The victim's impact report was filed but not read aloud. The co‑accused, aged 14, had already been dealt with by the courts. The unnamed teenager pleaded guilty.
Jean Louis Fancony, a 39-year-old French national formerly of Limerick, appealed his conviction for assault causing serious harm to his flatmate, Tim Crowley. Fancony, who pleaded not guilty claiming self-defence, was convicted by a jury in November 2020 and sentenced to seven-and-a-half years' imprisonment in February 2021. Judge Tom O'Donnell described the injuries as "appalling" and "horrific." At the Court of Appeal, defence counsel James Dwyer SC argued that an alleged admission made to Garda Enda Clifford was inadmissible because it was not read back to or signed by Fancony. Dwyer contended this undermined the fairness of the trial, particularly regarding the spontaneity required for a self-defence argument. The State, represented by John O'Sullivan BL, submitted that the trial judge had delivered a reasoned ruling on admissibility and that the notebook's contents remained open to interpretation. The three-judge court, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, reserved its judgement. Consequently, the matter was adjourned and remains pending a final decision.
The trial of 24‑year‑old Oliver Doran, charged with the murder of 76‑year‑old Kwok Ping Cheng in his own flat in Robinson's Court, was postponed on 12 January 2023 because of a minor technical issue. Doran, who lives at Sophia Housing, Cork Street, pleaded not guilty. The case was scheduled to start at the Central Criminal Court that day, but Mr Justice David Keane informed the jury that the prosecution would not open its case due to the technical difficulties. He instructed the jury not to research the case or discuss it outside the courtroom and to base their decision solely on the evidence presented. The trial was rescheduled to begin the following day at 11 a.m. The State's case is presented by Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC, while Michael Bowman SC represents the defence. The trial is expected to last about three weeks.
The Special Criminal Court heard that no further steps will be taken regarding a 'curious' document disclosed to the defence in the Regency Hotel murder trial. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC stated the matter requires investigation, while defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC noted it must wait for another day. Gerard Hutch, 59, denies the murder of David Byrne on February 5, 2016. Co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, both pleading not guilty to facilitating the murder by providing vehicles, face a ruling tomorrow on the admissibility of CCTV footage. Murphy's defence argued the footage breached privacy rights under the Data Protection Act, while the prosecution contended it was manifestly relevant and admissible. The court also heard evidence from Inspector Padraig Boyce regarding a coordinated operation that seized AK-47 rifles from Shane Rowan and searched the home of Jonathan Dowdall. Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder by making a hotel room available, was sentenced to four years imprisonment. His father, Patrick Dowdall, also pleaded guilty to the same facilitation charge and was jailed for two years. Both men had previously been sentenced for the false imprisonment of Alexander Hurley, with sentences later reduced on appeal. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns.
John McClean, a former rugby coach and teacher at Terenure College, admitted to indecently assaulting two boys during the 1980s. He pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault, each involving two separate incidents, committed between 1981 and 1983 and again between 1987 and 1988. The court remanded him in custody for sentencing on February 23. McClean also faces 49 additional counts of alleged sexual assault involving 20 former students, which will be addressed at a later hearing. The sentencing may last up to two days.
A 24‑year‑old man, Oliver Doran, is on trial for the murder of 76‑year‑old Kwok Ping Cheng in the victim's flat on Cork Street, Dublin, in 2021. Doran pleaded not guilty. The case is being presented by Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC for the State and defended by Michael Bowman SC. Mr Justice Paul McDermott set the trial for two weeks, possibly a third, and thanked the jury for their participation. The trial will begin tomorrow at 2 pm before Mr Justice David Keane with a jury of nine women and three men.
The Special Criminal Court heard a "curious development" in the ongoing trial of Gerard Hutch, who denies murdering David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC apologized for a delay caused by a newly disclosed document and the unavailability of a garda witness, estimating the trial would conclude in two weeks. Co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who pleaded not guilty to facilitating the murder by providing vehicles, remain on trial. Jonathan Dowdall, a former State's witness who pleaded guilty to facilitating the offence by booking the hotel room, was previously jailed for four years. His father, Patrick Dowdall, was jailed for two years for the same facilitation charge. The court heard evidence regarding CCTV footage harvesting, with the trial set to continue before Ms Justice Tara Burns and colleagues. The prosecution alleges Kevin Murray, who died in 2017, was the shooter, while Dowdall testified that Hutch admitted to the killing. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC challenged Dowdall's credibility, citing phone data inconsistencies regarding alleged meetings.
During the sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court, the husband of the murdered Mongolian national Urantsetseg Tserendorj, aged 49, delivered a victim impact statement expressing the profound loss and mental anguish he and his children suffered after the murder. The court heard that the 16‑year‑old accused, who was 14 at the time of the offence, had 31 previous convictions, including robbery, violence and drug offences. He denied the murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on 29 January 2021, a plea the State did not accept. The jury returned a guilty verdict after nearly nine hours of deliberation. The victim was stabbed in the neck on a walkway between George's Dock and Custom House Quay in the IFSC, Dublin, on 20 January 2021, and died the following evening due to lack of oxygen caused by the stab wound.
The Special Criminal Court heard the final day of cross-examination of Jonathan Dowdall, a State's witness in the trial of Gerard Hutch, who is accused of the murder of David Byrne. Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder by providing a room at the Regency Hotel, denied allegations that he is a manipulator or liar. The defence challenged his testimony regarding alleged meetings with Hutch, playing audio recordings and phone data that contradicted his timeline. The court refused to allow the defence to play a video of Dowdall waterboarding Alexander Hurley, noting that Dowdall had already pleaded guilty to that offence and was re-sentenced to seven years and 11 months imprisonment following a successful appeal. His father, Patrick Dowdall, who also pleaded guilty to the same offence, was re-sentenced to four years imprisonment after his appeal. The trial continues with Hutch, who denies the murder charge, and co-defendants Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who pleaded not guilty to charges of participating in the murder by providing access to vehicles. The matter remains ongoing, with no finalisation or adjournment recorded in this report.
A 17‑year‑old Louth boy pleaded guilty to four counts of anal rape, one count of rape, two counts of sexual exploitation and one count of sexual assault against his young niece and cousin, aged nine to ten, between November 2019 and March 2020. The offences occurred in the boy's home, a place considered a "safe space" by the children and their parents. At the Central Criminal Court, Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring described the acts as a "breach of trust" and noted the lack of a risk assessment regarding the boy's future offending. She imposed a three‑year detention sentence, ordered 18 months of post‑release supervision by Probation Services, and prohibited any contact with the victims. The court also considered the boy's guilty plea, prior good character, expressions of remorse and engagement with services as mitigating factors. The boy will remain in Oberstown until he completes his exams before being moved to an adult prison.
Two Dublin men, Philip Bowes and Jason Dunphy, who suffered serious injuries in violent attacks, successfully challenged the High Court's refusal to consider their applications for compensation under the State's Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. The men were told they were ineligible because their applications were made after the scheme's time limit. Mr Justice David Holland ruled that the scheme's 2021 amendment, which introduced a strict two‑year limit, lacked a transitional provision allowing extensions for exceptional circumstances. He found this breach of the legal principle of effectiveness and that the State could not impose such a limit without proper safeguards. The court did not address the scheme's constitutionality and awarded the men their legal costs. The decision leaves pending similar cases from other victims whose applications were also rejected on the same grounds.
Three Dublin‑based Egyptian men—Mostafa Elsayed Morshedy Elsayed Faraag, Gomaa Rashed Ahmed Arafa and Hussein Mohamed Hussein Mahmoud—sued in the High Court after an alleged assault on 13 December 2022. They say a group of up to 20 men broke wooden chairs on their bodies, damaged their possessions and left their apartment on Tyrconnell Road, Inchicore, looking like a war zone. The men claim the attack was aimed at forcing them to vacate the property they had rented for over a year. They secured a temporary injunction against the landlord, Mr Xia Ping He, and any other person with notice of the order, preventing assault, intimidation or trespassing. The injunction also bars the landlord and others from damaging the premises. The case is set to return to court in early January. The men have not yet received a 30‑day notice of termination of their tenancy.
Kim Kelly, aged 54, was beaten by her partner Ian McCluskey in his home after she refused to lend him money. Six weeks later, McCluskey and his friend David Corr attacked her again, with Corr calling her a "rat". Kelly described being knocked to the ground, struck in the face, and repeatedly kicked and punched. She feared the men would kill her and that they might throw her out of a window. Kelly has suffered black eyes, facial cuts, bruises, and Post‑Traumatic Stress Disorder, and now sleeps with an axe beside her bed. McCluskey pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, threatening to kill, witness intimidation and a second assault. Corr pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, threatening to kill and witness intimidation. Judge Dara Hayes sentenced McCluskey to five years with the final 12 months suspended, and Corr to three years with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions.
Gerard Hutch, 59, of Clontarf, Dublin 3, pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Byrne, who was shot dead at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016. He also faces charges of facilitating the murder by making a hotel room available on February 4, 2016, and providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. Jonathan Dowdall, 44, of Cabra, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder by making the room available. He was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for this offence, and a nolle prosequi was entered on the murder charge. Patrick Dowdall, 65, also pleaded guilty to the same facilitation charge and was jailed for two years before the trial began. Paul Murphy, 61, of Swords, Co Dublin, and Jason Bonney, 50, of Portmarnock, Dublin 13, pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. The trial is ongoing, with cross-examination of the State's witness, Jonathan Dowdall, continuing before the Special Criminal Court.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 21 December 2022, Brendan Murray, aged 63, was remanded to the Central Mental Hospital pending a psychiatric report due on 28 December. The court, after a jury found him not guilty of murdering his 88‑year‑old mother, Neasa Murray, by reason of insanity, directed that he remain detained until the report. Counsel for Murray noted that the court could extend the committal period up to six months. The trial had heard that Murray claimed the Holy Spirit commanded him to punch, choke, and sexually assault his mother, though no evidence of sexual assault was found. Forensic psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright testified that his schizoaffective disorder prevented him from understanding the wrongfulness of his actions. The jury's verdict was not guilty by reason of insanity. The court will not retain jurisdiction without due cause. The case remains pending the psychiatric assessment.
Michael Joyce, 25, of Prussia Street, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and false imprisonment on 9 January 2021. He attacked a 71‑year‑old neighbour, who lived alone, by pushing him into his apartment, demanding €10,000 and later €5,000, striking him with a hammer on knees, toes and ankles, and swinging a shovel that hit the victim's head. Joyce tied the victim's wrists and ankles with cable ties, locked the door, and demanded €100 a week from the pension. The victim escaped, raised the alarm and was hospitalised for six days. Joyce, who had 40 prior convictions, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to four years in prison, to run consecutively to an existing sentence, after a guilty plea and mitigating factors were considered. The sentence was imposed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The victim declined to give a victim impact statement.
Stephen Ryan, aged 43, was given a fully suspended three‑year sentence after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting his younger brother Thomas over a three‑year period in the 1990s. The offences, which involved touching Thomas's genitals on dates between 1992 and 1995, were committed when Stephen was between 12 and 15 and Thomas between eight and 11. The court noted that Stephen was a child himself, a strong mitigating factor. He has 15 prior convictions, including for sexual assault. The judge, Martin Nolan, considered Stephen's guilty plea, cooperation with the investigation and remorse, and ordered him to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for three years. Thomas waived his right to anonymity so his brother could be named. The sentence was suspended in full.
Kevin Brazil, 53, was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 13‑year‑old boy in Wicklow between January and July 2020. The boy was befriended by Brazil, who gave him money, alcohol and cigarettes, and took him to Blessington Lakes where Brazil offered drinks and cigarettes. The assault involved Brazil touching the boy's leg. Brazil has a long criminal record, including eight years already served for earlier sexual assaults, a 2004 sentence of three years with the final year suspended, and a 2021 sentence of two‑and‑a‑half years for a 12‑year‑old victim. He also pleaded guilty in 2024 to sexual assault and communication offences in the State. The court noted the boy's mother observed a "massive change" in her son after the offence. Brazil's 15‑month term is back‑dated to January and he will not be released from his other sentences until January 2027.
Patrick Dooley, 35, of Arbutus Grove, Killarney, Co Kerry, remains in custody after the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal against the High Court's refusal of bail. Dooley is charged with murdering his brother, Thomas Dooley, on 5 October at Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee, under Common Law. The High Court denied bail on 26 October, citing community risk and flight risk. Justice John Edwards agreed with the High Court's concerns and upheld the bail rejection, leaving Dooley in custody.
The Special Criminal Court heard cross-examination of State's witness Jonathan Dowdall in the trial of Gerard Hutch, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Byrne. Dowdall, a former Dublin city councillor, denied using bomb timers as a bargaining tool to mediate the Hutch-Kinahan feud. He described references to bombing a house in Finglas or killing individuals as "nonsense" and "hypothetical stuff," insisting none of it happened. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC accused Dowdall of telling an "opportunistic lie" regarding his interpretation of audio recordings. The State alleges Hutch asked Dowdall to arrange a meeting with republican contacts to resolve the feud. While Dowdall testified that Hutch admitted to shooting Byrne with "Mago" Gately, the defence contends this was a lie. The court viewed CCTV of alleged trips to Northern Ireland. In a separate procedural development, a nolle prosequi was entered on the murder charge against Dowdall following his sentence on October 3. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who pleaded not guilty to participating in the murder by providing access to motor vehicles, remain defendants in the case.
Ciprian Grozavu, 48, a Romanian national, was convicted of murdering John Forrester, 42, in 2011 at Bridge House, Bandon. The body was tied with cable and dumped in the River Bandon. A 10‑day trial at the Central Criminal Court ended with a unanimous jury verdict and a mandatory life sentence imposed by Mr Justice Paul Carney in March 2014. In December 2022, Mr Justice George Birmingham dismissed a motion by Lorcan Staines SC that the jury should have received a warning about circumstantial evidence. The judge held that the case was based on direct evidence, including admissions by Grozavu and witnesses, and that neither side had requested a warning. The dismissal meant the appeal was not pursued. Grozavu's co‑accused, Catherine O'Connor, also pleaded guilty to the murder of Forrester and was sentenced to life. Grozavu was later found guilty of a second murder, Jonathan Duke, and received an eight‑year sentence for impeding the apprehension of another. Catherine O'Connor was acquitted.
The trial of Christina Anderson, 41, accused of murdering Gareth Kelly, 39, will resume after Christmas. Anderson, a mother of three from Brownsbarn Wood, Kingswood, Dublin 22, is charged with stabbing Kelly five times as he tried to start his car outside her home on 25 February 2020. She pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The court heard from consultant psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright, who said Anderson suffered from bipolar affective disorder at the time of the stabbing and could not refrain from the killing. Dr Wright also noted that Anderson believed Kelly posed a threat to her family, giving her a moral justification for the act. Dr Wright discussed Professor Harry Kennedy's report, which disagrees with her findings and suggests cannabis intoxication rather than psychosis. The trial will continue in January before the jury and Ms Justice O'Connor.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 63‑year‑old Brendan Murray was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of his 88‑year‑old mother, Neasa Murray. The jury, after less than 30 minutes, accepted the defence's argument that Murray was undergoing a psychotic episode of schizo‑affective disorder and therefore lacked the capacity to understand that his actions were wrong. The prosecution had presented evidence of Murray's mental illness, including testimony from psychiatrist Dr. Brenda Wright, who confirmed that he believed he was directed by God or the Holy Spirit. The judge, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, directed that Murray be committed to the Central Mental Hospital pending a psychiatric assessment. No other charges or convictions were discussed in the article. The case concluded with the jury's verdict and the court's commitment order.
Jonathan Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor, has appealed a four‑year jail sentence imposed by the Special Criminal Court for facilitating the Hutch gang in the murder of David Byrne. Dowdall admitted to providing a room at the Regency Hotel in February 2016, which was used for Byrne's killing. He was originally charged with Byrne's murder, but the State dropped that charge after he pleaded guilty to the facilitation offence. The sentence, delivered in October, was based on Dowdall's knowledge that he was aiding a serious criminal organisation and his receipt of instructions to secure the hotel room. Dowdall, now 44, is appealing on the grounds of severity, and the Court of Appeal has set a hearing for 20 February. He is also being assessed for the Witness Protection Programme and is giving evidence for the State against former associate Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch. The unnamed accused was convicted.
The 71‑year‑old man, whose name is withheld to protect victims, was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for a series of child sexual offences spanning 28 years. He first abused his daughter between 1979 and 1985, then a babysitter between 1996 and 1998, and finally his stepdaughter between 2003 and 2007. The court heard he had attended counselling after his daughter disclosed the abuse, but he continued to offend. He pleaded guilty to 37 counts of indecent assault and was convicted of oral, anal and vaginal rape of his stepdaughter. The judge noted the persistent nature of the abuse and the breach of trust involved. Consecutive sentences totalling 15 years were imposed, with the final two years suspended under strict conditions, including post‑release supervision. The court wished the victims well for the future.