The Court of Appeal has reduced the prison sentence of Christopher Ashmore, a 76-year-old man convicted of sexually assaulting his partner's daughter in the late 1990s. Ashmore, of Co Roscommon, had pleaded not guilty to five counts of sexual assault, including two charges of oral rape, committed in Dublin between January 1998 and December 1999. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on four counts in June 2021. Originally, Ms Justice Carmel Stewart sentenced him to ten years' imprisonment for the two oral rape charges, with the final 12 months suspended, and three years for the two sexual assault charges, to run concurrently. In this appeal, Mr Justice John Edwards dismissed the challenge to the conviction but quashed the original sentence for the rape convictions, citing Ashmore's age and the prospect he might die in prison. In re-sentencing, Mr Justice Edwards fixed a headline sentence of 12 years but discounted three years in mitigation and suspended the final two years. Consequently, Ashmore is to serve nine years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended. The victim, who waived anonymity, described Ashmore as a "sick sexual abuser" who left her a "broken child." The court noted the offending was heinous and persistent, but adjusted the effective custody period based on mitigating factors.
A jury of six men and six women was sworn in to hear the trial of Sean Carlyle, 30, and Philip Disney, 27, both from Tallaght, accused of murdering Vincent Parsons, a 30‑year‑old metal fabricator from Clondalkin, on 26 August 2019 at Killinarden Way. The men were arraigned before the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, is scheduled to begin the following day and is expected to last three weeks.
In a 2021 incident, Daniel Goulding, a 39‑year‑old diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, fired a semi‑automatic pistol and a sub‑machine gun at two Gardaí outside his home, forcing them to take cover behind their patrol car for nearly 30 minutes. The gunfire lasted three and a half minutes, during which both officers were shot in the legs and one in the hand. The shooting ceased after Garda Brendan O'Hora intervened, persuading Goulding to surrender his firearms. Goulding pleaded guilty to attempting to murder the two officers. He has 33 prior convictions, including a 2009 ten‑year sentence for misuse of drugs. The Central Criminal Court will sentence him next Friday, with the DPP noting his psychotic episode at the time of the offence but not a premeditated intent to kill. The case remains at the sentencing stage. Daniel Goulding was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
A 22‑year‑old man, Aaron Connolly of Willistown, Drumcar, will go on trial for the murder of 18‑year‑old Cameron Reilly, who was killed on 26 May 2018 at Shamrock Hill, Dunleer. Connolly pleaded not guilty when the charge was read. The Central Criminal Court heard that the deceased lived in Dunleer, was a DKIT student, and that Connolly was a construction worker at the time. More than 70 witnesses are expected to be called over a three‑week trial, which will begin tomorrow before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
Michael Leonard, 63, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to murdering 72‑year‑old Mary O'Keeffe in Doneraile, Co. Cork, on 4 February 2021. His body was found in a burning car. Leonard was denied bail and remains in custody. The court adjourned sentencing to 14 December to allow the family to give an impact statement. No evidence of the murder was heard at the arraignment. Leonard, a former Coillte employee, stated he would not approach any witness or speak to anyone about the case except his solicitor. The post‑mortem, conducted by Assistant State Pathologist Margaret Bolster, was not released. O'Keeffe, a cook from Dromahane, is survived by her three sons. The case is pending sentencing.
A 22‑year‑old man, assessed as having the intellectual capacity of a 14‑year‑old, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to raping a 16‑year‑old girl in January 2017. The victim, who was also 16 at the time, described the assault as having permanently altered her life, leaving her with PTSD, insomnia, night terrors and panic attacks. She said the accused had taken her innocence and treated her like a rag doll, dehumanising her and causing her shame. The court considered the victim's testimony, the defendant's cognitive difficulties, his guilty plea and lack of prior convictions. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a sentence of three and a half years, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions, including probation supervision, no contact with the victim and engagement with appropriate services. The sentence reflected the mitigating factors of the defendant's age, maturity and intellectual capacity.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced Jonathan Dowdall to four years' imprisonment for facilitating the Hutch gang in the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne. Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of making a hotel room available ahead of the February 2016 attack. He is currently being assessed for the Witness Protection Program to testify against his former co-accused, Gerard Hutch. Hutch, along with Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, stands trial for the murder. Murphy and Bonney have pleaded not guilty to charges of participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles. The trial is currently at the procedural stage of addressing the admissibility of evidence. Defence counsel argued that a Garda bugging device recording conversations between Hutch and Dowdall was deployed under a "culture of secrecy" and in violation of the Criminal Justice Surveillance Act 2009, as the vehicle was allegedly in Northern Ireland for eight of the ten recorded hours. The prosecution maintains the recording is central to their case. The court will rule on the admissibility of this evidence after the prosecution responds to the defence submissions. The trial continues before a three-judge panel.
A 40‑year‑old man, Christopher O'Sullivan, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of 53‑year‑old Timothy Hourihane, who died from injuries after an assault at a tented village in Cork City on 13 October 2019. O'Sullivan was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on Friday, where he answered "guilty" to the charge of unlawful killing. The court accepted the plea to manslaughter and ordered that the matter be sent for sentencing on 30 January in Cork, with a governor's report to be prepared.
At the Central Criminal Court, Justice Paul McDermott ordered the release of trial transcripts from the murder case of Aaron Brady to the legal team of Brendan Treanor. Treanor, 34, is charged with participating in the January 25, 2013, robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, County Louth, where Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was killed. The transcripts are intended for use in Treanor's upcoming Special Criminal Court trial. The Director of Public Prosecutions did not oppose the application but emphasized that the documents must not be shared with anyone outside Treanor and his solicitors, citing witness intimidation concerns. James Flynn, 31, of Newry, Northern Ireland, is also accused of the same robbery and conspiracy to steal vehicle keys. Flynn was extradited from the UK last July to face charges in Ireland. He has not applied for the transcripts. In the related Brady case, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Garda Donohoe but was convicted by an 11-to-1 majority verdict in August 2020. He received a mandatory life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years, plus a concurrent 14-year sentence for the robbery.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced Jonathan Dowdall to four years in prison for facilitating the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne. Dowdall pleaded guilty to charges related to the February 5, 2016, Regency Hotel shooting. The court heard evidence that Dowdall facilitated the Hutch gang in this notorious killing. While Dowdall's case has been finalized with a custodial sentence, the trial of co-accused Gerard Hutch remains ongoing. Hutch, who pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles, faces a non-jury trial. The court recently heard ten hours of audio recordings allegedly captured by a garda bugging device during a trip to Northern Ireland. The State's case relies on these conversations, where Hutch allegedly discussed the Kinahan cartel's ambition to become the biggest gang in Europe. However, the defense, led by Brendan Grehan SC, argues that the State acted illegally by using the device outside the jurisdiction, seeking to exclude the evidence as illicit fruit. The court is currently hearing legal arguments on the admissibility of this evidence in a voir dire proceeding. Other defendants, Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, also pleaded not guilty to similar charges of contributing to the murder by providing vehicle access. The matter regarding Hutch's admissibility challenge is not yet concluded, with the judges set to rule on the extraterritoriality issue.
At the Special Criminal Court, former Sinn Fein Councillor Jonathan Dowdall was jailed for four years for facilitating the Hutch gang in the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne. Dowdall pleaded guilty to the charge of Mr Byrne's murder. Gerard Hutch, co-accused in the case, also pleaded guilty to Mr Byrne's murder and received the same sentence as Dowdall. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, both defendants, were charged with participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016, and pleaded not guilty to these charges. The trial has heard various conversations captured by a garda bugging device, including discussions between Dowdall and Hutch about a range of topics, including the death of Supreme Court judge Adrian Hardiman, journalist Paul Williams, and the use of AK-47 assault rifles in the murder of David Byrne. The matter is at the sentence stage, with no adjournments or suspended portions mentioned. No conditions or effective custody details were provided for the accused or defendants.
Samy Taib, 21, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm, one count of coercive control, endangerment, driving without a licence and insurance, and dangerous driving. The offences occurred between May 2018 and October 2019, involving repeated physical abuse of his former partner, including choking, punching, and driving over her leg. He admitted to running her over with his car on 9 May 2019, causing permanent injury to her foot. Gardaí pursued him after a high‑speed chase on 13 October 2019, seized his black Volvo, and arrested him in July 2019. Taib has 22 prior convictions, mainly traffic offences, and was diagnosed with schizophrenia in early 2020. The case was adjourned to 20 January 2023 for finalisation. The court heard the victim's impact statement describing lasting physical and psychological harm. Taib had moved to Scotland in 2020 and returned to Ireland in April 2022.
A 33-year-old man who abducted his two-year-old daughter from a health centre in County Mayo last October has had sentencing adjourned pending trial on separate charges. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that both parents were heavily involved in substance abuse at the time of the abduction on October 12th. The man pleaded guilty to intentionally taking his daughter during a scheduled access visit. Following a nationwide Child Safety Alert, gardaí located the family at a Dublin hotel where the child was removed and the parents arrested. The court heard that weeks later the man attempted to abduct the child again from a house in County Mayo. He now faces trial in Castlebar Circuit Court next year on charges including assault, burglary and criminal damage. His co-parent, a UK national, pleaded guilty to abduction but failed to appear for sentencing and is now residing in London. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned sentencing until March 8th next.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced Jonathan Dowdall to four years' imprisonment for facilitating the Hutch gang in the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne. Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of making a hotel room available ahead of the attack, which occurred during a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016. He is currently being assessed for the Witness Protection Program to testify against his co-accused. Meanwhile, the trial of Gerard Hutch, who pleaded not guilty to Mr Byrne's murder, continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns and two other judges. The court is hearing audio recordings of conversations between Hutch and Dowdall, which the prosecution alleges reference the use of AK-47 assault rifles. Hutch's defence argues that much of the evidence was gathered illicitly outside the State's jurisdiction. Co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, both charged with providing access to motor vehicles, have also pleaded not guilty. The trial will proceed with a voir dire to determine the admissibility of the disputed recordings.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Pauline Codd sentenced 31‑year‑old Ian Doyle to five months' imprisonment for each of two assault charges against his ex‑partner, Lisa Byrne. Doyle, who had pleaded not guilty, was found guilty of the lesser offence of assault after Byrne failed to attend the trial. He had previously been on bail for other offences and was required to stay away from Byrne and her home. The judge highlighted the severity of the violence, noting Doyle's use of a game‑console controller to strike Byrne's head, followed by choking and attempts to silence her screams. Byrne described feeling terrified and threatened, fearing further harm. Doyle's prior convictions included drug dealing, dangerous driving and possession of weapons.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced Jonathan Dowdall to four years' imprisonment for facilitating the Hutch gang in the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne. Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor, pleaded guilty to the charge. The court also heard evidence in the ongoing trial of co-accused Gerard Hutch, who pleaded not guilty to the same murder. The trial featured audio recordings of conversations between Hutch and Dowdall, allegedly captured while travelling to the North. In these recordings, Hutch stated that Daniel Kinahan looked "in a fuckin heap" following the Regency Hotel attack and claimed police were "going around like headless chickens." The prosecution presented these tapes as core evidence, while the defence argued for their exclusion, claiming the vehicle was outside the State's jurisdiction for most of the recording. Other defendants Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney also pleaded not guilty. The court proceedings focused on the admissibility of the bugged conversations, with the defence contending the evidence was illicit. The sentencing of Dowdall marks a significant development in the case, while the trial for Hutch and others continues.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence regarding the recovery of tracker data from a vehicle driven by Jonathan Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of David Byrne and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment. Co-accused Gerard Hutch, who also pleaded guilty to the same charge, and defendants Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who pleaded not guilty, remain part of the ongoing proceedings. The court learned that Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau recovered a working copy of destroyed tracker records from a computer slated for disposal. Assistant Commissioner Orla McPartlin testified she would not have authorised the destruction had she known the data was required for the trial and has since initiated a review of retention policies. Retired Detective Inspector Ciaran Hoey, who authorised the destruction, stated he did not believe the records were pertinent to the prosecution. The defence, representing Hutch, argued that the destruction of evidence was a significant issue. Additionally, the court heard that tracker records confirm Dowdall's vehicle was in Northern Ireland for eight hours on March 7, 2016, during the period of audio recordings. The defence intends to argue for the exclusion of this evidence based on extraterritoriality. The matter was adjourned to allow the court to listen to the ten hours of recorded conversations and to continue cross-examination of witnesses.
Rafik Bin Salah, a 38‑year‑old Tunisian national, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for assault causing harm after refusing to pay a pregnant woman for a public sex act on Dublin's Eden Quay boardwalk on 24 August 2020. The victim, who was nearly seven months pregnant, had been begging for money and was offered €30 for a hand job. Salah paid €20, then tried to retrieve the money he had paid, knocking the woman to the ground. She suffered minor injuries and became hysterical, fearing for her baby's safety. Two witnesses saw the incident and called Gardaí. Salah, who has five prior convictions in Ireland, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Justice Karen O'Connor described the offence as hideous, noting no evidence he knew the victim was pregnant, and imposed the sentence after considering his good behaviour in custody, where he works as a prison barber. The maximum penalty for the offence is five years.
Three men—Francis Murphy (61), Declan Murphy (54) and Francis Boland (56)—were convicted of indecent assault on a child aged 11‑15 during the early 1980s. Each pleaded not guilty and had no prior convictions. The victim waived anonymity and described the abuse, which included forced masturbation and attempts to insert the men's penises into his mouth. The court noted that Murphy was an adult at the time, while Murphy and Boland were juveniles. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Murphy to 36 months' imprisonment, Declan Murphy to 30 months, and Boland to 22 months, deferred one month. All three will be placed on the sex offenders register. The victim's impact statement highlighted lasting psychological harm and ongoing difficulties with alcohol and drugs. The defendants' counsel highlighted their long work histories and lack of prior Garda attention. The judge emphasized the men's law‑abiding conduct since the offences and offered legal aid for any appeal.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Garrett Smith, 35, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter and violent disorder after he stamped Edward O'Sullivan's head in his Kilkenny apartment, causing injuries described by a state pathologist as akin to a traffic accident. O'Sullivan, 46, was discovered lying in a pool of blood with severe facial and internal injuries, and was treated on site before dying. Smith, intoxicated, was arrested with blood on his clothes and was charged with assault causing harm. Witnesses described a drunken altercation that escalated into physical violence, with Smith repeatedly stamping on O'Sullivan's head and face. The court noted the extreme nature of the injuries and the aggravating factor of the victim's right to withdraw the invitation to the home. Smith's defence highlighted intoxication and apologized for the outcome. The case was scheduled for sentencing on 19 December.
Paul Morris, aged 55, was sentenced to eight years in prison after a jury found him guilty of two counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted anal rape against a teenage boy aged 13–14. The offences occurred between 1 May 2010 and 1 April 2011 at Morris's trailer in Chianti Park, Tallaght. Morris, who had previously worked as a youth worker but not since 2002, had persuaded the boy's mother to allow the boy to stay overnight by claiming he was a youth worker. He then sexually assaulted the boy, groping his genitals and masturbating in front of him, and on a second occasion attempted an anal rape, which the boy resisted. Morris maintains his innocence and has no prior convictions. He was sentenced by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath to a headline term of ten years, reduced to eight years, with mitigating factors including his lack of prior convictions and medical history.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced Jonathan Dowdall to four years' imprisonment for facilitating the murder of David Byrne. Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of providing access to motor vehicles and a hotel room to the accused group on February 5, 2016. He is currently being assessed for the Witness Protection Program after agreeing to testify against co-accused Gerard Hutch. Hutch, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Byrne, remains on trial alongside Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, both of whom also pleaded not guilty to charges of participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to vehicles. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Tara Burns and two other judges, was adjourned until 2pm this afternoon. Prosecutors informed the court that the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau had recovered destroyed tracker records from a desktop computer, which had been listed for destruction. Defense counsel for Hutch requested time to consider how to proceed following this development. The court heard that these records, related to a tracker device on Dowdall's vehicle, were previously believed to be permanently lost. The trial continues with the examination of evidence regarding the movements of the accused in the days surrounding the shooting at the Regency Hotel.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Fionn Daly, who had been sexually abused by his mother, Suzanna Hassett, waived anonymity to name her. Hassett, aged 66, pleaded guilty to 13 counts of indecent assault between 1984 and 1987, when Daly was up to three years old, and to four counts of sexual assault between 1992 and 1995, when he was between seven and 11. She had no prior convictions. Daly described the abuse as occurring while he was in nappies, with his mother masturbating him and using his arm to masturbate herself, and said it happened two or three times a week over 18 months. He had complained to Gardaí in 2017, after which Hassett entered counselling and admitted the offences. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a total sentence of eight years, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation supervision.
Ramadan Kulla, 62, of Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after striking a man with a claw hammer at Westend Retail Park on 25 March 2016. Kulla, who had no prior convictions, claimed an unknown grievance prompted the attack. He took a hammer from his jacket, hit the victim on the head, and a struggle ensued in which the victim seized the hammer and struck Kulla. Both men were hospitalized; the victim required three stitches. Garda Michael McClean presented CCTV of Kulla buying the hammer and a victim impact statement. Kulla's defence argued the victim's self‑defence and that the injury was self‑inflicted. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year custodial sentence, suspending the final 20 months, citing the seriousness of the offence and Kulla's lack of prior record. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 31‑year‑old Ian Doyle was accused of assaulting his ex‑partner, Lisa Byrne, on 3 November 2011. Doyle pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault causing harm to Byrne's head and neck. The trial began on a Wednesday, with a neighbour testifying that she heard shouting, called 999, and saw Doyle's partner leave Byrne's flat, noting a cut on Byrne's head and blood on her dressing gown. The neighbour also described Doyle banging on her windows with a metal object. On the second day, a juror claimed to recognise someone in the courtroom, but the judge allowed her to continue. During the trial, the prosecution noted that Gardaí could not locate Byrne and that a bench warrant existed for her arrest. Byrne had previously gone missing after reporting intimidation, and CCTV footage allegedly showed interference by Doyle's associates.
A 50‑year‑old convicted sex offender, whose identity is withheld to protect his victim, had his sentence increased at the Court of Appeal after the State appealed his original 5½‑year term. The man broke into his ex‑partner's home in the middle of the night, armed with a hook‑like gardening implement, and sexually assaulted her after striking her with the tool. He also assaulted her in the living room during a struggle. The original judge had sentenced him to 5½ years for aggravated burglary (final year suspended) and 5 years for sexual assault (final six months suspended), plus additional terms for assault causing harm, criminal damage and making threats to kill. The appeal argued the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence, set a headline sentence of nine years, suspended two and a half years, and ordered probation and a safety order after the 5½‑year custodial term. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled to hear ten hours of audio recordings between murder accused Gerard Hutch and Jonathan Dowdall, despite defence arguments that the vehicle was outside State jurisdiction for eight hours. Prosecuting counsel Sean Gillane SC described the recordings as central to the State's case regarding the murder of David Byrne. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC argued the evidence should be excluded as 'illicit fruit' because gardai knew the vehicle was in Northern Ireland, violating the Criminal Justice Surveillance Act 2009. The court will rule on admissibility after listening to the full recording. Jonathan Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to facilitating the Hutch gang by providing a hotel room, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment. He is currently being assessed for the Witness Protection Program to testify against Hutch. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who pleaded not guilty, remain defendants in the case. The court is currently at the sentencing stage for Dowdall, while the trial for Hutch continues with procedural rulings on evidence admissibility.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Noel Lennon, 48, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Isaac Horgan, 52, who was stabbed in the leg at his Dublin home on 29 March 2021. The State accepted the manslaughter plea. Mr Justice Paul McDermott ordered a victim impact statement and requested that the State inquire whether a relative of Horgan wished to speak. Defence counsel asked for a governor's report and a psychiatric report on Lennon, citing prison strokes and memory issues. Lennon was remanded in custody until 30 January 2023 for sentencing.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has been unable to reach a verdict in the trial of Stephen Silver concerning the death of Detective Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Mr Silver accepts that he discharged the detective's own firearm eleven times but denies the charge of murder. The defence argued that Mr Silver should be found guilty of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility, citing evidence that he was suffering from bipolar affective disorder at the time. The jury of seven men and five women deliberated for just under nine hours over three days before reporting they could not reach agreement. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded Mr Silver in custody pending a retrial, with the case listed for 9 December at the Central Criminal Court. The judge thanked the jury for their careful consideration of what he described as a deeply difficult and disturbing case. Stephen Silver was acquitted.
The jury in the trial of Stephen Silver, a motorbike mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, has been instructed that majority verdicts are now permissible at the Central Criminal Court. Mr Justice Paul McDermott informed the twelve-person jury, entering their third day of deliberations, that they may return a verdict supported by at least ten jurors rather than requiring unanimity. Silver is charged with the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The jury must determine between verdicts of capital murder, murder, manslaughter, or manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Defence evidence suggested Silver suffered bipolar affective disorder at the time, whilst prosecution psychiatric evidence contradicted this assessment of his mental capacity. Detective Garda Horkan sustained eleven gunshot wounds. Deliberations are continuing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 20‑year‑old Andrew Hillick and his co‑accused Michael Matthews were found guilty of assault causing harm and robbery after they broke a glass partition in a taxi, punched the driver in the head, kicked him in the ribs, and stole €60 and a mobile phone. The driver suffered a broken nose and other injuries. Both men had no prior convictions. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a two‑year suspended sentence on Hillick, ordering him to engage with the Probation Service for two years, attend all appointments, and undergo a full mental health review. Matthews had previously received a similar suspended sentence. The court noted the teenagers' intoxication and the driver's role as a "blameless member of society" who was simply doing his job. The sentencing reflected concerns about the youths' drug use and the need for rehabilitation rather than custodial punishment.
The jury in the trial of Stephen Silver, a 46-year-old motorbike mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, continued deliberations at the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday. Mr Silver stands accused of murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan, who suffered eleven gunshot wounds during an incident at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The jury must decide between verdicts of capital murder, murder, manslaughter, or manslaughter by diminished responsibility. Central to the case are conflicting expert psychiatric assessments regarding Mr Silver's mental state at the time of the shooting. Justice Paul McDermott instructed the jury to apply common sense in evaluating evidence from two consultant psychiatrists who disagreed on this issue. The panel of seven men and five women will resume deliberations on Thursday morning at eleven o'clock.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 26‑year‑old Kildare woman was sentenced to five years for the violent sexual assault of her estranged husband, who pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault. The court heard a 999 call made by the victim during the attack, in which she repeatedly screamed for help. The defendant, who suffered an acquired brain injury in 2017, was given a suspended 15‑month period on the condition of rehabilitation and was ordered to keep the peace for three years after release. The judge noted the victim's fear and the impact of the assault, including her ongoing nightmares and the need for CCTV and locks at her home. The defendant's parents were present at the hearing, and the victim chose to remain anonymous. The sentence was reduced from a headline of seven and a half years to five years due to mitigating factors.
The Special Criminal Court heard that all records from a tracking device placed on former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall's vehicle by gardai were destroyed before the Regency Hotel murder trial began. The court was informed that the tracking device was deployed on Dowdall's Toyota Land Cruiser in February 2016 as part of the investigation into the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne. The authorisation for the deployment of the tracker was granted by retired Detective Superintendent William Johnston on February 17, 2016, for a period of two months. However, the records of the tracker and logger devices were reportedly destroyed, raising concerns about the destruction of evidence. Jonathan Dowdall has been jailed by the Special Criminal Court for four years for facilitating the Hutch gang in the murder of David Byrne. Gerard Hutch, who is accused of the murder, has pleaded guilty and received the same sentence. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney have pleaded not guilty and the matter remains ongoing.
Three men – Glen Keegan (41), Karl Keegan (31) and Thomas McAllister (48) – pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm to two men in an attack on a car at Killinarden Heights, Tallaght, on 25 April 2017. The incident occurred while children were present on a busy Dublin road. The men were not directly involved in the underlying dispute between two families but agreed to participate. Gardaí investigated the scene, finding a maroon car that had crashed into an orange car, with the assailants wearing balaclavas and carrying implements. The victims sustained superficial cuts; an ambulance was called and the children were taken home. The case was adjourned to 6 March 2023 for probation reports. The men's prior convictions and the circumstances of their involvement were presented in court, but no sentencing outcome was given in the article.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberating in the trial of Stephen Silver, aged 46, from Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo, who is charged with the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan. The accused has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility in relation to the incident at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. During the trial, the defence presented evidence from a psychiatrist who testified the accused was suffering from bipolar affective disorder at the time, which diminished his responsibility. The prosecution's psychiatric expert disputed this assessment, maintaining the accused's mental capacity remained intact. Mr Justice Paul McDermott charged the jury, comprising seven men and five women, on the available verdicts. The jury retired shortly before midday and was sent home in the evening. Deliberations are to resume Wednesday morning at 10.30am.
A 34‑year‑old man, Dean Paget, pleaded guilty to attempting to murder a pregnant woman, Lisa Ward, who was seriously injured in an attack on 25 April 2021 at Montague Lane, Dublin 2. Paget, who has no fixed abode, was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court via video link from Cork on 15 November 2022. Judge Paul McDermott explained the normal practice would be to have the defendant present in court because of the gravity of the charge, but the defendant was allowed to plead via video link. The judge read the indictment to Paget, who answered "guilty." The court ordered an urinalysis and noted that a victim impact statement would be required. Sentencing was scheduled for 30 January, and Paget was remanded in custody until that date. The hearing was brief, with the victim present in the courtroom.
The President of the High Court, Mr Justice David Barniville, granted an application by Jim Elliott, acting for the family of Corporal James Elliott, to access the Special Criminal Court file from a 1972 trial. The order, issued at the sentence stage of the underlying 1972 proceedings, directs that the Elliott family's lawyers receive the original file and a copy within seven days. The 1972 trial involved Brendan Finnegan and Patrick Lynch, who were convicted of conspiring to commit an explosion and possessing explosives. Finnegan was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment, while Lynch received a 15-month sentence. The family alleges these convictions are linked to the 1972 kidnapping and murder of their father, a part-time Ulster Defence Regiment corporal, by the Provisional IRA. Although other charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, were reportedly dropped, the family has never been informed of the trial until 2005. The court found that providing access to the file supports the legacy process and commitments under the Good Friday Agreement. The application was opposed by no party; the Courts Service, the DPP, the Garda Commissioner, and the Minister for Justice did not object. The judge described the murder as horrendous and ruled that making the file available was in the interests of justice. The matter was not adjourned; the order was finalised with specific directions for file delivery.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, a 39‑year‑old man was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting his younger sister when he was 12 to 14 years old, between November 1995 and January 1998. He was sentenced to four years' imprisonment and placed on the sex‑offender register. The man appealed the rape conviction, arguing that the trial judge erred by including details of other withdrawn counts in the jury's charge. He also contested whether there was sufficient evidence to rebut the presumption of incapacity to commit a crime (doli incapax). The Court of Appeal, led by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, considered three strands of evidence: the victim's distress, the private setting of the alleged assault, and the defendant's reaction to his older sister's arrival. The court found the evidence sufficient to allow the jury to infer that the defendant knew his conduct was gravely wrong, and it dismissed the appeal, affirming the conviction.
In a case heard in the Central Criminal Court, a 17‑year‑old boy was found guilty by a jury of oral rape and four counts of sexual assault against his 7‑year‑old cousin. The offences occurred in the victim's home in 2018 when the boy was 13. The victim reported that the boy inserted a finger into her vagina on four occasions and also orally raped her, threatening her not to tell anyone. She told her mother in July 2019, who then contacted the gardai. The boy's mother and sister were also involved in the investigation. The boy's defence team did not allow cross‑examination of the victim and did not give a closing speech. The boy accepted the jury verdict but did not appeal. The case was adjourned to 6 December for finalisation.
A 45‑year‑old Cork security guard, Andrew Healy, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting his younger sister over a 17‑year period. He pleaded guilty to 16 counts of sexual assault between 1992 and 2009, including an attempted rape. The abuse began when the sister was about four or five and Healy was 15, occurring mainly in their family home in Ballingcollig, with some incidents at a second Cork location and at Healy's flat in Wilton. The victim, who chose to waive anonymity, reported the abuse to Gardaí in 2017 after years of daily molestation. Healy's guilty plea and the victim's testimony led to a sentence of seven and a half years, with the final year suspended and conditions such as probation supervision, no unsupervised contact with minors, and no contact with the victim without permission. The court noted Healy's remorse and the mitigating effect of his early plea.
An unnamed man, who pleaded guilty to one count of oral rape of his younger sister and one count of sexual assault of his younger brother on unknown dates between 1994 and 1997, was handed a suspended prison sentence at the Central Criminal Court. The matter reached this stage after the Director of Public Prosecutions' initial decision against prosecution was overturned on appeal. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor suspended a three-and-a-half-year sentence in full, citing the "wholly exceptional" circumstances, including the accused's remorse and the victims' request not to imprison him. She noted the accused was 13 at the time of the offending and sentenced him as a child. The headline sentence for the rape count was reduced from seven years to three-and-a-half years, while a two-year sentence for the sexual assault count was imposed to run concurrently. The judge highlighted the accused's lack of previous convictions and his self-employment as mitigating factors. Although the victims described the incidents as a breach of trust, they stated in impact statements that they did not want a custodial sentence. The accused read a letter apologising to his siblings, acknowledging his failure as an older brother. The court concluded the sentencing phase with the full suspension of the effective custody term.
An appeal is ongoing in the Special Criminal Court regarding the case of Jonathan Dowdall, who was previously sentenced to 12 years imprisonment and Patrick Dowdall eight years imprisonment for physically and mentally torturing a man they suspected of trying to defraud them. The sentences were later appealed and reduced, with Jonathan Dowdall receiving 10 years imprisonment, 25 months of which were suspended, and Patrick Dowdall receiving seven years, three of which were suspended. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney are co-accused in the case, but they have not been charged and have pleaded not guilty. Gerard Hutch, who is also a co-accused, denies the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne. The court heard that a search warrant was obtained for Jonathan Dowdall's home based on the belief that firearms and explosives were being stored there on behalf of the IRA. The matter was adjourned and is not yet concluded.
Michael Connors, 27, of Lambda Apartments, Monkstown Farm, Dublin, was found guilty of assaulting his wife, criminal damage, and animal cruelty. On 9 April 2020, after drinking, he brought home a 12‑week‑old puppy, forced it into a cold bath, and then threw it on the floor in front of his three small children and wife, causing the dog's death by head trauma. He later punched his wife, demanded money, and locked her and the children in the house before going to a shop. He also assaulted his wife at a relative's home, smashing her phone and throwing a scooter. Connors pleaded guilty to two counts of assault, one of criminal damage and one of animal cruelty. The judge sentenced him to 18 months for each assault and animal cruelty, 18 months for criminal damage, with the latter suspended for four years under strict conditions, and required probation supervision for two years.
Two 17‑year‑old boys were found guilty of attempted oral rape, four counts of sexual assault and assault causing harm. The first, 15 at the time, had taken a 14‑year‑old girl's phone, threatened to smash it unless she performed oral sex, and used violence when she refused. The second, 14 then, also demanded oral sex and pushed her. Both boys admitted the acts, expressed remorse and were found to have no prior convictions. The court, noting the seriousness of the offences and the boys' youth, set a headline sentence of six years' detention, with a final sentence of three years' detention, 16 months to be served in custody and the remainder suspended. The case was adjourned to 9 December for finalisation, and the Probation Service was instructed to outline a possible engagement structure for the boys.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed Kieran Greene's appeal against his murder conviction for killing Patricia O'Connor at her home in Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on May 29, 2017. Greene, who pleaded not guilty, had argued that the trial judge erred by refusing to leave a defence of provocation to the jury, claiming he suffered a "slow burn" similar to domestic abuse victims. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy rejected this, stating there was no evidential basis for such a defence. The court also upheld the refusal to sever Greene's trial from his co-accused and dismissed arguments regarding the admissibility of hearsay evidence concerning the deceased's husband, Augustine O'Connor. Augustine O'Connor, who pleaded guilty to reporting his wife missing to gardai at Rathfarnham Garda Station on June 1, 2017, knowing she was dead, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and has since died. In related proceedings, Louise O'Connor was found guilty of acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie O'Connor disguising herself as the deceased to conceal her death; Louise was jailed for two-and-a-half years. Stephanie O'Connor, found guilty of disguising herself as Patricia O'Connor, was jailed for one-and-a-half years. The appeal court confirmed the trial judge was correct in limiting jury options to murder, manslaughter, or acquittal, rejecting the defence's request for an accessory-to-murder verdict.
A 16‑year‑old, who was 14 when the offence occurred, was found guilty of murdering Uransetseg Tserendorj after a retrial at the Central Criminal Court. The jury, a panel of six men and five women, returned a 10‑to‑1 majority verdict after eight hours and 59 minutes of deliberation. The accused had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter on 29 January 2021, but the State rejected that plea. Tserendorj, a Mongolian national, was stabbed in the neck as she walked home from work in Dublin's financial district on 20 January. The fatal wound severed her carotid artery, leading to catastrophic brain damage and her death on 29 January. The trial heard testimony from Gardaí, Tserendorj's husband, forensic pathologists and the accused, who admitted the stabbing when questioned by police. The judge remanded the teenager in custody for mention, with sentencing scheduled for 21 December.
In the night of 9 pm on 11 November 2022, Urantsetseg Tserendorj was stabbed in the neck by a 14‑year‑old boy who had come to rob her. She was taken to the Mater Hospital where doctors attempted to save her, but she died on 29 January 2023 after a severe hypoxic brain injury caused by the wound. The boy, who had been using drugs, was arrested and later pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but the State rejected the plea and he was tried twice for murder. In the second trial, the jury found him guilty of murder by a 10‑1 majority after a three‑day deliberation. The case highlighted the boy's intent to rob and the accidental nature of the stabbing, but the court concluded that the knife was deliberately swung at her neck. The verdict was delivered by Judge Tony Hunt. The unnamed 14-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the murder trial of the teenager who stabbed Mongolian national Urantsetseg Tserendorj will continue deliberations for a fourth day. The panel now has 11 jurors after one was excused for medical reasons. Mr Justice Tony Hunt considered postponing the case to allow a 12‑person jury but the excused juror declined to return the next day. He told the jury that a guilty verdict should be returned if they were satisfied the prosecution proved the accused intended to kill or cause serious injury, or if the act was likely to result in death or serious injury. Ms Tserendorj, 49, was stabbed in the neck on 20 January 2021 after the accused attempted to rob her. The accused, a minor, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, to producing a knife and to attempting robbery.
At the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul McDermott has instructed the jury in the trial of Stephen Silver to apply common sense when evaluating conflicting psychiatric evidence regarding the accused's mental state. Mr Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughaward in Foxford, County Mayo, denies murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The defence psychiatrist testified that Mr Silver suffered from bipolar affective disorder at the time of the shooting, whilst the prosecution's expert disagreed. The judge clarified that jurors are not bound by expert testimony and may prefer one account over another. He explained that if they find Mr Silver guilty of unlawful killing with the requisite intent, they must then determine whether his responsibility was substantially diminished by mental disorder. The judge emphasised this remains a question of fact for the jury to assess using common sense alongside all evidence presented. Stephen Silver pleaded not guilty.