In 2016 a 39‑year‑old man was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court on 48 counts of rape, oral rape, rape with a screwdriver, rape with a vibrator and sexual assault at two Dublin locations between 2000 and 2005. He was sentenced to 11 years. The appeal, heard at the Court of Appeal, argues that the sentence was excessive because one third of the offences were committed when the offender was under 18 and that his youth should have been given greater weight. The appellant's counsel claims the trial judge erred in setting a 14‑year headline sentence and that the offender had no prior convictions. The appeal is pending; the court has not yet ruled on the sentence. The case remains an ongoing appeal.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal of a 53-year-old man, upholding his conviction for the historic sexual abuse of his cousin. The appellant, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted by a jury in July 2019 on 24 counts of indecent assault committed at an address in Co Donegal between April 1, 1984, and January 1, 1990. He was acquitted on charges relating to a second complainant. Judge Melanie Greally originally sentenced him to an effective operating sentence of ten years' imprisonment, comprising four years for offences committed when he was a minor and six years for later offences, ordered to run consecutively. The appellant argued that the trial judge erred by failing to sever the indictment for separate trials, failing to discharge the jury during cross-examination of a defence witness, and failing to provide an appropriately strong corroboration warning. In a written judgment, Mr Justice George Birmingham, joined by Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, dismissed these grounds. The court found that the trial judge properly dealt with the jury discharge application and that the verdicts indicated the jury heeded the corroboration warning. The judges also upheld the decision not to split the indictment, noting the offences formed a series of similar character. The court concluded there were no doubts about the fairness of the trial or the safety of the verdict.
A 32‑year‑old man, previously convicted of strangling his ex‑girlfriend, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for repeatedly beating and twice raping his 12‑year‑old step‑daughter between September 2019 and May 2020. He pleaded not guilty to charges of child cruelty, assault causing harm, sexual assault and rape. A jury convicted him on one assault‑causing‑harm charge, six child‑cruelty charges, three sexual‑assault charges and two rape charges. He has been in custody since June 2020. The court noted the victim's fear of the man, her life in a foster family, and the man's history of violent offending and failure to comply with early‑release conditions in his native country. Justice Deirdre Murphy imposed the 15‑year term, considered suspending the final two years if he undertakes anger‑management treatment and refrains from contacting the victim, and discussed post‑release supervision. The man maintains his innocence.
The jury in the trial of Stephen Penrose, 38, who is accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, watched a montage of CCTV footage from August 8 to 10, 2016. The footage shows Finnegan leaving a blue saloon at Sweeney's filling station in Edenderry at 3.46 pm, entering a shop wearing a grey hoodie and a blue top, and Penrose entering the shop wearing a dark‑coloured top and trousers. The prosecution argues Finnegan was killed shortly after the footage. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, continues with 12 jurors. Penrose, who has pleaded not guilty and represented himself, has hired new lawyers but declined to attend the trial. The prosecution also presented a bloodied glove found in the woods that DNA matched Penrose.
Cornel Onofrei, 38, a security guard, was jailed for nine months after sexually assaulting a woman in Phoenix Park. The victim, who believed him to be a taxi driver, was heavily intoxicated and was taken to a remote dark location in the park where Onofrei kissed her. She pushed him off and got out of the car, later asking him to drive her home, which he did. Onofrei pleaded guilty to the assault on 17 December 2018. He has 28 prior convictions, including 14 road traffic offences. Judge Melanie Greally described his conduct as "sinister and predatory" and noted his lack of appreciation for the seriousness of his actions. He was sentenced to 13 months, with the final four months suspended, and must comply with strict probation conditions for 12 months.
A man who sexually assaulted his partner's niece and later claimed the allegation was fabricated due to a family feud has been jailed. Martin Cawley (65) of Drumcairn Parade, Tallaght, was found guilty by a jury of sexually assaulting the girl at his home in Dublin in October 2013, when she was 10 years old. The trial was held in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in July this year. Cawley gave a hand-written statement to gardaí, alleging the child's mother was behind the allegation due to a family feud. The trial heard that the girl was in Cawley's home on the day in question while her mother visited her grandfather in hospital. She was in the sitting room when Cawley exposed himself, held her down, and simulated sex while on top of her. The offence came to light when the girl confided in her sister, and her parents went to gardaí in 2015. Cawley was interviewed and charged in early 2016. The complainant, now 18, stated in a victim impact statement that she has suffered from insomnia, depression, and high levels of anxiety as a result of the assault. She has informed the DPP that she wishes to waive her anonymity, allowing for the naming of Cawley as per the 1981 Rape Act. Cawley has expressed remorse in general terms but has not accepted the jury's verdict. He has 46 previous convictions, including one sexual offence. John Fitzgerald SC, defending, noted Cawley's health issues, including diabetes, heart problems, and prostate cancer, and said a prison sentence could be a life sentence for him. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a three-year prison term but suspended the final nine months in light of Cawley's health issues. She commended the complainant's bravery and noted the severe impact of the assault on her mental health. The matter was adjourned at the appeal stage.
Two men arrested in County Mayo have lodged objections to their extradition at the High Court in Dublin in connection with a fatal stabbing in Carlisle, UK. Kane Hull, aged 28, and Liam Porter, aged 32, both from Carlisle addresses, are sought in relation to the death of Ryan Kirkpatrick on 18 September. They were arrested by gardaí in late September following international arrest warrants. Liam Porter faces an additional charge of assisting an offender. The High Court adjourned proceedings today to allow consideration of the legal grounds of objection filed by each man's legal team. The case was adjourned for mention on 1 November. Both men previously appeared before the High Court on 29 September. In the UK jurisdiction, murder and manslaughter carry maximum sentences of life imprisonment, whilst assisting an offender carries a maximum of ten years.
Renato Gehlen, 39, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife, Anne Colomines, 37. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath imposed the mandatory life term after a unanimous jury convicted Gehlen of killing Ms Colomines at their home in Dublin 1 on October 25, 2017. The judge described the crime as "terrifying and horrific," noting the added distress caused by Gehlen's claim that his wife stabbed herself. The court heard victim impact statements from Ms Colomines' mother, Danielle Gallard, father, Jean-Louis Colomines, and sister, Alexandra, who described her as a "beautiful, intelligent woman" who loved life. During the trial, State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that it was "highly unlikely" Ms Colomines inflicted the fatal injuries on herself, pointing to defensive wounds on her hands. Prosecution counsel argued Gehlen acted out of "toxic masculinity" to control the end of their marriage. In mitigation, defence counsel presented reports describing Gehlen as a model prisoner who completed courses including "Alternatives to Violence." The judge extended condolences to the Colomines family, acknowledging their dignity in the face of the tragedy.
A highly educated man, now in his 70s, was convicted of sexually abusing his teenage nephew during a sleep‑over at his grandmother's house. The abuse began on 1 April 1989 when the nephew was 14 and continued for two years until 30 April 1991, when the man was 46. He was found guilty by a jury on 20 January 2017 of five counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault after a seven‑day trial. The judge sentenced him to eight years' imprisonment on all counts, with the final two years suspended. The man appealed, arguing that the case was prejudiced because the grandmother, a key witness, died in 1998 and the trial judge failed to withdraw the case. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, stating that the unavailability of the grandmother did not deprive the defendant of a realistic defence.
A 30‑year‑old creche worker was acquitted of all 18 counts of sexual assault against three girls after two trials. The first trial in spring 2020 ended with a hung jury on 18 counts and not‑guilty verdicts on five others. The second trial, lasting four weeks, concluded with a jury finding the accused not guilty on 17 counts; one count was withdrawn by the judge. The case involved allegations of assault in various creche locations, including a toilet cubicle, and was based on statements from the children and their parents. The prosecution also sought a charge of possession of child pornography, which was dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions in June 2020. The defence highlighted alleged investigative failures and suggestibility concerns in the children's testimonies. The jury was thanked by Judge Karen O'Connor and released after a deliberation of one hour and 14 minutes.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Sean O'Boyle (32) was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for stabbing Darren Brewster and his brother on Christmas Day 2013. The incident followed a series of threatening text messages from Brewster, who had warned O'Boyle's sister that he would be "up to the gaff" and that "Christmas will be major for your family this year." On the day, O'Boyle armed himself with a kitchen knife and confronted the men at the O'Boyle family home in Tallaght. The men suffered life‑threatening lung injuries and were hospitalised. O'Boyle pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, a lesser charge than the original serious‑harm indictment, and the court noted his remorse and the provocation from the texts. He had previously emigrated to Australia, lived there for five years, and was extradited to face prosecution.
In the Central Criminal Court, Stephen Penrose, aged 38, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Philip Finnegan, 24, who was found decapitated in a Kildare woods on 10 August 2016. A Garda officer reported finding a blue Alfa Romeo car in Kilcock on 13 August, with extensive blood splatter on the gearstick and driver's door. The vehicle, registered in Portarlington, was seized as it was believed to contain evidence of the assault. Paramedic Terry Devine treated Penrose for a stab wound to his left arm, noting blood-soaked socks. Penrose claimed five men were involved in an incident where Finnegan was stabbed and he fled in the car. Inspector Aidan Hannon recounted that Penrose was stabbed through a window while driving the Alfa Romeo, after which he stopped, removed his sock, and left the vehicle. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and 12 jurors.
The Special Criminal Court has postponed delivery of its verdicts in the case of four men charged with abducting and torturing Kevin Lunney, a director of Quinn Industrial Holdings. The three-judge non-jury court had initially scheduled verdicts for October 22, but has now adjourned to November 8. A 40-year-old man who cannot be named, Alan O'Brien (40) of East Wall, Dublin, Darren Redmond (27) also of East Wall, Dublin, and Luke O'Reilly (68) of Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, County Cavan, have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm. The alleged incident occurred at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, County Cavan, on September 17, 2019. The trial, which opened in June, heard evidence spanning forty days and concluded that the complainant was removed from near his home and subjected to violence including beatings and knife wounds.
In a 2021 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court decision, a judge imposed two consecutive three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentences on an unnamed man convicted of 20 counts of sexual assault against a schoolboy. The offences, which occurred between September 1993 and September 1996 in the victim's family home, began when the boy was 11. The victim has suffered mental illness and is prescribed medication for anxiety and depression. An appeal against conviction was dismissed, and the Court of Appeal rejected the appellant's request for a suspended portion of his seven‑year term. The judge noted the lack of remorse and the seriousness of the abuse, concluding that consecutive sentences were warranted. The appellant's legal team argued for part‑suspension and cited the defendant's chaotic background and numerous prior convictions, but these arguments were not accepted. The DPP described the sentence as proportionate and just.
In 2010, Andrzej Benko, aged 50, attempted to murder his wife Joanna by striking her with a hammer while she slept. He was arrested, pleaded not guilty, but a jury convicted him and the Central Criminal Court sentenced him to 15 years. Benko appealed, claiming the sentence was too long and that he had cooperated with Gardaí after his arrest. The Court of Appeal considered mitigating factors such as his drug‑addicted wife, concern for their toddler, and a low risk of re‑offending. The prosecution argued that the case remained ongoing 11 years after the attack and that Benko had shown no remorse. The court noted Joanna's severe injuries, her need for lifelong care, and the marital problems that preceded the assault. The appeal was heard on 21 October 2021.
Christopher Moran, aged 51, pleaded guilty to being the getaway driver in the fatal shooting of gangster Wayne Whelan. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted his plea. Moran's co‑accused, Anthony Casserly, 25, also pleaded guilty to participating in or contributing to Whelan's murder, and his plea was likewise accepted. Whelan was shot dead on 18 November 2019 at Mount Andrew Rise in Lucan, Co. Dublin, and the car he was in was set on fire with his remains inside. Moran was charged under Section 7(2) of the Criminal Law Act 1997 for impeding the apprehension of an offender, while Casserly was charged under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 for involvement in a criminal organisation. The case was heard by Mr Justice David Keane, who discharged the jury after the DPP indicated that pleas to lesser charges would be accepted.
Judge Martin Nolan imposed a 12‑year prison sentence on Michael "Mikey" Greene (20) for a series of extremely violent robberies and burglaries. Greene beat a couple with a wrench in their home, struck an office worker with a hammer, and held a broken bottle to a man in his seventies. He also used a hammer to assault a sales clerk, attacked workers with scissors, and broke into a private house, hitting the occupants with a wrench. Greene pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery, burglary and assault, and had 51 prior convictions. The judge noted Greene's youth, guilty pleas, chronic drug addiction and some remorse as reasons for suspending three years of the sentence. The court heard that Greene's violent acts caused physical and psychological harm to the victims, but no victim impact statements were read into the record.
Stephen Penrose, aged 38, accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan in Kildare woods, has declined to attend his murder trial in person. The Central Criminal Court jury was informed that proceedings would continue without him. Penrose had previously represented himself after dismissing his legal team, but has now hired new counsel: solicitor Michael French and barristers Anthony Sammon SC and Eoghan Weldon BL. Judge Alexander Owens warned Penrose that continued disruptive behaviour could lead to his removal from the courtroom. Penrose had previously shouted at a Garda Inspector in the witness box, accusing him of lying. The trial, which began on 13 October, will proceed with the jury hearing CCTV footage and evidence, including a bloodied glove DNA‑matched to Penrose, while the body of Finnegan was found decapitated in a shallow grave in Kildare woods. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
A 15‑year‑old boy, whose identity is withheld because he is a minor, is charged with the murder of Urantsetseg Tserendorj, a Mongolian national who lived in Dublin. Ms Tserendorj was stabbed on her walk home from work at 9:30 pm on 20 January 2021 at the Custom House Quay building and died two weeks later at Mater Hospital. The boy also faces charges of possession of a knife and robbery arising from the same incident. Judge Paul McDermott set a trial date of 14 March 2022 and urged a swift, appropriate proceeding.
Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, 58, was further remanded in custody by the Special Criminal Court during a mention hearing where no application was made. Justice Tony Hunt ordered the remand, noting that a further date could be set if the accused wished to make an application. Mr. Hutch, who pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016, is scheduled to go on trial on October 3, 2022, alongside four other co-accused. He was extradited from Spain after his final appeal was rejected. The trial will also involve Jonathan Dowdall, 43, who was charged with the murder of Mr. Byrne. Patrick Hutch, 28, previously pleaded not guilty to the same alleged murder, but charges against him were dropped in 2019. The court proceedings remain at the trial stage, with the current procedural step being a remand in custody rather than a finalised disposal.
A 73‑year‑old man, who could not be named to protect the victim's identity, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of 72 counts of indecent assault on his step‑daughter between 1973 and 1979. The abuse began when the child was six and continued until she was about thirteen, with the first incident occurring before her First Holy Communion. The man, who was 25 at the time, was in a long‑term relationship with the victim's mother but never married her. He had earlier convictions for drink driving. In May 2019 Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a 10‑year sentence, using consecutive two‑year terms for seven counts and 14 years on other counts, citing the severity of the abuse and its lasting impact on the victim. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence, rejecting the appellant's appeal and confirming the judge's decision to impose consecutive terms.
Ibrahim Ahmed Gharib, 43, an Egyptian national, was convicted of raping a 27‑year‑old foreign student in her home after following her from a bus stop. He also denied sexual assault on a bus journey from Dublin to Carlow. In February 2018, a jury at the Central Criminal Court sentenced him to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, following a three‑week trial. Gharib appealed to reduce the sentence, arguing the 12‑year term was too high and that the judge should have suspended a larger portion. The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal. Judge George Birmingham upheld the original sentence, noting the victim endured significant violence, a threat to kill, and no remorse from Gharib. The court recorded the victim's impact statement, describing her fear and loss of trust after the assault. Ibrahim Ahmed Gharib pleaded not guilty.
Dylan Deegan, 24, pleaded guilty to three robberies – €684 from Cash for Clothes (July 2020), €684 from Insomnia Café (February 2021) and a prior robbery of a man at Back Lane Hostel (April 2020). He also admitted producing a knife on 2 July 2020. He had 15 prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three years for the July 2020 robbery and 18 months for the February 2021 robbery, both to run consecutively with his earlier three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for a violent mugging in April 2020. The judge suspended both new sentences on strict conditions, including three years of probation. Deegan had approached a solicitor's office, claiming he wanted to hand himself in after the February 2021 robbery, stating he was suicidal, drug‑addicted and wanted to go to prison. The court noted he had no knife at the time of the February robbery and that the cash was never recovered.
In September 2020, Michael Quinn (30) of Louth attacked Ruth O'Rourke, known as Izzy Kamikaze (58), during an anti‑lockdown protest on Kildare Street, Dublin. Quinn swung a wooden plank with a tricolour nailed to it, striking O'Rourke's head and knocking her to the ground. After the assault, a crowd of masked men and unmasked protesters shouted homophobic slurs and threatened the victims. Video of the attack and the mob's behaviour was released online, prompting O'Rourke to say it made many people realise the danger of ignoring far‑right protests. Quinn pleaded guilty in June 2021 to assault causing harm and was sentenced to a three‑year prison term, with the final year suspended on conditions. The case highlighted the violent conduct of the attackers and the hostile environment faced by O'Rourke and her friends.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 39‑year‑old father denied gardaí that he tortured his nine‑year‑old daughter, who sustained 40 injuries, including eleven burns and bites, on 2 July 2019. He and his 36‑year‑old wife pleaded not guilty to two assault‑causing‑serious‑harm charges and three child‑cruelty charges. The couple, originally from North Africa, moved to Ireland in 2011 and the daughter joined them in March 2019. The father was arrested on 7 August 2019. During the trial, detectives presented evidence of the arrest and transcripts of the father's interviews. He repeatedly answered "I don't know" when asked how the injuries occurred, and said he had no idea how his daughter was hurt. He claimed he performed CPR on her after finding her lying in his bedroom and called 999. The case remains before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
At the Special Criminal Court, William Twomey, 58, was sentenced for his role in the 2017 attack on businessman Edward McAndrew in Omeath, Co Louth. Twomey, who pleaded not guilty, was found guilty of assault causing harm, demanding £50,000 with menaces, and robbing McAndrew of various items including a passport and mobile phones. He was found not guilty of false imprisonment. The judge described Twomey as the initiator of a joint enterprise, noting that the violent outcome exceeded his contemplation. He received a headline sentence of two years for the assault and four years for the robbery and demanding money with menaces. The last year of the robbery and demanding money sentences was suspended for two years, resulting in two years' imprisonment on each charge to be served concurrently. The sentence was backdated to August 29, 2023. Twomey signed a €100 bond upon release. Co-accused Thomas McGuinness, who also pleaded not guilty, was acquitted of all charges on September 30. Separately, Anthony Finglas, 49, pleaded guilty to demanding money with menaces and was jailed for four years and nine months.
A jury was sworn in to hear the trial of Anthony Casserly, 25, and Christopher Moran, 51, both from Rowlagh Park, Clondalkin, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Wayne Whelan at Mount Andrew Court, Lucan, on 18 November 2019. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, is expected to last four weeks.
A 54‑year‑old Laois man was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against his 15‑year‑old niece, who babysat his children. The offences occurred between 1 June 2004 and 31 March 2005. The victim became pregnant and gave birth to a child. The man, who has no prior convictions, denied the allegations and claimed a consensual relationship. Justice Eileen Creedon noted the breach of trust and the profound impact on the victim, who reported the abuse in September 2015 after a long period of fear. The judge imposed 11 years' imprisonment, suspended the final year on strict conditions, and highlighted the lack of remorse and the man's continued denial. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
Jonas Mercado, 30, of Castlecurragh Vale, Mulhuddart, was sentenced to 12 months in prison with the final six months suspended on strict conditions after pleading guilty to a single charge of sexual assault. The offence occurred on Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, on 15 July 2017, when Mercado approached a woman speaking on her mobile phone, placed a hand on her leg, and attempted to tear her underwear. Passers‑by restrained him and he fled. The victim, who felt extremely vulnerable, reported the assault to Gardaí and later to the court. Judge Melanie Greally noted Mercado's intoxication, high risk of reoffending, and his remorse, including a €4,500 compensation payment. The sentence aims to be punitive and deterrent while encouraging treatment and responsibility under probation supervision. Jonas Mercado was convicted.
During a child cruelty trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, expert Dr. Shirley Potter, a consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon, testified that the nine‑year‑old victim suffered burn marks and bruising that occurred within seven days of her July 2, 2019 hospitalisation. Potter examined the child on July 3, 2019, and again in July 2021, identifying 28 scars on her hands, arms, thighs, lower legs, ankles, feet and back, linking them to injuries sustained in 2019. The parents, a 39‑year‑old man and a 36‑year‑old woman of North African origin, pleaded not guilty to two assault‑causing‑serious‑harm charges and three child‑cruelty charges for incidents between June 28 and July 2, 2019. Dr. Lisa Oakley, a UK‑based professor and expert in faith‑based abuse, explained that beliefs in spirit possession can lead to violence, citing examples of beating, burning, cutting, semi‑strangulation and starving.
Two men arrested in County Mayo have appeared before the High Court in Dublin in connection with a fatal stabbing in Carlisle, United Kingdom. Kane Hull, aged 28, and Liam Porter, aged 32, both of Carlisle addresses, face charges relating to the death of a 24-year-old man on September 18th. The accused are wanted on suspicion of murder or manslaughter, with Porter also facing an additional allegation of assisting an offender. Gardaí arrested both men in the Carracastle area of County Mayo following their alleged departure from the UK on September 22nd. Evidence was provided by officers from Castlebar Garda Station confirming their identities. At today's hearing before Justice Paul McDermott, legal representation sought additional time to prepare objections to the extradition proceedings. The court adjourned the matter to October 22nd, 2021, for further hearing.
In the Central Criminal Court, 38‑year‑old Stephen Penrose, accused of murdering Philip Finnegan, is representing himself in his trial. During cross‑examination of Inspector Aidan Hannon, Penrose repeatedly accused the witness of lying under oath, shouting "you're a liar" and demanding Hannon be dismissed. Judge Alexander Owens warned Penrose that if he continued to "abuse" and "ballyrag" witnesses he would be taken to the cells and barred from participating in his own trial. Owens also cautioned that barristers may not call witnesses liars under oath. Penrose's outbursts included shouting at the jury and threatening to have the witness's statement taken. The judge called the behaviour contempt of court and ordered Penrose to sit down or face removal. The trial, expected to last five to six weeks, continues with the judge and 12 jurors present. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
During the trial of a 39‑year‑old man and his 36‑year‑old wife, both accused of assault causing serious harm and child cruelty, a medical expert confirmed that the nine‑year‑old girl's injuries were consistent with child abuse and non‑accidental injury. The parents pleaded not guilty to two assault charges and three child cruelty charges relating to incidents at their Dublin home between 28 June and 2 July 2019. The jury heard that the girl suffered a brain injury that will require 24‑hour care for life. Dr Louise Kyne, a paediatrician, stated that the parents' medical history did not explain the injuries. Professor Jack Crane examined photographs and described burn marks, bruising, bite‑like marks, purple bruises suggesting several days old, and evidence of blunt‑force trauma, including a subdural haematoma and bleeding in both eyes. The trial is ongoing before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
Simon McGinley (38) appeared before the Court of Appeal on 14 October seeking to have his murder conviction quashed on the basis of new psychiatric evidence. McGinley was convicted in April 2014 of murdering Eugene Gillespie (67) at a residence on Old Market Street, Sligo, on 19 September 2012. He had initially pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State rejected. Evidence presented to the three-judge court indicated McGinley was displaying symptoms of schizophrenia at the time of the attack, a matter not considered during his trial. Defence counsel argued the defendant's mental state was directly relevant to the question of intent and that the jury should have been afforded the opportunity to consider this material. State counsel contended that mental disorder alone could not form the basis for overturning a conviction previously reaffirmed on appeal in 2016. Mr Justice George Birmingham reserved judgment. McGinley remains serving a life sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 39‑year‑old father and his 36‑year‑old wife pleaded not guilty to two assault‑causing‑serious‑harm charges and three child‑cruelty charges for their nine‑year‑old daughter. The daughter, who now requires 24‑hour care after a brain injury, was admitted to Temple St children's hospital with head, facial injuries and extensive bruising. The father told Detective Inspector David McInerney that he had performed a ritual to remove a "djinn" from his daughter's body, describing the djinn as a devil. He claimed he consulted a Moroccan ruqyah practitioner, who advised prayers and holy water, and that he placed a towel over the child's head while reciting Koranic prayers. The father also said he opened a bedroom window and told the djinn to leave, after which the child allegedly hit her head on the wall. The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
The trial of Stephen Penrose, 38, for the murder of 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, began on 13 October 2021. The prosecution, led by Brendan Grehan SC, presented evidence that Finnegan's decapitated body was found buried in a shallow grave in Rahin Woods, Kildare, after attempts to cut and burn it. A bloodied glove recovered from the woods matched Penrose's DNA. Penrose had been seen in a blue Alfa Romeo on CCTV near a fast‑food restaurant in Kilcock on the day of the murder and had claimed to have been attacked by men, a story the court said was inconsistent with the evidence. The prosecution argued that Penrose had killed Finnegan in the woods, disposed of the body, and then lied to Gardaí to conceal the location. The trial is scheduled to continue for five to six weeks. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
Trevor Robinson, aged 31, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender after an offence, criminal damage and two burglary charges following a high‑speed chase on 9 April 2018. The incident began when Christina Joyce, aged 33, accelerated a Volvo while Garda Thomas Gallagher attempted to seize the vehicle. Gallagher, fearing he would be dragged under the car, held onto the door and later fell, sustaining serious injuries. Joyce was convicted of endangering Gallagher and assault, receiving a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence. Robinson was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally to a cumulative term of three years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, including probation for 12 months after release. The court noted Robinson's burglaries were committed in a frantic attempt to evade pursuing Gardaí. No further outcomes are reported in the article.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Valerijs Leitons, a 25‑year‑old Latvian national with paranoid schizophrenia, was found guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility for stabbing his lover, 34‑year‑old Ms Valdgeima, to death on 26 June 2019 at the Binary Hub aparthotel. The jury, after eight hours and 34 minutes of deliberation over two days, returned a verdict of guilty of manslaughter by a majority of ten to two. Leitons had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but the jury rejected that defence, concluding he did not meet the three criteria for that verdict. The case involved a complex psychiatric history, with expert witnesses presenting differing views on Leitons' mental state. The judge remanded him in custody until a sentencing hearing on 8 December, with a victim impact report to be prepared. The trial highlighted the interplay between mental disorder and criminal responsibility in Irish law.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a nine‑year‑old brother of a girl alleged to have suffered serious assault by her parents described how his father used "some evil thing" to scare him and his sister. The parents, 39‑year‑old man and 36‑year‑old woman, pleaded not guilty to two charges of assault causing serious harm and three charges of child cruelty. The boy testified that his mother used a leather belt, a phone charger, a hot knife, a spray and pliers to inflict injuries, and that his father choked his sister while she was pinned to a wall. He also said his father told him the "demon" talk was planned to frighten them. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with a jury hearing the allegations.
A 38‑year‑old man named Stephen Penrose, who lives on Newtown Court, Malahide Road, Coolock, Dublin 17, is set to go on trial for the murder of Philip Finnegan, a 24‑year‑old man, in Rahin Woods, Rahin, Co Kildare, on 10 August 2016. Penrose was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, noted that Penrose is from west Kildare and Finnegan was from the south inner city of Dublin, and that most of the Gardaí involved are from the Leixlip area of Co Kildare. He mentioned that there is substantial CCTV footage, telecommunication experts and technical witnesses. A jury of eight men and four women was sworn in, and the trial, to be heard by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, is expected to last between five and six weeks.
Aaron Dardis, 25, was given a one‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to assisting an offender under section 72 of the Criminal Law Act. He admitted driving a group of young men to the scene of a meat cleaver attack at Balgaddy, Dublin, on 7 August 2017. Dardis said he had offered them a lift after they claimed they were going to a "fair fight" and that he did not hear the assault until days later. The victim, who was walking past the playground, was struck on the arm with a meat cleaver and beaten with other implements, leaving the victim with limited arm use. The court noted Dardis had no prior convictions and was considered low risk of re‑offending, and imposed the suspended sentence on a number of conditions.
During a trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 14‑year‑old sister of a girl alleged to have been seriously assaulted by her parents gave testimony about the abuse. She said the mother, a 36‑year‑old, had threatened to kill her sister and had physically abused both sisters with a belt, a stick, a hot knife, and by pulling hair. The mother also allegedly used tape to bind the sisters' hands and feet and forced one sister to touch a hot hob. The father was described as choking the sister, punching and kicking her, and locking her in a dark attic. The sisters were reportedly not taken to an ambulance immediately, and the mother claimed she would go to jail. The parents, originally from North Africa, pleaded not guilty to charges of assault causing serious harm and child cruelty. The case is ongoing.
Aoife Lynch, aged 22, spoke from home after the Court of Appeal increased her attacker Anthony Smith's sentence. Smith, 45, had originally been sentenced to five years' imprisonment with three suspended for sexual assault and exploitation of a 14‑year‑old girl. The appeal, prompted by the Director of Public Prosecutions, found the original sentence too lenient and overturned it, ruling that only two years of the headline term should have been suspended. Lynch said she was relieved the proceedings were over and hoped the ruling would encourage other victims to come forward. She urged more support for those who speak out and highlighted the stress and anxiety she and her family endured. The judge noted Lynch's vulnerability and Smith's predatory behaviour, while the prosecutor emphasised the undue leniency of the original sentence. Smith's counsel defended the original sentence as appropriate. The unnamed woman pleaded guilty.
Grace Miano, aged 53, was charged with the murder of Malawian man Limbani 'Robert' Mzoma, aged 27, at Tudor Lawns, Foxrock, Dublin, on 1 November 2018. She was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity by a unanimous jury verdict. On 11 October 2021, she appeared before Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court. Prosecutor Elva Duffy presented a report from a consultant psychiatrist at the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) recommending that Miano remain in the hospital for ongoing treatment. The psychiatrist diagnosed her with schizoaffective disorder and noted progress but a risk of relapse. Mr Justice McDermott committed Miano to the CMH under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 to continue her treatment. Miano's defence counsel, Michael Bowman SC, described her delusions, including believing she was possessed by Princess Diana and that she killed Mzoma to protect Prince William and women.
Gerard Lynch, 34, of Main Street, Pallaskenry, Co Limerick, was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of his brother, Willie Lynch. Lynch pleaded guilty last May to the December 30, 2017, killing. At the sentence hearing, Detective Sergeant Michael Reidy told prosecuting counsel Bernard Condon SC that Lynch entered a nearby shop with blood on his hands, roaring for help, before locals discovered the victim's body. The Assistant State Pathologist reported four stab wounds, with the fatal injury damaging the thorax. Lynch admitted to stabbing his brother and identified the weapon. He had 36 previous convictions, including a three-year jail term in 2007 for arson. His barrister, Mark Nicholas SC, described the case as "absolutely tragic," noting Lynch's history of psychiatric admissions, ADHD, and substance use. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed the mandatory life sentence, backdated to 2017 when Lynch first went into custody. The judge agreed to attach a transcript of the hearing to Lynch's file, allowing the parole board to consider the mitigating factors under the Parole Act 2019, and expressed sympathy to the Lynch family.
A Dublin man, Mark Whelan, aged 48, was found guilty of murder by a unanimous jury at the Central Criminal Court after he stabbed Noel Whelan, 22, to death on 30 March 2019. Whelan was intoxicated with a mixture of cocaine, cannabis and benzodiazepines at the time of the offence and claimed he was psychotic through intoxication, not knowing the nature or wrongness of his actions. The jury rejected this defence and returned a guilty verdict in two hours. The judge, Ms Justice Tara Burns, confirmed that the prosecution and defence had accepted that Whelan killed Noel Whelan and that the evidence did not meet the threshold for diminished responsibility or not‑guilty by reason of insanity. The case was adjourned to 15 November for sentencing and victim impact statements. The trial included expert testimony from Dr Francis Kelly and Professor Harry Kennedy, who found no underlying mental disorder. Mark Whelan pleaded not guilty.
In the murder trial of Mark Whelan, 48, the judge instructed the jury that an insanity verdict was not an option and that they must decide whether Whelan could form the intent to kill. The jury was told that the prosecution and defence had accepted that Whelan killed Noel Thomas Whelan, 22, on 30 March 2019. The judge explained that the evidence did not meet the threshold for diminished responsibility or not‑guilty by reason of insanity. He asked the jury to consider whether Whelan was capable of forming the intention to cause serious harm or to kill, and if he did so on the night. The court heard defence counsel Dr Francis Kelly argue that Whelan was intoxicated, psychotic and did not know the nature of his act, while the State's witness Prof Harry Kennedy found no mental disorder, attributing his behaviour to poly‑substance abuse. The judge reminded the jury that only a unanimous verdict was available. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty and was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Mark Whelan pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the Central Criminal Court case of Valerijs Leitons, a 25‑year‑old Latvian national, has paused its deliberations after four hours and ten minutes of discussion. Leitons, who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, is charged with murdering his affair partner, Skaidrite Valdgeima, 34, on 26 June 2019 at the Binary Hub aparthotel. The trial established that the couple had a sexual relationship that began in May 2019. A pathologist reported Valdgeima suffered multiple penetrating wounds, including defence‑type injuries on both arms. Two forensic psychiatrists testified about Leitons' mental state: Dr Damien Smith, representing the prosecution, said he did not meet the criteria for a not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict, while Dr Ronan Mullaney, for the defence, argued he did. The jury must decide between a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity or guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
During a trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 39‑year‑old man and a 36‑year‑old woman, who pleaded not guilty, faced two assault‑causing‑serious‑harm charges and three child‑cruelty charges for the alleged abuse of their young daughter between 28 June and 2 July 2019. The prosecution, represented by Anne Rowland SC, argued that the child suffered a brain injury that will likely require 24‑hour care for life. Neighbours testified that they heard frequent screaming and shouting from the defendants' home, with the noise reportedly increasing in intensity and frequency in the weeks leading up to 2 July. Fire‑brigade officers and a nursing staff member from Temple Street Children's Hospital also provided evidence of the child's injuries and the parents' distressed state. The case remains before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
A jury will decide whether Valerijs Leitons, a 25‑year‑old Latvian national, should be found not guilty by reason of insanity or guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility for the murder of Skaidrite Valdgeima, 34, on 26 June 2019. Leitons stabbed Valdgeima at the Binary Hub aparthotel after believing she was an undercover agent. The prosecution, led by Conor Devally SC, argued that Leitons' paranoid schizophrenia, diagnosed by Dr Ronan Mullaney, met all three criteria for an insanity verdict, while the defence, represented by Michael Bowman SC, contended that Dr Damien Smith's assessment showed Leitons did not meet those criteria. The judge explained that the jury could return four verdicts, but the parties were focused on the two options of not guilty by reason of insanity or guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. The jury will deliberate tomorrow.