The State has applied to have the trial of Bernard Fogarty, 33, accused of attempting to murder Mark Ivers on September 6, 2019, heard before the non‑jury Special Criminal Court. The application, made by State solicitor Ms Ciara Vibien, was successful when Mr Justice Tony Hunt granted a certificate under Section 49 of the Offences Against the State Act. The court has set a mention date for October 18, 2021, to consider the case in the three‑judge Special Criminal Court.
Brendan 'Benny' Treanor (34) of Dundalk, Co Louth, appeared at the Special Criminal Court to be charged with two offences relating to the January 23, 2013, robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead. Treanor is accused of entering residential premises as trespassers with the intention of stealing vehicle keys, contrary to Common Law, and robbing Pat Bellew of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques, contrary to Section 14 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. The court heard that a co-accused male is currently in custody in the UK, with an international warrant issued for his presence in Ireland. Defence counsel indicated a potential application regarding the court's jurisdiction and estimated the trial could last up to four months. The prosecution requested a 2022 trial date due to the volume of material. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt fixed October 3, 2022, as the trial date and December 21, 2021, for a progress mention. Separately, Aaron Brady (30) of Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, was previously sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Det Gda Donohoe, a case that lasted 122 court days.
In a trial held on 6 October 2021, Mark Whelan, aged 48, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Noel Thomas Whelan, the partner of his daughter, on 30 March 2019. The prosecution suggested that Whelan might be found not guilty by reason of insanity or diminished responsibility. A defence psychiatrist, Dr Francis Kelly, testified that at the time of the offence Whelan was voluntarily intoxicated with cocaine, cannabis and benzodiazepines, and that his psychosis was caused by intoxication rather than a pre‑existing mental disorder. He argued that Whelan did not know the nature or wrongness of his act and could not refrain from stabbing Noel Whelan. The state rebuttal psychiatrist, Prof Harry Kennedy, maintained that Whelan's symptoms were fully explained by substance misuse and that he had no underlying mental disorder. The case was set to continue before Justice Tara Burns and a jury.
In a Dublin murder trial, Dr Ronan Mullaney, a forensic psychiatrist, testified that Valerijs Leitons, a 25‑year‑old Latvian national, was suffering from acute paranoid schizophrenia at the time he stabbed Skaidrite Valdgeima, a 34‑year‑old married woman, to death on 26 June 2019. Mullaney argued that Leitons' delusions—believing Valdgeima was an undercover intelligence agent sent to poison him—made him not understand the nature or wrongness of his actions, thereby qualifying for a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. He contrasted his view with that of Dr Damian Smith, who had previously stated that Leitons' condition did not meet the threshold for such a verdict. Leitons has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, and the jury will decide whether his mental disorder suffices for that defence or whether a manslaughter conviction with diminished responsibility is appropriate.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 31‑year‑old Ronan Byrne was acquitted of manslaughter, assault and possession of a bat after a dispute with his mother's partner, James Marren, who died on 31 October 2013. Byrne testified that he feared Marren and had never struck back. He claimed Marren had repeatedly abused him and that the altercation began when Marren called him a "scumbag" and threatened his daughter. Byrne said he used a wooden bat to try to stop Marren from attacking, striking him a few times, but not with intent to kill. Marren was taken to hospital with a fractured leg, casted, and died days later from a pulmonary embolism caused by a deep vein thrombosis in the injured leg. The jury found Byrne not guilty on all charges after deliberating over three and a half hours. The case highlighted the alleged abuse and the medical chain of causation presented by the pathologist.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 31‑year‑old Ronan Byrne pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing of 57‑year‑old James Marren, who died on 31 October 2013. Byrne is accused of fracturing Marren's leg with a bat during an altercation on 26 October 2013. The defence argued that Marren's death resulted from a "freak event" – a blood clot that formed after the leg was cast and travelled to his heart – rather than Byrne's actions. The defence counsel, Padraig Dwyer SC, emphasised that the clot was a rare complication of deep vein thrombosis and that Byrne's strike was "reasonable and proportionate" to stop Marren from rising. Dwyer also highlighted the long relationship between Byrne's mother and Marren, and that Byrne had never retaliated before. The jury was instructed to consider these points before delivering a verdict. The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
Tomasz Lorenc, a 32‑year‑old Polish national living in Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cannabis for sale or supply. The offence involved €467,000 worth of cannabis found in a rented 40‑foot metal storage container at Meadowfield Storage in Saggart. Gardaí obtained a search warrant and matched Lorenc's fingerprints to those taken from the drugs. The container had been rented under an alias, Karl Finnegan BL, which later proved to be Lorenc's. He is wanted in Poland for an assault charge and faces an outstanding European arrest warrant. Lorenc has one prior UK conviction for drug importation. He will be returned to Poland after serving his sentence. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, back‑dated to his September 2020 arrest. The sentence was imposed after a psychologist report noted Lorenc's addiction, depression and other mental health issues.
Valerijs Leitons, aged 25, was arrested on 26 June 2019 after stabbing to death Skaidrite Valdgeima, aged 34, at the Binary Hub aparthotel in Dublin 8. Leitons pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The Central Criminal Court heard that the couple had begun a sexual relationship after meeting at a concert in May 2019. A post‑mortem report described multiple penetrating slash and stab wounds to Valdgeima's face, head, neck, arms, chest and right eye, with defence‑type injuries on both arms suggesting attempts to block the knife. A psychiatrist testified that Leitons had a psychotic disorder since February 2018 and may have stopped medication by February 2019, but was not sufficiently impaired to meet the insanity threshold. Witnesses, including a night porter and Garda officers, described Leitons as aggressive, holding a knife and resisting arrest.
Mark Whelan, aged 48, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Noel Thomas Whelan on 30 March 2019. He claimed a vision of his daughter's partner killing and eating her unborn baby prompted him to stab Noel to bits. Whelan left the scene, turned himself in at Finglas Garda Station, and was held overnight. During the trial, he described hearing his mother's voice and a vision of Noel murdering his daughter, leading him to stab Noel with two knives. He also admitted cutting himself while stabbing and later fighting two men in Blanchardstown Village. Gardaí noted Whelan's self‑harm behaviors in custody, including attempts to gouge his eye and eat toilet paper. The prosecution presented evidence of psychosis medication, painkillers, and an empty methodone bottle found at the scene. The case was concluded by the State, with the defence planning to call medical evidence at the next hearing.
During a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, the prosecution argued that the alleged victim, James Marren, was "unlucky" to die from injuries sustained in an altercation with Ronan Byrne, but that this does not absolve Byrne of liability. Byrne, 31, is accused of fracturing Marren's leg with a baseball bat on 26 October 2013, an act that the prosecution says was intended to cause serious harm. The jury heard that a blood clot formed after Marren's leg was cast, travelled to his heart and proved fatal. Byrne denies both the use of the bat and the assault. The prosecution, led by Philipp Rahn BL, emphasized that the causal chain from Byrne's actions to Marren's death is clear and that any medical treatment or Marren's refusal to seek further care does not mitigate Byrne's responsibility. The case remains before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury. Ronan Byrne pleaded not guilty.
Anthony Behan, 62, was convicted of impeding the apprehension of his brother during the violent armed robbery of Mizzoni's Pizza on New Year's Day 2019. He was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan on 3 April 2020. His counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, appealed the length of the sentence, arguing that the three months and four days he had spent in custody before bail should be credited. The High Court, presided over by Justice George Birmingham, granted the appeal, effectively back‑dating the sentence so that Behan's release would be on 7 October 2022 instead of 11 January 2022. The appeal also noted that Behan's separate appeal against conviction had been abandoned. The case was heard after a jury trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 28 February 2020, where both Anthony and his brother Joseph were found guilty of their respective roles in the robbery.
A 32‑year‑old man, who had served a 10‑year sentence for killing his former girlfriend in his native EU country, was released on the condition he not leave that country until January 2022. He moved to County Cork in 2019, married the mother of a 12‑year‑old girl and moved into the family home. In May 2020 a neighbour reported a domestic incident; Gardaí found the girl with bruises and a cut on her nose. She later admitted to being beaten and sexually abused, describing three episodes of sexual assault and two rapes between September 2019 and May 2020. The man pleaded not guilty to charges of child cruelty, assault causing harm, sexual assault and rape. A jury convicted him on one assault charge, six child‑cruelty charges, three sexual‑assault charges and two rape charges. He has been remanded since June 2020 and sentencing is adjourned to 22 October.
During a Central Criminal Court murder trial, Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that the deceased, Noel Thomas Whelan, suffered 18 knife wounds to his head, neck and trunk, including a fatal neck wound that severed the carotid artery and a lung‑penetrating wound that collapsed the lung. She identified nine additional stab wounds and seven incised wounds that contributed to his death, concluding the cause was multiple stab wounds with no other factors. The accused, Mark Whelan, 48, pleaded not guilty to the murder. The trial noted that the victim and accused were not related but the victim was the partner of one of Mark Whelan's daughters. Dr Mulligan arrived at the scene at 21:41, found the body at the bottom of a narrow staircase, and observed bloodstains, finger prints and two blood‑stained knives in the kitchen. Toxicology revealed cocaine but no alcohol.
Stephen Fowler (62) was sentenced to six years and nine months at the Special Criminal Court for his logistical involvement in a plot to murder James Gately. The judge suspended the final 15 months for three years, conditional on good behaviour. Fowler pleaded guilty to participating in a criminal organisation's activities between December 2016 and April 2017. He is the sixth person jailed in this case. Peter Keating (40) pleaded guilty to directing a criminal organisation and was jailed for 11 years. David Duffy (33) pleaded guilty to contributing to the murder plot and received five years' imprisonment with one year suspended. Caolan Smyth (30), who denied charges, was sentenced to 20 years for attempted murder and firearm possession. Gary McAreavey (53) pleaded not guilty to impeding prosecution by burning a vehicle but received a four-year term with the final year suspended. Imre Arakas (63) was jailed for six years in 2018 after admitting to conspiring to murder Gately. The court described the events as part of ongoing targeting of Gately within a gang feud.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 4 October 2021, Claire Lott gave a victim‑impact statement describing the brutal murder of her daughter, Nadine Lott, by Daniel Murtagh. Lott recounted finding Nadine lying on her back in the kitchen of her apartment, gasping for air and covered in blood, and described the scene as "total horror" with broken glass and smashed mirrors. She spoke of the prolonged, savage attack that left Nadine "completely unrecognisable" and of the emotional toll on her family. The court had earlier convicted Murtagh of murder; he was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment, a sentence back‑dated to 16 December 2019. The hearing focused on the impact of the crime on Lott's family and the brutality of the assault, without discussing any subsequent legal developments.
In a Dublin murder trial, 25‑year‑old Valerijs Leitons, charged with killing his partner Skaidrite Valdegeima, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. A psychiatrist testified that Leitons suffered a psychotic disorder but was not impaired enough to meet the legal criteria for an insanity verdict. Leitons had been prescribed antipsychotic medication since February 2018, but may have stopped taking it by February 2019. He claimed to be targeted by intelligence agents and believed Valdegeima was an agent who threatened him. Leitons carried two knives, which he said were for self‑protection, and stabbed Valdegeima at the Binary Hub aparthotels on 26 June 2019. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of twelve.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mark Whelan, aged 48, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Noel Thomas Whelan, a man in his twenties who was the partner of Whelan's daughter. The trial began with evidence that Whelan was found at Castlecurragh Heath on 30 March 2019 with blood on his face and clothing, and that he had called a local Garda station where he was heard saying, "It's me that you want." Forensic testimony confirmed that Noel Whelan was stabbed multiple times and died at the scene, and that a bag of clothes seized from Whelan contained Noel's DNA and blood. Garda Dwayne O'Brien recounted that Whelan was arrested after appearing at the station with blood‑spattered clothing and a Lidl bag of clothes. During his detention, Whelan made a series of disordered statements, including claims of killing "the last of the seven saints," and expressed remorse to the Garda. The unnamed accused was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
An American tourist, Debbie Halley, described seeing a blood‑covered woman in a Dublin apartment complex as "like the movie Carrie" and hearing her cry for help. Another American tourist, Sean Miller, recounted waking at 3 am to a screaming, a woman bleeding on the floor and a man with a knife. Miller and his friend Tyler Chen used a chair and a fire extinguisher to repel the man, then carried the woman to the corridor where they attempted first aid. The woman, Skaidrite Valdgeima, was later found dead. Valdgeima's friend Grita Steine testified that Valdgeima and the accused, Valerijs Leitons (25), had begun a sexual relationship after meeting at a concert in May 2019. Leitons, who was booked at St Kevin's Gardens, is on trial for her murder at the Central Criminal Court.
Grace Miano, 53, was charged with the murder of Malawian man Limbani 'Robert' Mzoma, 27, at Tudor Lawns in Foxrock, Co Dublin, on 1 November 2018. She claimed she was possessed by the spirit of Princess Diana and killed Mzoma to "protect Prince William", then cut off his genitals post‑mortem to "protect women". A jury found her not guilty by reason of insanity after less than two and a half hours of deliberation. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, explained that the verdict was based on psychiatric evidence that Miano did not know her actions were wrong and was unable to refrain from them, satisfying two of the three criteria under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. The State applied for Miano to be examined at a designated centre for 14 days; the judge granted the application and remanded her to appear again on 11 October for a psychiatric report. The judge expressed condolences to Mzoma's family.
A manslaughter trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard evidence regarding the character of the deceased man in the case. Ronan Byrne, aged 31, of Lohunda Downs, Clonsilla, Blanchardstown, Dublin, pleads not guilty to the unlawful killing of James Marren, aged 57, at that address on 31 October 2013. He also denies producing a baseball bat during a dispute and assaulting Mr Marren on 26 October 2013. The prosecution alleges Mr Byrne fractured the victim's leg with a bat, leading to complications including a fatal blood clot. During the sixth day of trial, the court heard a statement from the deceased man's son describing the victim as heavily drinking and abusive towards the accused and his family members. The witness stated he had not seen his father for four years prior to his death due to the pattern of abusive behaviour. The prosecution formally closed its case before the jury. Judge Patricia Ryan presides over the trial, which continues.
Gerard Hutch, 58, appeared before the Special Criminal Court following his extradition from Spain, where he was charged with the alleged murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016. The court, presided over by Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Berkeley and McHugh, fixed a trial date for October 3, 2022, where Hutch will stand trial alongside four other co-accused. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC reserved Hutch's position regarding the lawfulness of his arrest, the charge, and the court's jurisdiction. The court remanded Hutch in custody until October 15, 2022. This proceeding is distinct from the 2019 case of Patrick Hutch, who pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Mr Byrne but was acquitted after charges were dropped. Additionally, Jonathan Dowdall was previously charged with the alleged murder of Mr Byrne and is scheduled to go on trial alongside other co-accused on the same date. The trial date represents a procedural step in the ongoing prosecution, with ancillary matters such as bail and potential applications for separate trials to be addressed in the coming weeks.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Grace Miano, aged 53, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of Malawian man Limbani 'Robert' Mzoma, aged 27, at Tudor Lawns, Foxrock, Co Dublin, on 1 November 2018. Miano, also known as Margaret Sloane, claimed she was inhabited by the spirit of Princess Diana and that Diana guided her to kill Mzoma to protect Prince William and other members of the royal family. She alleged that Mzoma had raped and beaten her since 1989 and that she had been threatened by a plot involving Kate Middleton. Psychiatrists Dr Paul O'Connell and Dr Brenda Wright diagnosed Miano with schizoaffective disorder, describing her as intensely psychotic with hallucinations and persecutory beliefs. Both doctors agreed that a not‑guilty verdict by reason of insanity was appropriate, and the prosecution accepted this conclusion. The case remains at the trial stage, with the jury to be instructed by Justice Paul McDermott.
During a manslaughter trial, 31‑year‑old Ronan Byrne pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing of 57‑year‑old James Marren on 31 October 2013. Byrne claimed he feared for himself and his child after Marren, who had returned home drunk, shouted abuse, pushed him and threatened him. Byrne said he grabbed a baseball bat from the hallway, struck Marren a few times—once or twice to the head and once or twice to the legs—then fled the house, later returning to bring his child to her mother. He denied that he had used the bat in a full swing or that he had previously hit Marren with a bat. The court heard that Marren's leg was cast after the assault, a blood clot formed, travelled to his heart and proved fatal. The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Mark Whelan, 48, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Noel Thomas Whelan, a man in his twenties, who was the partner of Whelan's daughter. The prosecution presented evidence that on 30 March 2019, neighbours heard noise from the apartment at Castlecurragh Heath and later saw a topless male, covered in blood, leaving the building around 6 pm. An eyewitness identified the man as Whelan, who was then seen walking toward his sister's home in Mulhuddart. Gardaí found Whelan's body in the hallway, covered with two heavy tool trolleys, with 11 stab wounds to the head, neck and chest, including a severed carotid artery and a perforated lung. Two blood‑stained knives with handprints matching Whelan's DNA were recovered from the kitchen sink, and similar prints were found on a wall and a toolbox.
In a Dublin murder trial, Renato Gehlen, 39, was found guilty of killing his wife Anne Colomines, 37, by stabbing her through the heart on 25 October 2017. The jury, after two and a half hours, rejected Gehlen's claim that Colomines had stabbed herself. Prosecutors described his actions as an attempt to control the end of their marriage, citing his "toxic masculinity" and the fact that he had tried to grab a knife during a struggle. Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that Colomines suffered four stab wounds, a 22‑cm throat incision and defensive injuries to her hands, concluding it was highly unlikely she inflicted the fatal wounds herself. The court will impose a mandatory life sentence on Gehlen, with sentencing scheduled for 22 October 2024. The trial also revealed that Colomines had been in a new relationship and had exchanged nearly 300 messages with her boyfriend in the hours before her death. Renato Gehlen pleaded not guilty.
In the murder trial of Renato Gehlen, the jury requested a re‑hear of pathology evidence and to view three knives recovered from the scene. The judge agreed to read the full evidence from Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan and allowed the jurors to examine a yellow‑handled knife found on Gehlen's chest, a Stanley knife near the bedroom skirting board, and a red knife on a duvet cover. Dr Mulligan testified that Ms Anne Colomines had four stab wounds, a 22 cm throat wound, and six hand incisions, with one 20 cm deep wound passing through the heart, and stated it was "highly unlikely" she had stabbed herself. Gehlen, 39, pleaded not guilty to murdering his 37‑year‑old wife, who worked for PayPal, at their Dublin home on 25 October 2017. The jury, composed of seven men and five women, deliberated for 2 h 40 min and must decide unanimously between guilty or not guilty.
During a manslaughter trial, the court heard that a direct chain of causation links a leg injury to a fatal blood clot. Ronan Byrne, 31, is accused of fracturing James Marren's leg with a bat on 26 October 2013. Marren, 57, was later found dead on 31 October 2013. Byrne pleaded not guilty to unlawful killing and denies using a baseball bat or assaulting Marren. Dr Stuart Hamilton, a forensic pathologist, testified that Marren's right leg was fractured, immobilised in a cast, and developed a deep vein thrombosis that led to a pulmonary embolism. Hamilton stated that the clot travelled from the leg to the heart and then to the lungs, causing death. He described this as a rare medical condition that can cause sudden death. The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
Valerijs Leitons, 25, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Skaidrite Valdgeima on 26 June 2019 at Binary Hub, Bonham Street, Dublin 8. He appeared in the Central Criminal Court wearing a dark grey suit and a white respirator mask, with a Russian interpreter beside him. The court registrar asked how he was pleading; Leitons answered, "Not guilty, by reason of insanity." A jury of five women and seven men was sworn in, and the trial is scheduled to begin before Mr Justice Paul Burns on 30 September, expected to last three or four days.
A 48‑year‑old man named Mark Whelan, who lives in Castlecurragh Heath, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, is set to stand trial for the murder of Noel Thomas Whelan at the latter's home on 30 March 2019. Whelan was arrested and appeared in the Central Criminal Court in a light grey tracksuit and a disposable blue face mask. He pleaded not guilty to the charge. A jury of nine men and three women was sworn in, and the trial is scheduled to begin before Justice Tara Burns tomorrow.
A 53‑year‑old Kenyan woman, Grace Miano, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in the murder of 27‑year‑old Malawian man Limbani 'Robert' Mzoma at Tudor Lawns, Foxrock, on 1 November 2018. She told the court that she killed Mzoma to "protect Prince William" and cut off his genitals after death "to protect women". The prosecution presented evidence that Mzoma died from blunt‑force and stabbing injuries, with post‑mortem wounds to the head, neck and genital area. Human remains were found in the kitchen sink. Miano's defence argued she suffered a schizoaffective disorder and did not know her actions were wrong. The trial is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of five women and seven men, and the prosecution seeks a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity under Section 5 of the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. The case remains at the opening‑speech stage.
A jury of seven men and five women is continuing deliberations in the murder trial of Renato Gehlen, a 39‑year‑old Brazilian, accused of stabbing his 37‑year‑old French wife, Anne Colomines, to death in their Dublin apartment on 25 October 2017. The jury began deliberating at noon on Tuesday and had spent 1 hour 40 minutes before the registrar asked if a verdict had been reached; the answer was no. Judge Michael MacGrath adjourned the proceedings to the next morning, instructing the jury to avoid media and external inquiries. Prosecution counsel Shane Costelloe argued that Gehlen's act was an attempt to regain control of the marriage, describing it as "the ultimate in toxic masculinity." Defence counsel Seamus Clarke contended that the prosecution had not ruled out the possibility that the injuries were self‑inflicted, urging the jury to acquit if reasonable doubt existed. Renato Gehlen pleaded not guilty.
A manslaughter trial is ongoing with medical witnesses and emergency personnel providing evidence regarding the death of James Marren. Ronan Byrne (31) is accused of fracturing Mr Marren's leg with a bat during an altercation. The jury heard that a blood clot developed in Mr Marren's leg after it was placed in a cast, leading to his death. Byrne has pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing of Mr Marren on October 31, 2013, and to assault and the use of a bat on October 26, 2013. Medical evidence showed Mr Marren had a fractured leg, excessive bruising, and alcohol in his system. Doctors testified that immobility can lead to deep vein thrombosis, but no issues with the cast were noted. Mr Marren was found unresponsive at home, and paramedics performed CPR before he was pronounced dead at the hospital. The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a woman recounted years of sexual, physical and emotional abuse by her older brother, now 56, who was convicted of 11 rapes committed between 1979 and 1982. She said the abuse began when she was nine and her brother fourteen, escalating from touching to rape, with violence such as hitting and breaking fingers. The victim had reported the abuse to Gardaí in 2015, leading to the brother's arrest that year; he denied the allegations. The court heard the abuse occurred at their Dublin family home, starting at the time of her first communion. The woman described enduring fear, manipulation and a sense of isolation, and expressed that she could now confront the memories she had kept hidden. She thanked her husband, supporters, victim‑support services, the prosecution and Gardaí, and stated she would no longer be harmed by her brother.
Grace Miano, 53, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Malawian man Limbani 'Robert' Mzoma, 27, at Tudor Lawns in Foxrock, Co Dublin, on 1 November 2018. The charge was read to her at the Central Criminal Court, where she confirmed her identity and answered the registrar. She is also known as 'Margaret Sloane'. Judge Paul McDermott informed the jury that the trial would last two to three days and begin the following day. Miano first arrived in Ireland in 1989 and had stayed in hostels around Finglas and Harcourt Street in Dublin.
In 2015, Richard O'Mara, aged 32, raped a 17‑year‑old schoolgirl twice at his sister's 18th birthday party in County Clare. The first assault occurred in a field behind the house; the second took place on a couch inside the house after the party. The victim, who was terrified of seeing O'Mara again, stayed in her bedroom for two months and reported severe physical and psychological trauma. O'Mara pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury in April 2019. He was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. In June 2019, the Court of Appeal dismissed O'Mara's appeal, upholding the conviction and confirming that the evidence and investigative procedures met the required legal standards. No further sentence changes were announced.
In a Dublin murder trial, prosecution counsel Shane Costelloe SC argued that Renato Gehlen, a 39‑year‑old Brazilian, stabbed his 37‑year‑old French wife Anne Colomines to death on 25 October 2017 to end their marriage. Costelloe described the act as "the ultimate in toxic masculinity," claiming Gehlen lost control and could not handle the marriage's end. He cited evidence of four stab wounds, a 22‑centimetre throat wound, and six defensive injuries, concluding it was highly unlikely the wounds were self‑inflicted. Costelloe also highlighted Gehlen's Facebook activity, including a message expressing a desire to stab, as evidence of intent. He urged the jury to find Gehlen guilty of murder, emphasizing that a man cannot kill his wife simply because she is unfaithful. The defense maintained that the wounds could have been self‑inflicted and called for an acquittal. The jury was instructed to deliberate on the case. Renato Gehlen pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 31‑year‑old Ronan Byrne pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing of James Marren, 57, who died on 31 October 2013 after a blood clot from a fractured leg travelled to his heart. Byrne is alleged to have fractured Marren's leg with a bat on 26 October 2013, days before the fatal clot. He denies both the assault and the use of a baseball bat. Byrne's mother, Mairead, testified that Marren had been in a relationship with her for at least 13 years and that Marren had verbally abused her son, but she did not witness the fight. Neighbour Hugh Kenny described a commotion at the house on 26 October, noting Marren was lying on the bathroom floor with a large forehead wound and that an ambulance was called. The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
The murder trial of Damien Singleton, 30, accused of killing Peter Donnelly on Dublin's O'Connell Street in June 2019, collapsed after a juror claimed to have overheard Gardaí discussing witness statements in the courtroom. The trial, held in Court 9 of the Central Criminal Court before Ms Justice Tara Burns, began with Singleton pleading not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. During the proceedings, a juror noted that he believed he heard partial conversations between Gardaí about witness statements, a claim the prosecution denied, stating the Gardaí present were only there for logistical reasons and did not discuss witness statements. The judge, concerned about the jurors' seating and potential distractions, decided to discharge the jury. The case was re‑listed for mention for the following Monday. The trial had been conducted under Covid‑19 health and safety guidelines, with only five jurors seated in the jury box and seven in the body of the court.
Renato Gehlen, a 39‑year‑old Brazilian, denied murdering his 37‑year‑old French wife, Anne Colomines, and told Gardaí that she stabbed herself after a heated argument. He claimed that after trying to persuade her to speak and asking if she was seeing anyone else, she took a Stanley knife and began cutting her neck, but the cut was shallow and did not bleed. He said they fought over her computer, during which she allegedly said, "If I'm going to fuck me up I'm going to be sure to fuck you up very well." Gehlen reported that he tried to grab the knife, fell, and that Colomines then stabbed herself in the abdomen. He further alleged that she had a second cut on her torso, possibly from the struggle. Gehlen also claimed he panicked, called a friend, and attempted suicide with a knife, cutting his arms and legs before being taken to hospital. Renato Gehlen pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Peter Donnelly, a 39‑year‑old homeless man from Kilkenny, was killed on Dublin's O'Connell Street on the early hours of 11 June 2019. Dr Bolster described two fatal stab wounds inflicted by a single‑blade knife: a 4 cm‑deep wound to Donnelly's jugular vein and a branch of the aorta, and a V‑shaped wound near his backbone that missed the spine. The left lung had collapsed, with 500 ml of fresh blood in the cavity. Donnelly's blood alcohol level was 241 mg ml⁻¹, and cocaine, heroin and antidepressants were present. The knife recovered by Gardaí was 14 cm and matched the wounds. The case is before a jury of eight men and four women, with Mr Damien Singleton, 30, pleading not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Donnelly. The trial continues tomorrow.
The Central Criminal Court is in the closing phase of a trial involving a 41‑year‑old man who has pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment. The complainant, now 19, testified via video link that she was snuck out of her home after being grounded by her mother and was alone in her local town when the accused approached her. She alleges that after she went to his home she was raped, then the accused left the room, closed the door, and she could not leave because there was no handle on her side. She claims she left when the door was left open after a shower. Gardaí were alerted after the girl told a teacher in November 2017, and the accused was interviewed in February 2018.
In the trial of Damien Singleton, a 30‑year‑old man with no fixed abode, the prosecution presented a case that the killing of Peter Donnelly, a 39‑year‑old from Kilkenny who had been living rough in Dublin, was murder and nothing else. Singleton had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The prosecution argued that CCTV footage showed Singleton stabbing Donnelly three times with a knife and then striking him with a bottle before fleeing. They also claimed that Singleton had approached a young girl on O'Connell Street, engaged in a heated exchange with Donnelly, and that the incident occurred around 12.25 am on 11 June 2019. The prosecution's evidence included testimony from Garda Nicola Tornsey, who described the confrontation, the subsequent CPR by witnesses, and the recovery of a blood‑stained knife near the arrest site.
During the Central Criminal Court trial, Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that it is highly unlikely Anne Colomines stabbed herself to death. She described four stab wounds, a 22‑centimetre throat incision, and six defensive injuries on her hands, noting the fatal chest wound entered the right side between the fourth and fifth ribs and penetrated the heart. The throat wound was jagged, suggesting multiple passes, and would have caused severe pain and bleeding. Dr Mulligan argued that the pattern of wounds, the right‑handedness of the victim, and the absence of tentative wounds made self‑infliction improbable, though she could not rule it out entirely. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, continues with a jury of twelve. The accused, Renato Gehlen, remains not guilty of murdering his 37‑year‑old French wife. The case also involves evidence from laptops and a knife found at the scene. The trial is ongoing.
A 41‑year‑old man, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment after a 19‑year‑old girl alleged he raped her and held her captive in his Dublin suburb home on 21 August 2017. The girl, who was 15 at the time, said she had been grounded by her mother and was alone when the accused approached her on a street near his apartment. She claimed he took her to his home, offered her a small beer, and later forced her into his bedroom where he allegedly raped her. She said he closed the door, she could not leave because there was no handle on her side, and she escaped the next day after he left the room to shower. The accused denied all allegations, insisting he had thrown her out and that he believed she was in her twenties.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 41‑year‑old man pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment. The complainant, now 19, was 15 at the time of the alleged rape. She testified via video link that she had left home after being grounded, was alone in her town, and was approached by the accused. She claimed the man raped her after she went to his home. Forensic scientist Dr Charlotte Murphy examined a mattress fabric sample from the accused's bed and found DNA matching the complainant in a blood stain. No semen was detected. The accused argued the blood was menstrual, but Dr Murphy noted the absence of semen does not rule out intercourse. The trial also heard testimony from the accused's former flatmate, who described the night's events and the accused's statements about the girl's presence in the apartment. The case remains before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
During a murder trial, the Central Criminal Court heard that Renato Gehlen, a 39‑year‑old Brazilian, told his 37‑year‑old French wife, Anne Colomines, that "when someone loves so much, it is the worst thing in the world" two days before she was killed by knife wounds at their Dublin apartment. Detective Garda Niamh Coates presented Facebook messages from Gehlen's phone in which he repeatedly expressed love and said, "A marriage is two imperfect people who do not give up on each other." Two days before her death he wished her a "happy wedding anniversary" and urged her not to give up on him. The court also heard that on the night of her death she exchanged 296 messages with a new French boyfriend, ending at 23:06, and that emergency responders found her lifeless body in her bedroom less than 30 minutes later. Renato Gehlen pleaded not guilty.
A 30‑year‑old man, Damien Singleton, who has no fixed abode, appeared at the Central Criminal Court on 20 September 2021. He is charged with the murder of 39‑year‑old Peter Donnelly, a father‑of‑one from Kilkenny, who was killed on O'Connell Street in Dublin on 11 June 2019. Singleton denies the murder charge but pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Justice Tara Burns informed the jury that the trial is expected to finish by the following Friday, with opening speeches scheduled for the next day before a jury of eight men and four women.
A 14‑year‑old boy and his 17‑year‑old brother pleaded guilty to raping a 17‑year‑old girl in a public field near a holiday caravan park. The attacks, which included oral, vaginal and anal rape, were carried out in front of about seven other boys. The younger defendant was sentenced to five years detention, while the older received seven and a half years with 18 months suspended. The court noted the victim's young age, the threats of violence, the humiliating public nature of the assaults and the lack of consent. The younger accused was described as "clearly out of control" and lacking empathy, while the older showed some remorse. The victim suffered post‑traumatic stress, dropped out of school and developed anorexia. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
At 11.30pm the Dublin Fire Brigade entered the bedroom of the apartment on Dorset Square, Gardiner Street, where Anne Colomines, 37, lay dead on a blood‑stained floor beside her husband Renato Gehlen, 39. Fire officers observed a large amount of blood on the bed and floor, a white‑handled knife protruding from Gehlen's chest, and multiple stab wounds, a throat slash and a cut on his palm. Paramedics attempted resuscitation for 30 minutes but she had no pulse. The knife lodged in Gehlen's chest was not deep and fell out as he was moved downstairs. Officers found a black and yellow Stanley knife near the skirting board and blood spatter on the wall. The case is being heard by the Central Criminal Court, with Gehlen pleading not guilty to the murder of his French wife. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury.
A 59‑year‑old man was sentenced to six months' imprisonment for two indecent assaults on his younger niece when he was a teenager. The assaults, committed between 1976 and 1979, involved the niece aged six to eight and took place in her family home, first in a bedroom and later in a bathroom. The Central Criminal Court in Waterford found the defendant guilty of two charges of indecent assault after he denied the allegations. Justice Mary Rose Gearty initially imposed a 20‑month sentence, citing the victim's very young age, the home setting and the lasting impact of the assaults. She reduced the term by ten months, suspended the final four months, and gave credit for the defendant's lack of further serious offences and his otherwise "largely blameless" life since 1979. The victim's impact statement described a lifetime of pain and avoidance, and the court noted the defendant's absence of remorse or a guilty plea.