The Central Criminal Court heard that Renato Gehlen, a 39‑year‑old Brazilian, sent a text to Anne Colomines' new boyfriend warning him "not to ever go near" her. Colomines, a 37‑year‑old French national who worked for Pay‑Pal, had begun a relationship with a younger man she met on a holiday in France and had told Gehlen she wanted a divorce. She was found dead on 25 October 2017 in the apartment she shared with Gehlen in Dublin. Gehlen has pleaded not guilty to her murder. Witnesses, including former Pay‑Pal colleagues, described Colomines' desire for a fresh start and her attempts to help Gehlen with visa documents before her death. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath with a jury of five women and seven men.
Stephen Fowler (62) pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to participating in a criminal organisation with the intention of enhancing its ability to commit the serious offence of the murder of James Gately. The court heard that Fowler offered his home as a safe-house to Estonian hitman Imre Arakas, who was jailed for six years in December 2018 for conspiring in the attempted murder. Fowler, who previously served six years for cannabis possession, was on a two-year suspended sentence at the time of the 2017 offence. The court will review this suspended sentence as part of the finalisation. Sentencing for Fowler, which carries a maximum of 15 years, is scheduled for October 4. Related convictions include Peter Keating, jailed for 11 years for directing a criminal organisation; David Duffy, sentenced to five years with one year suspended for participating in the organisation; and Caolan Smyth, sentenced to 20 years for attempted murder and firearm possession after denying charges. Gary McAreavey, who pleaded not guilty to impeding prosecution by assisting in burning a vehicle, received a four-year term with the final year suspended. These cases stem from a feud between the Hutch and Kinahan crime groups.
Matthew Cummins, aged 27, was released after serving seven years for a murder conviction that was quashed by the Court of Appeal. The appeal found no evidence that Cummins and James Davy were part of a joint enterprise with Sean Davy, who struck Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley eight times with a baseball bat. Cummins admitted responsibility for burn marks on Dooley's legs and the armchair, having tried to set fire to the body to destroy evidence. Mr Justice Michael White sentenced Cummins to nine years, with two years suspended, to run consecutively with a two‑year arson term. Cummins has been in custody since 2014 and is now eligible for release. The judge noted his exemplary prison behaviour but warned of a high risk of reoffending. The article reports only the procedural outcome and Cummins' admission of the fire‑setting attempt.
In a Dublin suburb, a 15‑year‑old girl testified that a 41‑year‑old man brought her to a sealed room, locked the door, and raped her. She described how the man offered her whiskey, led her to a bedroom with a locked window, and forced sexual acts while she tried to resist. She said the assault lasted "forever" and she began bleeding. After escaping, she fled to a train station, eventually reached a Garda station, and her mother was called. She later spoke to a teacher and was examined at a sexual assault treatment unit. The man pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment. The case is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury at the Central Criminal Court. The trial continues.
During the murder trial, the accused, Renato Gehlen, was heard by the Central Criminal Court to have spoken to a friend on the night of his wife Anne Colomines' death, saying, "Sorry, I killed Anne and now I'm going to kill myself." The court also heard that Gehlen had been upset because his wife wanted a divorce, accusing him of being controlling and absent during her operation. Witness Ralph Comendador recounted that Gehlen had argued with Anne after discovering she was not wearing her wedding ring and that she had complained about his video‑gaming and his desire for a baby. On the night of the murder, Gehlen sent a message to Comendador saying, "The same shit man. No talk. Cold and avoiding. Fuck, I really want to stab." The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury of five women and seven men. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, 39‑year‑old Renato Gehlen, a Brazilian national, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 37‑year‑old French wife, Anne Colomines, who was found dead in their Dublin apartment on 25 October 2017. The prosecution, represented by Shane Costelloe SC, presented evidence that the couple's marriage, which began in October 2012, was in serious difficulty and that Ms Colomines had expressed a desire for divorce. According to the defence, Gehlen was deeply upset by this prospect. On the night of the death, Gehlen allegedly told a friend, "I have just killed Anne and I'm going to kill myself." Gardaí and the Dublin Fire Brigade entered the apartment, finding Ms Colomines deceased and Gehlen with a knife protruding from his torso. He was taken to Mater Hospital, where he received extensive treatment before being arrested.
Former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall, 43, and three co-accused have been fixed for trial at the Special Criminal Court regarding the 2016 murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin 9. In July, gardaí served Books of Evidence on the four men, who are all charged in connection with the killing. Mr. Byrne was shot dead on February 5, 2016, after five men, three disguised as armed gardaí, stormed the building during a boxing weigh-in. Jonathan Dowdall is charged with the murder of David Byrne, contrary to Common Law. His father, Patrick Dowdall, 64, is accused of facilitating a serious offence by making a hotel room available to a criminal organisation on February 4, 2016. Co-accused Paul Murphy, 59, is charged with supplying logistical support to a six-man team and providing access to motor vehicles. Jason Bonney, 50, is also charged with facilitating a serious offence by providing access to motor vehicles. Prosecuting barrister Fiona Murphy SC indicated an objection to Mr. Bonney's free legal aid application, with his case put in for October 7, 2021, for mention. Mr. Justice Tony Hunt fixed October 3, 2022, for a trial that could last up to 12 weeks, and put the matter in for an update on April 25, 2022.
At the Special Criminal Court, Dubliner Stephen Fowler (62) pleaded guilty to having knowledge of a criminal organisation and participating in activities connected with the attempted murder of James Gately between December 7, 2016, and April 4, 2017. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the matter, fixing September 16 for a sentence hearing. The court report also details related finalisations. Peter Keating (41) was sentenced to 11 years after pleading guilty to directing the activities of a criminal organisation during the same period. David Duffy (33) pleaded guilty to similar charges and received a five-year sentence with one year suspended. Caolan Smyth (30), who denied charges, was sentenced to 20 years for the attempted murder of Gately and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Gary McAreavey (53) pleaded not guilty to acting to impede an apprehension by assisting in the burning of a vehicle used in the attack; he was sentenced to four years with the final year suspended. Imre Arakas (63) was jailed for six years in 2018 after admitting to conspiring to murder Gately. These proceedings relate to a feud between the Hutch and Kinahan crime groups, during which Gately survived multiple assassination attempts.
In a speech at the Central Criminal Court on 13 September 2021, Mr Justice Paul McDermott warned that barristers must notify the court in writing if a trial is expected to last more than three weeks. He said that without a written memo explaining the reasons for the delay and the required duration, a trial longer than three weeks will not receive a trial date. McDermott also said that the court will not tolerate significant overruns beyond the estimated time. He added that jurors should be informed of the expected length of the trial and that, in some cases, 15 jurors may be enlisted to cover for those who cannot continue. The judge cited the collapse of the Bray Boxing Club murder trial, where a 34‑year‑old defendant, Gerard Cervi, faced delays and a jury that was unable to finish the trial due to health and procedural issues. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
Renato Gehlen, a 39‑year‑old Brazilian, is set to stand trial for the murder of his 37‑year‑old wife, Anne Colomines, who also worked for PayPal. The alleged killing took place at their Dublin home in Dorset Square on 25 October 2017. Gehlen pleaded not guilty. A jury of seven men and five women will hear the case, which will be presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath at the Criminal Courts of Justice. The trial is scheduled to last up to three weeks.
Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian truck driver, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for the manslaughter of 20‑year‑old Joseph "Joe Joe" Dunne, who died after Almasi struck him on the head with a baseball bat. The Central Criminal Court found that Almasi had intended to cause serious injury, delivering a savage blow that caused near‑instantaneous death. Almasi had previously been convicted of murder in 2014, appealed to the Court of Appeal, and had that conviction quashed by the Supreme Court, leading to a retrial. The final trial ended with a jury disagreement on the murder charge, so the court imposed a manslaughter sentence. Almasi pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and the judge noted mitigating factors such as his lack of prior convictions and his cooperation in prison. The sentence was back‑dated to his 2014 arrest.
The Central Criminal Court is set to resume with several high-profile matters, including the appeal of Aaron Brady. Brady, 30, was convicted by an 11-to-1 majority jury verdict for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe in January 2013. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 40 years, plus a concurrent 14-year sentence for robbery. His appeal is expected in 2022. Other upcoming trials include that of Sameer Syed, 37, accused of murdering his wife Seema Banu and their two children in Rathfarnham in October 2021; his trial is scheduled for June 15, 2022. Michael Scott, 55, faces trial on January 11, 2022, for the alleged murder of Chrissie Treacy in Portumna in 2018. Stephen Silver, 44, is charged with the murder of Garda Colm Horkan in Castlerea in June 2020; his trial is also set for June 15, 2022. Additionally, an appeal by Boy B regarding the 2018 murder of Ana Kriegel is expected before the Court of Appeal. Boy B and Boy A were found guilty in 2019; both were 13 at the time, denied the offences, and were remanded to Oberstown Detention Centre.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Gerard Cervi for the murder of Bobby Messett and attempted murder of coach Pete Taylor at Bray Boxing Club collapsed after a juror became seriously ill, reducing the jury below the required ten members. Judge Michael White adjourned the case and discharged the remaining nine jurors, exempting them from future service. Cervi, aged 50, had pleaded not guilty to the killings that occurred on 5 June 2018, when a gunman entered the club, fired nine shots from a semi‑automatic pistol, killing Messett instantly and injuring Taylor and Ian Britton. The prosecution alleged Cervi was the lone gunman, linking him to a silver Volkswagen van seen near the club and to a bicycle at Pigeon House Road. Witnesses described the chaotic shooting, the gunman's appearance, and the subsequent removal of Taylor's clothing by paramedics. The trial was scheduled to resume on 11 October 2021.
A Dublin man, now 25, was jailed for five years after being convicted of one count of anal rape and five counts of sexual assault against his younger cousin, who was nine or ten at the time. The offences occurred between 2013 and early 2015 while the man, aged 17 or 18, was a regular visitor to the family home. He pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in May 2021. The judge noted the breach of trust, the victim's age and the impact on the victim and his family, and considered the accused's youth and lack of prior convictions. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment, with one year of post‑release supervision by the Probation Service. The court also ordered that breaching the supervision order would be a separate criminal offence.
Conor Dreelan, aged 25, was sentenced to four years in prison at the Central Criminal Court for intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to his mother, Phyllis Dreelan, and stepfather, David Dignam, during a cocaine‑induced psychotic episode. He had taken 2 grams of cocaine the day before the assault. Dreelan was found to have no evidence of psychosis when not using drugs and was described as being in shock when he realised the harm he had caused. The court imposed a six‑year sentence on each count of causing serious harm, suspended the final two years on the condition of good behaviour and supervision by probation services, and ordered the sentences to run concurrently. The victims reported that they knew the attack was not truly carried out by their son and expressed hope for his return home after his diagnosis of an acute psychotic episode secondary to drug consumption. Conor Dreelan pleaded guilty.
Zoltan Almasi, 49, appeared before Mr Justice Michael White for sentencing after his conviction for the manslaughter of Joseph Dunne. The matter is at the appeal stage, following a history where Almasi's initial murder conviction was quashed by the Supreme Court, leading to two retrials that ended in jury disagreements. Ultimately, the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted a plea of manslaughter, which Almasi had previously offered. Prosecution counsel Caroline Biggs SC stated the DPP considers the offence in the high culpability bracket for manslaughter, attracting a headline sentence of 10 to 15 years. Defence counsel Barra McGrory QC argued the incident was spontaneous, noting Almasi had no prior convictions and did not intend serious harm. He suggested the offence falls in the higher end of the middle category, citing Almasi's positive prison conduct and remorse. The Dunne family, who described the killing as murder, complained that the legal process had torn their son's character apart. Mr Justice White adjourned the matter, stating he will sentence Almasi on September 8.
Four men have been sentenced to a combined 33 years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following their convictions in connection with a gangland murder conspiracy. Wayne Ryan, aged 41 and with an address in Longford, pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Wayne Whelan at Griffeen Glen Park, Lucan, on September 4th, 2019, and received 15 years. Three others—Cailean Crawford, Darren Henderson, and Charles McClean—pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder Whelan between May and November 2019. McClean received eight years, whilst Henderson and Crawford each received seven years with the final two years suspended. Mr Justice Michael White noted the "callous indifference" demonstrated in the broad daylight attack outside the victim's home. Whelan survived the initial shooting but was killed in a second attack in November 2019. The judge backdated sentences according to custody commencement dates and imposed good behaviour bonds on Henderson and Crawford regarding their suspended portions.
A Dublin man, Thomas McConnell, aged 35, will stand trial next year at the non‑jury Special Criminal Court for the murder of Gareth Hutch, aged 36, nephew of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch. The alleged killing took place on 24 May 2016 at Avondale House, North Cumberland Street, Dublin 1, when Hutch was shot as he entered his car. The State, represented by Fiona Murphy SC, applied to have the case heard before the three‑judge Special Criminal Court, arguing that ordinary courts were inadequate for effective justice. Mr Justice Tony Hunt granted the application and set a trial date of 15 June 2022, with the matter to be mentioned on 11 January 2022. McConnell was present at Tallaght District Court in June on an extradition warrant from Turkey for the murder charge. The case remains pending at the Special Criminal Court.
James Davy, originally convicted of the murder of 64‑year‑old Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley, had his conviction overturned by the Court of Appeal and replaced with a conviction for assisting an offender. Mr Justice Michael White at the Central Criminal Court sentenced Davy to nine years, noting he had served his sentence and should be released after entering custody in November 2014. Matthew Cummins, whose murder conviction was also quashed, will be sentenced for his role in an attempted cover‑up; his barrister said he accepts responsibility for attempting to set fire to the deceased after Dooley had been beaten to death by Sean Davy. Cummins' behaviour in prison has been described as "quite exceptional" and the judge is considering suspending part of his sentence and running it concurrently with sentences for other offences.
In the Bray Boxing Club murder trial, a juror from Dublin's East Wall area, Gerard Cervi, fell ill and could not attend court. The trial concerns a man who, on 5 June 2018, allegedly shot and killed 50‑year‑old Bobby Messett at Bray Boxing Club, and also allegedly attempted to murder boxing trainer Peter Taylor and Ian Britton on the same day. The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial, originally scheduled to finish in August, was extended to September, prompting two jurors to request discharge. The remaining ten jurors agreed to continue until 22 October. On the day of the hearing, nine jurors were present; Justice Michael White expressed regret over the illness, wished a swift recovery, and adjourned the trial until the following Monday, when he expected an update on the juror's condition.
Slawomir Gierlowski, 36, has had ten years added to his prison term following a sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court. Gierlowski was previously convicted in 2018 of random outdoor attacks on three women in Clondalkin between 2011 and 2016, receiving a 22.5-year sentence with four years suspended. In May 2019, he was convicted of attempted rape, sexual assault, and assault causing harm against a fourth victim in a city centre attack on December 18, 2010, charges he denied. Sentencing for these offences was adjourned while Gierlowski appealed his 2018 convictions and sentence, appeals which the Court of Appeal dismissed in July. Today, Mr Justice Michael White imposed a headline sentence of 15 years for the attempted rape, reduced to ten years to be served consecutively upon the termination of his current term. He also imposed concurrent five-year sentences for the other two charges. The judge noted Gierlowski remains a serious threat to women's safety due to his lack of acknowledgement of predatory behaviour. The court applied the principle of totality, determining that the circumstances warranted minimal reduction. Gierlowski is currently serving his original sentence, with the new ten-year term to follow.
Senior Kinahan cartel member Peter Keating has been jailed for 12 years by the Special Criminal Court for directing the activities of a criminal organisation between December 7, 2016 and April 6, 2017, within and outside the State. Keating (40) pleaded guilty in July of this year to directing the activities of the crime group in their failed attempt to murder Hutch gang member James 'Mago' Gately. The judge noted that Keating was a 'senior figure' for the Kinahan Organised Crime Group and a 'repository of trust and confidence' for the cartel. The sentence was backdated to July 1, 2020, and the final year of the 12-year term was suspended for two years. Keating entered into a bond of €100 to keep the peace for two years. The judge gave Keating a 25% discount for his early guilty plea, which saved a costly trial. The court heard that Keating was involved in the commission of a serious offence and played a significant role in the surveillance of Gately and his family regarding the proposed murder. The investigation highlighted the transnational outreach of organised crime, with Estonian hitman Imre Arakas (62) jailed for six years in December 2018 for conspiring with others to murder Gately in Northern Ireland between April 3 and 4, 2017. Arakas was arrested before the planned attack on Gately could be carried out. Caolan Smyth (30) was sentenced to 20 years last February for attempted murder in relation to a second attempt on Gately's life in May 2017. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
In a 2021 trial, a jury examined CCTV footage of Bray Boxing Club on the morning of June 5 2018, when Robert Messett was shot dead and two others injured. Detective Garda Alan Thompson described a grey or silver long‑wheelbase van with a 'DFZ' registration, slide rails, tinted rear windows, and a driver in a cap, dark trousers and a yellow high‑visibility vest. The van was seen outside the club at 6:50 am, and the driver entered the club. Thompson guided prosecution counsel Paul Murray SC through a montage of footage from Bray, Shankill, Cabinteely, Deansgrange, Blackrock and Merrion Road up to 7:19 am. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty to Messett's murder and the attempted murders of trainer Peter Taylor and Ian Britton. The case is before the Central Criminal Court with Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of seven men and three women.
In August 2021 the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of a 16‑year‑old for sexually assaulting a six‑year‑old neighbour in April 2019. The boy had been found guilty by a jury in December 2020 after the older child pulled down the younger boy's trousers and repeatedly spanked his bare bottom. His lawyers appealed on the basis of a delay before trial and the decision to allow the victim to view a video of his own interview, arguing that this would bias the child's testimony. Mr Justice George Birmingham dismissed both arguments, stating that the delay did not prejudice the case and that the video had limited impact because the defence did not cross‑examine the child. The appeal was rejected, leaving the original conviction intact.
In 2021 the Court of Appeal quashed the 2003 murder conviction of Yusuf Ali Abdi, a 48‑year‑old father, and ordered a retrial. The original verdict had been based on a majority of jurors accepting a prosecution psychiatrist's view that Abdi did not suffer from paranoid schizophrenia. In 2019 new evidence showed that Abdi's diagnosis had changed to paranoid schizophrenia, a fact that could have altered the jury's decision. The retrial, held in 2019, resulted in a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice George Birmingham, declared the original conviction a miscarriage of justice, noting that both defence and prosecution experts agreed Abdi was mentally ill at the time of the offence. The case involved the death of Abdi's 20‑month‑old son, Nathan, who suffered fatal head injuries on 17 April 2001. The court found no evidence of prosecutorial irregularity or perjured testimony.
The trial of Gerard Cervi, accused of shooting Bobby Messett to death at Bray Boxing Club, has been extended. Initially expected to last eight weeks, the trial was pushed back to September, causing two jurors to withdraw. On the ninth week, Judge Michael White asked the remaining ten jurors if they could continue until a new date of 22 October. Nine agreed, while one pending decision. The judge emphasized that no juror would be forced to stay and would be informed of any consequences if they could not continue. He thanked the jurors for their service and apologized for underestimating the trial's duration. Cervi, 34, from Dublin 3, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Messett, 50, and denies attempted murders of trainer Peter Taylor and Ian Britton on the same day and place.
The Central Criminal Court heard the trial of 40‑year‑old Feri Anghel, a Roma gypsy, accused of murdering 49‑year‑old Romanian Ioan Artene Bob in Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght, on 13 April 2018. Bob was found alive with extensive blunt‑force injuries and died later that day. Dr Margot Bolster, the assistant state pathologist, described injuries that suggested stamping, punching and kicking, but could not rule out more than one assailant. CCTV footage showed Anghel and Bob travelling together on a Luas tram and later walking toward the park; further footage captured a person resembling Anghel at an ATM using Bob's card. The defence argued that forensic evidence indicated other people were present and that the prosecution had not established Anghel's sole responsibility. The jury, reduced from 12 to 10, could not reach a unanimous verdict after three days of deliberation and the case was adjourned to 4 October for a possible retrial. Feri Anghel pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of Feri Anghel, 40, accused of murdering Romanian construction worker Ioan Artene Bob, 49, the prosecution's closing speech emphasized that the evidence was circumstantial but should be considered in its totality. Anghel was found dead in Tallaght park on 13 April 2018, after being beaten and later dying in hospital. The prosecution presented evidence that Bob's phone and bank card were used at various locations in Dublin and Slane on the day of his death, and that a phone attributed to Anghel pinged a cell site within nine minutes of Bob's phone. Witnesses described a night of drinking and a Luas journey to Tallaght, and CCTV footage allegedly showed Anghel leading Bob toward the Luas. The prosecution urged the jury to consider the evidence dispassionately, noting no forensic link to a weapon or boots, and that the case rested on the cumulative circumstantial evidence. Feri Anghel pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard closing arguments on the final day of the trial of four men charged with the abduction and assault of Kevin Lunney, a Quinn Industrial Holdings director, at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, County Cavan on September 17, 2019. The 40-day trial opened in June. Defence counsel for Luke O'Reilly, aged 68 from Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, County Cavan, submitted that the prosecution had not established beyond reasonable doubt that his client knew of the alleged offences. Counsel argued that the evidence showed Mr O'Reilly had been kept uninformed of events and that his purchase of bleach from a local shop was explainable. The three other accused, identified as a 40-year-old man known as YZ, Alan O'Brien aged 40, and Darren Redmond aged 27, both from East Wall, Dublin, have also pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm. The court will deliver its verdict on October 22. The trial was presided over by Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Gerard Griffin, and Judge David McHugh.
A Central Criminal Court jury found five members of an extended family guilty of sexually abusing three children in Munster between 2014 and 2016. The accused – the children's parents, aunt, uncle and the aunt's husband – were convicted on 78 counts, with the 27‑year‑old uncle receiving a single not‑guilty verdict. The father was found guilty of 31 counts, including rape, sexual assault and neglect; the mother of 25 counts, including assault and neglect; the aunt of three counts of assault; the uncle of ten counts, including rape and assault; and the 27‑year‑old uncle of eight counts, including rape and exploitation. All five were remanded in custody pending sentencing, which will be set on 4 October. The trial highlighted the children's allegations, the accused's denials, and the prosecution's emphasis on neglect and abuse. No further outcomes are reported in the article. The unnamed 27-year-old was acquitted.
In August 2021 the High Court granted bail to James Davy, 30, after the Court of Appeal quashed his murder conviction for the 2014 killing of 64‑year‑old Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley. The appeal replaced the murder verdicts of Davy and Matthew Cummins, 27, with convictions for assisting an offender under Section 7(2) of the Criminal Law Act 1997. Davy was released on a €100 bond with conditions including a daily curfew, a mobile phone requirement, and a prohibition on travel to Edenderry. Cummins was denied bail and must remain in custody until his September 2 sentencing hearing. The High Court noted the two men had different circumstances and that Cummins had a larger record of post‑murder offences. The decision reflects the court's assessment that Davy's case warranted bail while Cummins' did not. The DPP was considering whether to appeal the Court of Appeal's decision to the Supreme Court.
In a statement outside the Criminal Courts of Justice on 5 August 2021, Superintendent Declan McCarthy of Wicklow Garda Station described the murder of Nadine Lott as an unprecedented level of violence in his 40‑year career. He said the evidence showed Daniel Murtagh's intent to kill, noting that Lott had made it clear she wanted no relationship with him and that Murtagh was deluded about their former partnership. McCarthy highlighted the brutality described in Garda interviews, where Murtagh allegedly held a tyre‑pump charger and wrapped a wire around his knuckles while beating Lott. He praised the prosecution team, the investigation, and first responders for their work, and expressed gratitude to Lott's family, who were relieved that the jury returned a murder verdict rather than manslaughter. The superintendent emphasized that the focus of the trial was on Lott, not the perpetrator. The family left the courthouse shortly after the verdict was announced.
In December 2019, 30‑year‑old beautician Nadine Lott was found severely injured in her Arklow apartment. Witnesses, including her mother Claire Lott and neighbour Amela Kulenovic, described a violent assault in which Daniel Murtagh, Nadine's former partner, struck her with force, applied pressure to her neck and shoulders, and inflicted blunt trauma that separated flesh from bone. The scene was covered in blood, with a strong odor and scattered glass fragments. Paramedics and Gardaí arrived within minutes, attempting resuscitation and providing emergency care. Nadine was transported to St Vincent's Hospital, where she received extensive treatment but died on 17 December 2019. The case proceeded to trial, where Murtagh pleaded guilty to manslaughter but was convicted of murder, with the jury rejecting an intoxication defence. The trial highlighted the brutality of the attack and the extensive injuries sustained by Nadine.
Daniel Murtagh, aged 34, was found guilty of murdering his former partner Nadine Lott, a 30‑year‑old beautician, after a brutal assault on 14 December 2019 that left her with severe head, neck and chest injuries. The jury, after five hours and forty‑six minutes over two days, rejected Murtagh's defence that intoxication negated intent, concluding that despite his consumption of alcohol, drugs and methadone, he had formed the intent to kill. Murtagh had admitted to smoking a joint, taking pills and drinking rum before the attack, and to having been on methadone for three months. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with the judge ordering a mandatory sentence and remand until the sentencing date. The case highlighted the extreme violence inflicted, with witnesses describing him as "like a wild animal" and the victim as "completely unrecognisable" after the assault. Daniel Murtagh pleaded not guilty. Nadine Lott pleaded not guilty.
A jury of seven men and five women returned to the Central Criminal Court to continue deliberating the murder trial of Daniel Murtagh, accused of killing his former partner Nadine Lott in her Arklow home. The jury had spent over four hours and 18 minutes in a separate courtroom and had not yet reached a verdict. Judge Michael MacGrath adjourned the proceedings to the next morning, instructing the jurors to focus solely on the evidence presented and to avoid speculation or media influence. Murtagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, claiming intoxication as a defence. The jury must decide whether he intended to kill or merely to seriously injure Lott, with a unanimous verdict required for the murder charge. The trial will resume at 10:30 am the following day.
The Central Criminal Court heard that the murder trial of Gerard Cervi, 34, accused of killing Bobby Messett, 50, at Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018, will continue beyond its original schedule. Cervi, who also denies attempted murders of trainer Pete Taylor and Ian Britton, pleaded not guilty. The trial, which began on 28 June with a jury of 12, was expected to last eight weeks but was extended. Judge Michael White considered whether the jury could remain for the full duration and suggested a new end date of 17 September, with 24 September as a final contingency. Two jurors were excused due to work commitments, and one had to cancel a holiday to stay on the panel. The court will resume legal arguments on 16 August, with the jury scheduled to return at 10:30 a.m. The case remains ongoing.
At the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, closing arguments concluded on Wednesday in the trial of four men accused of the abduction and assault of businessman Kevin Lunney in Cavan on 17 September 2019. The accused, identified as YZ, Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond and Luke O'Reilly, have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm. Defence counsel conceded that circumstances surrounding their clients appeared suspicious but argued this fell short of the proof required for conviction. They challenged the prosecution's reliance on circumstantial evidence, including DNA findings in a Renault Kangoo van, mobile phone location data, and CCTV identification. A central defence submission questioned whether forensic evidence could have been compromised, given unclear access logs at the forensic examination facility in Santry. Counsel also highlighted inconsistencies in witness identification and gaps in telephone evidence the prosecution relied upon. The three-judge court is expected to deliver its verdict following closing arguments.
In a Munster child‑abuse trial, a jury that has been deliberating for ten weeks was sent home after lunch because one juror had an appointment. The jury will resume tomorrow. The case involves five unnamed family members accused of abusing three children between 2014 and 2016. The accused are the children's parents, aunt and uncles, aged 27 to 56, living in various Munster locations. All deny the charges. The father (56) pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of rape, anal rape, oral rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation and wilfully neglecting a child, with three counts withdrawn during the trial. The mother (34) pleaded not guilty to 25 counts of sexual assault, sexual exploitation and wilfully neglecting a child, and also to wilfully neglecting two other children. The aunt (35) pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual assault.
The Special Criminal Court heard closing submissions in the trial of Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, Luke O'Reilly, and a fourth accused identified as YZ. All four defendants pleaded not guilty to the alleged false imprisonment and intentional causing of serious harm to Kevin Lunney, a Quinn Industrial Holdings director, on September 17, 2019. The prosecution, led by Sean Guerin SC, argued that the evidence established the defendants' guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Counsel described the incident as an "ordeal of callous brutality" intended to intimidate Mr. Lunney, citing injuries including a fractured tibia and knife wounds to his face and chest. The state presented DNA evidence linking three accused to a Kangoo van and connected Mr. O'Reilly to the yard where the victim was allegedly held. Although the source text describes the conclusion of the closing speeches, the validated procedural stage is sentence. However, no specific sentence, finding, or finalisation is recorded in the provided validated facts. Consequently, the matter is treated as being at the sentencing stage, with no final disposal or adjournment details available in the validated data to confirm a concluded outcome.
In the trial of Daniel Murtagh, accused of murdering former partner Nadine Lott, the jury will deliberate on whether the defendant intended to kill or merely to seriously injure her. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath instructed jurors to remain clinical and impartial, focusing solely on evidence presented. Murtagh, aged 34, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, accepting unlawful killing but denying the specific intent required for murder. The judge explained that intoxication could reduce murder to manslaughter if it negated intent. Evidence includes severe blunt‑force trauma and stab wounds that left Lott unconscious, leading to her death three days later. The jury may return either a guilty verdict for murder or a not‑guilty‑of‑murder but guilty‑of‑manslaughter verdict, depending on their assessment of intent. The trial continues with the jury set to begin deliberations tomorrow.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the Director of Public Prosecutions announced that new charges will be brought in October against Robert Redmond, 32, of Woodview Close, Donaghmede, and Bernard Fogarty, 33, of Cromcastle Court, Kilmore, Coolock, for the attempted murder of Barry Wolverson. The alleged attempt occurred on 17 January 2020 at Madigans Yard, Kileek Lane, Swords, Co Dublin. Mr Wolverson died on 21 February after a prolonged hospital stay. The court set a trial date of 15 June 2022, with the trial expected to last four weeks.
Jordan Stone, a 23‑year‑old father of three, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale and supply after Gardaí seized 2.9 kg of cannabis, €1,420 in cash, and 1.1 g of cocaine from his home in Ringsend. He has prior convictions for drug possession and assault. At his sentencing hearing, Stone admitted he had a drug addiction and had been under pressure to hold drugs for someone else, but he would not name anyone. The judge noted the seized amount was significant but within the middle range for the Circuit Court, and considered his good work record and recent loss of his mother as mitigating factors. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a five‑year prison term, suspended for three years, and ordered Stone to attend courses on victim awareness and substance misuse, to destroy the drugs and surrender the cash. She urged him to rehabilitate and warned he should not return to court.
Joseph Keegan, a 79-year-old former Franciscan friar from Crumlin, Dublin 12, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for two counts of indecent assault. A jury found him guilty of anally raping a boy aged nine or ten in 1986 or 1987 at a Church property, and sexually assaulting him after football training in 1985 or 1986. Judge Pauline Codd noted aggravating factors including the breach of trust, grooming, and the lack of remorse or admission of guilt. She also considered Keegan's previous 1999 conviction for gross indecency involving five boys. Despite his frailty and low risk of reoffending, the judge imposed a six-year sentence for the rape and a four-year sentence for the sexual assault. These sentences were ordered to run concurrently. The final year of both terms was suspended, resulting in an effective custody period of five years. Keegan, who was seated in a wheelchair throughout the proceedings, was taken into custody after entering the bond.
The High Court adjourned the extradition challenge of Imre Arakas until September 23, pending the outcome of Liam Campbell's Supreme Court appeal. Arakas, 63, is jailed in Ireland for conspiracy to murder James 'Mago' Gately and faces Lithuanian allegations of murder, firearms, and conspiracy charges related to the 2015 shooting of Deimantas Bugavicius. While the Minister for Justice's counsel confirmed Lithuania intends to try Arakas, his legal team argued that a recent Court of Appeal dismissal of Campbell's similar extradition appeal is relevant. Campbell, 58, has applied to the Supreme Court to overturn that ruling. The judge determined it was impractical to proceed with Arakas' hearing while the Supreme Court considers whether to adopt Campbell's case. Arakas, who has been in custody since April 2017, was arrested in Dublin in February 2018 under a European Arrest Warrant. He maintains he was in Spain during the alleged 2015 incident. The court noted that an eyewitness had previously identified Arakas as not being present at the scene. The matter remains unresolved and is strictly adjourned, not concluded, awaiting the Supreme Court's decision on Campbell's application.
Dermot O'Connor, aged 49, was jailed for five and a half years after pleading guilty to raping a 20‑year‑old woman in a public park on 21 July 2019. The victim, who was intoxicated and had separated from her friends, had gone to sleep in the park and was assaulted while sleeping. O'Connor first sexually assaulted her and left, then returned to rape her again. The victim gave a victim impact statement, describing anxiety, depression and fear of being alone after the assault. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, hearing the case, noted the opportunistic nature of the attack and the delays caused by the pandemic. He imposed a six‑year sentence, suspended the final six months, and took into account the absence of prior sexual offending and the victim's relief at the guilty plea. The investigation involved 60 witness statements, 300 hours of CCTV footage and DNA evidence linking O'Connor to the assault.
A man has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his conviction for a four-day assault on a teenager in County Cavan in October 2019. The 27-year-old pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault, false imprisonment, assault causing serious harm, making threats to kill, assault causing harm and robbery. He subjected the victim, then aged 19, to violence based on an unfounded belief that the victim had informed on him. Two co-accused, twin siblings aged 23, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault causing harm. The male twin received five years imprisonment with the final two-and-a-half years suspended, while the female twin, previously sentenced in May, received four years with the final three years and three months suspended. The assault came to an end after material posted to social media alerted the victim's family, who located him using a phone tracking device. Mr Justice Michael White imposed strict conditions including probation service supervision and therapeutic intervention on the suspended sentences.
The Court of Appeal has reduced the jail sentence of an unnamed 51-year-old man who pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of his step-daughter, then aged 11, and to producing and distributing child pornography. The appellant challenged the severity of the original six-year sentence imposed by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in July 2020, arguing that the final term of six years and nine months, with nine months suspended, was excessive. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham with Mr Justice John Edwards and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, upheld the categorisation of the offences in the mid-range but determined that the headline sentence for the two child pornography offences was too high. Consequently, the sentence for those offences was reduced by six months to five years and six months. The original three-year sentence for the sexual assault conviction remained unchanged. The court also imposed a post-release supervision order of six years, with the condition that the appellant receive psychological counselling. The appeal was successful in reducing the total effective custody period, reflecting the court's assessment that the original sentencing did not adequately balance the gravity of the conduct with the specific circumstances of the pornography charges.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Daniel Murtagh, 34, faced murder charges for killing his ex‑girlfriend Nadine Lott, 30, in Arklow on 17 December 2019. Prosecution barrister John O'Kelly SC argued that Lott suffered "the most appalling and dreadful blunt trauma injuries" to her face, with flesh separated from underlying structures, and that the assault was sustained, violent and fueled by anger, drink and drugs. He highlighted eyewitness testimony, a neighbour's account, and pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan's evidence of 64 injuries, including fractured jaws, severe brain injury and a stabbing above the Adam's apple. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC contended that Murtagh's intent was unclear, citing intoxication and a claim that the violence would not have occurred without alcohol and drugs. Murtagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The jury heard that Lott never regained consciousness and died three days later in St Vincent's Hospital.
Dubliner David Duffy was sentenced to five years in prison by the Special Criminal Court for supplying logistical support in a Kinahan cartel plot to murder James 'Mago' Gately. Duffy, 33, pleaded guilty in April to participating in a criminal organisation's activities connected to the attempted murder between December 2016 and April 2017. Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted Duffy booked flights for hitman Imre Arakas, sourced vehicles and tracker devices, and possessed SIM cards. Although the judge fixed an eight-year headline sentence, he discounted a quarter due to Duffy's early guilty plea and suspended the final year of the six-year term. Duffy was ordered to engage with probation services for that suspended year, be of good behaviour for three years, and enter a €100 bond. Separately, Peter Keating, 40, pleaded guilty earlier this week to directing the activities of a criminal organisation under Section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act for the same period. The court highlighted that Arakas was intercepted by gardaí before carrying out the contract. Gately survived a subsequent shooting in May 2017 while wearing a bullet-proof vest.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Kai Zhu, 39, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to his wife, Meihan Meng, and to one count of criminal damage. The assault occurred on 13 May 2020 at their home, where Zhu held Meng down on the kitchen floor, strangled her, slapped and punched her face repeatedly, and smashed her mobile phone. Meng, who was with their three‑year‑old daughter, described feeling unable to breathe and losing consciousness. A medical report noted temporary hearing loss. Zhu denied using a chokehold, claiming he only slapped. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to 15 months' imprisonment, with the final three months suspended, and a concurrent six‑month sentence for criminal damage. The case highlighted the domestic violence that can occur in family homes. The court heard Meng was on sick leave for 46 days following the assault.