A man, who is the husband of the boys' aunt, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of raping an eight‑year‑old boy in Dublin between March 1996 and May 1997, and of sexually assaulting and anal raping the boy's younger brother, aged six or seven, between February 2000 and June 2001. The older brother first reported the abuse in 2005 but was told the case could not proceed; the younger brother reported abuse in 2016. The defendant was arrested but made no admissions in subsequent Garda interviews. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs set a headline sentence of ten and a half years but, after considering mitigating circumstances, imposed concurrent terms totalling eight and a half years' imprisonment, effective from June when the defendant entered custody.
Two brothers have been sentenced to a combined seven years imprisonment following their conviction for the sexual abuse of their cousin over a four-year period in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Aidan Gallagher, aged 40, of Westport, County Mayo, received five years with two years post-release supervision after being convicted of six counts of oral rape committed between 1998 and 2003 in sheds near their homes. Thomas Gallagher, aged 38, of County Galway, was sentenced to two years imprisonment after conviction on one rape charge and seven counts of sexual assault at the family's former home in County Leitrim between 1999 and 2003. Mr Justice David Keane reduced Thomas Gallagher's sentence citing his diagnosis with Motor Neuron disease in October 2022 and life expectancy of less than two years, whilst noting that serious offences ordinarily warrant custodial sentences. Both men had denied the allegations. The Central Criminal Court jury, sitting in Carrick-on-Shannon, convicted them in May 2023. The complainant waived anonymity to permit identification of her cousins.
A Dublin garda, Mark Doyle, 38, who is currently suspended, pleaded guilty to six assault charges. He admitted assault causing harm to a woman on four occasions between 8 May 2010 and 28 August 2019, to a male on 3 September 2017, and to a second male on two occasions between 2008 and 2009. The pleas were accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Judge Orla Crowe set a sentencing hearing for 29 January 2024, ordered victim impact statements for that date, and remanded Doyle on continuing bail.
During the 1981 Stardust fire, a 19‑year‑old patron named Kenneth Strong reported seeing a large, burning, melting‑plastic‑like material drip from the ceiling over a seat that was on fire. He described the falling substance as about twice the size of his fist and confirmed it was definitely on fire. Strong also noted that the material appeared to come from the ceiling and that he was the only person in his group who left the club immediately, citing the presence of chains on exit doors. He recalled seeing smoke drifting over a partitioned area and flames behind a shutter that closed off the left section of the hall. The inquest heard that the front door was initially locked and shutters were down, but a bouncer used a second set of keys to open the door and allow him to exit.
Tony McInerney, the appellant, appeared before the Central Criminal Court at a sentence hearing for offences committed in January 2020. McInerney, who the court heard was the leader of a large drug network in Co Clare, pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Daniel Harty Junior, intentionally or recklessly discharging a firearm, and making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to Harty Junior. The court heard that McInerney was initially jailed for 12 years for running a "cocaine factory" in 2020, a sentence later reduced to ten years by the Court of Appeal. During the current proceedings, Detective Sergeant Kevin O'Hagan detailed how McInerney and another man fired shots at Harty Junior during a music festival in Sixmilebridge, injuring an innocent bystander in the buttocks. McInerney was arrested in 2021 and has 13 previous convictions, including possession of explosives. Defence counsel Michael Collins SC submitted that McInerney had pleaded guilty early and apologized to society. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded McInerney in custody until next Monday, when he will be sentenced.
A 33‑year‑old man, Jozef Puska, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 23‑year‑old school teacher Ashling Murphy, who was allegedly killed near the Grand Canal in Tullamore on 12 January 2022. The trial will be held at the Central Criminal Court and is expected to last up to five weeks. A jury of twelve, sworn this afternoon, will hear the case. Judge Tony Hunt warned potential jurors that they must not have engaged in commentary about the case online or on social media and that any prior knowledge of Puska's hospital stay at St James's Hospital in Dublin should be disclosed. The prosecution will present witnesses from the Tullamore area, the midlands, various Dublin Garda stations and forensic science laboratories, with medical personnel possibly called to give evidence. The defence will be represented by Michael Bowman SC. The trial is scheduled to open tomorrow.
A 39‑year‑old man from North Circular Road, Dublin, was sentenced to seven years in prison after being caught handing over €417,000 worth of heroin outside the Lamplighter pub in Dublin 8 on 12 April 2022. Gregory Dunne pleaded guilty to possessing 2.9 kg of heroin. Judge Elma Sheahan noted his previous serious drug conviction as an aggravating factor and imposed an eight‑year sentence with the final year suspended on a number of conditions. Gardaí had surveillance footage of Dunne placing a green Aldi bag into a beach bag belonging to a woman, Sharon Hickey (45), who later took a taxi and was intercepted on Tyrconnell Road. The court also heard that Dunne had 19 prior convictions, including a 2012 conviction for a kilo of heroin that resulted in a three‑year sentence.
Liam Coughlan, 87, a former Christian Brother, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment for 19 counts of indecent assault on boys at a school in the south east of Ireland between 1974 and 1978. He had previously been convicted of 30 counts of indecent assault on five other boys at the same school and was serving a three‑year, two‑month sentence. The judge noted the abuse caused lasting fear, embarrassment and psychological harm, and that Coughlan's position of authority and religious affiliation intensified the victims' sense of powerlessness. He pleaded guilty in July after earlier trials were scheduled. The sentence will run concurrently with the sentence he is currently serving. Coughlan has serious health problems, including prostate and bone cancer, heart disease and arthritis, which were cited as mitigating factors. The court heard victim impact statements describing anxiety, trust issues, alcohol problems and, for some, PTSD and severe mental health effects.
Mr Sean Ambrose, who suffered severe head injuries after an unprovoked attack outside a pub in August 2015, has brought a judicial review against the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal. He argues the Tribunal wrongly held that it could not assess his claim, citing that it failed to allow him to provide necessary documentation and denied him an appeal. Mr Ambrose claims the Tribunal breached his rights to fair and constitutional procedures and legitimate expectation, and that he was a vulnerable person who needed assistance to submit paperwork. He also contends the Tribunal ignored medical evidence of his difficulties. He seeks orders to quash the Tribunal's determinations, to allow an appeal, and to remit his claim for fresh consideration. The case was granted permission by Ms Justice Niamh Hyland and will return in November.
A grave digger, Martin Hayes, 34, will be tried for the murder of his partner, Amadea McDermott, 27, who was found dead at her home in Rathvale Drive, Ayrfield, Coolock on or about 20 July 2017. Hayes was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, led by senior counsel Sean Gillane, will argue that the events leading to the murder began on 19 July and continued into the early hours of 20 July, with Hayes and McDermott in a relationship at the time. Witnesses will include McDermott's sisters and other parties, and Garda officers from Coolock and Malahide stations will testify. Hayes was employed as a grave digger at Mount Jerome cemetery in Harold's Cross when the alleged offence occurred. The trial, overseen by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, is scheduled to last up to four weeks.
The High Court has ordered Richmond Homes and Arkmount Construction to give the ESB the names of all employees who are alleged to have demanded cash payments for electrical works at housing developments. The court granted Norwich Pharmacal‑type orders, requiring the firms to disclose the names of every person who allegedly sought or received payments. The firms had already supplied the names of four employees, but the judge found clear proof of wrongdoing by others and said that disclosure of those names was "clearly necessary." The court also ordered the firms to provide the date and amount of the alleged payments. The ESB, represented by Marcus Dowling SC and Joe Jeffers SC, intends to pursue proceedings against the individuals named. The case will return to the court for final orders, including cost allocations, at a later date.
A man aged 54 from Erry, Clara, County Offaly, has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment following his conviction on charges of sexually abusing a teenage boy over an extended period in the 1990s. Patrick Bardon was convicted by jury at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Longford in June on 11 counts of oral rape committed between October 1992 and March 1994 at his then home in Ferbane, County Offaly. The court heard that Bardon, a former teacher, befriended the boy at a local pitch and putt club before the abuse occurred. Mr Justice David Keane imposed a headline sentence of 12 years, reduced to ten years with the final two years suspended, subject to strict conditions including engagement with the Probation Service and completion of a sexual offender treatment programme. The survivor, now 46, waived anonymity and delivered an impact statement to the court, describing the profound effect the abuse had on his life and his relief at securing justice.
The Workplace Relations Commission ordered Layer Digital Solutions Ltd to pay former executive Paul Cunningham over €35,000 for unpaid wages and notice pay. Cunningham, representing himself, claimed he was owed two months' salary, a month's pay in lieu of notice, and holiday entitlements. His gross monthly pay was €10,416.67. The employer conceded a debt of €31,250.01 for the two months' salary and notice pay, plus €3,807.50 for holiday pay, totaling €35,057.51. The WRC adjudicator, Conor Stokes, noted that wages under the Payment of Wages Act include all emoluments, such as holiday pay and notice pay. Stokes found Cunningham's complaint well founded and directed Layer to pay the full amount, less any lawful deductions. The decision was published after a remote hearing in late October 2023.
The trial of Jacintha McSherry O'Connor, 63, is ongoing before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The accused, a former student teacher from Donegal Town, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting a child between June 1 and September 1, 1985. Prosecutors allege the incidents occurred while she gave the then-13-year-old complainant grinds and during a holiday in Spain. In evidence, Ms McSherry O'Connor told gardaí that nothing untoward happened, describing the boy as having a crush on her and viewing him as a little brother. She denied performing oral sex or any sexual contact, suggesting the complainant may have fantasised about her. The complainant, now in his fifties, testified that he was infatuated with her but stated that the alleged abuse started eating away at him over time. He told the court he confided in his girlfriend at age 19 but did not report to gardaí until recently. Under cross-examination, he maintained that the sexual abuse was burnt on his mind, rejecting the defence suggestion that he was not telling the truth. The trial resumes on Monday.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 40‑year‑old Irish celebrity pleaded not guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under 17 between August and December 2010. During cross‑examination, he admitted giving his phone to a 17‑year‑old complainant at the 2010 Oxegen music festival, but denied kissing her or any sexual contact at the festival. He claimed the girl had lied about her age, stating she was 18 when they first met and later 16 before any alleged sexual activity. He said their contact from July 2010 to January 2011 was minimal and that any later sexual relationship occurred after the alleged offences. He also provided eight phones to Gardaí, asserting no overtly sexual messages were found. The trial remains ongoing.
A trial is ongoing before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury of six men and six women regarding allegations that four men raped and sexually assaulted a woman at her home in Dublin between December 8 and 9, 2018. Reporting restrictions apply to the identities of all participants. The complainant, now 24, testified that she was held down on her mother's bed while two men took turns raping her. She stated that neither man wore a condom and that she was subsequently dragged from the bathroom by her hair by the first accused. The court heard that she was examined at the Rotunda Sexual Assault Treatment Unit, where she reported vaginal, oral, and digital penetration. Defence counsel for the first accused, Dominic McGinn SC, argued that any sexual contact was consensual and denied that his client pulled the complainant's hair. The complainant denied these claims, stating she was not making up the events. The first accused, aged 25, has pleaded not guilty to oral rape and sexual assault. The second accused, also aged 25, has pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault. The third accused, aged 23, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one oral rape, and sexual assault. The fourth accused, aged 24, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and sexual assault. The matter is currently at the trial stage and continues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 41‑year‑old man was convicted of sexual assault against his 10‑year‑old daughter, who was in his bed when the alleged offence occurred between 1 January and 30 April 2017. The daughter reported that the man rubbed her front and back and inserted a finger into her vagina while they were in his bed, but she could not say for certain whether he was awake or asleep. The jury found him guilty, and Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to three years and four months' imprisonment. The man has now appealed, arguing that the trial judge erred by not directing the jury that the evidence did not establish his intent and by failing to issue a corroboration warning. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, has reserved judgment on the appeal. The unnamed girl pleaded not guilty.
Michael McGrane, 47, was given a suspended sentence of two years and three months after a judge found he had run two dodgy box companies that sold illegal access to premium TV content, including Sky Sports. McGrane pleaded guilty to two counts of selling a protection‑defeating device and one count of possessing such a device, as well as to unlawful use of a computer. He admitted that the scheme ran from September 2017 to September 2018, generating just over €29,000 in profit, which he had paid tax on. The judge noted that McGrane appeared naive or reckless, had no prior convictions, and had cooperated with Gardaí. A forfeiture order of €27,665 was made, the seized items were ordered destroyed, and McGrane was prohibited from engaging in electronic streaming devices. The sentence was fully suspended, with no custodial time imposed.
Craig O'Brien, 28, of Ballyfermot, admitted assaulting influencer Charleen Murphy at the Grafton Capital Hotel on 10 February 2023. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Orla Crowe set a sentencing hearing for 24 November 2023, remanding O'Brien in custody until then. The court will view CCTV footage and a victim impact statement, with the hearing expected to last about half an hour.
In October 2021, 41‑year‑old Brazilian Renato Gehlen was convicted by a unanimous jury of murdering 37‑year‑old Anne Colomines in Dublin. He denied the murder and claimed that Colomines had stabbed herself during a struggle, producing a knife and cutting herself four times. The State argued that Gehlen's appeal was contradictory to his trial position and that evidence for a provocation defence was lacking. The Court of Appeal, hearing the appeal on 13 October 2023, rejected Gehlen's claim that he could have argued provocation at trial. Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh noted that the production of a knife alone did not constitute provocation and that there was no evidence of loss of self‑control. The appeal was dismissed, leaving Gehlen's mandatory life sentence in place. The case remains at the appellate stage.
An unnamed 40‑year‑old Irish celebrity, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual acts with a child under 17, took the stand at his own trial. He told the jury that the 16‑year‑old complainant was never in his home. The accused said he met her on 14 July 2010 at an Eminem concert during the Oxegen festival, that she had a plastic cup of alcohol, and that they later had lunch together. He claimed she had told him she was 18 by text before the lunch, but later she said she was 17. He denied arranging tickets for a Deadmau5 concert on 14 December 2010 and denied that she was at his house on that date or any other occasion. He also denied any sexual interaction with her on the lunch date or before, and denied using the fire‑escape stairs.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 13 October 2023, the appeal of Edmundas Dauksa, aged 53, was dismissed. Dauksa had been convicted in May 2021 by a Central Criminal Court jury of murdering his former partner, Ingrida Maciokaite, 31, after she refused to bring their six‑year‑old daughter to his home. The jury found no provocation and rejected Dauksa's claim that he was "fuelled with murderous intent" or that he had been "wronged" by the court's custody decision. The appeal argued that Maciokaite's decision not to bring the child constituted provocation, but the Court of Appeal, led by Ms Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh, held that the decision was a matter for the custody court and that Dauksa's 20‑minute walk to the courtyard did not indicate a loss of self‑control. Alcohol intoxication was deemed irrelevant to the intent to kill. Both grounds of appeal failed, and the murder conviction was upheld. Edmundas Dauksa pleaded not guilty.
In October 2023, Sebastian Betlejewski, 37, was extradited from Poland to face charges for an assault that occurred in 2008 at the Zanzibar nightclub in Dublin. The incident involved Betlejewski punching a stag party-goer, who suffered a fractured skull and cheekbone after falling onto the dancefloor. Betlejewski pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm. He had no prior convictions in either Ireland or Poland. The court heard the victim, a Northern Irishman, had returned home after the incident and had since moved on with his life. Betlejewski claimed mistaken identity, stating another man had assaulted him. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to 18 months, suspended on conditions, and he was released on bail after brief custody in both countries. He paid €5,000 to the victim and expressed remorse. The case concluded with a suspended custodial sentence and no further custodial term imposed.
Sandra Hehir, 54, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to a charge of handling €124,055 in cash, allegedly proceeds of criminal conduct, at her Limerick home on June 17, 2020. Prosecutors indicated five other counts could be taken into consideration, with three facing nolle prosequi. Defense counsel requested time to produce references and noted that two co-accused, Vicky Hehir and Warren Hehir, had previously pleaded guilty to related money laundering charges involving €59,000 linked to works at Kilmurry Court, Limerick. Vicky Hehir admitted to one charge of money laundering regarding these works, while Warren Hehir admitted to handling the €59,000 and possessing a Rolex watch, allegedly proceeds of crime. The co-accused are listed for mention on October 23 to fix a sentence hearing. To allow for a potential undertaking regarding family members, defense counsel requested a separate sentence date for Sandra Hehir. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath with Ms Justice Sarah Berkeley and Mr Justice James Faughnan, agreed to list her case for mention on October 31 to fix a sentence hearing. The matter was adjourned, and Sandra Hehir was remanded on bail on the same terms and conditions.
A former English teacher has gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court charged with indecently assaulting a pupil during the 1980s. Jacintha McSherry O'Connor, aged 63, of Donegal Town, Co Donegal, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault on dates between June and September 1985. The prosecution alleges the offences occurred both during tutoring sessions at the complainant's home and whilst on holiday abroad with his family. The complainant, now 51, testified that he was a young teenager at the time and had not yet reached puberty. He described incidents occurring in a swimming pool and at the accused's apartment during the holiday, and further alleged assaults at his Dublin home following their return. The defence denies all allegations, with counsel suggesting the complainant developed an obsession with the accused and is mistaken about conversations he claims took place. The trial continues before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
In a Dublin Central Criminal Court hearing, a 68‑year‑old man, previously jailed for raping a ten‑year‑old girl in June 2021, was identified as having filmed himself sexually assaulting the same victim in 2016. The video, discovered during routine mobile‑phone analysis, shows the child, then about five, lying on a leather couch while the man's right hand is seen under her trousers. The mother, who described the accused as "the worst of the worst – a wolf in sheep's clothing," read a victim impact statement detailing her daughter's loss of confidence and nightmares. The man, who had pleaded guilty to the 2021 rape, denied creating the video but admitted owning the phone. He faces a separate court appearance next month. The case was adjourned to December 6 for finalisation.
The High Court has dismissed an application for an inquiry into the detention of Martin O'Toole, also known as Martin Thomas, who was convicted of offences related to the 2018 Strokestown eviction incident. In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey refused to direct an inquiry under Article 40 of the Constitution, characterizing the bid as a collateral attack on the verdict and sentence handed down by Judge Martina Baxter. O'Toole, 59, was found guilty by a jury at the Circuit Criminal Court of several offences, including aggravated burglary, violent disorder, and assault, and was sentenced to a total of 15 years in prison. He is currently detained in Castlerea Prison. The application was brought by two individuals, Ms Melissa Kelly and Mr Joe Doocey, who argued the trial was fundamentally flawed and that O'Toole was an innocent man. However, Mr Justice Sanfey noted that much of the evidence presented was hearsay and that O'Toole had not personally submitted documentation to support the claim. The judge emphasized that the High Court can only interfere with detention if a trial is clearly fundamentally flawed, a threshold not met here. He further stated that an appeal, which the applicants had rejected, was the clear remedy for raising complaints about the trial conduct. O'Toole has rejected any wrongdoing, claiming his legal team failed to follow his instructions.
During a defilement trial, a 40‑year‑old Irish celebrity, whose name is withheld, pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual acts with a child under 17, alleged to have occurred in Dublin between August and December 2010. The court heard that on 7 June 2021 Gardaí searched the defendant's home, seizing four Huawei and five iPhone devices. The defendant supplied the PINs for all nine phones, a fact the defence noted as helpful. An expert extracted data from eight of the nine phones; a hard drive containing 600 GB of data was disclosed to the defence in September, with further evidence provided that morning. A detective sergeant testified she learned of the allegations in March 2021, obtained a warrant in June 2021, and conducted the search without informing the judge of the defendant's profession. She confirmed the defendant was alone during the search and was told of the allegations.
In a pre-trial hearing, Mr Justice Rory Mulchay directed that a preliminary trial be held to determine the State's argument that an action brought by Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell is non-justiciable. Senator Craughwell alleges that an unapproved arrangement allows the Royal Air Force to intercept aircraft in Irish airspace, claiming this is unconstitutional and requires a referendum. The Government and State oppose the action, denying any improper conduct and arguing that courts cannot review matters of external security falling within executive powers. The judge accepted that the defendants' claim of non-justiciability should be heard by way of a preliminary trial, citing the sensitivity of the issues and the potential to resolve legal questions without trespassing on security matters. However, the court rejected the defendants' request to determine a second related issue regarding the review of external security proceedings, finding it lacked sufficient agreed facts. The judge noted that if the preliminary trial does not resolve the proceedings, the question of a modular trial may be revisited. The matter was adjourned to return before the judge at a later date for final orders.
During the inquest into the February 14, 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, witnesses testified that the main exit doors were locked and blocked. Peter Redmond, a patron, described seeing the doors locked ten minutes before the blaze, the carpet tiles on the walls catching fire, and a crowd trapped inside as lights failed and black smoke filled the hall. He recounted trying to re-enter for a friend but being stopped by a bouncer. Liam "Leo" Hennessy, aged 31, recounted seeing smoke and a fireball, being pushed through an exit, and learning the next day that his friend Dave Flood had died. Kathleen Deeney described being knocked to the floor, forced through a crowded corridor, and finding the main doors closed while other exits opened. David Bell confirmed that a Chubb lock was in place on the main door ten minutes before the fire began. The jury heard these accounts as part of the ongoing inquest held at the Rotunda Hospital.
Anthony Connors, 47, pleaded guilty to robbing a priest at a parochial house in Coolock on 30 September 2021. CCTV showed him inside the house for 20 minutes, during which he stole from the priest, knocked him to the ground and threatened him with a knife, leaving the priest terrified. Connors has 61 prior convictions, including burglary, false imprisonment, assault and impersonating a Garda. The court heard the priest escaped, ran to a neighbour who called the Gardaí, and that the priest now suffers sleepless nights and anxiety about opening his door. Connors' guilty plea and letter of remorse were considered. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a headline sentence of eight years but, after taking the plea and remorse into account, sentenced him to six years in prison, backdated from his arrest. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and Connors' extensive criminal record. The priest's victim impact statement was submitted but not read aloud.
In a decision published on 12 October 2023, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found that a care service HR officer's letter to former employee Ann Doherty was "egregious" and "unfounded." The letter, sent on 27 October 2021 after Doherty's resignation, warned that if her discrimination claim was unsuccessful she would owe money to the employer. The WRC ruled that such a warning could not be relied upon and that the employer would never impose a financial liability on an unsuccessful complainant. The adjudicator, Marie Flynn, also rejected Doherty's constructive dismissal claim, stating it was not well founded. The decision noted that Doherty had previously been awarded €45,000 for a breach of the Employment Equality Act 1998 and that she had resigned before exhausting internal grievance procedures, a point defended by the employer's representative, Cáit Lynch of IBEC.
The Court of Appeal upheld a one‑year custodial sentence for a 13‑year‑old who orally raped his 7‑year‑old cousin and committed four further sexual assaults. The appeal was dismissed because the judge had imposed the minimum sentence the law allowed. The court noted that the youth, now 18, would be transferred to an adult prison for the remainder of his term, a decision left to the executive. The judge's role was to impose an appropriate sentence, and the court found no error in requiring custodial detention. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, where the defendant pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault and was convicted of oral rape. The judge reduced the headline sentence from eight to four years, then to one year, citing the offender's immaturity and mitigating factors. The appeal was rejected on all seven grounds presented.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 12 October 2023, Aaron Brady's defence argued that two jurors in his 2020 murder trial may have visited Crossmaglen after the verdict, a claim that required clarification. Brady, aged 32, was convicted of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe and sentenced to life imprisonment with a 40‑year minimum, plus a concurrent 14‑year robbery term. The defence sought leave to raise this as a new ground of appeal, citing a meeting between a juror and the jury minder on 3 March 2021 and a subsequent encounter on 16 June 2022. Brendan Grehan SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, maintained that the law clearly prohibits questioning jurors about deliberations after a verdict, citing the long‑established rule that such inquiries undermine finality.
In a rape trial, a 19‑year‑old woman testified that she invited a man she knew to her home, but he arrived with three unknown men. Over December 8‑9, 2018, all four men sexually assaulted her. The accused, aged 25, 25, 23 and 24, pleaded not guilty to various counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault. The complainant described being forced into oral sex, having her clothing removed, and being assaulted by multiple men while she tried to seek help. She reported being in pain, bleeding, and eventually contacted Gardaí, receiving treatment at a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit. The case is before Mr Justice David Keane with a jury of six men and six women. Reporting restrictions apply to all participants.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 11 October 2023, Ludovic Tanfin, who fractured his skull after falling from an improvised forklift platform at E W Technologies' warehouse in Blanchardstown, was reported to still suffer cognitive difficulties more than two years later. Tanfin had stood on a wooden pallet placed on the forklift's prongs after the company's roller shutter door collapsed when he tried to remove damaged panels. He fell over two metres, sustaining skull fractures, inter‑cranial bleeds and rib fractures, and spent eight days in hospital. The company, represented by former managing director David Ford, pleaded guilty to failing to provide adequate fall‑prevention measures and faces a potential fine of up to €3 million or a prison term of up to two years. The court noted that the incident occurred after the company had been sold to a larger US firm and that the company had an otherwise impeccable safety record.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old complainant denied the defence's claim that she never visited the accused's home. The accused, 40, pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child under 17 at locations in Dublin between August and December 2010. The complainant testified that she had told the accused her true age before the acts and that she had visited his home twice, where sexual acts occurred. She also stated she could not recall the exact address of the house. The defence argued she had never been to the accused's house and that no sexual activity took place there. The cross‑examination focused on the complainant's memory of dates, locations, and the alleged sexual acts, with the complainant maintaining that the incidents did occur at the accused's home and workplace.
During the inquest into the Stardust nightclub fire, a 17‑year‑old patron, Paula Toner, gave a highly emotional testimony describing the chaos that unfolded as people tried to escape. She recounted how the lights went out, people were crushed in the hallway, and the main doors were initially closed. Toner described how some patrons broke the toilet windows and shouted at those inside, urging them to put their heads down. She noted that the left side of the main entrance was initially open, then the other door was kicked out, allowing people to flee. The testimony ended with a sudden quiet as the shouting stopped and the "hands disappeared," indicating the situation inside had become fatal. The inquest will continue tomorrow in the Pillar Room of the Rotunda Hospital.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 11 October 2023, Aaron Brady's defence lawyers argued that the State had failed to disclose a police report about steroids found in the home of key prosecution witness Daniel Cahill until after his cross‑examination. The defence claimed this omission undermined Cahill's credibility and made the trial unfair. Brendan Grehan SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, counter‑argued that the late disclosure was a privileged police‑to‑police report and that the defence had chosen not to recall Cahill. He also highlighted that the defence had sought to show a picture of Cahill's penis to the jury, describing it as an attempt to humiliate the witness. The appeal concerns Brady's 2020 conviction for the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe, for which he is serving a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum. The hearing will continue the following day before a three‑judge panel.
John Paul Duncan, 39, with 139 prior convictions, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after he attacked two gardaí while being escorted to Mater Hospital. He had been arrested for possessing €8,500 worth of cocaine in six condoms and pleaded guilty. Duncan had requested a stay of sentence to enter a residential drug treatment program, but Judge Orla Crowe refused. The judge set a headline sentence of four years for the cocaine possession, reduced due to Duncan's early plea and remorse, and added a suspended six‑month portion for 18 months. The court also ordered Duncan to maintain good behaviour for 18 months upon release and to comply with Probation Services supervision. The assault on the gardaí, described as "nasty", was taken into account in the sentencing decision. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Niamh O'Brien, who worked part‑time for Innominato Ltd trading as The Head Lice Experts during her final year of college, brought a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission after discovering that the hours recorded on her payslips were incorrect and that she was underpaid. She claimed €264.07 for the shortfall, €170 for denied breaks, €333.40 for unpaid annual leave upon termination, and €300 for notice pay. O'Brien had resigned on 10 October 2019, giving the required notice, and finished her last shift on 7 December 2019. The company had dissolved in August 2020 due to the Covid‑19 pandemic and declined to respond to the hearing. The adjudicating officer, Michael Ramsay, accepted O'Brien's evidence and ordered the firm to pay €1,067.47, a sum that includes all the amounts claimed. The decision was issued in September 2023, almost four years after O'Brien's initial complaint in November 2019.
The High Court, by Mr Justice Michael Quinn, ordered the liquidation of MAC‑Interiors Limited, a commercial fit‑out firm with 31 full‑time staff and many subcontractors. The company, which owed creditors over €27 million, had entered examinership earlier in 2023. An examiner, Mr Kieran Wallace, had proposed a modified rescue plan involving a new investor and a scheme of arrangement that, if approved, would have allowed the firm to exit examinership and continue operating. The court found it lacked jurisdiction to approve the scheme, citing Revenue's opposition and the withdrawal of a committed investor. Consequently, the examiner's proposal to return the company to solvency was rejected. The court appointed Mr Aidan Murphy as liquidator, noting that Revenue, the largest creditor, accounted for about half of the debt. The liquidation order was made after the examiner could not present revised proposals to the court.
A call‑centre firm, run by Jim McCoy, was found to have discriminated against a female manager, Mandy Hurley, after her maternity leave. The company had removed her from the management group, the "brain trust", and demoted her to a lower‑level role. Hurley reported being left in a new building with no colleagues, denied access to computer passwords for two weeks, and was told her work output was insufficient compared to junior staff. The Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator concluded the firm had a "complete lack of understanding" of its duties to female employees under the Maternity Protection Act. The tribunal upheld Hurley's complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998 and ordered the company to pay her €31,000 in compensation, equivalent to 12 months' salary, for the discriminatory treatment she endured upon returning from maternity leave.
In a hearing at the Central Criminal Court, a 77‑year‑old former school caretaker pleaded guilty to one count of orally raping his daughter and three counts of sexually assaulting her in the family home between 1991 and 1997. The victim, aged six to thirteen during the offences, testified that the abuse began when she was preparing for her first holy communion and continued while her mother worked shift jobs. She described the lasting psychological impact, noting feelings of unlovability and isolation, and how the abuse irreparably damaged her relationship with her mother. The caretaker, who has no prior convictions, was defended by Gerardine Small SC, who highlighted his medical conditions and expressed remorse. The court, guided by the DPP's recommendation of a 10‑to‑15‑year sentence due to the breach of trust and the victim's young age, adjourned the case to 24 October to allow the defendant two weeks to arrange his affairs before potential custody.
Lynsey Ryan, 39, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to forging prescriptions for sleeping tablets at five pharmacies in west Dublin between August 2018 and August 2020. She admitted taking 20 tablets nightly and relying on them for 15 years, citing addiction and the death of two family members as triggers. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced her to one year, suspended on conditions including engagement with employment services, urine analysis, and potential re‑introduction to court if drugs are detected. Ryan has 159 prior district court convictions, 67 for using a false instrument. Garda evidence showed forged prescriptions were identified by pharmacists and doctors, leading to CCTV evidence of 12 incidents at Lloyds Pharmacy Tallaght and 36 at McCabe's Pharmacy Tallaght, among others. A letter of apology and a partner's letter were presented to the court.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 16‑year‑old woman testified that she had told a 40‑year‑old Irish celebrity she was 16 before any sexual activity. She first claimed she was 18, but the defendant's text "Sweet 16?" prompted her to admit her true age. The defendant, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual acts with a child under 17 at various Dublin locations between August and December 2010. The witness described meeting the defendant at the Oxegen Music Festival in July 2011, exchanging phone numbers, and later engaging in oral sex and masturbation at the defendant's workplace and home. She said the encounters were consensual and that their relationship ended when she entered college, though they remained in contact until 2020. The trial is ongoing before Judge Pauline Codd and a jury.
Aaron Brady, convicted of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe, has taken his appeal to the Court of Appeal. His lawyers argue that the prosecution failed to investigate an interruption of key witness Molly Staunton's testimony, which occurred via video link from New York during the Covid‑19 lockdown. An unseen man interrupted Staunton while she was testifying, and the court later read the jury a transcript of that exchange. Brady's counsel claims this was unlawful and prejudicial, and that the court erred by not ordering an investigation into the circumstances. The Director of Public Prosecutions contends the judge acted within his jurisdiction, that the interruption did not affect the evidence, and that the jury should not be discharged. The appeal hearing will continue tomorrow before a three‑judge panel. The case remains a landmark Irish murder trial, with Brady serving a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum.
The High Court has granted Mac Interiors additional time to determine whether a new investor will support a "modified" scheme of arrangement that could allow the company to exit examinership and continue as a going concern. Mr Justice Michael Quinn had earlier ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to approve the scheme proposed by examiner Kieran Wallace, which was opposed by Revenue. After the court's decision, a previously committed investor withdrew, but the examiner's lawyers informed the judge that a new, unnamed investor is interested in funding a modified scheme. The judge gave the examiner until Wednesday morning to present an alternative proposal, stressing that any application to continue the examinership must be backed by evidence. The court rejected the original proposal to return Mac Interiors to solvency, noting that the only impaired creditor class had been "erroneously formed" and that no valid meeting had accepted the plan.
James Cumiskey, 18 at the time, gave emotional testimony at the Stardust inquest, describing how he heard screams from trapped patrons and tried to break toilet windows but found a steel plate blocking them. He recalled smelling smoke, seeing flames through shutters, and urging people to exit as the club's lights failed. Cumiskey described seeing a man hanging from a canopy, a man with a hammer near the toilets, and later a fire‑filled roof. He also noted that people were on fire as they emerged from exit four. The inquest heard his earlier Garda statement, which detailed his attempts to help and the obstacles he faced. The testimony was part of the new phase of the inquest, focusing on patrons' experiences during the February 13, 1981 blaze. Eileen Rock, a 22‑year‑old mother, also testified, describing the chaos, dense smoke, and attempts to open metal shutters.
In the Central Criminal Court, Pete Taylor, a well‑known coach, testified about the shooting that occurred on 5 June 2018 at Bray Boxing Club. He described arriving at the gym at 6.30 am, opening the club, and preparing an exercise class that began at 6.45 am. While setting up music, he heard loud bangs and saw a man in the doorway firing a gun. Taylor attempted to run toward the shooter, who was described as about 5′8″, wearing a hi‑vis vest and black clothing. During his attempt, Taylor dove over a bench, was shot in the left bicep and chest, and was taken to St Vincent's Hospital where he underwent surgery and later had a steel cage fitted to his arm. He stated he had not seen what happened to Robert 'Bobby' Messett during the shooting, and that he had not seen the shooter leave the scene. Pete Taylor pleaded not guilty.