A man has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, following his conviction for rape at the Central Criminal Court. Shane Noonan, aged 28, of Castlehilll Park, Turlough Road, Castlebar, County Mayo, pleaded guilty to raping a woman at an address in Castlebar on 11 May 2013. Both were aged 18 at the time and worked together at a fast food restaurant. Justice Eileen Creedon described the offence as cold, predatory and premeditated, noting the victim's obvious vulnerability. She imposed conditions including assessment for a sex offender treatment programme. The victim told the court she had subsequently endured workplace abuse, including offensive songs referencing the assault, which delayed her reporting to gardaí until 2018. She described ongoing trauma, including flashbacks and anxiety. The court heard Noonan's guilty plea, lack of previous convictions and psychological assessment indicating low reoffending risk were mitigating factors.
In a High Court case on 14 July 2023, Together‑Razem Centre Company Limited secured a temporary injunction against its former CEO, Mr Wojciech Bialek, who allegedly seized the charity's offices after resigning in 2022. The charity, funded by the HSE and based in Cork, claims Bialek unlawfully took control of its premises at Kilnap Business Park, changed the locks, and threatened to alter or erase its records. The court heard that Bialek had been under investigation for financial and governance matters and that an Extraordinary General Meeting held on 11 July, which the charity says was invalid, removed the existing board and appointed new directors. The injunction, granted by Mr Justice Brian O'Moore, prohibits Bialek and others from removing, copying or transferring the charity's documents or funds, and bars them from representing themselves as officers of the charity. The order remains until the case returns to court on Monday.
In a High Court hearing on 14 July 2023, Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy discharged an injunction that had barred several corporate entities from accessing proceeds from the sale of Trinity House, a property in Dunboyne, Co Meath, and from insurance payouts following a fire. Mr Stephen Mahon had claimed a fair issue regarding the sale proceeds and insurance money, seeking payment of over €230,000 and the majority of the €810,000 sale proceeds. The court found that damages would be an adequate remedy and that Mr Mahon had not demonstrated that the defendants intended to dissipate assets outside the jurisdiction. The judge noted that Mr Mahon had failed to disclose relevant assets, including a €570,000 development site in Co Wexford owned by Yeronga, and that the injunction was therefore unnecessary. All defendants denied wrongdoing and argued that the injunction had harmed their business operations. The case will return to court later in the month.
Christopher Gaynor, 39, of Woodavens, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply after Gardaí seized 40 kg of cocaine worth €2.8 million and €21,100 in cash from his family home. The drugs were found in the attic of a house in Collinstown Grove, where Gardaí had observed suspicious activity and monitored the area following a tip‑off. Gaynor, who had accrued €70,000 in gambling‑related debt, admitted to being involved in the drug trade but not profiting from it. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended for three years, and directed him to be supervised by the Probation Service for 18 months after release. The court noted the high value of the drugs, the social harm caused, and Gaynor's lack of prior convictions and early guilty plea. The sentence was back‑dated to 26 June.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 23‑year‑old man was sentenced to three and a half years for sexually assaulting his six‑year‑old cousin between 2013 and 2018. The accused, who was 13 at the time of the offences, had taken intimate videos and photographs of the child and threatened to post them on social media to coerce her compliance. He pleaded guilty on the trial date and had no prior convictions. The assaults involved sexual touching and were carried out at both the accused's and the complainant's homes over a five‑year period. The judge noted the abuse violated the child's bodily integrity and left her feeling helpless, powerless and alone. The final 12 months of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions, with the accused cooperating with Gardaí and meeting bail conditions. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the breach of trust and the impact on the victim and her family.
A man from Castlebar, County Mayo, has been sentenced to six years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for two unprovoked assaults committed in January 2023. Celyn Eadon (31) pleaded guilty to causing harm to two men during random attacks on Malahide Road, Artane. The first victim was struck multiple times while using an ATM, and the second was assaulted on a bus. The offences occurred ten days after Eadon's release from a suspended sentence. The court heard that Eadon previously killed his mother in 2014, a murder conviction later quashed, with a subsequent manslaughter plea resulting in a ten-year sentence. Following release in 2021, he assaulted a support worker. Defence counsel submitted that Eadon has an acquired brain injury from prolonged substance abuse, causing cognitive impairment and loss of behavioural restraint. Judge Martin Nolan noted the court faces an unusual challenge, as the likelihood of further offending remains high despite the permanent nature of Eadon's condition. The final two years of the sentence were suspended, conditional on Probation Service supervision.
Derek Brady, 59, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, threat to kill, and false imprisonment on 12 June 2022. He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan on 26 January 2023 to five years' imprisonment with the final 15 months suspended. The State appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice George Birmingham, found the original sentence too light and quashed it. A headline sentence of ten years was set, with a one‑third discount applied, resulting in a net sentence of six years and eight months. Brady's suspended portion was removed, and the court ordered that the suspended year of his two‑year robbery and attempted robbery sentence be suspended to encourage rehabilitation. The revised sentence is consecutive to the robbery convictions, with no further changes to those terms.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jordon Doyle, aged 23, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm against Nikita and Gareth Kenny at their Mountjoy Square apartment on 30 January 2023. Doyle, who had 16 prior District Court convictions including violent disorder and possession of explosives, entered the home armed with an iron bar. The assault on Mr Kenny resulted in nine stitches, while Ms Kenny sustained two lumps on her head after a struggle. Judge Pauline Codd, citing the iron bar as the most aggravating factor and Doyle's previous violent disorder conviction, imposed a headline sentence of four years for Mr Kenny's assault and three years for Ms Kenny's. After considering mitigating factors such as Doyle's early guilty plea and personal circumstances, the judge sentenced Doyle to three years for Mr Kenny's assault and two years for Ms Kenny's assault, with both sentences running concurrently and backdated to his earlier custody.
A 17‑year‑old was ordered to pay a €1,000 fine for assaulting another teenager, which left the victim in a nine‑day coma. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where the victim had asked for leniency for the defendant, who was deemed a low risk of reoffending. The defendant, who was 16 at the time of the incident, pleaded guilty to a single count of assault causing harm. He had a prior conviction for no car insurance. Judge Pauline Codd noted the seriousness of the charge and the severe injuries sustained, but also cited the victim's generosity and a very positive probation report. She considered a four‑year custodial sentence if the defendant were an adult, but ultimately imposed the fine, to be paid before October. The court heard that the victim has fully recovered and that the defendant has expressed remorse and is distancing himself from past anti‑social behaviour.
In a decision by the Workplace Relations Commission, Griffith College was found to have contravened the Equal Status Act 2000 by refusing to provide sign‑language interpretation for a deaf law student, Sofiya Kalinova, and by requiring her to pay for it herself. The tribunal noted that the college's policy assumed Kalinova needed Irish Sign Language interpretation and a note‑taker for the entire course, including weeks already completed, without a proper assessment of her individual needs. The college's head of faculty, Karen Sutton, had estimated the cost of interpretation at €9,000 but had not shared this with Kalinova. The adjudicator, Kevin Baneham, ordered the college to pay Kalinova €3,000 in compensation and to revise its disability policy to comply with the Act. The case highlights the requirement for institutions to evaluate each learner's needs rather than rely on blanket assumptions.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed Jonathan Dowdall's appeal against his four-year sentence for facilitating the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel. The three-judge panel, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, described the sentence as "very lenient" and within the available range, rejecting arguments that it was unduly severe. Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to making a hotel room available to the Hutch gang ahead of the February 2016 attack, had argued his sentence was too high compared to his father, Patrick Dowdall, who received two years for the same offence. The appeal court found a clear basis for differentiating their roles, noting Jonathan Dowdall's significant post-murder involvement, including driving an associate to Northern Ireland. The court also rejected claims that the sentencing judge failed to adequately consider the life changes resulting from Dowdall becoming a State's witness. While acknowledging the assistance provided was "very significant," the judges upheld the Special Criminal Court's decision, stating that even a higher pre-mitigation headline sentence would not have warranted intervention. The appeal was heard after Dowdall's counsel argued he was "duped" and that the sentence did not properly account for his cooperation with authorities. The court emphasized that the Hutch organisation was a "tier one criminal organisation," not a minor group, and that Dowdall's actions were "very serious indeed."
In the Central Criminal Court trial of Noel Long, retired Garda sergeant John B O'Sullivan, aged 83, recounted the discovery of a woman's body in Shippool Woods, Cork, on 12 June 1981. O'Sullivan was the sole Garda on duty at Inishannon station when forestry workers John Collins and Denis McSweeney arrived in a tractor at about 3 pm, reporting a suspicious find that turned out to be a body. He deputised his wife to accompany him to the scene, where they found a 54‑year‑old woman, later identified as Nora Sheehan, lying on her right side with her head covered by a blue floral dress. O'Sullivan noted a stench, blue bottles, a cut to the neck, a bandage on the left hand, and nylon tights on the left foot. He used a hurley to clear briars, avoided disturbing potential evidence, and later contacted Bandon Gardaí. Noel Long pleaded not guilty.
In a case before the Workplace Relations Commission, Liam Dunne withdrew his unfair dismissal claim against Coinbase Ireland Ltd after the firm argued it could claw back his €13,000 voluntary redundancy package if he won. Dunne had signed a legally binding settlement agreement in November, receiving a sum equivalent to about 14 weeks' pay. He claimed he was under duress and had insufficient consultation time, but the tribunal found he had been given opportunities to ask questions and had been informed of the terms. The adjudicating officer noted that Dunne had stated he was not under duress when signing. After a brief recess, Dunne decided to withdraw the complaint, signing a withdrawal form and confirming the case was officially over. The withdrawal was effective immediately, with no settlement agreement in place.
A businessman, Declan Rogers, denies breaching High Court orders that prohibit him from collecting rents from tenants at Ossory Road Enterprise Park in Dublin. Rogers, who is a shareholder and director of Rogers Recycling Limited, claims the units are his property and that the plaintiff, Ossory Road Enterprise Park Limited, has no right to the rents. The plaintiff, which acquired the park in 2021, has obtained an injunction from Justice Siobhan Stack that remains in force until the dispute is resolved, preventing Rogers and his company from collecting rents. Rogers' counsel argues that allegations of contempt, including claims of assault, fire hazards, and people living in containers, are irrelevant and based on hearsay. Justice Brian Cregan adjourned the contempt hearing, allowing the plaintiff to submit further reliefs and indicating a possible return to the case in October to assess progress. The judge emphasized the importance of obeying court orders and managing the case to reach a resolution swiftly.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Angela Manning, 59, admitted stealing €122,000 from the elderly couple Laetitia Lynam and Enda O'Regan during the pandemic. Manning, initially hired as a carer, used an ATM card and PIN given by Lynam to withdraw cash between April 2019 and September 2021. She claimed the money was a loan to a fictitious U.S. soldier named Sam, whom she met on Facebook. Manning converted the cash into cryptocurrency and sent it to a fake account. The couple's home deeds were transferred to them, and Manning also took her husband's retirement savings. The court noted that the couple's assets were now in their possession and that Manning had no prior convictions. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 27 July. Angela Manning pleaded guilty.
A 19‑year‑old Dublin man, Cameron Curtis, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for a series of violent assaults on his 20‑year‑old partner, Alannah Corrigan. Curtis pleaded guilty to seven counts of assault causing harm, one count of false imprisonment and a further assault on 19 July 2022 while they were staying overnight at the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire. He also admitted assaults on 12, 13, 14 and 16 August 2022 at Binary Hub, Bonham Street, Dublin 8. The court heard that Curtis repeatedly punched, kicked, slapped, dragged by the hair, spat in Corrigan's face, strangled her in a chokehold and threatened to kill her, including locking her in a bathroom and threatening to use scissors. He was sentenced to two years and six months, with 12 months suspended, and the sentence was back‑dated to 19 September 2022 to account for time already spent in custody.
In a case involving a 62‑year‑old school bus driver, the Court of Appeal increased his prison term from three years and six months to six years and six months. The driver had pleaded guilty in 2021 to indecent assault offences committed between 1985 and 1988 and to possession of child pornography in 2014. The original sentencing judge had suspended the final two years of the seven‑year indecent assault sentence and the final two years and six months of the three‑year child‑pornography sentence, citing the 30‑year lapse since the assaults. The Court of Appeal found this suspension an error of principle, stating it did not reflect the seriousness of the offences. The driver had been in custody, participating in a rehabilitation programme, and the appeal resulted in a new, longer custodial term.
During an appeal of Feri Anghel's life sentence for the murder of Artene Bob, a Court of Appeal judge noted that the evidence could allow for a third party's involvement. The judge said that the injuries and forensic findings suggested more than one person may have struck Bob, who was found dead in Tallaght's Sean Walsh Memorial Park on 13 April 2018. Anghel was convicted on circumstantial evidence, with no DNA linking him to the scene, while DNA from four other individuals was found on Bob's glasses. The judge highlighted that Bob's injuries were consistent with multiple assailants and that the pathologist's testimony supported this possibility. He concluded that a rational inference could point to a third party, and the court would reserve judgment pending further review of CCTV footage. Feri Anghel pleaded not guilty.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 13 July 2023, Declan Hannon, aged 52, lost his bid to overturn a 2019 conviction for four counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault against a nine‑year‑old girl in Co. Wicklow. Hannon had pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a jury on all six counts and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by Mr Justice Michael White. The appeal argued that the trial judge should have discharged the jury due to prejudice from delays, missing witnesses, and undisclosed evidence. The Court of Appeal, led by Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, rejected all grounds, concluding that the trial was fair and that no prejudice warranted a jury discharge. The decision reaffirmed Hannon's conviction and sentence. The case also highlighted the victim's repeated court appearances and the earlier legal battle that led to Hannon's name being publicly released.
Claire Moloney, a psychologist, claimed the Irish Prison Service discriminated against her by refusing a disability waiver for pandemic mask rules. She said she was forced to wear a mask for 7½ hours daily under threat of disciplinary action, leading her to resign in October 2021. Moloney alleged the service presented her as an "anti‑mask extremist" and threatened payroll removal if she did not comply. She cited chronic rhinusitis, anosmia, wheezing, allergies and polyps, and a GP letter describing claustrophobia when wearing a mask. The Prison Service's chief medical officer, Dr Thomas Donnelly, concluded her condition did not preclude mask use. The Workplace Relations Commission found her condition was not a protected disability and rejected her discrimination claim. The tribunal noted no reasonable accommodation was available to allow her to work without a mask. The decision was issued on 13 July 2023.
In a cold‑case murder trial, a jury heard evidence that a 74‑year‑old man, Noel Long, is alleged to have had sex with and murdered 54‑year‑old Nora Sheehan in 1981. The prosecution presented forensic DNA evidence linking semen recovered from Sheehan's vagina to Long's DNA, and trace evidence from Long's car that matched items found at the scene. Witnesses described Sheehan as a vulnerable, eccentric woman who was last seen alive on 6 June 1981 and whose naked, bruised body was discovered by forestry workers in Shippool Woods six days later. The State argued that the forensic findings and witness testimony together lead to an "irresistible conclusion" that Long committed the murder. Long has pleaded not guilty. The trial is scheduled to continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
Mark Casserly (49) of Rowlagh Park, Clondalkin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for giving a false account of the movement of a suspect. He pleaded guilty to providing gardai with a false alibi regarding his son, Anthony Casserly, during the investigation into the murder of Wayne Whelan in November 2019. Judge Pauline Codd handed him a five-year prison sentence suspended in full on strict conditions. The court noted that Casserly Sr. gave two statements claiming his son was at home, but CCTV footage contradicted this by showing Anthony leaving the property. Anthony Casserly (26), who was convicted of assisting in the murder, was sentenced in January 2022 to seven years in prison. The judge stated that while Casserly Sr. was motivated to assist his son, his actions perverted the course of justice. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the suspended sentence.
A 39‑year‑old William Duffy of Dundalk, who had been charged with attempted murder in County Louth four years earlier, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to a firearms offence. He admitted discharging a firearm recklessly on 28 May 2019 at Marian Park, Dundalk. Justice Caroline Biggs ordered a psychological assessment and a victim impact statement, and adjourned the sentencing hearing to 23 October. Duffy remains on bail.
In a murder trial, defence witness Mark Roe denied fabricating his account of the 2019 fatal stabbing of Derek Reddin by Andrew Lacey. Roe, who was drunk and confused, claimed he saw two men, one with a balaclava and baseball bat, attack Lacey and later struck him with the bat. He said he tried to help Lacey but was hit by the balaclava man, who struck him about ten times before leaving. Roe testified that he did not realise the seriousness of Reddin's injury and that he had never been in a fight or arrested before. He admitted taking photos and videos at the scene and that his clothes were covered in blood, which he attributed to Reddin bleeding out. Roe was released without charge after five Garda interviews. The cross‑examination will continue tomorrow before a jury. Andrew Lacey pleaded not guilty.
In a High Court case, Mr Justice Brian Cregan directed that two judgments be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The judgments concern Marie Gibson, an elderly woman in her 80s, who was defrauded of her family home by her daughter Pauline Gibson. The court found Pauline had forged her parents' signatures to transfer the property to herself in 2003, secured a €190,000 mortgage from First Active Building Society, and later defaulted. The transfer was set aside as fraudulent, and the mortgage charge was removed. Marie Gibson was awarded €110,000 in damages and €75,000 in punitive damages against Pauline. The court also found solicitor Kevin O'Gorman negligent and awarded Marie €35,000. The judgments will be referred to the DPP for possible criminal charges, and further decisions on referrals to professional bodies will be made later this month.
During the Stardust nightclub inquest, former deputy head doorman Leo Doyle testified that he cannot confirm whether the exit doors were unlocked on the night of the February 14, 1981 fire that killed 48 people. Doyle said he had no recollection of stating that exits one and six were locked and chained while the club was open, nor of being told to keep those exits closed. He admitted he did not remember the existence of exit one. Doyle also explained that the club practiced "mock locking" by chaining two chains together and flipping the chain over to give the appearance of a lock, but he could not say if the locks were actually off the doors. He denied accepting that this practice was inherently dangerous and claimed he had no idea who devised the draping of chains. The inquest continues tomorrow in the Pillar Room of the Rotunda Hospital.
During a Christmas Eve visit to a major transport hub, a man with prostate cancer and severe post‑surgery incontinence found the accessible toilet locked and was forced to soiled himself. He reported being soaked in blood‑stained urine and that another man in uniform sniggered when he asked for help. The transport operator denied discrimination, claiming the incident was a negative customer experience and that the man used foul language. CCTV footage was reviewed but not preserved. The tribunal has barred the press from naming the operator and will issue a decision in writing. The case highlights the man's distress and the operator's refusal to admit a disability‑related failure to provide access to the toilet. The tribunal will consider the evidence and the operator's arguments before deciding.
Amir Essalhi, 39, with 69 prior convictions, turned himself in after a three‑day spree of robberies in Dublin, claiming he had relapsed on crack cocaine. He admitted to stealing nearly €1,000 from a tanning shop, an off‑licence and a grocery store, and to an attempted robbery of a pharmacy. Essalhi apologized to Gardaí and to the victims, stating, "it's not me, it's the drugs." He was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe, who noted the unusual nature of his voluntary surrender. The sentence, back‑dated to May 19, 2022, reflects his cooperation and current participation in prison training and addiction counselling. Essalhi's brother, Adil Essahli, was murdered in 2011, a fact mentioned in the court hearing. The court also noted Essalhi's ongoing work and rehabilitation efforts in custody. Amir Essalhi pleaded guilty.
Dillon Andrews, 26, was jailed for two and a half years as the getaway driver in an armed robbery at a Lidl supermarket in Coolock Retail Park on 13 November 2019. The robbery involved a co‑accused who entered the shop after 7 pm, fired a shotgun into the ceiling, demanded cash, and attempted to access the safe. The manager triggered the panic alarm, locking the robber inside; the robber was released, fled, and escaped with Andrews in a vehicle. Gardaí recovered €550 from the car, found drug paraphernalia, and detected gunshot residue on the co‑accused's hands. Andrews denied involvement but admitted being present; he pleaded guilty to the robbery. The judge noted the seriousness of the incident, the presence of children, and accepted Andrews' plea before sentencing. The manager did not submit a victim impact statement. The case was prosecuted by John Berry BL and defended by Luigi Rea BL.
Gareth Duffy, 44, of Stella Gardens, Irishtown, Dublin 4, was found guilty of assault causing harm after he stomped on a friend's head and repeatedly kicked him while the victim lay unconscious on a packed Luas tram on 6 July 2019. CCTV footage showed Duffy leaving the tram, returning twice, and continuing to strike the victim's head. He had 144 prior convictions, including assault, public order and violence in a Garda station. Duffy pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The victim did not cooperate with the Garda investigation or give a victim impact statement, and no medical report was presented. Judge Pauline Codd described the violence as appalling, noted Duffy's rehabilitation efforts, and imposed a four‑year sentence, suspending the final three years on strict conditions. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 74‑year‑old man, Noel Long of Passage West, has been arraigned in the Central Criminal Court on charges of murdering 54‑year‑old Nora Sheehan between 6 and 12 June 1981. Sheehan's body was discovered by forestry workers at The Viewing Point, Shippool Woods, six days after she was reported missing. Long pleaded not guilty. Judge Paul McDermott swore in a jury of eight men and four women, who will hear the case beginning Thursday morning and is expected to last four weeks. The prosecution is led by senior counsel Brendan Grehan; the defence is headed by Michael Delaney SC. Witnesses will include local Cork and Munster residents, forensic scientists from Dublin, and several Gardaí, including retired members. The judge reminded the jury to focus solely on evidence presented in court and to remain independent of any external media coverage. The trial will take place in the Central Criminal Court in Cork.
Patrick Gorman, a former director of Inland Fisheries Ireland, claimed that after being suspended in February 2022, he had his 13‑year‑old son drive a State‑owned tractor on a public road at night. He said the suspension shocked him and that he was not acting rationally. The Workplace Relations Commission heard that the allegations of corruption made against him in a protected disclosure were not upheld, but the agency dismissed him for the unauthorised use of the tractor and a boat while suspended. Gorman said he had taken the tractor and a four‑metre RHIB to his home and later used the boat alone on Lough Mask. The tribunal noted that the use of the tractor by a minor breached road traffic legislation and that the dismissal was upheld on appeal in October 2022. The case remains at the WRC stage, with no further outcome reported.
During the Central Criminal Court trial, Ms Anne Rowland SC presented evidence that Ian Connaghan, aged 34, threatened a 55‑year‑old man, Michael Mulvey, with the words "I'm gonna f**kin kill ya" at a pedestrian crossing on the Navan Road. The witness, Ms Pauline Matthews, described how the man was approached by a medium‑built individual who shouted aggressively and walked out in front of her car. She recounted that Mulvey was later severely beaten by Ian and his older brother Daniel Connaghan, who arrived in a car. The brothers have pleaded not guilty to murder, to causing serious harm, and to assault. The trial continues with further cross‑examination of Ms Matthews by the defence counsel, Mr Garnet Orange SC, and the prosecution will focus on medical evidence regarding Mulvey's injuries and death.
School Food 4 Primary Ltd, a Limerick‑based provider of hot meals for schools, has filed a High Court challenge against An Garda Siochana's refusal to list it as a 'relevant organisation' under the 2012 National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act. The company argues that its application to the Garda National Vetting Bureau was denied on grounds it finds legally incoherent. It claims that the current interpretation requires schools to vet the company's employees, meaning any employee who fails a school vetting process cannot be employed by the firm, yet the company is not informed of the reasons for the failure. This situation, the firm says, is unworkable and hampers its ability to hire and grow, as it plans to add 200 staff over five years. Represented by Stephen Walsh BL, the company seeks orders directing the Garda Commissioner to register it as a relevant organisation, thereby allowing it to vet its own employees.
In High Court proceedings, applicant Ita Madden, of Viginia House, Lough Gowna, Co Cavan, brought an action against Xtrupak Limited and directors Darragh Reilly, John Reilly Snr, Christine Reilly, and John M Reilly. Ms Madden alleged that excessive noise and air pollution from the defendants' manufacturing facility, located at Lough View, Lough Gowna, had severely disrupted her family's health and living conditions. She claimed the noise levels exceeded planning permission conditions following an operational expansion in January of this year. Ms Madden sought an injunction restraining the company from commercial activity until specific modifications were completed. The defendants, represented by Daniel McNamara BL, stated they were prepared to contest the application but preferred to reach an arrangement. Counsel noted that granting the injunction would risk the jobs of over 44 employees. The defendants proposed offering accommodation to Ms Madden while noise alleviation works, expected to take several weeks, were completed. Ms Madden, who represented herself, requested time to consider the proposal and to seek legal representation. Mr Justice Brian O'Moore adjourned the matter to a date later this month, encouraging the parties to continue seeking a resolution.
In a murder trial, Andrew Lacey, aged 35, denies using a phone to film the fatal stabbing of Derek Reddin, 31, to show others what he had done. He also denies targeting Reddin's left side or deliberately stabbing him through the chest. Lacey claims he only produced a knife after Reddin lunged at him with a baseball bat and that the stabbing was accidental. He says he does not remember stabbing Reddin and describes the incident as a slight scuffle. Lacey admits he initially lied to Gardaí about the attackers' weapons but says he told the truth the following day. The prosecution alleges Lacey used excessive force and that the knife was a work tool he carried from his job with the parks department. The trial continues before a jury and Justice Mary Ellen Ring. Andrew Lacey pleaded not guilty.
Larry O'Connor has failed in his appeal against his conviction for shooting at his cousin's house. The 40-year-old, of Ballykisteen, County Tipperary, was convicted by a jury on all six counts, including recklessly discharging a firearm, possession of a firearm and ammunition, aggravated burglary, and criminal damage, after pleading not guilty. He was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment in May 2022. O'Connor appealed on the ground that the trial judge erred in permitting prejudicial background evidence regarding a supposed feud. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, dismissed the application, stating the court was not persuaded the trial was unsatisfactory or the verdict unsafe. The court noted that motive is circumstantial evidence for the jury to weigh, especially where witnesses were well acquainted with the accused. During the incident in July 2019, O'Connor fired four shots into the home of his cousin, Danny Harty, where Harty, his partner, and infant twins were sleeping. His brother, Daniel O'Connor, of Limerick, who drove him to the scene, pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to commit reckless discharge of a firearm. Daniel O'Connor was jailed for seven years, with the final year suspended. The matter was not adjourned; the appeal was dismissed.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 11 July 2023, Suzanna Hassett, aged 66, had her eight‑year jail sentence reduced by two years after a judge described her sexual abuse of her son as a "huge betrayal of trust." Hassett had pleaded guilty to 13 counts of indecent assault between 1984 and 1987, when her son was an infant to three years old, and to four counts of sexual assault between 1992 and 1995, when he was seven to 11. She had no prior convictions. The original sentence, imposed by Judge Martin Nolan, was eight years with the final 18 months suspended. The Court of Appeal set a headline sentence of five years for the first series of offences, reduced to three years after mitigation, and a headline of five years for the second series, also reduced to three years. The two terms run consecutively, giving a total of six years with 18 months suspended.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 43‑year‑old Darren Sweeney pleaded guilty to one count of attempted robbery after he put a knife to a victim's neck on a bus at the Darndale Roundabout on 22 March 2022. The victim, who was waiting for a bus at Clarehall Shopping Centre, fought back, cutting his fingers and punching Sweeney before the attacker fled. Sweeney was identified by CCTV, searched, and arrested. He has 42 prior convictions, including assault, theft and traffic offences, and had recently been fined €200 for theft. The victim's impact statement described the incident as turning familiar streets into places "filled with shadow", causing anxiety, nightmares and hypervigilance. Sweeney, who has a serious drug problem, has been in methadone treatment and has expressed remorse. The judge adjourned the case to 6 November to prepare a probation report. The case remains at the attempted robbery stage.
A 54‑year‑old man from Boyerstown, Navan, was jailed for 18 months after a sting operation by an online vigilante group exposed his attempts to sexually exploit a child. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of attempting to communicate with a child via electronic means to facilitate sexual exploitation between 3 March and 6 May 2019, and a second charge of attempting to meet a child for sexual exploitation on 6 May 2019 at St Stephen's Green. Judge Martin Nolan found his actions "very wrong", noting that the man believed he was speaking to an 11‑ or 12‑year‑old child, but was actually communicating with members of the Child Protection Awareness Group posing as a child. He received a sentence of three and a half years, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions, and was ordered to be supervised by the Probation Service for two years after release.
An 80‑year‑old grandfather was convicted in the Central Criminal Court of six rapes of his eldest granddaughter and 81 sexual assaults on her and her two younger sisters, aged between five and fourteen. He received a ten‑year sentence with one year suspended, and a five‑year concurrent sentence for the sexual assaults. The judge, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, emphasised that the defendant abused a position of trust and was a mature adult when he committed the offences, describing the conduct as "cold, callous and cruel." The defendant appealed the six rape convictions, arguing that the judge's charge to the jury was erroneous, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, stating the judge's remarks were within her rights. The case remains at the conviction stage, with no further outcome reported.
An on‑bail criminal, 34, with 97 prior convictions, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison for threatening to kill his former partner during a family court hearing. He pleaded guilty to one count of making a threat to kill, admitting he wanted the victim to believe the threat would be carried out. The threat was made in the courtroom when he said, "I'm going to fucking kill you." He denied the threat when questioned by the judge, but the victim recounted the words. He also said, "You want to watch yourself," and claimed he would have choked her if he had had the chance. He apologized to Gardaí, said he was angry, and admitted he intended only to frighten the victim, not to act on the threat. The judge noted his extensive criminal record, his bail status, and the victim's former‑partner status as aggravating factors. The sentence was back‑dated to 7 June.
The High Court has been told that the Teacher's Disciplinary Appeal Panel intends to oppose Enoch Burke's bid to extend an injunction restraining the hearing of his appeal against his dismissal from Wilson's Hospital secondary school. Mr Burke, who denies the school's finding of gross misconduct, alleges the panel is flawed due to the presence of ASTI General Secretary Kieran Christie, whom he claims is biased against him regarding transgender policies. He also alleges a breach of fair procedures because a video clip of a 2022 school service was not provided to him or the panel. The panel contests these claims but requested time to respond. Mr Justice Brian O'Moore provisionally fixed a hearing for late July to determine the injunction application. The judge noted that the previous interim injunction had expired and was replaced by undertakings from the panel. This application is part of an ongoing legal dispute; previously, Mr Burke was jailed for 108 days for contempt of court after refusing to comply with an order restraining him from attending the school premises. He is currently subject to a daily fine of €700 for continuing to breach that order. The school is a notice party but does not intend to participate in the proceedings.
The Workplace Relations Commission heard that Sankalpa CLG settled a dismissal claim with an unnamed male employee, who withdrew statutory complaints under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and Employment Equality Act 1998 pending implementation of agreed terms. The settlement followed evidence that the charity supported the "outlandish claims" of a female colleague, identified as Ms A, while shelving the male worker's complaints of a "campaign of lies and false accusations." A witness described Ms A as a "Walter Mitty" who allegedly targeted the complainant with harassment since May 2020, including unfounded allegations of serious sexual misconduct. Although the charity's solicitor requested time to review a 42-minute recording of a board meeting, the matter was resolved on the day. The complainant signed papers instructing the WRC to close his case within weeks, contingent on payment and implementation of the settlement. This follows a separate earlier decision where adjudicating officer Kevin Baneham found that former director Edel Ambrose was subjected to whistleblower retaliation, resulting in an €83,000 award. The charity is currently appealing that award to the Circuit Court. The WRC granted anonymity to the charity's directors and staff in these proceedings.
A mother has taken her autistic son to the High Court after a primary school refused to enrol him in its autism unit. She says the school told her there were places, she applied and sent all required paperwork, but weeks later the school claimed it had no record of the application and that all places were filled. The school then put the boy on a waiting list. The mother appealed to a Section 29 Appeals Committee, arguing the school had not properly reviewed its decision. The committee rejected the appeal, citing a failure to provide information and that the boy's application had never been considered because it was "mislaid". The mother appealed that decision to the Minister for Education, who set aside the committee's refusal and directed it to consider the appeal. The mother was later told the appeal was moot because waiting lists are only valid for one year and a new enrolment process had begun.
Mary Charles, of Dinree House, Piercetown, Dunboyne, Co Meath, has been granted permission by the High Court to bring a judicial review action against An Bord Pleanála and the Attorney General. The applicant challenges the board's March decision to grant retention planning permission to respondent Leslie Fitzpatrick for upgrading the lighting system at the Wynmere equestrian facility in Dunboyne. Ms Charles alleges that the proposed eight-meter LED lighting columns will adversely affect a family member with photosensitive epilepsy, whose home is located 100 meters from the arena. She claims the board's decision is invalid because it failed to consider the potential health impacts of light pollution, did not carry out an adequate survey of bat fauna, and erroneously concluded that an Environmental Impact Assessment screening was not required. The applicant further alleges that the board made material errors of law and fact and failed to provide proper reasons for its decision. Ms Charles seeks orders quashing the board's decision to grant planning permission. The matter was heard by Ms Justice Niamh Hyland, who granted the application for permission on an ex-parte basis. Mr Fitzpatrick was made a notice party to the proceedings, and the matter was adjourned to a date in October for further hearing.
In a murder trial, the State presented the case that Michael Mulvey, a 55‑year‑old builder, died two weeks after a severe beating by brothers Ian (34) and Daniel (43) Connaghan. The prosecution argued that the injuries sustained on 14 November 2019, including fractured ribs and a severe chest trauma, substantially contributed to his death, though not the sole cause, citing medical evidence from pathologists and doctors. The brothers were charged with murder, intentional or reckless causing serious harm, and assault causing harm. The State highlighted a history of conflict between Mulvey and Ian Connaghan, a confrontation at a pedestrian crossing, and CCTV showing the brothers' movements. Text messages sent by the Connaghans after the assault were presented as evidence of intent to cause serious harm. The trial, before Mr Justice Paul Burns, is set to continue for up to three weeks.
Patrick Killally, aged 46, was jailed for 11 years after a jury convicted him of three counts of sexual assault of a boy aged six to nine between 1992 and 1996, and 40 counts of sexual assault, attempted anal rape, oral rape and anal rape of another boy aged 12 to 14 between 2005 and 2007. He had no prior convictions. Mr Justice Paul Burns, hearing the case in the Central Criminal Court, praised the two survivors for coming forward as adults to protect children and urged them not to blame themselves for not speaking earlier. He noted the abuse had severely impacted their lives, citing their victim‑impact statements. Mr Justice Burns imposed concurrent sentences totalling 12 years, suspended the final year on strict conditions to encourage rehabilitation, and commended the men's courage. The judge also acknowledged Killally's claims of innocence and his lack of previous convictions. The sentencing aimed to balance punishment with the possibility of rehabilitation.
A former civilian employee of An Garda Siochana, Holly Hayden, 27, pleaded guilty to disclosing confidential information from the Garda Pulse database in exchange for cocaine. Hayden admitted to providing details of a named individual on 29 October 2019, and to sending Pulse data to a person she knew on 9 September 2019 and again between 28 April and 11 May 2020. She also sent images of Covid‑19 checkpoint locations via WhatsApp and Telegram, receiving cocaine in return. Hayden's addiction to alcohol and drugs was highlighted by her admissions and her mother's testimony. She expressed remorse and acknowledged her actions as a gross disloyalty to her employer. The court considered a urine analysis before proceeding with sentencing, with a potential adjournment to 6 November to facilitate the test.
During his own murder trial, Andrew Lacey, 35, of Riverside, Loughlinstown, admitted he had initially lied to emergency services about being attacked by two men with knives. He claimed he was heading home to his wife and five children when he was confronted by Derek Reddin, 31, who he said was "nearly possessed" and struck him with a metal bat. Lacey said he tried to repel Reddin with a folding knife from his jacket, hoping to scare him away. He described a brief scuffle lasting five to ten seconds, after which both fell to the ground. Lacey denied knowing Reddin was dead at the time and denied that he had asked his friend what to say to the Gardaí. The trial is set to continue before Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury of eight men and four women. Andrew Lacey pleaded not guilty.