A jury of eight men and four women was sworn in to hear the trial of Andrew Lacey, a 35‑year‑old from Riverside, Loughlinstown, who is accused of murdering Derek Reddin, 31, on Loughlinstown Drive between 14 and 15 October 2019. Lacey appeared before the Central Criminal Court, pleaded not guilty, and spoke only "not guilty" when the single charge was read. Justice Mary Ellen Ring informed potential jurors of any impediments and noted Lacey's employment with the Parks Department in Dun Laoghaire. The trial, scheduled to begin the next day, is expected to last about two weeks.
Francie Stokes, 23, of Lucan, pleaded guilty to possessing €52,355 as proceeds of crime in his AIB account. The money was fraudulently transferred from a German aviation company. Stokes had a prior money‑laundering conviction for €3,000 in 2020 and a one‑month probation in 2021. AIB recovered €28,000; about €24,000 remains withdrawn. Gardaí noted multiple ATM and internet withdrawals, but CCTV showed none of the accused. Stokes was arrested on suspicion of money laundering, had no legitimate source for the €52,000, and had been receiving pandemic unemployment payments. Judge Martin Nolan, after Probation Services' assessment, sentenced Stokes to 150 hours of community service instead of 18 months' imprisonment. The sentence reflects Stokes' reckless conduct, his family responsibilities, and his prior record of money‑laundering.
The Workplace Relations Commission upheld Mark Hosey's unfair dismissal complaint against Mark Johnson Motors under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, but did not order the employer to pay the €8,650 loss claimed by Hosey. Compensation was limited to eight weeks' pay for breaches of employment rights. The tribunal heard that Hosey was dismissed after a dispute over parts invoicing and a death threat incident in August 2019 when a customer of his nixer business produced a gun. Hosey denied charging €400 for a repair, citing unpaid parts and a lack of proof of payment. The employer argued that Hosey could not prove he paid for parts and that the gun incident was not a cause for dismissal. The adjudicating officer ruled the dismissal unfair on procedural grounds, awarded four weeks' pay for a rights breach, and ordered weeks' pay in lieu of notice, totaling €6,280 in orders against the garage.
The trial of Thomas McConnell, accused of the murder of Gareth Hutch, has been adjourned and must restart due to the illness of Judge David McHugh. At the Special Criminal Court, presiding judge Mr Justice Alex Owens informed the parties that the trial, which began on June 8, would be re-constituted with District Court Judge Grainne Malone replacing Judge McHugh. Both the prosecution and defense agreed to restart proceedings the following morning. Mr McConnell, 37, of Ballymun, Dublin 11, pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Mr Hutch, 36, which occurred on May 24, 2016, at Avondale House, North Cumberland Street, Dublin 1. The prosecution alleges that Mr McConnell and Jonathan Keogh used Mary McDonnell's nearby apartment to surveil the victim, subsequently following and shooting him. Mr McConnell is the fourth person to face trial for this offense; Regina Keogh, Jonathan Keogh, and Thomas Fox were previously found guilty by the court in November 2018. Following the adjournment, opening speeches will be delivered again, and Mr McConnell will be re-arraigned. The defense counsel, Patrick McGrath SC, stated his client preferred restarting immediately rather than waiting for Judge McHugh's availability. The trial is expected to conclude by July 31, the end of the current legal term.
David Gregan, 43, was sentenced to 150 hours of community service instead of 18 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to making a false statement to a solicitor. In 2017 he claimed he had been injured in a collision between a bus and a car in Dublin city centre, alleging soft‑tissue injuries to his shoulders. The incident involved Dublin Bus and a car registered to Trinity College. An anti‑fraud investigator reviewed CCTV footage and found Gregan, though on the footpath, was not close enough to be struck by the vehicles. He withdrew the claim in 2018 and no payment was made, but the parties incurred €9,000 in legal fees. Gregan has no prior convictions, has worked in security for 25 years, and has a history of mental‑health difficulties. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Gregan had "succumbed to the temptation of easy money" and therefore did not impose a custodial sentence.
The Irish branch of engineering consultancy Ove Arup was fined €750,000 after the death of 62‑year‑old John McCann, a father of seven, who fell 24 metres from a ventilation shaft on 23 September 2019. McCann was supervising fibre‑optic cabling when he stepped onto a fragile, lightweight fire‑insulation surface that gave way. An HSA inspector criticised the company's "laissez‑faire" approach to health and safety, noting inadequate signage, a failure to follow through on risk assessment and poor communication between departments. Ove Arup pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, admitting it had failed to ensure the safety of non‑employees and to maintain a safe work environment. Judge Orla Crowe imposed the fine and awarded the HSA costs of just under €7,500. The company accepted responsibility, offered a charitable donation and sent letters of condolence to McCann's family.
A 68‑year‑old woman, Josephine McMahon, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting two brothers in Kerry between 1992 and 1996. The younger brother, aged four or five at the time, was abused in the house's bathroom with a wooden spoon, while the older brother, aged eight to twelve, was assaulted on several occasions, including being threatened with a wooden spoon and exposed to the perpetrator's genitals. McMahon pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The judge, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, noted the maximum sentence for the offence at the time was five years and imposed a suspended 12‑month period, ordering McMahon to remain under probation supervision for a further year after release. The sentence reflected mitigating factors such as her deteriorating health, diabetes and kidney disease, and the need for dialysis. The court heard the victims' impact statements, describing lasting depression, anxiety, addiction issues, and family effects.
Killer Farmer Michael Scott, who drove over his elderly aunt Christina 'Chrissie' Treacy (76) outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna, Co Galway on April 27, 2018, has been jailed for six years. The judge, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, noted that Scott showed 'no compassion' to his aunt in the immediate aftermath of the killing and told 'fundamental, self-preserving lies' about their relationship. Following a trial earlier this year, a jury found Scott not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter on the basis of gross negligence. The prosecution case was that Scott deliberately reversed over Ms Treacy following a long-running dispute over land. The judge set Scott's headline sentence at eight years but reduced that to six years having taken into account a number of mitigating factors. Scott had pleaded not guilty to murdering his aunt. The judge also noted that Scott has more recently expressed genuine remorse and reports from the probation services suggest he has insight into the impact the killing has had. He had no previous convictions and the judge described him as a hard-working family man who was responsible in his business affairs. The judge also noted that Scott has indicated that he accepts the jury's verdict.
The High Court has granted orders preventing Gemma O'Doherty from harassing Edel Campbell, the mother of Diego Gilsenan, a teenager who died by suicide. The orders were issued by Mr Justice Conor Dignam following a hearing on Friday evening. Edel Campbell alleges that Ms O'Doherty has engaged in a campaign of harassment, including the unauthorized use of images of her late son in an article linking unexplained deaths to the Covid-19 vaccination. The court has ordered Ms O'Doherty to refrain from harassing Ms Campbell, publishing images of her or her late son, or sharing personal and confidential information about them. She is also prohibited from encouraging others to intimidate the plaintiff. The court has required Ms O'Doherty to remove any images of Ms Campbell or her son from her media. These orders will remain in place pending the final outcome of the ongoing legal action. Ms O'Doherty was not present in court, and no representations were made on her behalf. In emails to the plaintiff's lawyers, Ms O'Doherty denied the allegations and stated she was on holiday and had received insufficient notice of the hearing. The case, which involves complex legal issues including freedom of speech, will return to court at a later date. The action was launched by Ms Campbell, represented by David Kennedy SC and Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe BL, with Ciaran Mulholland as the solicitor.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jordan Cawley, aged 25, was sentenced to 18 months in jail for assaulting a vulnerable young woman twice with a closed fist over a €20 drug debt. The incident began when the woman claimed the drugs had a bad effect on her, leading to a confrontation that escalated into physical violence. Cawley, who has 37 prior convictions, was described by Judge Martina Baxter as "very imposing" and lacking regard for safety. He struck the petite, defenseless woman twice, knocking her to the ground, and later repeated the assault inside a local tyre business. The judge noted Cawley's history of drug use and trauma, and imposed a suspended six‑month period with strict conditions, including post‑release supervision to address his rehabilitation needs. The woman and her brother were considered vulnerable and less strong than Cawley, and she did not file a complaint or victim impact statement. Jordan Cawley pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a seven‑year‑old girl testified via video link that she stopped living with her mother and the mother's partner because they were "being mean." The 29‑year‑old Dublin man, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to ten charges, including sexual abuse, reckless endangerment, child cruelty, and assault. The girl, who was under two at the time of the alleged abuse, denied that the man had bitten her or hit her with a stick, although a specialist interview when she was four had recorded her claiming such incidents. The jury also saw videos of specialist interviews with the girl's older brother, who described the man as a "bold daddy" and said he had hurt the children daily. The trial will resume before the jury and Mr Justice David Keane.
Linda Bishop, 18 at the time, gave evidence at the Coroner's Court about the Stardust fire. She described how the club's main entrance doors were closed to prevent people who had escaped from re‑entering as crowds tried to flee. Bishop said she and a friend were pushed against a wall as panic spread, and she could hear people inside screaming and banging. She and her friend eventually reached a hallway near the main entrance, where there was no fire, but the lights went out and smoke filled the space, making breathing difficult. Bishop recalled that after they escaped, the doors were closed "wasn't very long at all." She also noted that the West Alcove, where she usually sat, had been closed off for the first time that night, and that a blast of heat from a shop heater was a trigger for her memory of the incident.
Andrew Revell, a chiropractor who worked alone at the Life and Balance Centre in south Dublin, was dismissed after a dispute over a non‑compete clause. Revell claimed the clause was void and that the dismissal was summary and unfair. He told the Workplace Relations Commission that the centre's owners, Peter Ross and Dr Tammy Verlaan‑Ross, threatened him and that the meeting ended awkwardly because he could not give an address for a new job. The tribunal found that the dismissal had been made before a proper meeting and that the employer had not followed its own disciplinary procedures. Revell was awarded €12,000 for financial loss and an additional €2,500 for a breach of the Terms of Employment (Information) Act, bringing the total award to €14,500. The case was decided by adjudicating officer Kara Turner in April 2023.
Paul Gibbons, 48, pleaded guilty to burglary and two counts of criminal damage after breaking into St Paul's Church, Avrfield, Dublin 13, on 20 March 2020. He had 59 prior convictions and was on bail when the offence occurred. Garda evidence included CCTV footage, a spade found in the parish centre, damage to two doors costing €320.20, and a blood‑like substance that matched DNA taken from Gibbons at Coolock Garda Station. The judge noted that Gibbons had lived a law‑abiding life until his marriage ended in 2017, after which his drug use increased. He expressed remorse, offered to pay for the door damage, and the court ordered probation, urine analysis and a governor's report, with the case adjourned until 28 July.
The Court of Appeal upheld a lower court's ruling that a young girl, taken by her mother to Ireland, must be returned to the EU country where she previously lived after her father applied for child abduction under the Hague Agreement. The father claimed the move was without his consent, while the mother argued that she and the girl had moved to Ireland exercising EU freedom of movement rights and that the father had consented. The High Court had already ruled in favour of the father, ordering the girl's return to her habitual residence. The mother appealed, alleging the High Court hearing was unfair and unconstitutional, citing an expert report that questioned the child's reliable statements. The Court of Appeal dismissed all appeal grounds, declined to refer the case to EU courts, and affirmed the order directing the child's return. The decision was made by Justices Binchy, Pilkington and Allen.
Patrick O'Connor, a Wexford County Council worker, was awarded €20,000 by the Workplace Relations Commission for penalisation under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. O'Connor alleged that a colleague, identified as Mr F, strangled him with a seatbelt in November 2019 and later threatened to "sort [him] out" during a July 2021 confrontation at the 1798 Rebellion centre in Enniscorthy. Following a formal complaint, O'Connor claimed he suffered diminished duties, isolation, and blocked overtime. The council's HR officer, Ciara O'Reilly, stated the complaint was investigated and not upheld, denying that O'Connor was ostracised or lost overtime. However, adjudicating officer Niamh O'Carroll found O'Connor to be a credible witness and noted the council lacked supporting documentation for its position. The tribunal ruled that the council's failure to investigate and the resulting detriments were "at the most serious end of the scale." The decision, published this morning, upheld the complaint and awarded compensation, rejecting the council's defense that no procedural breaches occurred.
In a 2023 appeal, Gezim Idrizi, a 38‑year‑old security provider from Luttrellstown Heights, sought to overturn a conviction for assault causing harm that left a victim out of work for six months. Idrizi was found guilty by a jury of one count of assault causing harm and acquitted of a false imprisonment charge. The trial judge, Patricia Ryan, sentenced him to three years and nine months, suspending the final six months for two years. Idrizi's appeal argued that the jury had no evidence about the functionality of the DNA extraction machine used on blood found at the scene, and that expert testimony from Sarah Fleming was inadmissible. The Court of Appeal, hearing counsel Michael Bowman SC and Eoghan Cole BL, noted that the DNA evidence was lawfully obtained and that the judge had not warned the jury about the limitations of DNA analysis. The court reserved its judgment on the matter. Gezim Idrizi pleaded not guilty.
Luke McNamee, a 20‑year‑old Leaving Cert student from Loughlinstown Road, Celbridge, was recruited by a Snapchat user named "R Boogie" to act as a money mule for pandemic unemployment payments. McNamee, then 18, gave his bank details and received €4,700 in PUP funds, which he was instructed to transfer to other accounts or use to buy goods for resale. He later admitted the scheme, presented his story to Gardaí with his parents, and cooperated fully. The court found him guilty of possessing the proceeds of crime in his AIB account between 18 May and 30 July 2021. Judge Orla Crowe applied Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act, deferring sentencing and imposing conditions until 14 December, with a possible 12‑month sentence if he fails to comply. She ordered McNamee to repay €1,500 he gained and to keep the peace, noting his lack of prior convictions and his cooperation.
Patrick O'Reilly, 36, of Newcastle, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing €269,280 in cash found in his home and a breakfast cereal box in his work van on 14 June 2022. He also admitted a small quantity of cocaine and the use of the Signal app to facilitate money‑laundering. Gardaí said he claimed to owe a debt, but the judge noted he had €20,000 in savings, making the debt claim "hard to square." O'Reilly was one of six arrested in a West Dublin organised‑crime investigation involving drug importation and distribution. The court set a headline sentence of four years, reduced by one year for early plea, cooperation and first‑time offence, and ordered confiscation of the cash. The case was heard by Judge Orla Crowe, with the prosecution led by Edward Doocey BL and defence by John Berry BL.
During the Stardust nightclub inquest, floor manager Phelim Kinahan testified that he believed the February 14, 1981 fire was deliberately started to distract barmen and allow a robbery of the bars. He confirmed there were six exit doors, with the main door always staffed and five others locked or chained to prevent unpaid entry. Kinahan said the practice of locking doors was deemed too expensive to staff each one. He recalled a conversation with barman Eamon Butterly, who allegedly said "the bastards started a fire," and he interpreted this as a plan to distract staff. Kinahan denied remembering any smoke or sparks weeks before the fire. Witnesses, including waitress Elaine Stapleton and DJ Colm O'Brien, described seeing smoke and a small fire early in the night, panic among patrons, and difficulties with exits and lighting. The inquest continues tomorrow.
Stephen McMullen, 25, of Rowlagh Gardens, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to assault and intimidation of a witness after attacking a man outside his home on 19 August 2021. He was on bail for three offences and had 92 prior convictions. Gardai were called to the scene, where McMullen and a group of men assaulted the victim, who managed to escape to his house and call for help. McMullen later phoned the victim, asking what the gardai were doing, and sent a threatening text. DNA evidence linked him to the scene. Judge John Martin sentenced him to two years for assault and two and a half years for intimidation, with 18 months suspended, and imposed strict supervision and no contact with the victim. The sentence was consecutive and included conditions of good behaviour and probation supervision. The court noted McMullen's remorse and his desire for rehabilitation.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, a four‑year‑old girl testified that her mother's partner had bitten her on her private area and struck her with a stick. The girl, who was just under two years old at the time of the alleged abuse, was found to have traumatic genital injuries that could have had potentially fatal consequences if untreated. The 29‑year‑old accused, whose name is withheld to protect the child's identity, pleaded not guilty to ten charges of sexual assault, reckless endangerment and child cruelty covering incidents between March and April 2018. The charges include allegations of biting the girl's genitals, failing to seek medical care for her injuries, and assaulting a boy under three years old. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice David Keane.
The Court of Appeal quashed a fully suspended sentence for a 33‑year‑old domestic abuser who groomed and sexually assaulted his partner's daughter, aged 12‑13, and re‑sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment. The original judge had sentenced him to 2½ years, discounted six months for mitigating factors, and suspended the whole term. The appeal argued the sentence was too lenient, citing grooming, alcohol use, breach of trust, and the victim's status as a child. The Court of Appeal set a headline sentence of four years, reduced by one year for mitigation, and suspended the final six months. The man was ordered to serve the remaining three years in custody, with post‑release supervision for two years. The decision was based on the seriousness of the offences and the lack of remorse, and on the fact that the original suspended sentence was deemed unjustified.
The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed an appeal by the Garda Commissioner challenging the quashing of a search warrant that would have allowed access to a journalist's mobile phone. The seven-judge court upheld the Court of Appeal's decision that the warrant, obtained in relation to the Strokestown eviction investigation, was invalid. Emmet Corcoran, editor of The Democrat newspaper, had his Strokestown home searched in 2019 and his phone seized following a warrant issued by the District Court in 2018. Mr Justice Gerard Hogan stated that protection of journalistic sources is integral to a free press and essential to democracy under the Constitution. The court found that the District Court judge had not been adequately informed that Mr Corcoran was asserting journalistic privilege before the warrant was issued. Mr Justice Hogan noted the case exposed serious shortcomings in search warrant legislation, matters he suggested warrant urgent Oireachtas consideration.
Mary McDonnell, a key witness in the Special Criminal Court trial of Thomas McConnell for the murder of Gareth Hutch, told the court that she is only "half and half" on identifying one of the gunmen. She confirmed she could identify Jonathan Keogh, whom she had known for many years, but she could not identify the second man who was in her flat on the day of the murder. McDonnell agreed that CCTV footage from a shop showed Keogh with Thomas McConnell on the day of the shooting, and she said the second person "could be" the man she saw in her apartment with Keogh as they waited to ambush Hutch. She stated that when pressured by Gardaí, she admitted she was not "one hundred per cent" certain and was "half and half" in her identification. Thomas McConnell pleaded not guilty.
In a High Court decision on 21 June 2023, Justice Siobhan Stack appointed chartered accountants Jim Luby and Enda Lowry of McStay Luby as joint liquidators for GWD Forestry Ltd, an Irish‑registered forestry investment company accused of defrauding investors of around €30 million. The ruling followed applications from two creditor groups: one led by Franco Bertellino, who sought provisional liquidator Declan de Lacey of PKF O'Connor Leddy Holmes, and another represented by Sally O'Neill BL, who opposed Bertellino's nominee and requested Luby and Lowry. The court noted that the opposing creditors had earlier moved to restore the company to the register and had attempted a creditors' meeting to wind it up, but the High Court action halted that effort. Both sides acknowledged the company's involvement in fraud, and the court found the petitioning creditors' case insufficient to appoint their nominee. The appointment of Luby and Lowry aims to investigate the company's affairs and recover investors' funds.
During a recess at the Stardust Inquest, former floor manager Phelim Kinahan was heard on a microphone speaking to an off‑camera person who claimed the nightclub doors were locked on the night of the 1981 fire. Kinahan replied that he was not responsible and that the doors were not locked. The coroner warned that this was second‑hand evidence. Earlier, Kinahan said he did not remember the doors being locked, but later he described a policy of keeping doors locked for about an hour after midnight. He also noted that chains were sometimes wrapped around bars to give the impression of being locked, a practice that could jam doors. The inquest will hear further evidence from the head doorman and other witnesses tomorrow. The proceedings remain at the evidence‑gathering stage.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 29‑year‑old man pleaded not guilty to ten charges of sexual assault, reckless endangerment and child cruelty involving a girl just under two and a boy just under three, dated March–April 2018. The prosecution argued that the girl was taken to hospital after Gardaí and social workers observed bruising and facial injuries. Doctors found severe genital trauma, describing it as "potentially fatal" if untreated, and a wrist fracture. The boy was later examined and found with bruising. Evidence included CCTV from a Dublin shopping centre, security footage, and interviews with the children. The accused denied all allegations, including penetrating the girl's vagina, failing to seek medical care, assaulting the boy's genitals, and biting the girl's genital area. The trial remains ongoing before Mr Justice David Keane.
Kayode Falade, 37, of Phibsboro, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to five counts of money laundering committed between June 27 and 29, 2017. The charges include converting proceeds of crime into Nigerian currency at a Blanchardstown post office, possessing up to €5,000 in proceeds from ATMs in north Dublin, and transferring proceeds into a bank account. The court heard that hackers intercepted a €125,702 invoice payment intended for Cobec Engineering, diverting it to an EBS account linked to Falade. Although €114,621 was recalled, IPUT suffered an unrecovered loss of €11,091. Falade, who has 31 previous convictions, was arrested in March 2018. Defence counsel Simon Matthews BL stated Falade was not involved in the hacking and was easily identified via the bank account. He noted Falade works full-time, pays maintenance for a son, and has complied with bail conditions. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned sentencing until Friday, June 23.
In a High Court hearing, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor addressed a 17‑year‑old rape victim who had been assaulted at a party in 2018. The victim, now 26, read her impact statement, describing how she fell asleep in a bedroom, was later raped by a man who had previously assaulted her, and how the defendant denied responsibility. The defendant, a 26‑year‑old convicted sex offender with six prior convictions, pleaded guilty to the rape and received a five‑month sentence, later reduced to 120 hours of community service. The judge encouraged the victim to speak out, saying her testimony could help others realise they are not alone, and wished her well as she seeks to resume her studies. The case was adjourned to 29 June for finalisation, with the defendant remanded in custody until that date.
Go‑Ahead Ireland was ordered by the Workplace Relations Commission to re‑hire depot supervisor Robert Newton after he was dismissed for alleged gross misconduct following a dispute with control‑room staff over a lost driver. Newton claimed he did not use the word "dickhead" as alleged, but admitted he lost his composure after being provoked on 18 August 2022. He said he was publicly criticised and shouted at by the control‑room manager and two other staff, who he said added to the belittling. The company's legal representative argued the dismissal was a reasonable sanction, while Newton's union representative highlighted procedural flaws and a lack of consistency. The tribunal found the dismissal unfair, noted Newton's contribution to the incident, and ordered Go‑Ahead to re‑engage him as a depot supervisor, treating the nine months of dismissal as unpaid suspension.
Gerald O'Donnell, 45, was sentenced to five years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after being found with €260,000 worth of cannabis in his Lusk home. He pleaded guilty to possession of the drug in herb and resin form. O'Donnell, who had no addiction issues, began dealing drugs after falling ill with ankylosing spondylitis in 2009, which forced him to leave his job as a manufacturing technician. He claimed dealing was a way to avoid dependence on others. Gardaí seized 12.5 kg of cannabis herb, 1.4 kg of resin, and €5,195 in cash, the proceeds of crime. The judge, after considering mitigating factors such as early plea, cooperation, and medical condition, reduced the headline sentence from seven to five years, back‑dating it to 3 May. O'Donnell has one prior driving offence and had never been on the Garda radar before this offence.
Darren Gilligan, 47, son of convicted drug dealer John Gilligan, has agreed to surrender to Spanish authorities after a High Court hearing. He faces up to four years' imprisonment in Spain for alleged trafficking of cannabis, sleeping pills and participation in a criminal organisation. The European Arrest Warrant, issued by Murcia police, accuses him of shipping hashish, cannabis and unlicensed sleeping tablets (Datolan, Zoplicone, Limovan) to Ireland via parcel services, and of sending packages of cannabis and sleeping pills from various Spanish post offices in late 2020. Spanish investigators also seized marijuana buds and a vacuum‑packaging machine at a Spanish address linked to Gilligan. At the High Court, Gilligan confirmed his decision to surrender after legal advice, and the judge set an extradition date within 20 days, with Gilligan remaining on bail until departure. The High Court had previously granted him bail despite Garda objections. The case remains at the extradition stage.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Orla Crowe praised the bravery of a group of Dubliners who aided a robbery victim and pursued the attacker, Shane O'Connor, 41, in broad daylight. O'Connor, who was on bail, had robbed a woman on St Peter's Lane on 20 August 2022, pulling her handbag with force that broke the strap and leaving her bloodied. The victim, who had been walking her dog, chased him and was joined by bystanders who eventually caught him in a laneway. O'Connor handed back the bag and the victim's phone, but the woman's wallet was not recovered. The judge noted O'Connor's 52 prior convictions, his current four‑year sentence, and the impact on the victim, who now must replace documents lost in the robbery. She was commended for her courage. Judge Crowe imposed an additional three‑year sentence, consecutive to his existing term, and suspended the final 18 months on strict probation conditions. Shane O'Connor pleaded guilty.
The Cabhrú Housing Association, which owns a building at James McSweeney House, Berkeley Street, Dublin 7, claims it has been illegally occupied by a group calling itself the "Revolutionary Housing League" (RHL). The charity says the occupants, who entered the property last month, are not homeless refugees but members of RHL, and that they have barricaded themselves inside. Cabhrú has sought to repossess the building, which it plans to demolish and replace with a 35‑unit complex for older people. A High Court judge refused to order Gardai to arrest the occupants, citing a lack of evidence about their identities and that the injunction to vacate had not been complied with. The judge allowed Cabhrú to renew its application for attachment and committal of the occupants at a later date. Cabhrú has secured the premises, cut utilities, and engaged a security company, but the occupants have tampered with the electrical supply and fire alarm system.
Edel Campbell from Kingscourt, County Cavan, brought proceedings before the High Court alleging that she has experienced intensified online harassment and intimidation following her legal action against Gemma O'Doherty. Ms Campbell claims that Ms O'Doherty, described as a journalist and publisher of The Irish Light newspaper and associated website, has defamed her and directed abuse at her legal representatives. The dispute centres on Ms O'Doherty's alleged use of images of Ms Campbell's late son, Diego Gilsenan, who died in August 2021, in articles Ms Campbell contends contained false claims. Ms Campbell sought injunctions restraining Ms O'Doherty from publishing material about her or her son, and from harassment. Justice Brian O'Moore granted permission on an ex-parte basis to serve short notice of the proceedings. Ms Campbell has also filed a complaint with An Garda Síochána. The matter was adjourned for return to the High Court later that month.
Phelim Kinahan, who had overall responsibility for security at the Stardust, told an inquest that the policy of draping chains over fire doors was already in place when he started and was common practice in the industry. He said the locks were removed but the chain was left hanging over the barrier to make the doors appear locked. Kinahan confirmed he had worked at the Stardust for about four or five months before the 1981 blaze and had gained 12 years of hotel experience. He described the practice as standard in hotels and discos, noting that when the venue was closed the doors were locked, but when open the chain was simply thrown over the barrier. He added that he had no knowledge of how the practice was introduced and that it was assumed he knew it.
Mary McDonnell, a mother of two, testified at the Special Criminal Court that two men, including Jonathan Keogh, barged into her apartment on the morning of Gareth Hutch's murder. She said they used her flat as a lookout, watched Hutch's apartment from a window, and signalled to Keogh that they were ready. McDonnell described how Keogh and an unnamed second man, who she described as "blocky" and wearing a hoodie, entered her home, put on gloves left by Regina Keogh, and monitored a black car parked outside. She reported hearing three bangs and later learning that Keogh had shot Hutch. McDonnell's testimony, which will continue the following day, is part of the trial of Thomas McConnell, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Hutch. The trial is presided over by Mr Justice Alex Owens, Judge Elma Sheahan and Judge David McHugh.
In a June 2023 decision, the Workplace Relations Commission dismissed Hilary Ellis's claim that she was discriminated against for refusing a Covid‑19 vaccine on religious grounds when applying to Araglen House Nursing Home in Cork. Ellis, a Christian Scientist, argued that her faith allowed her to refuse medical treatment. The nursing home's HR manager, Chris Woods, informed her that vaccination was a mandatory condition for all employees and that she would not be employed if unvaccinated. The commission's adjudicating officer, Thomas O'Driscoll, found that Ellis's position was not a protected religious belief under the Employment Equality Act 1998 and that the nursing home's vaccine requirement was a valid condition of employment to protect residents. Consequently, the complaint was rejected, with the commission concluding no discrimination had occurred. The decision was published on 20 June 2023.
The Court of Appeal has quashed the original sentence of James Davy, who was convicted of impeding the apprehension of Sean Davy following the murder of Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley. Davy's conviction for murder was previously overturned in 2021, substituting it with a lesser offence for attempting to dispose of a baseball bat and burning the victim's body. Mr Justice George Birmingham ruled that the original nine-year sentence, with two years suspended, was excessive because the re-sentencing judge failed to adequately consider mitigating factors, including Davy's early plea, remorse, mental health difficulties, and productive prison conduct. The court reduced the sentence to eight years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, and marked the sentence as served. Davy had already served six years and nine months before his release in September 2021. Mr Justice John Edwards noted that the re-sentencing judge made no reference to these mitigating circumstances, which Davy was entitled to have taken into account. The court emphasized that while the offending was egregious, Davy was entitled to a proportionate sentence reflecting standard mitigation. Sean Davy, the principal offender, remains serving a life sentence for murder, while Mathew Cummins, who admitted to setting fire to the body, was also convicted of impeding apprehension. The appeal was dismissed as moot by the State, but the court affirmed Davy's right to due process and a correctly calibrated censure.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 20 June 2023, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced 44‑year‑old taxi driver Richard Askin to a three‑year suspended prison term for possession of cocaine for sale or supply. Askin had pleaded guilty to the offence, which stemmed from a May 2021 Garda search of his home that uncovered 97.3 g of cocaine, a Nokia phone and weighing scales. Garda surveillance had recorded Askin handing a package to a cyclist on 29 April 2021 and to a known cocaine user two days later. Askin, who has seven prior traffic convictions, denied any trouble with Gardaí and claimed he was a low‑level dealer for another individual to service a drug debt. Defence counsel highlighted his addiction and lack of prior similar convictions. Judge Nolan warned that a repeat offence would result in custodial imprisonment and urged Askin to take the "considerable chance" he had been given.
The High Court appointed Mr Joseph Walsh as interim examiner for Metron Stores Limited, operator of 26 Iceland retail stores in Ireland, after the company was found insolvent with €36m of debts due. The court heard that the Food Safety Authority of Ireland had ordered the withdrawal of all imported frozen animal‑origin foods, citing alleged breaches of food legislation. Metron has complied with the notice, identified 239 potentially non‑compliant products out of 3,000, and secured new Irish suppliers and veterinary certification. The company faces over 25 legal actions, significant losses, and employment disputes, but has taken steps to resolve these issues. An independent experts report suggests the company could survive if a scheme of arrangement is agreed with creditors and fresh investment is secured through examinership. The matter will return to court in two weeks.
During the Stardust fire, floor manager Phelim Kinahan reported that manager Eamon Butterly allegedly said, "The bastards started a fire." Kinahan described the blaze's progression: black smoke filled the hall, patrons were choking, and he guided people to exits. He noted a chain on an exit door was left unlocked and he moved it to give the impression both doors were locked. Kinahan also recalled turning off heaters after smelling rubber burning, a smell he had reported to Butterly, who then ordered a new motor for the heater. The inquest heard Kinahan's statements about the fire's onset, his evacuation efforts, and his interactions with Butterly, but no further details on the cause or legal outcomes were provided.
Jonathan Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor, appealed his four-year sentence for facilitating the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel. Counsel Michael O'Higgins SC argued Dowdall was "duped" and placed in the "firing line" for a disinformation plan, contending the Special Criminal Court failed to adequately weigh the life changes resulting from his cooperation. Dowdall had pleaded guilty to the facilitation charge, which involved his father, Patrick Dowdall, booking a room on February 4, 2016. Patrick Dowdall was separately jailed for two years for his role in the same offence. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, noted Dowdall had previously served a substantial sentence for torturing Alexander Hurley, a conviction for which he and his father had successfully appealed earlier. The judges questioned whether a defendant with such a history could expect a better outcome, noting the sentencing court had already applied unusual discounts. The appeal challenged the headline sentence and plea discount, but the court highlighted the appellant's prior convictions and the impact of his decisions on his family. The matter was adjourned.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing on 20 June 2023, a Department of Health official confirmed that only 63 hospital consultants hired on lower‑pay austerity contracts have signed up for the new SláinteCare contract since its launch in March. The hearing concerned age‑discrimination claims by a group of consultant doctors who argue that the 30 % pay cut applied to those hired after 1 October 2012 is an age‑based discrimination. The doctors, represented by the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association, claim they face a choice between continuing on the lower pay or accepting the SláinteCare contract, which forbids them from seeing private patients during their contracted week. The State denies the claims, and the case is scheduled to continue later in the summer. The hearing highlighted that 63 consultants have signed the new contract, a figure that the Department of Health said was only a couple of weeks old.
Christina Anderson, aged 41, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Gareth Kelly, aged 38, who was stabbed five times on 25 February 2020 while attempting to start his car outside her home. Anderson was diagnosed with schizo‑affective disorder and had been in the Central Mental Hospital since shortly after the stabbing. She pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted a plea of guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility due to a mental disorder. The judge, Justice Karen O'Connor, noted that Anderson's responsibility was diminished by her mental condition and that her actions were "highly dominated by her mental condition." The sentence was reduced from a headline of 13 years to 11 years, with the final three years suspended for four years on the condition that Anderson remain under probation supervision, comply with psychiatric treatment, and refrain from drug and alcohol use.
Two survivors of sexual abuse by Patrick Killally, aged 45, told the Central Criminal Court how they spoke out to protect children and encourage others to come forward. One survivor was between six and nine years old when abused; the other was between 12 and 14. Killally was a teenager when he assaulted the first boy and an adult when he abused the second boy over two years. He was convicted of three counts of sexual assault of the first boy (1992‑1996) and 40 counts of sexual assault, attempted anal rape, oral rape and anal rape of the second boy (2005‑2007). The survivors described the long‑term emotional burden, fear of speaking out, and their decision to testify after the trial ended in May 2023. Killally maintains his innocence; the court remanded him in custody and adjourned sentencing to 10 July.
In a High Court application, John and Mary Lyons, who run 'The Hungry Lyons' fast‑food restaurant on Limerick's Ennis Road, allege that Supermac's founder Pat McDonagh is attempting to destroy their business. The couple claim that the premises, owned by Supermacs Ireland Ltd, is leased to them under a 20‑year agreement secured in 2018 that includes a non‑compete clause preventing the landlord from assigning or sub‑letting the adjoining Funworld property to any fast‑food operator. They contend that Supermac's and Mr McDonagh have breached this clause by installing cooking and storage facilities at Funworld and selling fast food from there, including advertising children's birthday parties with Supermac's food. The Lyons seek injunctions to stop the defendants from selling fast food and from letting the property to other fast‑food operators, pending the full hearing. The defendants deny any breach of the lease or planning regulations.
The High Court has refused a pre-trial application to adjourn repossession proceedings brought by Receiver James Anderson, appointed by Pepper Finance Ireland DAC, against Davy Fitzgerald. Ms Helen Fitzgerald, who resides at the property in Co Clare, sought an adjournment until the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) adjudicated on her claim that she holds a valid tenancy and that no termination notice was served. The plaintiffs opposed the application. Mr Justice Garrett Simons rejected the bid, ruling that the High Court, not the RTB, has jurisdiction to determine whether a binding tenancy exists against the plaintiffs. He noted the 2004 Residential Tenancies Act does not grant the RTB exclusive jurisdiction on this matter and directed that his judgment be brought to the RTB's attention. The case is to be readied for hearing. Mr Fitzgerald, who appears on the RTE Television programme Ireland's Fittest Family, has raised separate issues regarding loans from ACC Bank, alleging fraud by former official Jarlath Mitchell and disputing the validity of the loan transfer to Pepper. He also contests a €25,000 interest surcharge demanded by Pepper and argues the case belongs in the Circuit Court. Lawyers for the fund and receiver rejected these criticisms.
A 67-year-old man from Donegal has been sentenced to twenty years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the rape and sexual abuse of four girls spanning a twenty-six-year period from 1982 to 2008. The defendant pleaded guilty to six counts of rape, one count of attempted oral rape, nine counts of attempted rape, five counts of indecent assault, and twenty-nine counts of sexual assault. Justice Ellen Ring described him as a "committed long-term child abuser" who breached the trust of his victims and their families. The court heard the abuse occurred in various locations including his home and vehicle. The offences involved family members, including his sister-in-law and three nieces, who were aged between five and sixteen at the time. The defendant was assessed as presenting medium to high risk of re-offending with deviant sexual interest in children under sixteen. Justice Ring imposed consecutive sentences for the most serious offences while noting the defendant's guilty pleas and work history.