In a 2023 Central Criminal Court case, a 43‑year‑old man was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for raping and sexually assaulting two foster brothers between 1995 and 1998. The younger victim, aged 11 when the abuse began, was raped orally four times and assaulted sexually seven times; the older brother, aged 12, was assaulted four times. The defendant, aged 15‑18 during the offences, pleaded not guilty but accepted the jury verdict. The trial judge, Justice Deirdre Murphy, treated the case as a juvenile offence, citing the defendant's low intellectual functioning and the victims' vulnerability. The Court of Appeal heard that the State argued the sentence was too lenient, citing a 2½‑year concurrent discount and the failure of authorities to act on an earlier complaint. The judge noted the defendant's post‑conviction acknowledgement of guilt and the impact of the abuse on the victims. The case remains under appeal.
The Central Criminal Court heard that a 43‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to indecent assault and multiple sexual assault charges against his sister, who was abused from age three to ten. The abuse began when she was three, continued after she reported it to her parents at four and to a GP in July 1991, and persisted for five more years. The court noted that the family had attended one counselling session before the father decided not to return. The judge highlighted the sister's forgiveness and lack of desire for imprisonment, her remorse, and her efforts to rebuild her life, including studying psychology. The man was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The hearing focused on the ongoing abuse, the sister's impact statement, and the man's admissions and cooperation with investigators.
In a Westmeath case, a 33‑year‑old man was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of raping a 15‑year‑old girl in an unoccupied apartment on 20 January 2019. The victim, aged 15‑half at the time, was invited to the apartment with a friend, where the accused entered through a window. After refusing a kiss, the man touched her, pulled down her leggings, pushed her onto a couch and raped her while she shouted for him to stop. He used abusive language and later left for the toilet. The girl did not give a victim impact statement and only later sought medical treatment for a hymen laceration, after which the matter was reported to Gardaí. The accused denies sexual contact. He has prior convictions for assault, disorder and traffic offences but none of a sexual nature.
In a High Court hearing on 19 June 2023, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore heard that "behind‑the‑scenes talks" were underway between the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) and the Garda Commissioner to resolve a dispute over new rostering arrangements. The AGSI, representing 2,500 members, has initiated proceedings because it believes the Commissioner's proposals, which would replace the 2012 Working Time Agreement (WTA) that had been in place since the 2010 Public Sector Agreement, would adversely affect members' health, safety and family lives. The AGSI seeks an injunction preventing the Commissioner from unilaterally imposing a new roster, orders to stop extending the pandemic‑era contingency roster, and a requirement that all internal Garda dispute‑resolution procedures be exhausted before involving the Workplace Relations Commission. The Commissioner, represented by Mark Connaughton SC, wants the case heard promptly and has opposed the application.
The High Court has approved a Personal Insolvency Arrangement for a 52-year-old man from County Roscommon, enabling him to retain his family home while writing off more than €1.1 million in debt. Mr Justice Alexander Owens granted the order following an appeal by a Personal Insolvency Practitioner after the Circuit Court had refused to approve the arrangement. The debtor incurred significant financial difficulties through personal guarantees linked to a construction business he operated with family members, which entered liquidation in 2008. Under the approved arrangement, unsecured debts owed to the Bank of Ireland and building suppliers will be written off in exchange for modest dividend payments. The mortgaged family home will be restructured, with over €110,000 of the outstanding balance written off and the remainder repaid over twenty years. The court heard that creditors would benefit more substantially under the arrangement than through bankruptcy proceedings. A separate arrangement was also approved for the debtor's wife.
The High Court has adjourned proceedings concerning Imre Arakas, a 63-year-old Estonian national currently in Lithuania, who is seeking to instruct legal representation. The Minister for Justice informed Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo that Lithuania requested to prosecute Arakas for offences other than those for which he was surrendered under a European Arrest Warrant. Arakas was previously extradited to face trial for the alleged murder of Deimantas Bugavicius in November 2015, along with firearms and conspiracy charges. While an eyewitness stated Arakas was not present at the scene, Lithuanian authorities allege he conspired in the killing. Arakas, who told gardai he was in Spain during the relevant dates, has a prior conviction in Ireland. In December 2018, the Special Criminal Court jailed him for six years after he admitted conspiring to murder James 'Mago' Gately in Northern Ireland in 2017. The court noted a 30-day time restraint for the new prosecution request. Ms Aoife O'Leary BL, who previously represented Arakas, stated she lacked instructions to act on the current matter and was unsure if he wished to engage Ferrys Solicitors. The judge agreed to adjourn the case for one week to allow the respondent to instruct a firm of solicitors, ensuring his interests are represented.
Christopher Coakley, 31, with 124 prior convictions, was sentenced to eight years in prison for a pre‑meditated, brutal attack on a doctor in Dublin's north inner city. Coakley approached the doctor, who was travelling on a motorised scooter, and stabbed him repeatedly with scissors, targeting the head, neck, chest and stomach. The victim, a doctor who had never met Coakley, sustained penetrating wounds and required hospital treatment and physiotherapy. CCTV and DNA linked Coakley to the scene, and he was arrested in June 2021. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, noted Coakley's history of drug addiction and early criminal record, reduced the headline sentence of 11 years to nine years with a 12‑month suspended portion, and imposed conditions of medical compliance and probation supervision. The case was originally charged as attempted murder but the charge was dropped after Coakley pleaded guilty to causing serious harm.
Noel Lennon, 49, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the manslaughter of Isaac Horgan, 52, who died after being stabbed in the leg at his home in Dublin 2 on March 29, 2021. Originally charged with murder, Lennon pleaded not guilty to that charge but guilty to manslaughter, a plea accepted by the State. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a headline sentence of nine years, reduced by 18 months to seven and a half years. The final year of the sentence was suspended for a post-release period of four years, with the judge warning that any breach would result in immediate custody. The sentence was backdated to March 30 last year. The court noted Lennon's high risk of re-offending and his 12 previous convictions. Aggravating factors included the impact on Horgan's nine-year-old son and the fact the victim was killed in his own home. A co-accused, Lisa Lee, was previously convicted by a jury of discarding the knife used in the attack. Lee, of no fixed abode, was jailed for two years last December. The report also notes that Horgan had previously been acquitted of the 2002 manslaughter of Douglas McManus, having pleaded not guilty to murder and assault charges in that earlier case.
Patrick Butterly, a former director of the company that owned the Stardust nightclub, testified at a 1981 tribunal that he believed the building was "fireproof" and that it had been deliberately burned. He said he had relied on Dublin Corporation for fire safety guidance and had not personally inspected the premises for fire risks. Butterly claimed he had not read the bylaws for places of public resort and had not seen a copy of the dance hall licence on site. He denied knowledge of exit‑door locking practices and chain drapes used to simulate locked doors, stating he was only involved in the bar business. Butterly also said he had not taken steps to verify the fire‑safety suitability of carpet tiles or other finishes, and that he had not been consulted about steel plates on windows. His statement to Gardaí in March 1981 was read to the jury. The inquest into the 48 deaths at the Stardust fire continues.
Emmet O'Connor, 30, of Kerry, was convicted in December 2020 of two counts of rape, organising prostitution and intimidating a witness. He was sentenced in April 2021 to eight years for the rapes, two years for organising prostitution and one year for intimidation, all consecutive. O'Connor denied the charges. The victim, a sex worker, testified that she and O'Connor had consensual rough sex a year earlier but that on 25 September 2017 she was forced to sleep with him, was crying and begged him to stop; he grabbed her, carried her upstairs, threw her on the bed and raped her twice. O'Connor's appeal argues that the trial judge erred by allowing evidence from two recent‑complaint witnesses without adequate warning of its limited use, and that late forensic evidence was introduced too late. The State's counsel said the evidence was not hearsay and that the judge had explained its limited use. The court will reserve judgment on the appeal.
Stephen Penrose, 40, serving a life sentence for murder, was given a concurrent two‑year sentence for threatening to burn down the home of a prison officer at Cloverhill. He admitted saying the words but claimed no intention to act on them. Penrose had prior convictions for manslaughter, assaults on prison officers and a threat to an officer. The threat was made on 4 March 2018 after an alleged complaint by the officer, who was absent from work the next day. Penrose told staff the officer should drop the complaint and threatened to pour petrol through the officer's letterbox. He pleaded not guilty, represented himself, and asked for a backdated sentence and a transcript. Judge Elva Duffy noted his admission of the threat but lack of intent, imposed the two‑year term, and granted credit for time already spent in custody.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Dylan Crowley, 18, received a two‑year suspended sentence for assault causing harm and robbery of a food delivery rider on 2 February 2021. The victim, struck with a wooden stick and later with a blow to the arm, suffered a compound fracture requiring two surgeries, a metal plate, and a year out of work. Crowley, who was 16 at the time of the offence, pleaded guilty. Judge Orla Crowe described the assault as "very serious" but noted his youth, sentencing him to two years in prison with the sentence suspended in full for three years and ordering 18 months of probation supervision. The court also considered the robbery and the victim's impact statement, noting the rider's loss of "everything.".
In a June 2023 sentencing, a 37‑year‑old man was jailed for five years for sexually abusing a boy who was four to eight years old between 1999 and 2002. The defendant, aged 13 to 17 at the time of the offences, pleaded guilty to oral rape and sexual assault, involving insertion of fingers into the boy's anus at the boy's home. He had no prior convictions. The victim, now 28, gave a victim impact statement describing long‑term depression, anxiety, nightmares and fear, and praised the judge for encouraging others to speak out. Judge Mary Ellen Ring noted the defendant's lack of maturity and the absence of a risk assessment, imposed concurrent sentencing, and ordered 18 months of post‑release supervision. The case highlighted the abuse's occurrence while the defendant was a minor and the victim's decision to disclose the abuse after a two‑year period of uncertainty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Julie Ann Stokes, 43, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and weapon production after slashing a homeless woman up to 40 times with a broken bottle at a Spar on Dame Street on 20 September 2022. Stokes, who has 212 prior convictions including theft, assault, threats to kill, knife possession, drug misuse and public order offences, was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison, with the final six months suspended under strict conditions. The judge noted the attack occurred in a public place at night, was captured on CCTV, and that Stokes had a drug problem, primarily crack cocaine. She must remain under Probation Service supervision and comply with all directed actions. The sentence was backdated to September 2022 when she entered custody. The victim, also homeless, refused a hospital visit and did not cooperate with Gardaí. The court considered Stokes' progress in prison and her efforts to address addiction.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 16 June 2023, it was revealed that Mary McDonnell, a "vulnerable" witness who gave evidence in the gangland murder trial of three men, has no formal security arrangement with the State. McDonnell received immunity for her testimony but was deemed unsuitable for the Witness Protection Programme. Garda liaison officer Sergeant Fergal Finnegan confirmed that the arrangement with McDonnell is informal, with no written protocols or guarantees for her future security or finances. Former liaison officer Sgt Aoife Reilly acknowledged McDonnell's vulnerability but denied that her protection depends on her giving evidence, stating that any protection is based on a risk assessment and that her entitlements will revert to normal social welfare once the Garda arrangement ends. The trial of Thomas McConnell, who denies the murder of Gareth Hutch, continues under the same conditions. Thomas McConnell pleaded not guilty.
During the Stardust fire, 17‑year‑old waitress Pauline McConalogue was collecting glasses near the front of the stage when she saw the ceiling begin to burn and collapse. She had no fire drill experience and did not know the location of fire exits. McConalogue described the scene as a "mass of flames" with smoke that was "terrible." She was unable to see where to go and felt panic among patrons, although the DJ urged them not to panic. She was pulled out of the club, lying on the ground outside the door, and was not injured but her clothing was burned and she was overwhelmed by fumes. She had no knowledge of any match being used to ignite the seats and had not heard anyone mention such a cause. The inquest continues to examine the events of that night.
Edward Riordan, a 73‑year‑old truck driver, told the Workplace Relations Commission that he defecated in a Flextronics loading bay during an urgent diarrhoea episode and did not report it because he thought the waste would wash away in a thunderstorm. He claimed the incident was caused by a peptic ulcer and that his former employer, All Star Logistics Ltd, discriminated against him on age and disability grounds by hiring a younger driver, cutting his hours and dismissing him after the incident. The company denied discrimination, arguing that the stool found was solid and inconsistent with diarrhoea, and that Riordan's failure to clean up or report the matter constituted gross misconduct. The tribunal heard that Riordan was identified on CCTV, admitted responsibility, and that the company had suspended him before formally addressing the issue. Adjudicating officer Ewa Sobanska will issue a decision in writing.
A man has launched an appeal against his conviction for rape and sexual assault following a trial in the Central Criminal Court. Stephen Lynch, with an address in County Offaly, was convicted in May 2021 of raping a fifteen-year-old girl at a property in Athlone, County Roscommon, in October 2015, and of sexually assaulting another young woman and assaulting her friend in December 2015. Lynch pleaded not guilty to all charges. At the Court of Appeal, his legal representatives argued the jury should have been discharged due to concerns they were photographed during the trial and following a reference by a witness to previous stories about the accused. The State's counsel submitted these issues were resolved at trial and were not sufficiently prejudicial to warrant discharge. The appeal court reserved judgment. Lynch was sentenced to eight years and nine months for the rape offence and concurrent sentences totalling two years and nine months for the other convictions.
During the Stardust inquest, former doorman Francis Kenny, aged 22 at the time of the 1981 fire, testified that staff were instructed to unlock exit doors and then loop a chain over the bars to make them appear locked. He claimed no safety or fire training was received and that there were insufficient doormen to cover all exits, leading to many doors being chained after unlocking. Kenny confirmed that a photograph of a chained exit door, not taken on the night of the fire, represented the practice. He stated that the chain did not prevent the door from opening, but he had never attempted to open a chained door. Kenny also noted that door keys were kept in the cash office and he was unaware of duplicate keys. The inquest continues tomorrow.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 15 June 2023, Jaroslow Kilian, a 39‑year‑old Polish national with 27 prior convictions in Ireland, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for violently attacking five bus passengers on the C4 route from Dublin to Celbridge. Kilian, who had been deported in December 2021 and illegally returned to Ireland in February 2022, was found intoxicated and suffering from schizophrenia. He slapped, punched and kicked passengers, causing concussions to two men and lasting PTSD to a woman who was punched full‑force in the face. Kilian also threatened Gardaí who arrived to arrest him. He pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and one count of assault, with three further counts considered. The court set a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years on mitigating factors, and backdated it to 27 August 2022 when he was taken into custody.
John Ginnelly, 52, was jailed after a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 15 June 2023 for openly using his home in Ringsend to traffic drugs while children were present. Gardaí entered the house on a search warrant and found over €60,000 worth of cannabis, cocaine and benzodiazepine tablets, as well as €14,230 in cash proceeds. Ginnelly pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis resin, cannabis herb, cocaine and benzodiazepine tablets, and to possession of cash. He admitted to preparing drugs for distribution in his kitchen and had been involved in the trade at a "trusted level." The judge set a headline sentence of five years, reduced to three years and nine months because of his early plea and cooperation, and added a concurrent two‑year sentence for money‑laundering. The sentence was back‑dated to 8 June, the day he entered custody.
Gerry Connors, aged 26, had his original four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for false imprisonment and robbery reduced by one year on appeal. In April 2020 he and a companion unlawfully entered a home on Ballyogan Road, repeatedly punched the victim, threatened him with scissors, forced him to strip, and robbed him of his car keys. The incident lasted 20‑30 minutes. In November 2018 he also robbed Aaron Campbell on Kilcross Estate, taking headphones, €150 and cigarettes after threatening him. Connors pleaded guilty to both offences and showed remorse. The Court of Appeal, citing his drug‑free status and rehabilitation efforts, quashed the original sentence and re‑sentenced him to six years' imprisonment, with two‑and‑a‑half years suspended, allowing him to continue his rehabilitation work. The appeal focused on balancing punishment with rehabilitation, not on any new facts beyond those presented in the trial.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 15 June 2023, Stephen McMullen, aged 25, pleaded guilty to assault and intimidation of a witness after an incident on 19 August 2021 in Clondalkin. McMullen, who was on bail for three offences and had 92 prior convictions, attacked a man outside his home, kicking him and punching him on the head. The victim, who had previously bought "weed" from McMullen, was later called by McMullen while Gardaí were present, asking what the officers were doing and what the victim had told them. McMullen's DNA matched evidence from the scene. He expressed remorse and requested placement in a rehabilitation centre. The judge adjourned sentencing for one week. No victim impact statement was made. The case was the first violent offence for McMullen before the court.
The High Court struck out legal actions against the State brought by the late Peter Pringle following his death in January. Mr Pringle, of Glenicmurrin Costelloe, Co Galway, was originally convicted at the Special Criminal Court in 1981 of the murders of Gardai John Morley and Henry Byrne during a 1980 bank robbery in Ballaghadreen, Co Roscommon. He was sentenced to death, later commuted to 40 years, and served 14 years and 10 months before his convictions were quashed in 1995 as unsafe. Counsel for the applicant, Mr Pringle Paul Carroll SC, instructed by Siuna Bartels, stated that no family member wished to continue the proceedings, which included a damages claim alleging state negligence and constitutional breaches regarding undisclosed evidence. The State, represented by Robert Barron SC, did not object to the strike-out. Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy agreed to strike out the cases, noting that costs orders previously made in Mr Pringle's favour by the Court of Appeal would remain in place. The matter was brought to a finality, ending proceedings that had been remitted to the High Court for fresh consideration after the Court of Appeal set aside a 2019 dismissal based on delay.
Simon Quilligan, 40, was convicted in March 2021 of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life at a halting site where he allegedly said "I'll kill you all; man, woman or child." He had previously been found not guilty of attempted murder and of intentionally or recklessly discharging a firearm in a separate incident. Quilligan appealed the firearms conviction, arguing insufficient evidence and inconsistency with his acquittal on the discharge charge. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, rejected the appeal, stating ample evidence justified a jury decision and that the conviction was not inconsistent with the acquittal. Quilligan remains jailed, with release scheduled for 10 June 2024, and the Court of Appeal will set a date for his sentence appeal next week. The case involved additional convictions for threatening to kill or cause serious harm and for criminal damage, all of which were sentenced to run concurrently.
An HSA inspector criticised Ove Arup's Irish branch for a "laissez‑faire" health and safety approach after John McCann, 62, died falling 24 metres into a ventilation shaft at their Dublin office on 23 September 2019. McCann, subcontracted to supervise fibre‑optic cabling, stepped onto a fragile, fire‑insulation floor that gave way. The inspector said the company failed to follow risk assessment, lacked adequate signage, and did not communicate concerns raised 13 months earlier. Ove Arup admitted two breaches of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and accepted responsibility, apologising to McCann's family. The company plans a €40,000 donation to a charity supported by McCann. The case is set for sentencing on 26 June, with a maximum fine of €3 million. The court adjourned the finalisation of the sentence. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
During the 2023 inquest into the 1981 Stardust fire, Edward McNamee, a 16‑year‑old washer‑up, recounted seeing flames creep along the wall like a mushroom and using his bike lamp to help an assistant manager locate keys to a steel exit door. He described the fire spreading from a chair's back to the carpeted wall and ceiling tiles. McNamee also noted a bouncer's attempts to open exits and the absence of any fire drill in the nine months he worked. Liz Marley, then 18, testified that she saw smoke and flames behind a shutter, shouted about a fire in the left balcony, and handed fire extinguishers to staff, yet she had never received fire training. An architectural draftsman, Harold Gardner, was read as saying the owner was uninterested in a sprinkler system despite a planning condition, and that carpet tiles and foam seats were not specified as fire‑resistant.
Eamon Savage (36) of Emmet Road, Inchicore, was sentenced to three years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for witness intimidation of Lyndsey Byrne at Merchants Quay, Dublin 8 on November 18, 2021. Savage pleaded guilty to the charge and admitted to threatening Ms Byrne, who was at the centre of a violent false imprisonment ordeal, to withdraw her statement or she would be murdered. The court heard that Savage was part of a group who conveyed a message to Ms Byrne from one of Paul Clarke's associates, who was described in court as the 'main man' in the assault. Judge Orla Crowe noted that Savage had made specific and detailed threats against Ms Byrne, which caused her to fear for her life. She also highlighted that Savage had a large number of previous convictions and was deemed to be at very high risk of re-offending by the Probation Service. The sentence was backdated to January 1, 2022, and a defence application to suspend a portion of the prison sentence was declined. Paul Clarke (29) of Clonard Road, Dublin 12 was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for his role in the attack. Co-accused Craig Kelly (38) of Dowland Rd, Walkinstown, was sentenced to five months in prison for his role in one of the attacks. A third man, Josh Conlon (19) of Meath Place, Thomas Street, received a suspended sentence.
In a High Court case, Marie Gibson, an elderly widow, seeks removal of a mortgage charge held by Promontoria Oyster DAC over her home at Castletymon Green, Coolock, Dublin 5. Gibson was defrauded by her daughter Pauline Gibson, who forged signatures to transfer the property to herself in 2003 and secured a €190,000 loan from First Active. The transfer was later set aside by Justice Brian Cregan as fraudulent. Gibson also sued solicitor Kevin O'Gorman for professional negligence and the receiver Paul McCleary. Promontoria, claiming €350,000 owed, opposes the removal of the charge and has offered Gibson options to stay or surrender the property. Gibson rejected all offers. The court has been asked to remove the charge and receiver, and to consider nominal damages against Pauline Gibson and O'Gorman. Justice Cregan has reserved judgment, noting the case's complexity.
In a Dublin case, Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy declined to issue arrest orders for the unknown occupants who have barricaded themselves in a Cabhru Housing Association property at James McSweeney House, Berkeley Street, Dublin 7. The judge had earlier granted an injunction preventing the occupants, believed to be seeking international protection, from trespassing on the building, which Cabhru intends to convert into housing for the elderly. The injunction was not being complied with, but the judge said he could not order arrest or committal without evidence of the occupants' identities and proper service of the proceedings. Cabhru has requested that the court consider attachment and committal of those in contempt at a later date. The matter will return to court next week. Cabhru has secured the property, disconnected utilities, and engaged a security company, but the occupants remain inside, delaying the charity's redevelopment plans.
A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicating officer has ruled that a part-time postal clerk was subjected to ageist harassment under the Employment Equality Act 1998. The complainant alleged that her supervisor made a discriminatory remark in 2020, stating that a Gilbert O'Sullivan song playing on the radio was "more [name of complainant]'s vintage." The supervisor admitted making the comment but described it as a light-hearted joke, expressing regret that the worker was offended. Adjudicating officer Davnet O'Driscoll found that the remark constituted harassment on age grounds, noting the complainant was close to retirement, and awarded her €1,000 in compensation. The WRC rejected the worker's other complaints, including claims of victimisation, disability discrimination regarding reasonable accommodation, and penalisation for reducing sick pay. The adjudicator determined there was no evidence of victimisation and that the pay reduction was consistent with the employer's attendance management policy. Additionally, the tribunal dismissed complaints under the Payment of Wages Act and the Terms of Employment (Information) Act. The decision upholds the single discrimination complaint while rejecting the broader series of employment rights grievances brought by the applicant against the government agency.
The Special Criminal Court is hearing the trial of Thomas McConnell, 37, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gareth Hutch, 36, on May 24, 2016, at Avondale House, North Cumberland Street, Dublin 1. Prosecution alleges McConnell and Jonathan Keogh planned the killing and used protected witness Mary McDonnell's apartment to surveil the victim. Defence counsel Pat McGrath SC challenged McDonnell's identification of McConnell, noting she told gardai she was "not really one hundred per cent" sure, describing her certainty as "half and half." She identified a second man in CCTV footage as the shooter based on his "square face" but did not know his name. The court is now examining the procedures used by gardai to obtain her statement. In a related November 2018 finding, the Special Criminal Court convicted Regina Keogh, Jonathan Keogh, and Thomas Fox of the murder. Fox was also convicted of unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9 mm handgun on May 23, 2016. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alex Owens, Judge Elma Sheahan, and Judge David McHugh.
Tony Byrne, a 66‑year‑old former RTÉ cameraman, was sentenced to 14 months' imprisonment, with the last two months suspended, for sexually assaulting his teenage step‑daughter, Donna McCarthy, on 10 May 1992. The assault took place at their family home in Firhouse, Dublin, when McCarthy was 16. Byrne denied the charge during the trial but accepted the jury's verdict and apologized to McCarthy the day after the incident. McCarthy, who had previously waived anonymity, testified that Byrne, whom she believed to be her father, had put his arm around her and touched her in the area of her vagina and breasts while she was in bed. The judge described the offence as an "egregious breach of trust" and noted McCarthy's lasting emotional harm. Byrne's sentence was reduced from an initial 18‑month headline to 14 months after mitigation factors such as remorse, family support and his work history were considered. Tony Byrne was found guilty.
Kevin Kletzander, a former Trinity College student, pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual assault committed in Dublin between 5 and 28 August 2021. The offences occurred at Grafton Street, Stephen's Green, Aston Quay, Usher's Island, the Ilac Shopping Centre and Store Street Garda Station. In each incident he forced contact with a woman's crotch or buttocks, sometimes using force or a fist, and once slapped a female Garda. He was arrested at the Ilac Centre and has been in custody since August 2021. Kletzander has no prior convictions and admitted the acts were inappropriate, citing mental health problems that had led to hospitalisations. The court heard psychiatric and probation reports and adjourned the case to 23 June for finalisation. The case was presided over by Judge Orla Crowe.
The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment in an appeal by James Davy regarding the severity of his sentence. Davy, along with Mathew Cummins, was initially convicted of murdering Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley in 2014. In 2021, the Court of Appeal quashed these murder convictions, finding no evidence of a joint enterprise to kill. Instead, the court substituted convictions for impeding the apprehension of Sean Davy, who remains serving a life sentence for the murder. Davy was re-sentenced to nine years in jail, with the final two years suspended, but the sentence was marked as served. He was released in September 2021 after serving six years and nine months. Davy now appeals against the severity of this already-served term, arguing it negatively impacts his job prospects. Counsel for the State described the appeal as moot. However, Mr Justice Edwards noted that while the sentence is served, Davy is entitled to due process and a proportionate censure. He criticized the re-sentencing judge for failing to consider Davy's remorse, mental health, addiction, and prison progress. The court will decide whether the sentence was excessive given these unaddressed mitigating factors.
Lorcan Doody, 18, told the inquest that the Stardust's outside door was locked when he tried to leave at about 1 a.m. He said a bouncer at the door had no key and they had to wait until a second man returned with a key, a delay of roughly three minutes. Doody described a brief power cut around midnight that lasted about ten seconds, during which the DJ commented on Friday the 13th. He and friends left at 1 a.m., noting shutters were down and the bouncer had only partially lifted them, requiring them to duck. Doody also mentioned seeing a young man, aged 18‑23, looking in a window as they left; Gardaí later identified him as a homeless person the kitchen staff had fed. Paul James Shortall, 20, recounted leaving at 1:40 a.m., seeing emergency exit doors burst open and a black‑smoke cloud, and later witnessing flames from the roof.
Kevin Coade, 44, was found guilty of trespassing and theft at an 81‑year‑old neighbour's house on 25 July 2018. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the last two years suspended, by Judge Sean Ó Donnabháin. Coade appealed, arguing that the trial judge erred by allowing the identification evidence of the then Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Michael Finn, and other witnesses, including CCTV footage from a local pub, to be presented to the jury. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, rejected the appeal. Birmingham held that the identification evidence was not inferior to a formal parade and that the judge had discretion to admit it. He also dismissed the claim that the jury should have been warned about possible false statements by Coade, concluding that no lies had been proven. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the conviction and sentence intact. Kevin Coade pleaded not guilty.
Thomas Headon, 40, was jailed for nine months after sexually assaulting a sleeping woman in a Dublin hotel on 28 April 2013. The woman had told him she did not want to continue after earlier consensual activity. Headon pressed himself against her, removed her tracksuit bottoms and touched her without consent while she slept. She woke, punched him, shouted "no" and pushed him off the bed, throwing a chair. Headon was charged in August 2022, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and Judge Orla Crowe imposed an 18‑month sentence, suspending the final nine months on strict conditions. The judge noted the woman's clear refusal, the lack of consent, and Headon's remorse. The case highlighted the impact on the victim and the offender's record, which included only a prior traffic offence. The court considered Headon's unblemished record and the victim's long‑term trauma.
During the Stardust nightclub fire, Dermot O'Neill, a booking entertainment worker, testified that the crowd experienced "absolute panic" as smoke quickly filled the venue. He described seeing a small fire on a seat about three rows from the wall, initially thinking it could be contained. He attempted to report the fire and locate an extinguisher, but within two to three minutes the smoke had taken over, lights failed, and a crush formed as people rushed to the exit. O'Neill noted that 775 customers were present that night and that he had paid £1,162.50 for catering. He recounted hearing complaints of a smell, seeing black smoke in the foyer, and urging people to keep moving as a "free for all" panic ensued. The testimony was given to the jury at Dublin Coroner's Court.
Owen Healy, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of endangerment regarding an incident at Whitefriar Gardens, Dublin 8, on August 1, 2018. The defendant, who has 41 previous convictions, was 18 at the time of the alleged assault. Prosecuting counsel Sinead McMullan BL stated that another man was previously jailed for seven-and-a-half years for his role in the attack, while the main instigator is set to be sentenced later this year. The court heard that the victim was held in his home for six hours, stabbed multiple times, and had his right ear nearly severed. Detective Garda Sarah Keogh detailed how the victim was attacked after asking a group of men to leave his home. Healy was seen covered in blood at a homeless hostel shortly after the incident. Defending counsel Michael Bowman SC noted his client was 18 and requested an adjournment to allow for the finalisation of a Probation services report. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the matter to July 21, when a plea of mitigation will be heard. The case was not concluded at this stage.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 12 June 2023, witnesses described the moment Ross Hutch, a cousin of Gareth Hutch, discovered his nephew's body at Avondale House after a shooting. Ross was seen clutching his head, roaring, and screaming "oh, no, no, no" as he approached the body lying between two cars. Video showed the shooting, with two gunmen firing at Gareth before fleeing. Ross chased the men through a pedestrian exit. Gardaí reported a volatile scene with up to 50 people shouting abuse. Ross told officers "do your job" and later said "It's the f**king feud." Thomas McConnell, 37, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gareth Hutch, 36, which occurred on 24 May 2016. The court heard evidence of the shooting, the weapons used, and the post‑mortem report indicating four gunshot wounds. The trial was set to continue the following day.
In a 20‑second raid, 51‑year‑old Jason Finlay, who had been homeless for about 14 years and had just received keys to a flat from the Fr McVerry Trust, robbed Dawson Jewellers in Dublin's city centre. He and a second man entered after a diamond seller had been "buzzed in" through the security doors, snatched two trays of Cartier watches worth over €120,000, and fled. Two trays containing 22 watches were recovered under a bush in St Stephen's Green and another watch was found in a box on Finlay; a final watch valued at €4,900 was not recovered. Finlay pleaded guilty to the robbery of 24 Cartier watches, had 83 previous convictions, and admitted a drug debt. Judge Elva Duffy sentenced him to three years, suspended the final 12 months, and noted his cooperation, apologies, and steps toward addressing addiction.
Robert Duffy, 50, was convicted in 1996 of murdering John Gibson in Belfast in 1993 and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was released after four years under the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) in July 2000. In March 2007 he attempted to murder Colin O'Neill at the Emerald Bar in Dundalk by firing a shotgun into O'Neill's face at point‑blank range, for which he was again sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty. The High Court heard that Duffy is now being considered for parole in this jurisdiction, while Northern Irish authorities seek his extradition to serve a life sentence for breaching the GFA release terms by attempting the murder. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs heard that Duffy has engaged well with probation services, is a trusted prisoner, is considered at a moderate to low risk of re‑offending, and no longer affiliates with any paramilitary organisation.
Vadim Veste, a 28-year-old dual Moldovan-Romanian national from Fermoy, Co Cork, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for aggravated sexual assault. He pleaded guilty to the November 7, 2021, attack on a woman in her 50s at St Colman's Park. Mr Justice Paul McDermott described the incident as shocking, brutal, and cowardly, noting the victim sustained injuries and that Veste used a hat as a gag. The judge highlighted Veste's history, including a previous three-year prison sentence for the rape of a 14-year-old in Eastern Europe in July 2016, from which he was released just 18 days before the current offence. Although a headline sentence of nine years was set, the judge reduced the term due to Veste's expression of remorse, despite a Probation Service report indicating a lack of insight. Veste was sentenced to six years and six months in prison, with the final six months suspended for two years on strict conditions, including attending treatment deemed appropriate by the Probation Service. The court also ordered that Veste not approach the victim or her family, prohibited unsupervised access to children, and imposed a six-year post-release supervision order to protect society and prevent future offending.
A 41‑year‑old father from North Africa, who claimed his nine‑year‑old daughter was possessed by a jinn, was convicted of two counts of assault causing serious harm and three counts of child cruelty after a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The girl, now unable to walk, talk or sit independently, suffered repeated beatings, burns, choking and other abuse at the hands of both parents. The father argued he was less culpable because he was at work during the most damaging assault, but the Court of Appeal dismissed his conviction appeal and left a reserved judgement on his sentence appeal. The court upheld the conviction, noting the father's participation in the daily violence and the joint enterprise with the mother. The case highlighted the severity of the abuse and the court's refusal to accept the father's defence of possession. The unnamed appellant pleaded not guilty.
Carl Scully, aged 34, was driving in a bus lane on Finglas Road at 132 km/h before slowing to 53.3–63.8 km/h and entered the lane five metres early. He struck Anthony Hanney, 61, who was crossing the road toward his home with groceries. Hanney died instantly. Scully pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death. The court noted his 15 prior District Court convictions and two earlier traffic offences. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a headline sentence of 10 months, suspended for six months, and ordered Scully to keep the peace for one year. He received an 18‑month driving disqualification, though he had already voluntarily stopped driving. The decision reflected Scully's remorse, the lack of emergency braking, and the absence of intoxication or phone use at the time of the collision. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 12 June 2023.
A 51‑year‑old Galway man pleaded guilty to one count of anal rape, one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual exploitation of his teenage nephew, aged 14‑15, between June 2016 and June 2017. The offences occurred at the defendant's home, a horsebox, his car and the victim's home. The abuse began with inappropriate touching and masturbation, escalating to oral and anal rape. The nephew's behaviour changed from "happy‑go‑lucky" to misbehaving, prompting his family to notice the abuse in 2017. The man voluntarily admitted to the Gardaí and was arrested in November 2018. He pleaded guilty in March 2024 after a jury was empanelled. He has no prior convictions. The court heard a victim impact statement describing the abuse's effect on the nephew's mental health and family relationships. The judge thanked the victim for his statement and noted the nephew's support network.
In a High Court decision on 12 June 2023, the eight‑month prison sentence imposed on 25‑year‑old Manuela Lacatus for stealing €233 worth of groceries from a Lidl store in Naas was quashed. Lacatus, who was pregnant with her fifth child at the time of the offence, had admitted the theft and had three prior convictions for theft and handling stolen goods. The sentence had been upheld by the Circuit Court in November 2021, with a three‑month stay due to the age of her unborn child and a further stay pending the High Court action. Lawyers argued that the sentence was extreme, based on a "fixed policy" that treated all repeat shoplifters the same, and that it failed to consider individual circumstances. Justice Niamh Hyland ruled that the Circuit Court's approach was impermissible, rejected the claim of a constitutional breach, and ordered the sentence to be set aside.
Michael Scott, aged 59, was convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence after driving an agricultural teleporter over his 76‑year‑old aunt Chrissie Treacy outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna, on 27 April 2018. The Central Criminal Court heard that Scott had been involved in a long‑running land dispute with Ms Treacy and had driven the teleporter across her yard while reversing. He claimed he had felt a "thump" and thought he had hit a trailer, then moved the machine forward, after which he discovered his aunt lying on the ground. A friend of Ms Treacy's, Regina Donohue, testified that Scott had subjected her to verbal abuse and mental torture before the incident. At the sentencing hearing on 12 June 2023, the Director of Public Prosecutions said the offence falls in the mid‑category for manslaughter, recommending a headline sentence of four to ten years. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
The Irish School of Motoring Recruitment (ISM Recruitment) has told the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) that Roadstone, a construction firm, must pay more than €55,000 to resolve pay‑equity claims by agency lorry drivers. ISM says it was unaware of a 2022 pay rise given to Roadstone's direct employees until drivers it placed lodged statutory complaints. The drivers – Wojciech Krajewski, Jan Brocki and George Evans – allege that direct employees worked an hour less per week, received training costs, a €350‑per‑year mobile phone allowance, bonus pay and bereavement pay that the agency drivers were denied. They also claim direct employees received 3.25 % pay rises in 2021 and 2022, which the agency drivers say were withheld in breach of their rights. ISM has been ordered to pay €13,000 for three statutory claims and has sought to recover the €55,458.61 from Roadstone.