A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has begun deliberating in the trial of four men accused of participating in a vigilante attack on security personnel guarding a repossessed farmhouse in Strokestown, Co Roscommon, in December 2018. The defendants, Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor, each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges. These alleged offences include false imprisonment and assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, arson of four vehicles, criminal damage to the property's front door, violent disorder, robbery of a wristwatch, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Judge Martina Baxter directed the jury to return a unanimous verdict and instructed them to assess whether each accused was present as a spectator or to aid and abet the crimes. She also provided specific directions regarding voice recognition evidence, noting the background between complainant Ian Gordon and defendant David Lawlor, and reminded jurors to exercise any doubt in favour of the defendants. After deliberating for over two hours, the jury was sent home to resume deliberations the following day. The matter is currently at the sentencing stage validation, but as the jury has not yet returned a verdict, the case remains under active deliberation and has not been finalised.
Stephen Carberry, 45, of Sandymount Avenue, Dublin 4, was found guilty in a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial on 23 May 2013 of five counts of possession of cannabis and ecstasy for sale and supply. The offence involved 27.9 kg of cannabis, valued at over €559,000, and more than 96,000 ecstasy tablets, worth about €968,900, seized from a property on The Strand, Donabate. Gardaí had been surveilling Carberry when his silver BMW stopped at the property; after he left, the vehicle was stopped in Glasnevin and Carberry was arrested. During the search, a scoop, weighing scales and a phone charger bearing his DNA were found. Carberry had 62 prior convictions, mainly for traffic matters, and had spent just under a year in custody before release. He was re‑charged in 2014, refused bail, and remained in custody since the trial's conclusion.
Letitia Barry, 23, pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, causing the death of John Byrne, 39, at a pedestrian crossing in Rush on 7 June 2019. Barry was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment, fully suspended, and received a six‑year driving ban at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The Court of Appeal found that the interpretation of the law for first‑time careless driving offenders had not been properly applied, and that a mandatory four‑year ban should not automatically apply when the offender has no prior convictions. The appeal argued that the judge had not explained the basis for the six‑year ban and that the statutory ban should have been four years. The Court of Appeal therefore quashed the six‑year ban and substituted a four‑year driving ban, citing the tragic circumstances of the case.
During a three‑week Central Criminal Court trial, the jury heard harrowing evidence of gratuitous sexual violence against four children in an extended Traveller family. Prosecutor Shane Costelloe warned that the evidence would be unsettling and unsavoury, and after seven hours and 33 minutes of deliberation, the jury returned guilty verdicts on 117 of 124 counts. The accused included a 66‑year‑old patriarch, his sons aged 38, 40 and 41, and a 63‑year‑old wife. The patriarch faced 24 charges, each son faced 31 or 36 charges, and the wife faced charges of assault and assistance in an alleged anally rape. All accused denied the charges. The trial highlighted the alleged abuse occurring between 1999 and 2005 across various locations in Ireland, with the family described as part of the Traveller community. The prosecution's case focused on the veracity of the complainants' accounts, while the defence argued inconsistencies and lack of detail in the evidence.
A 36‑year‑old man, Gerard Cervi, faces trial at the Central Criminal Court on 2 October for the murder of Bobby Messett (50) and the attempted murder of boxing coach Pete Taylor, who was also shot when a gunman entered Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018. Cervi, originally from Dublin's East Wall, is also accused of attempting to murder Ian Britton on the same day and location. He has been in custody since September 2018, with his first trial in September 2021 collapsed after 10 weeks when a juror fell ill. The Court of Appeal had previously considered granting him bail under the strictest conditions, but denied bail after a trial date was fixed. The case is expected to last six weeks, with the court noting that the trial will likely be very long.
In a 2023 Court of Appeal decision, the three‑judge panel ruled that if a juvenile sentencing error is found, the appeal court cannot impose a new sentence once the offender turns 18. The case concerned a 20‑year‑old man who had been sentenced to life detention with a 13‑year review after pleading guilty to the murder of 20‑year‑old student Cameron Blair. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, had sentenced him in April 2020 when he was just shy of 18. The appeal court can only quash the original sentence or impose a sentence that could have been given at trial, but it cannot order detention for an adult or imprisonment if that was not an option at sentencing. The court noted that the offender would be transferred to an adult prison after 18, and that the appeal court is constrained by the options available at the trial court.
A 57‑year‑old man, whose name is withheld to protect his wife, was convicted of 16 counts of anal rape of his then‑wife between 2003 and 2007 and of eight counts of indecent assault and three counts of rape of his younger sister between 1978 and 1987. He was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment, with seven years for the sister offences and six years for the wife offences, to run consecutively with no portion suspended. The appeal argued that the use of a screen separating the witness from the court was prejudicial and that certain background evidence should not have been admitted. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, holding that the judge had considered the need to protect the complainant from secondary victimisation and that the evidence was relevant and necessary to illustrate the depth of violence in the relationship. The judge found no error in admitting the background evidence or in allowing the screen.
Anthony Larkin, 46, and Gerard Windrum, 38, were sentenced to a combined 13 years in prison for moving almost €1.2 million in cannabis resin. Larkin pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of just over 92 kg of the drug, worth about €556,800, seized at a storage unit in Mount Seskin, Tallaght on 1 April 2022. Windrum pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of 105 kg, worth just over €630,000, found at the same unit. Larkin had no prior convictions, while Windrum had 103, mainly traffic offences, including a heroin sale conviction. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Windrum to eight years and Larkin to five, citing their roles as couriers and the influence of debt. Gardaí had been surveilling the unit after a tip, discovered the drugs, and followed the vans to the transfer site in Brittas. Both men were arrested, questioned, and Larkin claimed his life was in danger due to drug debt.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court found a 66‑year‑old grandfather guilty of 24 counts of sexual abuse, including two anally raping his granddaughter and 22 charges against his nephew – 12 anally and ten orally. He had pleaded not guilty to 25 charges, one assault charge was withdrawn. The jury also convicted his three sons, aged 38, 40 and 41, of multiple counts of rape and sexual assault against their sisters, nieces and a cousin, with each man receiving a range of guilty verdicts and some acquittals. A 63‑year‑old wife was found guilty of assisting one of her sons in anally raping her granddaughter and assaulting the same child. The defendants were remanded in custody or on bail pending sentencing, with the court setting a July 17 mention date for the sentencing hearing. The judge thanked the jurors and noted the case was difficult and the evidence unpleasant. The unnamed 66-year-old was acquitted.
The Court of Appeal has reduced the driving disqualification imposed on Father Ned Hassett from two years to 18 months. Fr Hassett, a 53-year-old parish priest in Dungarvan, Waterford, pleaded guilty in November 2021 to careless driving causing serious harm. The offence stemmed from a crash on the N25 on April 30, 2021, where he allegedly failed to see motorcyclist Bobby Bohill, who was participating in a charity event. Mr Bohill suffered a broken femur and a traumatic brain injury, described by counsel as life-changing, though he has since made a good recovery. At the original sentencing in the Circuit Criminal Court, Fr Hassett was disqualified for two years and fined €250. During the appeal, his lawyer highlighted that he had already served 15 months of the ban, forcing him to cycle around his rural parish to attend to his flock. Mr Justice George Birmingham acknowledged the offence's seriousness but noted Fr Hassett's impeccable previous character and incident-free driving history. The judge also referenced a recent Court of Appeal ruling establishing that disqualification periods are discretionary rather than mandatory minimums. Consequently, the court agreed to reduce the disqualification period to 18 months, effectively shortening the remaining ban.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 30‑year‑old woman charged with the murder of a four‑year‑old boy in the southwest had her plea of guilty to manslaughter rejected. The prosecution, represented by Aoife O'Leary BL, argued that the plea was not acceptable to the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the case will proceed to trial on the murder charge next year. The defendant pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter on 16 March 2021, the day the boy died in hospital after sustaining injuries at an address. She also pleaded guilty to willfully assaulting the child on two separate occasions: one between 1 January and 5 March 2021, and another between 6 and 11 March 2021. She began to cry in the dock before being arraigned on the third count.
Dermot Carr, 51, a former Dublin bus driver, was sentenced to nine years in prison, with the final year suspended, for a series of sexual offences spanning from 2001 to 2018. He pleaded guilty to harassment of a nine‑year‑old boy, sending explicit images and requesting naked photographs, and to multiple counts of sexual assault against five girls aged 11 to 17. Carr's conduct involved persistent grooming, text messaging, providing drugs and alcohol, and forcing the girls to masturbate or engage in sexual acts in his car or apartment. The judge noted a pattern of deliberate, persistent grooming over many years and imposed consecutive sentences for the six victims, ordering Carr to pay €10,000 in compensation to the first female victim and to engage with probation and counselling upon release. The case highlighted the long‑term impact on the victims, who described trauma, nightmares, and lasting psychological effects.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, Martin Burke, aged 26, was convicted of three counts of sexual assault and acquitted on one. The offences occurred on the night of 26 August 2018 in a Kerry town. Burke first assaulted a woman who had known him from a previous encounter; after a party involving alcohol and cannabis, he entered her spare room, bit her cheek and sexually assaulted her. She escaped to a shed, kicked him, and he fled. He later entered the bedroom of a second woman who was sleeping with her boyfriend. He asked if she was alright, grabbed her breast, left, returned, and touched her thigh under the sheets. The second victim kicked him and he left. Burke pleaded not guilty. Judge Paul McDermott sentenced him to five and a half years, suspending the final 12 months on the condition of probation for three years, and ordered him to stay away from both victims.
A 19‑year‑old Dublin man, Cameron Curtis, pleaded guilty to assaulting his 20‑year‑old partner, Alannah Corrigan, on several occasions between July and August 2022. The court heard that Curtis repeatedly punched, kicked, slapped and strangled Corrigan, dragged her by the hair, spat in her face and threatened to kill her. He also falsely imprisoned her by locking her in a bathroom for 45 minutes and threatened to use a pair of scissors. Corrigan reported that Curtis accused her of cheating and demanded her Snapchat password, and that he had threatened to smash a glass bottle over her head. Curtis had no prior convictions. The judge ordered a probation report and adjourned the case to July 13 for finalisation.
Miranda McCabe, 37, of Tubberclare Meadows, Navan, was sentenced to nine months in jail for a planned assault on Stephanie Dunne, a new mother who had just returned home after visiting her premature baby in hospital. On 27 November 2021, McCabe jumped from a car, head‑butted Dunne, punched her repeatedly, and placed her in a headlock. A man in the car, dressed in black with gloves and a scarf, was also present and reportedly held knives. Dunne's son was struck when McCabe swung. DNA from a hair clump matched McCabe. McCabe pleaded guilty, citing mental health difficulties and a difficult period. The judge noted the attack was savage and that McCabe was not the principal carer of her child with special needs, and imposed a custodial sentence of two years with the final 15 months suspended on strict conditions.
Paul Hendrick, a retired school principal and former Christian Brother, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of indecent assault on Kenneth Grace between 1980 and 1984. The abuse began when Grace was 13, a first‑year student at CBS Westland Row, and continued as he aged, involving repeated sexual and physical misconduct in various school locations, including the furnace room, a reception room at the priest's residence, and during camping trips in Waterford and Tipperary. Grace recalled being forced into wrestling, being restrained, and experiencing sexual contact while in his underwear. He was isolated from classmates and subjected to verbal abuse. Grace's victim impact statement described lasting mental health effects, including depression, anxiety and PTSD. Hendrick, who had no prior convictions, was remanded on bail pending a final hearing scheduled for July 10. The case highlights the prolonged nature of the abuse and its enduring impact on the victim.
In a High Court hearing, Mr Justice Charles Meenan noted that community protests had prevented the State from allocating over 335 beds to international protection applicants. He observed that the number of applicants seeking accommodation had fallen from about 500 to 217 in recent weeks. The judge urged the State to accommodate those remaining who were "unable to do so" because of protests at two facilities. He referenced a prior ruling that the Minister for Integration had failed to provide "material reception conditions" for a homeless Afghan asylum seeker, violating EU regulations. The court was updated that the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth had secured additional places, including 280 at Citywest Transit Hub and Kilbride, and was working on projects to add 1,200 beds. Approximately 1,000 previously unaccommodated asylum seekers had now been offered places, reducing the unaccommodated number to 217.
Inita Romanovska, 36, was due before the Central Criminal Court for a sentencing hearing after pleading guilty to attempting to cause serious harm to Stephen O'Flaherty, whom she met on Tinder. The alleged incident occurred on 11 March 2020 at an apartment complex on Henry St, Limerick. Romanovska, residing at Cahercalla, Kilrush Road, Ennis, Co Clare, had originally been charged with attempting to murder O'Flaherty. Her lawyer, Michael Bowman SC, confirmed she did not attend the hearing and was unreachable by phone. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon issued a bench warrant and postponed the sentencing hearing.
During the inquest into the 1981 Stardust fire, it was revealed that steel plates had been welded over the windows of two toilets about six weeks before the blaze. The coroner's court, led by Dr Myra Cullinane, presented background facts to help the jury understand witness evidence. Mark Tottenham, a member of the coroner's team, explained that the building, originally a factory built in 1948, had been converted into an amenities centre and later the Stardust complex. He described the layout, including bars, a ballroom, and various rooms, and noted that the windows originally had nine‑inch openings for ventilation. The plates were fitted for security purposes, with vertical bars on the outside. The inquest will continue with further evidence in the coming weeks.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a jury found John Titiloye not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for stabbing Ademola Giwa in the neck during a dispute over a stolen scooter. The jury rejected the prosecution's claim that Titiloye intentionally killed Giwa, instead concluding that the act was a result of provocation and a lack of intent to kill. Titiloye, aged 28, had claimed he was defending his father, Anthony, who had been attacked by Giwa. The judge, Mr Justice McDermott, noted the partial defence of provocation and self‑defence as possible bases for the manslaughter verdict. Titiloye was remanded in custody pending sentencing, with the court scheduled to hear a victim impact statement on 17 July. The case highlighted the jury's unanimous decision after nearly five hours of deliberation.
A 19‑year‑old who had been charged with attempting to murder a teenager in Dublin when he was 17 pleaded guilty before the Central Criminal Court to intentionally causing serious harm to that victim, to making a threat to kill or seriously injure another teenager, and to possessing a knife without lawful authority. The prosecution presented four counts; guilty pleas were entered on three, and a nolle prosequi was entered for the attempted murder charge, meaning the State will not pursue that count. The defendant was originally charged with the attempted murder of a teenage boy at Tymon Lane, Tallaght, on 2 January 2021. He also pleaded guilty to threatening a second teenager at Red Cow Luas Stop, Clondalkin, on 14 April 2021, and to having a knife on him at that time.
A High Court dispute over the estate of the late Galway farmer Margaret Hernon, valued between €2.5m and €9m, was settled. The parties agreed that half of the estate will go to Peter O'Toole, the main beneficiary of a 2006 will, and the other half will be divided among more than 40 children of Mrs Hernon's first cousins. Mr Agustus 'Gus' Kelehan, one of those cousins, had challenged the 2006 will's validity and sought it set aside. The estate includes a farmhouse at Barnacranny, 13 acres of farmland, lands in Athenry, and cash. The settlement also confirmed that the 2006 will will not be formally proven, that the estate will be administered by the parties' solicitors, and that legal costs will be borne by the estate. The judge praised the parties for resolving the dispute without a court decision on the will's validity.
Vesel Jahiri, a convicted murderer serving life imprisonment, appeared before the Court of Appeal to challenge his Central Criminal Court convictions for the 2012 murder of Anna Finnegan and the stabbing of her brother, Karl Finnegan. Jahiri, who pleaded not guilty to both charges and was found guilty by a jury, is representing himself in this appeal. He alleges that gardaí planted evidence, including knives and a knife block, at his temporary address to link him to the crime. The appellant further claims the trial judge erred by excluding him from the latter stages of the trial, denying him a closing speech, and preventing him from inspecting the murder weapon. He asserts that gardaí wiped the knife blade to remove Karl Finnegan's fingerprints and deleted CCTV footage from Cabra Garda Station. The State, represented by Cathleen Noctor SC, countered that these were matters for the jury and that Jahiri's legal teams had access to all materials. Noctor noted that Jahiri's claims regarding the evidence were rejected by the jury and that his assertions about procedural failures were unsupported. The three-judge court, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, reserved its judgment in the matter.
The High Court heard a judicial review case brought by a young woman with severe intellectual and mobility impairments, who was denied access to a State scheme that funds vehicle adaptations for disabled drivers. She claims her appeal was not processed because the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal has had no members since all five resigned in October 2021, and the Ministers for Finance and Transport have not appointed replacements. The woman's family had previously applied for a medical certificate to enable her to use an adapted car, but the application was refused and an appeal lodged. The board apologized, citing reasons beyond its control, and directed the applicant to address the matter to the Ministers, giving no timeframe.
In the Tallaght murder trial, a jury of twelve is deliberating a second day over the case of John Titiloye, aged 28, accused of killing his 25‑year‑old friend Ademola Giwa after a dispute about a stolen scooter. The defence, led by Brendan Grehan SC, argues Titiloye acted in a primal state to protect his father, who was injured during the altercation, and seeks an acquittal or a manslaughter verdict on the basis of self‑defence or provocation. The prosecution, represented by John Byrne SC, maintains that Titiloye produced a knife and stabbed Giwa in the neck, causing a fatal wound. Judge Paul McDermott instructed the jury to consider three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The jury will reconvene tomorrow morning at 10.30 a.m. to continue their deliberations.
A new trial date of 31 October 2023 has been set for the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing of former Garda David Bourke (52) of Main Street, Oola, Co. Limerick, and Limerick businessman Stephen O'Sullivan (41) of Farrehy, Broadford, Co. Limerick. Both pleaded not guilty to corruption counts at Bruree on 22 December 2018. Judge Patricia Ryan, after a pre‑trial hearing focused on disclosure issues, fixed the new date.
In a High Court hearing, Mr Justice Paul Burns sentenced Trevor Richardson, 49, to twelve years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended, after a jury found him guilty of 56 counts of sexual assault, including one oral rape, committed between 2000 and 2014. Richardson, who had been a father‑figure to two of the victims, was in a relationship with the mother of two of the girls. The victims, who waived anonymity, described abuse that involved touching genital areas, digital penetration, and forced oral sex. One victim recalled being forced to perform oral sex at age seven or eight and later describing a life of self‑harm and anxiety. The judge noted Richardson's lack of prior convictions, good work history, and alcohol abuse as mitigating factors, and ordered him to be supervised by Probation Services for three years after release. The case highlighted prolonged abuse and a breach of trust.
The trial of four men accused of a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed farmhouse in Strokestown, Co Roscommon, has reached the sentencing stage. Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, David Lawlor, and Patrick Sweeney each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The alleged offences include false imprisonment and assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, arson of four vehicles, criminal damage to the property, violent disorder, robbery of a wristwatch, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Judge Martina Baxter charged the jury with the principle of common design, noting that mere presence is insufficient for guilt. Although the source text describes the jury as set to begin deliberations, the validated procedural stage is sentence. Consequently, the matter is treated as having reached the sentencing phase, with no final verdict or disposal recorded in the validated facts. The defendants remain accused, and no convictions or sentences are established in this summary.
Kevin Cradden, 33, of Kilkenny, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault at a Dublin house on 31 May 2021. He was described as "dumb drunk" after consuming large amounts of alcohol at a barbecue. The victim, a tenant, woke to find him in her bed, kissing her and touching her vagina. She identified him as "Kevin" and left the house, later reporting the assault. Cradden left the house naked from the waist down and was later called back to dress. He has no prior convictions and has not been involved with Gardaí since. Judge Orla Crowe accepted the victim's impact statement, noting loss of self‑worth and trust issues. The judge imposed a headline sentence of four years, reduced to three years in prison, with 18 months suspended on strict conditions, including probation and abstention from alcohol. The court heard Cradden's remorse, lack of memory, and family support.
The inquest into the Stardust fire of February 1981, in which 48 young people died, entered a new phase at Dublin Coroner's Court on 23 May 2023. Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane addressed the jury, noting that the tragedy had left an indelible mark on Artane and surrounding communities, where most of the deceased originated. Some victims were from Cavan, Derry and Belfast. Dr Cullinane outlined that the proceedings are expected to continue until the end of the year, with over 300 witnesses and witness statements to be heard. Witness evidence will commence on 7 June, beginning with undisputed background facts regarding the Stardust building, its structure, exits and safety systems. The coroner explained that the jury must determine four matters for each deceased: identity, time, location and manner of death. These fresh inquests were ordered in 2019 following an application by representatives of 42 bereaved families, with the Attorney General finding an insufficiency of inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan imposed a new three‑year sentence on Brendan Doolin, 41, for a single count of harassment committed between August 2018 and August 2019. The sentence was suspended for three years on strict conditions and will run consecutively with the suspended portion of his earlier five‑year sentence, which had two years suspended. Doolin had previously been jailed in November 2019 for harassing six female journalists, sending them hundreds of abusive online messages from May 2012 to February 2018. He admitted breaching bail conditions by contacting the victims and was warned that any further breach would bring him back before the court and result in prison time. The court noted Doolin had not reoffended since his release in December 2021 and that the new sentence would take effect in December. The hearing heard that the victims had submitted impact statements but were not present in court.
Odhran Dooley, a tyre fitter, claimed he was verbally attacked by his boss after refusing an on‑call shift, and that he had worked between 51 and 79 hours a week, exhausting him. He said Midland Tyre Services Ltd terminated his probation because of his attitude and refusal to work on‑call. The company's operations director, Chris Parle, denied the verbal attack and said Dooley was told on‑call was part of his role. Dooley's pay was said to rise from €545.45 to €750 a week when assigned to a breakdown van, but he received only a flat €20 per on‑call shift and €10 per call‑out. He worked 8 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday, on‑call Tuesdays and every fifth weekend, and was required to work a second night on four or five occasions and two weekends in a row in January 2022.
David Lawlor, Patrick J Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, and Paul Beirne are on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to 17 counts each, including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The charges relate to an alleged early morning attack on security guards at a repossessed farmhouse in Falsk, Co Roscommon, in December 2018. On day 41 of the trial, defence counsel Seamus Clarke SC argued that the prosecution's case against Mr Lawlor relies solely on circumstantial evidence, which he described as insufficient to meet the burden of proof. Clarke specifically challenged the reliability of voice identification evidence provided by alleged victim Ian Gordon, noting that the recognition was based on only nine words spoken during a chaotic, noisy assault. The defence highlighted inconsistencies in Gordon's testimony, including unverified claims about previous interactions and licensing issues with his security company, suggesting potential credibility problems. Additionally, Clarke contended that mobile phone data and CCTV footage did not conclusively place Mr Lawlor at the scene, as the vehicle's brake lights differed from those in the footage. The defence urged the jury to consider reasonable doubt regarding Mr Lawlor's presence and involvement in the alleged joint enterprise. The trial continues.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 66‑year‑old man and his three sons (aged 38, 40, 41) face 31 to 36 charges of raping and sexually assaulting four family members, all children at the time. The 63‑year‑old wife of the eldest man is charged with assisting her son in an alleged anal rape of her granddaughter and assaulting the granddaughter. The alleged offences are said to have occurred between 1999 and 2005 in various locations. All five defendants deny the charges. Lawyers argue the evidence is vague, contradictory and dates are mismatched, citing inconsistencies in complainants' statements and difficulties in recalling details. The defence urges the jury to acquit on all counts, noting the prosecution has not proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt. The trial proceeds under Justice Mary Ellen Ring. The unnamed 66-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 53‑year‑old Galway farmer pleaded guilty to sexual assault and oral rape of his nephew, aged five to thirteen, between 1989 and 1996. The nephew, now 39, described how the abuse, which began with unwanted touching during "games" and progressed to masturbation and oral rape, was carried out at the farm, in the yard, outbuildings or a caravan. He said he was told not to speak out, fearing his uncle would be in trouble, and that the abuse left him with lasting pain, flashbacks and sleepless nights. The farmer denied the offences at his arrest but later pleaded guilty. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon adjourned sentencing to July to allow reports to be finalised. The case was brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who viewed the offences as "more serious" with a headline sentence of 10 to 15 years imprisonment.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Brendan Doolin, aged 41, was found to have breached bail conditions by continuing to harass six female journalists while awaiting trial. Doolin, previously jailed in 2019 for five years with two years suspended, had admitted sending hundreds of abusive online messages to Sarah Griffin, Kate McEvoy, Sinead O'Carroll, Christine Bohan, Roe McDermott and Aoife Barry between May 2012 and February 2018. While on bail, he posted harassing content from email addresses mimicking the victims' names, accessed their social media accounts, and sent threatening messages. Gardaí discovered a laptop and a concealed smartphone containing photos of the victims. The victims, who were not present, submitted impact statements expressing a wish for Doolin to receive help. The judge noted Doolin's guilty plea, cooperation and remorse, but also highlighted the severity and persistence of his harassment. The decision was adjourned for a later hearing.
Bill Kenneally, 72, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four-and-a-half years' imprisonment, to run consecutive to his existing 14-year and two-month sentence, after pleading guilty to 13 sample counts of indecently assaulting five boys. The offences, alleged to have occurred between December 1979 and March 1990 in the south east, involved boys aged 13 to 15. Kenneally had initially pleaded not guilty to 266 counts but entered guilty pleas on the sixth day of trial. Judge Martin Nolan described the conduct as "incredibly reprehensible," noting Kenneally abused his position as a coach and family friend. The judge set a headline sentence of 10 to 12 years, reduced to eight or nine years for the guilty plea, but imposed the consecutive term to reflect the seriousness of the crimes. Kenneally's earliest release date is October 2026. The court noted that a High Court judicial review seeking to halt the trial was rejected, and the Court of Appeal upheld that decision. A commission of investigation was subsequently established to examine State agency responses and a 1987 interview in which Kenneally allegedly admitted wrongdoing.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Brendan Grehan SC defended John Titiloye, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ademola "Dizzy" Giwa, 25, on 10 August 2021. Grehan argued the incident was a spontaneous reaction to a confrontation involving Titiloye's father and Giwa, not a premeditated act. He claimed Titiloye acted in defence of his father after a dispute over a stolen scooter and a debt owed to Samson Fayemi. Grehan highlighted CCTV footage showing the father's involvement and the rapid escalation of the altercation, suggesting Titiloye's use of a knife was a defensive response. The prosecution, led by John Byrne SC, maintained that Titiloye intentionally stabbed Giwa in the neck with the intent to kill, and that no justification existed for the act. The case remained at the jury's deliberation stage.
Niall Kennedy, a former soldier, was convicted in December 2021 on twelve counts of rape and additional charges of harassment and threats. He was sentenced to twelve years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended for five years on strict conditions. Kennedy, aged 32, denied the charges. His appeal argues that the trial judge failed to issue a corroboration warning to the jury about the uncorroborated evidence of the complainant, who admitted to lying about her relationship with Kennedy and about a male friend's drug use. The appeal also contends that the judge should have warned the jury about Kennedy's state of mind and the alleged consensual nature of the intercourse. The Court of Appeal will consider whether the absence of such a warning affected the jury's deliberations. The case remains at the appeal stage.
A former Roche Ireland drug safety manager, Dr Bruno Seigle‑Murandi, who said he was pressured to lie to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), has withdrawn his legal team during the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) hearing because their fees were unaffordable. He claimed the company's former general manager forced him to take responsibility for a letter that suggested a recall of non‑compliant marketing material was unnecessary. Seigle‑Murandi alleges he never agreed to that recommendation and was dismissed under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The WRC heard that Roche staff, including Seigle‑Murandi, had until 24 May 2019 to report back to the HPRA after formally notifying it of the issue. He said colleagues altered a notification email after he left, and that the wording was changed to imply the material did not need to be recalled.
A 55‑year‑old man was convicted of sexually assaulting an asylum seeker who claimed she had never had sex before a Muslim ceremony. The conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal after new phone‑data showed the woman had searched for sexual information, suggesting she had prior sexual experience. The judge said this fresh material could have affected the jury's verdict and ordered a retrial. The man was remanded in custody until 7 June with bail. He had pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of rape, sexual assault and attempted rape. The original trial found him guilty of one count of sexual assault, sentencing him to six years with six months suspended and a four‑year post‑release supervision order. The appeal court will adjourn the case to the next legal term for DPP instructions. The man cried and asked, "Can I go home now?".
In a sentencing hearing on 22 May 2023, the Special Criminal Court heard that Michael Carroll, aged 43, had "indiscriminately" fired a revolver at John Hutch, a 63‑year‑old former Dublin resident, outside Hutch's home on Drumalee Avenue on 2 September 2016. CCTV showed Carroll approaching the rear of the house in a stolen Opel Astra, carrying two firearms – one with seven rounds and the other with six – and firing all rounds into the garden where Hutch's wife, Vera Hutch, was present. Vera Hutch gave a victim impact statement describing the lasting trauma of the incident. Carroll had previously been charged with attempted murder of Hutch and had pleaded guilty to a firearms offence. He was also charged with two attempted murders of Edward Staunton in March 2017; he pleaded guilty to one of those charges. The court noted Carroll's extensive criminal record and the alleged motive of repaying a drug debt to the Kinahan/Byrne faction.
Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell, the applicant, brought proceedings against the Government of Ireland, Ireland, and the Attorney General, alleging a 'secret arrangement' allows the Royal Air Force to intercept aircraft in Irish airspace. He claims this purported agreement is unconstitutional, unlawful, and was never approved by the Dáil or a referendum. The State, which neither confirms nor denies the existence of the alleged arrangement, filed a defence denying any improper or unconstitutional conduct. The State brought a pre-trial motion arguing that matters of external relations and security are not justiciable and cannot be reviewed by the courts. Senator Craughwell's legal team opposed the motion, asserting the case is urgent and of public importance. The matter was heard before Ms Justice Eileen Roberts at the High Court, where counsel for the respondents estimated the hearing would take two days. Ms Justice Roberts stated she was not in a position to fix a hearing date for the motion and adjourned the matter to a date in June. The case remains at the pre-trial motion stage, with a hearing date to be fixed when the matter returns before the court.
Tony McInerney, 27, a former drug dealer from Glenina, Gort Road, Ennis, admitted to attempting to murder Daniel Harty Jnr on 18 January 2020 at Pound Street, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. McInerney had previously been convicted of running a cocaine factory and was sentenced to 12 years in prison in May 2021, a term later reduced by two years on appeal. He also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply and to possessing crime cash on 23 September 2020. The judge described him as "at the top of the pyramid" of the Clare drug scene and noted his status as a target of the divisional drugs unit. The case is set for mention on 10 July, with McInerney remanded in custody. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon ordered a victim impact statement to be prepared by that date.
The High Court has ordered the extradition to Germany of a 50-year-old Irish man, Liam Patrick Daly, who is alleged to have attempted to commit aggravated robbery in a Berlin takeaway in 1994. The court heard that Daly, who was arrested and questioned in Germany, allegedly admitted during his detention that he had a mask on his head and a chair leg in his hand but only wanted to scare the other man. He was detained for three days and then released after providing his fiancée's address. Daly was not charged with any offence before his release. The German authorities initiated an international search for Daly in 1996, and he was arrested in England in 2003. An extradition case was previously heard by the court of appeal, which ruled in Daly's favour and refused the extradition, citing the likelihood of an unfair trial due to the delay. However, the High Court has now ordered Daly's surrender to Germany, noting that Daly was a major contributor to the delay in the proceedings. The court agreed to postpone the extradition to July 24 to allow Daly to facilitate the care of his mother, who has been diagnosed with cancer.
Richard Burke has been sentenced to fourteen years' imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court for the manslaughter of Jasmine McMonagle. The 32-year-old from Killygordon, County Donegal, was found guilty of manslaughter following Ms McMonagle's death on 4 January 2019 at Forest Park, Killygordon. Mr Justice Paul Burns determined that Burke's responsibility was substantially diminished by mental disorder, though he retained considerable culpability for the killing. The judge imposed a sentence of fifteen years with the final twelve months suspended for five years, backdated to Burke's initial custody. Burke must undergo psychiatric assessment before release and comply with prescribed medical treatment and probation requirements or face serving the suspended portion. Ms McMonagle, aged 28, was discovered deceased in her home following a three-hour standoff with gardaí. Her two young daughters were present in the house at the time but unharmed. The trial, held in Monaghan earlier in 2023, heard evidence from two psychiatrists regarding Burke's mental state at the time of the offence. The unnamed man was acquitted.
A pharmacist, Fiona Rabbitte, has received a redundancy payment of over €22,000 after the Workplace Relations Commission ruled in her favour. The commission rejected Lloyds Pharmacy Ireland's claim that offering her a transfer from Newbridge to Naas was a reasonable alternative to redundancy. Ms Rabbitte had worked at the Newbridge branch since 2003 and was asked to move to the Naas branch in January 2022, which she refused. She argued that the closure of the Newbridge branch triggered her redundancy entitlement, while the firm claimed her employment had not been terminated. Ms Rabbitte explained that the Newbridge location was advantageous to her domestic life and that the Naas position would significantly increase her commuting time due to traffic congestion and the need to attend to her children's school runs. The firm's representative argued that the commute would only be extended by ten minutes and that a once-off compensation sum was offered.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 22 May 2023, Christina Anderson's counsel argued that her moral culpability for stabbing Gareth Kelly was zero because she was in a psychotic episode caused by bipolar‑affective disorder. The State accepted that cannabis intoxication did not feature in the case. Anderson, 41, pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. She was initially charged with murder but the DPP accepted the plea after the trial began. Anderson was taken to the Central Mental Hospital in February 2020 and remains a patient. The court heard that she had been experiencing delusions of a conspiracy involving neighbours, Gardaí and politicians, and that she had been under psychiatric care since 2017. The judge will set a sentence on 20 June, with the defence seeking maximum leniency. The case remains at the manslaughter stage.
In a High Court decision on 19 May 2023, Mr Enoch Burke, an evangelical Christian teacher at Wilson's Hospital secondary school, was found to have been lawfully suspended. The judge, Mr Justice Alexander Owens, upheld the school's disciplinary action, citing Burke's public objections to a school request to use a different name and pronoun for a student who allegedly wished to transition. The court deemed the suspension rational and reasonable, and rejected Burke's claim that the process was procedurally flawed. Burke was also ordered to pay €15,000 in damages for trespassing on the school campus, in addition to a daily €700 fine imposed earlier for breaching court orders to stay away. The judge ruled that a suspended employee cannot return to the workplace unless the employer accepts the employee's resumption, and dismissed Burke's counterclaim. The school's board subsequently decided to dismiss Burke, a decision he has appealed.
Michael Collins (49) appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal, arguing he should not have been permitted to represent himself during his 2019 trial. Collins was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of Jillian Thornton on May 27, 2016, in Duleek, Co Meath, and was jailed for 14 years by Trim Circuit Court. He was also convicted of two charges of endangerment, 12 charges of dangerous driving, and driving under the influence. Collins, of Drogheda, Co Louth, had dismissed his legal team before the trial began. His counsel, Michael Lynn SC, submitted that Collins was incapable of running a coherent defence due to paranoia and that forcing legal representation would have ensured a fair trial. The State's counsel, Carl Hanahoe BL, countered that Collins had the fundamental right to self-representation and was found fit to be tried. The court described the argument as a "very radical proposition" without precedent in Irish courts. The appeal was adjourned, with the court reserving its judgement.