During a sentencing hearing in the Central Criminal Court, a nine‑year‑old boy, who has an acquired brain injury and autism, read a victim impact statement about his father, Isaac Horgan, who died from a stab wound to the leg in his Dublin home. The boy, who calls his foster parents Mam and Dad, said he is very sad that he will never see his Daddy again and asked if his Daddy's soul lives in the teddy bear named Blue that his father gave him. The statement, prepared with a social worker, noted the boy's loss will have a lasting impact and that he has never met his birth mother. The hearing also covered the sentencing of Noel Lennon, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and Lisa Lee, who was convicted of discarding the knife used in the stabbing. The court adjourned the matter to June 19 for sentencing.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Gerard "The Monk" Hutch was acquitted of murder in the 2016 Regency Hotel shooting that killed David Byrne. The court found it could not rely on former Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall's evidence, noting that audio recordings did not confirm Dowdall's claim that Hutch confessed to being a gunman. Justice Tara Burns said the evidence only raised the possibility that Hutch may have authorised the attack, but did not prove his presence or direct involvement. Hutch, who turned 60, walked free after the verdict. Two co‑accused, Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, were found guilty of aiding the murder by providing vehicles. The court's decision was based solely on the lack of reliable evidence linking Hutch to the Regency shooting.
Julie Flood, aged 51 and resident of The Oyle, Oylegate, Co Wexford, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of her 94‑year‑old father, Patrick Flood, who was killed on his birthday, 14 April 2019, at their home. A jury was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court on 17 April 2023, and the trial will begin the following day before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. The court expects to hear from several factual witnesses and medical experts, and the trial is scheduled to last up to three days with a jury of twelve.
Sergeant Cathal Middleton, a Garda officer since 2002, has launched a High Court action to challenge his proposed dismissal from An Garda Síochána. The 42-year-old sergeant, who was found guilty of sexual assault at Blanchardstown District Court in October last year, claims the Garda Commissioner's decision to dismiss him before his criminal appeal is heard breaches fair procedures and natural justice. Middleton, who denied the charge, was sentenced to five months in prison following his conviction on one count of sexual assault. He alleges that the Commissioner acted outside their powers by recommending dismissal without a disciplinary hearing, despite an outstanding appeal. Represented by Mark Harty SC and Oisin Clarke BL, Middleton seeks orders to quash the dismissal recommendation and prevent further steps toward his removal. The case came before Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who granted permission for the challenge on an ex-parte basis. The matter was adjourned and will be mentioned before the court later this year.
Gerard Maunsell, a worker at Richard Boyle & Sons (2004) Ltd, claimed unfair dismissal after a canteen row on 12 November 2021. The dispute began when Maunsell threw a soap bottle at a colleague, identified only as "RR", after an exchange of racial slurs. Maunsell admitted to saying "F*** you, you f***ing prick" but denied using the word "foreign c***". He was called to a disciplinary meeting without prior notice and faced a process described by the employer as "serious misconduct". The Workplace Relations Commission found the disciplinary procedure "fundamentally flawed" and the dismissal "entirely disproportionate", noting that Maunsell had been interrogated and that the employer failed to consider his own complaints. The tribunal awarded Maunsell €11,340 in compensation for financial loss and loss of redundancy entitlements, while rejecting a secondary claim under the Payment of Wages Act. The case remains at the WRC stage.
Bryan Kennedy, 35, was sentenced by Ms Justice Caroline Biggs at the Central Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended. Kennedy had hired a man known as 'AL', described as unhinged and with prior convictions, to murder a Canadian couple who were having an online affair with Kennedy's wife. He paid €8,000 to AL and had planned to kill both women, later considering whether to kill only one. Kennedy accessed his wife's Facebook to obtain details of the couple. He pleaded guilty to soliciting the murder of Stephanie Poirier and her partner Clara Houdebrumette. The judge noted Kennedy's cooperation with Gardaí, his role as a good father, and his depression, but found no mitigating effect in his decision to pursue the plan. The sentence was reduced from an initial headline of eight years to five years with a suspended six‑month portion. Kennedy's address is Mount Tallant Avenue, Harold's Cross, Dublin 6W.
Two men have been found guilty at the Special Criminal Court of providing getaway vehicles during the 2016 Regency Hotel attack in Dublin, in which Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne was killed. Paul Murphy, aged 61, of Swords, County Dublin, and Jason Bonney, aged 52, of Portmarnock, Dublin 13, were convicted of participating in or contributing to the murder by making their vehicles available to the Hutch Criminal Organisation on February 5, 2016. Justice Tara Burns delivered judgment, finding that Murphy's Toyota Avensis taxi and Bonney's black BMW X5 were part of a six-vehicle convoy that collected gunmen from St Vincent's GAA club following the shooting. The court rejected defence claims that Bonney's deceased father had driven the jeep, finding he remained at home that afternoon. Both men will be sentenced on May 8.
The Court of Appeal has issued a ruling in the case of Patrick Dowdall, the appellant in the Regency Hotel shooting trial. Dowdall had previously pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of facilitating the shooting of David Byrne. The specific allegation was that he participated in activity intending to facilitate a serious offence by a criminal organisation, namely the murder of Byrne, by making a room available at the Regency Hotel in Drumcondra, Dublin 9, on February 4, 2016. Following his initial conviction, Dowdall was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment. However, after successful appeals, he was re-sentenced to seven years and 11 months. The current appeal resulted in a further reduction, with Dowdall now sentenced to four years' imprisonment. The procedural stage is an appeal, and the matter has been finalised with this revised sentence. Co-accused Jason Bonney was also involved in the proceedings, though specific details of his plea or sentence are not detailed in this summary. The court emphasized that the allegations against Dowdall were based on his admission of guilt to facilitating the crime, rather than direct participation in the shooting itself. The decision reflects the appellate court's review of the sentencing and charges, resulting in a reduced term of custody for the appellant.
A bin‑man with medical obesity, asthma, diabetes and gout, Kieran Glynn, who had worked for Ray Whelan Ltd for 22 years, brought an unfair dismissal claim to the Workplace Relations Commission after refusing to attend medical appointments arranged by his employer. Colleagues alleged he refused to empty bins and fell asleep in the lorry cab, and the line manager testified that he had to be taken out of the cab after falling asleep. Glynn's lawyers argued he was fit to work and that the company's actions constituted harassment. The tribunal found that Glynn had not been dismissed or forced to quit, that the company had legitimate concerns about his health, and that the disciplinary process was not a sham. Consequently, the tribunal dismissed Glynn's complaints under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and the Employment Equality Act 1998 as not well founded.
A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicating officer awarded €15,000 in compensation to an intellectually disabled woman who was refused service after being mistaken for a shoplifter. The incident occurred on 18 November 2021, when a security manager denied the complainant entry, stating she was banned from the premises. The shop's security manager claimed he recognised the woman from a previous shoplifting event but did not ask her name. The complainant's sister testified that the store manager alleged the woman had been caught shoplifting and that gardaí were involved, claims the sister refuted after checking with the local Garda station, which had no record of such an incident. The shop's legal representative, Hannah Cahill BL, argued the case was one of mistaken identity and that the complaint was unfounded. Adjudicating officer Shay Henry accepted that the denial of service was based on mistaken identity but found that the complainant was discriminated against on the grounds of her disability under the Equal Status Act 2000. He noted that the respondent's explanation was only provided just before the hearing and that no apology was ever given. The officer concluded that due to her disability, the complainant was unable to challenge the assumption on the day, resulting in distress. The decision was made anonymous to protect the complainant's privacy.
The owners of El Grito Mexican Tacqueria were ordered to pay waitress Paola Alba Dalivar €4,600 after the Workplace Relations Commission found seven breaches of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 and a breach of the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994. Ms Alba‑Dalivar, who worked from August 2018 to July 2021, said she never received a rest break unless she worked over eight hours and sometimes received no break at all. She also claimed she was not paid for 18 Sundays, four bank holidays, or for days off, and that she had not received paid leave between September 2020 and June 2021. The adjudicating officer awarded €1,000 for the shift‑break breach, €820 for the lack of a written contract, €500 for each of five working‑hour breaches, and €336 for bank‑holiday pay, totalling €4,650. The case was heard in the absence of the restaurant owners.
In April 2023 the Workplace Relations Commission ordered Causeway Hospitality Ltd to pay €20,000 to Nadine Harty after finding that the Greenway Manor Hotel failed to conduct a full investigation into her complaints of sexual harassment by the executive chef, Mr M. Harty, who began working as a prep chef on 29 June 2021, alleged that Mr M made lewd comments, blew in her ear, grabbed her waist and wrists, and bit her shoulder. She first raised the matter informally with her line manager, the head chef Mr B, and later filed a written complaint in July 2021. The hotel's management, including a company director, monitored the situation for nearly four months, then decided that Mr M, aged 66, should retire or leave. Harty was told he had left, but no action was taken against him. The tribunal found the hotel's lack of a full investigation and failure to protect Harty constituted gender‑based discrimination, and ordered the compensation.
John Herd, a Tesco deputy manager, lost his unfair dismissal claim after the supermarket sacked him for failing to pay for three Red Bull cans worth €9.45 in October 2021. The loss‑prevention system flagged the incidents, and the store manager, Emma Doyle, raised the matter on 29 October. Herd argued he was under severe personal stress, "on the verge of being made homeless," and claimed the company had shown favoritism toward other staff. He said he had previously complained about a colleague who had given out free spirits and Clubcard points. The tribunal found the three unpaid drinks constituted gross misconduct, upheld the dismissal as effective immediately, and rejected Herd's appeal that the sanction was excessive. The decision was supported by the Workplace Relations Commission. The case highlights the company's stance on trust and the seriousness of repeated theft allegations.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court failed to reach a verdict in the trial of three men accused of raping a teenage girl in a car in December 2017. The complainant, then 17, alleged she was raped in turn by the defendants at a hotel car park in the Leinster area. The first defendant, aged 22, pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault. The second defendant, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to rape, oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault. The third defendant, also 23, pleaded not guilty to rape and oral rape. After a three-week trial and over nine hours of deliberation, the jury returned verdicts of disagreed on all eight counts. Ms Justice Greally adjourned the case for mention to April 28 next. Prosecutors argued the complainant explicitly said no, while defence counsel contended the interactions were consensual or that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. Under the 1981 Rape Act, the defendants retain anonymity until conviction, and the complainant remains entitled to anonymity.
Jagannadha Muttumula, director of The Square Dental Services Ltd, denied forging a signature on a work visa contract during a Workplace Relations Commission hearing. Former employee Dr Min Li, a Canadian national, accused Muttumula and his wife, Dr Hima Bindu Meda, of penalising her under the Employment Permits Act 2006 by dismissing her for refusing to sign a contract reducing her salary from the €64,000 stipulated by the Department of Enterprise to €55,000. Dr Li alleged she was in Taiwan when the disputed contract was purportedly signed and that she was terminated shortly after refusing the pay cut. The employer countered that Dr Li was dismissed during her probationary period due to poor performance and interpersonal conflicts, not the contract dispute. The adjudicating officer denied the company's application for an adjournment to call staff witnesses, stating the hearing was proceeding as scheduled. Dr Li also alleged an illegal €1,000 deduction for visa fees and breaches of the Payment of Wages Act and Organisation of Working Time Act, all of which the firm denied. The matter remains at the charge or pretrial stage, with the adjudicator closing the hearing to consider a decision.
The Court of Appeal has heard arguments regarding the conviction of Philip Dunbar, who was found guilty by a unanimous jury at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Paul McDermott for the murder of Adam Muldoon. Dunbar, who was 17 at the time, was sentenced to life imprisonment for stabbing Mr Muldoon 183 times at Butler Park, Tallaght, on June 22 or 23, 2018. Defence counsel argued that a Garda interview admission should be excluded because Dunbar was a 'child under pressure' and the conditions were unfair. They also contended that his responsibility was diminished due to a mental disorder caused by chronic drug abuse and that CCTV evidence breached privacy rights. The State rejected these submissions, noting that expert psychiatric evidence at trial found no mental disorder and that the interview was conducted responsibly with legal representation present. The judges questioned whether the interview duration constituted oppression or unfairness, with one judge noting that Dunbar's impatience did not amount to his will being overborne. The court has reserved its judgement in this appeal, meaning the matter was adjourned and is not yet concluded.
The jury in the trial of three defendants accused of raping a then-teenage girl in a hotel car park has begun deliberations. The State alleges that on December 20, 2017, in the Leinster area, the complainant went for a drive with her friend, the three accused, and another man. While the vehicle was stopped, the prosecution claims each defendant raped the woman. All three defendants deny wrongdoing. The first defendant (22) pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault. The second defendant (23) pleaded not guilty to rape, oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault. The third defendant (23) pleaded not guilty to rape and oral rape. Ms Justice Melanie Greally sent the jury home for the weekend after approximately 90 minutes of deliberation. During her charge, she noted the complainant's friend was unavailable due to circumstances beyond anyone's control and attributed trial delays to the pandemic. Defense counsel for the third defendant argued the issue was consent, stating his client admitted sexual activity but claimed it was consensual. He suggested the complainant's evidence lacked plausibility, citing her failure to see a security van and her positive messages to a friend later that night. He urged the jury to consider if the incident was a regretted 'misguided adventure' rather than a crime. The jury is due to continue deliberations on Monday.
In March 2023 the Court of Appeal dismissed Mark Crawford's appeal against his murder conviction for stabbing Patrick 'Pa' O'Connor to death in a Limerick bar. Crawford, 45, had been drinking and taking cocaine with O'Connor, 24, when he stabbed him six times, striking the heart and neck. He pleaded not guilty, claiming self‑defence, but the jury rejected this defence and he was convicted in October 2020, receiving a mandatory life sentence. Crawford's lawyers argued that the trial judge had failed to give the jury proper instructions on self‑defence, particularly on the subjective belief of threat and the objective reasonableness of force. The Court of Appeal found the judge's charge was detailed and appropriate, and that the evidence did not support a claim of a serious deficiency. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed and the murder conviction upheld.
A 33-year-old man has been acquitted of murder at the Central Criminal Court following a trial concerning a stabbing at a housing estate in Swinford, County Mayo. The jury, comprising nine men and three women, returned a majority verdict after deliberating for nine hours and 54 minutes over three days. The accused had pleaded not guilty to the murder of a 24-year-old man on 16 November 2020. The defence case centred on self-defence, with the accused maintaining throughout that he feared for his life during the incident. Expert psychiatric evidence was presented indicating the accused has paranoid schizophrenia, which was likely active at the time of the stabbing. A pathologist confirmed the fatal wound was a single stab to the abdomen. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring thanked the jury for their service in what she described as a difficult trial and excused them from jury duty for ten years.
Lisa Lee, 41, of Annalivia Apartments, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Caoimhe O'Reilly on 9 January 2022 during a domestic incident. Lee pulled clumps of the Garda's hair, struck her, and feared she would be stabbed. The assault occurred after Gardaí intervened at Lee's home at 3 am. Lee was arrested, later expressed remorse, and was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally to 20 months' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months' probation. The sentence was back‑dated to 24 November, when Lee entered custody. Garda O'Reilly suffered soft‑tissue injuries and is undergoing physiotherapy. Lee has three prior convictions for breach of bail and drug possession, cares for her mother, and has addressed addiction while in custody. The judge noted Lee's remorse, early guilty plea, and rehabilitation efforts as mitigating factors. The sentence reflects the seriousness of assaulting a Garda.
The Roscommon eviction assault trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has been adjourned until Monday, April 17, following the Easter break. Defendants Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges. These include false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The alleged incident occurred on December 16, 2018, at Falsk, where a group of armed men attacked security guards at a repossessed property. On Day 19 of the trial, evidence was presented regarding a search warrant executed at Mr. Beirne's home in Co Roscommon on December 19, 2018. Gardaí seized electronic devices and keys to a Volvo lorry, which was later impounded. Mr. Beirne was arrested under section 30 of the Offences against the State Act and detained at Castlerea Garda Station. Testimony detailed his refusal of food and medical attention, leading to a doctor's visit for indigestion. The matter remains ongoing and was adjourned, not concluded.
Ryanair was found by the Workplace Relations Commission to have unfairly treated flight ops officer Gary Howard, who was made redundant during the Covid‑19 lockdown. The airline had denied Howard a €2,500 bonus that was paid to his colleagues, and the tribunal described this as a "double punishment." The commission ordered Ryanair to pay the bonus in addition to a €5,000 award for unfair dismissal. Howard's redundancy was deemed legitimate, but the airline's handling of the process was "careless and unfair," as Howard was not fully informed about the criteria that led to his selection. Ryanair argued that Howard had no contractual right to the bonus and that his redundancy was justified by pandemic business circumstances. The tribunal noted that the airline used objective criteria such as length of service, punctuality, attendance and performance, and that Howard's attendance record was cited as a factor.
In a High Court hearing, Mr Justice Alexander Owens considered a dispute between Wilson's Hospital School and evangelical teacher Enoch Burke over the school's decision to suspend and later dismiss him. Owens noted that even if procedural errors were found in the disciplinary process, he was reluctant to overturn the suspension because of Burke's alleged trespassing on school grounds. Burke, who was excluded from the courtroom, denied wrongdoing and claimed the disciplinary proceedings violated his rights, citing a school directive to use a different name and pronoun for a student. The judge rejected Burke's email criticisms, stating the teacher had been barred for contempt and would be allowed to re‑enter only after complying with the court's orders. Owens emphasized that the school's actions were justified by concerns over Burke's behaviour and potential safety risks. The case remains pending, with the school seeking further orders against the teacher.
Maurice Fitzgerald, 29, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to false imprisonment and assaulting a 26‑year‑old woman with chronic schizophrenia on 27 August. The court heard he travelled from Cork to Dublin, bought duct tape and a claw hammer, and planned to abduct the victim. Gardaí were called when residents heard tape being wrapped and the victim screaming. Fitzgerald dragged her, bound her with tape, and gagged her in an alleyway. He was restrained, cuffed, and a knife was used to free tape from her mouth. The victim was taken to Mater Hospital, then transferred to a Midlands hospital under the Mental Health Act. Fitzgerald's prior convictions and guilty plea were noted, and he was ordered to comply with probation for five years post‑release. The sentence was back‑dated to the day of the offence.
The Court of Appeal has heard arguments in the appeal of Philip Dunbar, who was found guilty of murder by a unanimous jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Dunbar was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Adam Muldoon at Butler Park, Jobstown Park, Tallaght, Dublin 24, on June 22 or 23, 2018. Counsel for Dunbar argued that the use of CCTV footage breached his privacy rights, alleging that gardaí failed to comply with legal requirements regarding the harvesting of such data. The defence contended that the footage, which showed Dunbar returning home with Muldoon's Zimmer frame, was gathered in violation of established privacy standards. The three-judge court, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, questioned the validity of these claims, noting that Dunbar was a legitimate suspect and that police have a duty to seek available evidence. The appeal also addressed the admissibility of evidence regarding Dunbar's state of mind, with previous submissions regarding diminished responsibility due to chronic drug abuse having been rejected by the trial judge. The matter was adjourned and continues before the court.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, it was reported that convicted drug dealer Christy Keane was shot 13 times on 29 June 2015 while parked at the University of Limerick gym. Two gunmen from the McCarthy‑Ryan gang fired eight shots from a Glock and five from a Luger semi‑automatic pistol. A nurse who was running nearby witnessed the attack and provided immediate medical assistance, treating four non‑life‑threatening wounds, including a lung puncture. The attackers fled in a red Ford Focus, later found burned out, and a white Volvo and black BMW were involved in transporting them. John Costello, aged 41, was charged with providing transport to the shooters and pleaded guilty to aiding an assault causing serious harm. The case was delayed over five years due to a separate Garda prosecution. Costello was remanded in custody pending sentencing.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 56‑year‑old Wexford man was convicted of five sexual assault and two oral rape offences against a 36‑year‑old victim, with incidents spanning 1991 to 2005. His defence argued that the prolific nature of his attacks indicated an underlying compulsion that could be a mitigating personal characteristic, but Judge David Keane dismissed the claim as unattractive and lacking medical evidence. The judge imposed a 14‑year prison term for the rape offences and sentences of three and seven years for the sexual assaults, all concurrent and back‑dated to the date of custody. He did not suspend any portion of the sentence and ordered the offender to be supervised by the Probation Service for two years after release. The victim gave a victim impact statement describing the abuse and her resilience, while the defendant continued to deny the charges.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has sought clarification from Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring on self-defence and intent in the murder trial of Matusz Batiuk (33), formerly of Carrabeg Estate, Swinford, County Mayo. Mr Batiuk has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael McDonagh, who died following a stabbing at the housing estate on November 16, 2020. The jury asked whether self-defence and lack of intent to commit murder or cause serious harm were mutually exclusive. In response, the judge explained that if the jury were not satisfied the accused intended to kill or cause serious harm, manslaughter would be the appropriate verdict. Ms Justice Ring noted Mr Batiuk's longstanding mental health difficulties, instructing the jury to consider him as a person with that illness. The prosecution contends he deliberately stabbed Mr McDonagh with intent to kill, whilst the defence argues he acted in self-defence, believing his life was in danger. The jury is continuing deliberations.
A homeless addict, Dean Boland, 35, was sentenced to eight years in prison for the unlawful killing of Ohari Viera, an Angolan man, after Boland broke into a downstairs apartment of a Dublin residential property, stole a rucksack and set fire to the building on 21 August 2018. Viera, who lived upstairs with two other men, had evacuated the building when the fire started but returned to the house for an unknown reason and never re‑entered. The fire engulfed the property, preventing anyone from re‑entering. Boland was convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury of unlawful killing, arson and burglary. He had pleaded not guilty. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting Boland's drug addiction, homelessness and intoxication at the time, imposed an eight‑year sentence, acknowledging the victim impact statement of Viera's daughter and the circumstances that made the case unusual. The sentence runs from the date of his December conviction.
In a landmark case, Daniel Kane, aged 54, was convicted by a jury of coercive control, intimidation, assault and 12 counts of assault causing harm after a 20‑month abusive relationship in which he repeatedly attacked his partner, burned her foot, cut her face with a pizza slicer, head‑butted her after nasal surgery, punched her and stamped on her arm causing fractures, and strangled her. He also threatened to send explicit images to her family if she withdrew the case. Kane was sentenced to 10.5 years in January 2021. On 30 March 2023 the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, finding no error in the trial judge's sentencing. The court noted the prolonged, oppressive, domineering and violent conduct, the significant physical and emotional harm inflicted, and that the sentence was within the mid‑to‑upper range of penalties available. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the 10.5‑year sentence in place. Daniel Kane pleaded not guilty.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, Sophia Brennan claimed she was discriminated against when she and her husband were denied entry to KOA Kitchen of Asia in Malahide with her guide dog Tim. Brennan said the staff refused them, citing health and safety and claiming Tim was "not hygienic," and suggested leaving the dog in the yard. She described feeling humiliated and dirty. The restaurant's proprietor had previously stated that staff allergies and children's fears were concerns, but Brennan said none of this was mentioned to her that evening. The restaurant had indicated it could accommodate them if prior notice had been given, but Brennan argued she is not obliged to inform a restaurant of her guide dog. The adjudicator noted the restaurant's absence and that it had sent a "tainted apology" via correspondence, concluding a clear case of discrimination pending a final decision.
The High Court heard evidence on the third day of an action brought by Wilson's Hospital School against Enoch Burke, who was dismissed for allegedly intimidating a colleague and breaching a student's confidence. The school seeks a permanent order directing Burke to stay away from the premises. Evidence from staff member Freda Malone and Deputy Principal John Galligan detailed Burke's conduct during board meetings and school events, including allegations that he shouted over colleagues and publicly opposed the school's direction to use a student's preferred name and pronouns. The court noted that following Burke's refusal to leave the school premises during his suspension, High Court injunction proceedings were brought, which ultimately resulted in Burke being jailed for contempt of court. Burke, who denies wrongdoing, has brought a counterclaim arguing the disciplinary proceedings were unlawful. He was excluded from the courtroom by Justice Alexander Owens for interrupting the proceedings and failing to comply with rulings regarding documents. The judge stated Burke could return if he undertook to comply with court rules. The matter is currently at the sentence stage regarding the injunction, with the broader case expected to conclude on Friday.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Bernard Fogarty, 35, pleaded guilty to attempting to murder Mark Ivers on 6 September 2019. Witnesses, including a taxi driver and a woman, reported seeing Fogarty in a balaclava with a large black gun approach Ivers' house on Streamville Road. The woman warned others before shots were fired. Ivers was shot twice in the femur and lower abdomen, sustaining a liver laceration, and was taken to hospital. CCTV and forensic evidence linked Fogarty to the scene, including a Nissan Almera that was later set alight. Fogarty was arrested on 22 October 2020 and has 54 prior convictions, including a life sentence for murder. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 19 May.
Gerard Mackin, 40, pleaded guilty to laundering €4,780 as proceeds of criminal conduct at Rhebogue Road, Limerick, on April 17, 2019, contrary to Section 7 of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010. The Special Criminal Court heard that Mackin, who was extradited from Spain in December 2022, admitted to handling the cash, which prosecution counsel stated was not a legitimate deposit but crime proceeds. Defence counsel Ronan Kennedy SC submitted that Mackin accepted he had made poor choices, has never met his infant son due to his custody, and intends to return to Spain to rebuild his life. The court noted his previous conviction in March 2016, where he was jailed for three years for a 'depraved and barbaric' assault involving a nail-gun. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Alan Mitchell, remanded Mackin in custody until May 19, when he will be sentenced. The matter was adjourned for sentencing and is not yet concluded.
In a decision published on 30 March 2023, the Workplace Relations Commission dismissed Adel Sallam's claim that he was racially discriminated against when a cashier at Aldi in Drogheda asked him to move to another checkout. Sallam, a businessman who had lived in Ireland since the 2000s, alleged that the cashier's repeated instructions and gestures were discriminatory. The tribunal found no evidence of racial discrimination, noting that the cashier's actions were consistent with normal store procedures and that the complainant had not made any reference to race. The adjudicator concluded that the alleged poor customer service was a trivial matter and that equality law should not be used to address such complaints. The case was therefore dismissed without further hearing.
During Michael Scott's trial, the jury was not presented with evidence that Chrissie Treacy claimed Michael Scott was responsible for her dog Bradley's disappearance. In a pre‑trial hearing, prosecution counsel Dean Kelly SC informed the court that after Bradley vanished in February 2018, Treacy told the community that Scott had caused the dog's departure or death. The trial noted Bradley was a Jack Russell beloved by Treacy, who was deeply upset and required medication. Treacy had also told friend Regina Donohue that Scott asked her what it would be worth to recover the dog, a statement the judge ruled inadmissible as hearsay. Treacy had previously confided in consultant Declan McHugh that she feared for her life and the dog. The judge allowed witnesses to describe Treacy's demeanor but barred them from repeating her statements. On the first day of testimony, Donohue was insulted by Scott, who called her a "c**t" as she walked past him.
Michael Scott, 58, of Gortanumera, Portumna, was found guilty of manslaughter but cleared of murder after a jury heard that he ran over his 76‑year‑old aunt, Chrissie Treacy, while reversing an agricultural teleporter across a yard outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna, on 27 April 2018. The jury, after nearly 15 hours, concluded that Scott's death of his aunt was caused by gross negligence rather than intent to kill. The prosecution had argued that Scott deliberately reversed over Treacy amid a long‑running land dispute, but his lawyers maintained it was a tragic accident. The trial detailed that Scott had been reversing the machine when he felt a "thump," thought he might have struck a trailer, and only later discovered Treacy lying on the ground. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Michael Scott, accused of murdering his aunt Chrissie Treacy by running her over with an agricultural teleporter, ended with an acquittal. The jury, after nearly 15 hours of deliberation, rejected the prosecution's claim that Scott deliberately killed his 76‑year‑old aunt out of entitlement and revenge. Instead, they found that Scott's actions were grossly negligent, describing the incident as a tragic accident. Scott, 58, had previously denied any intent to kill and had stated that he was simply reversing when he saw his aunt on the ground. The judge noted Scott's inappropriate remarks toward a witness but allowed him to remain on bail pending further proceedings. No conviction or sentencing was recorded in the article. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
A former principal of Wilson's Hospital secondary school in County Westmeath has given evidence in the High Court regarding allegations of misconduct against teacher Enoch Burke. Niamh McShane, who led the school until 2022, described Mr Burke's conduct at a religious service and subsequent dinner in June as disrespectful and unprofessional. Ms McShane said she had sought to accommodate Mr Burke's concerns about a request to staff regarding a student's preferred name and pronouns, but no compromise could be reached. She told the court that Mr Burke's public objections during the service, attended by students, staff and parents, were embarrassing and distressing. At a follow-up dinner, Ms McShane said she felt "hunted" when Mr Burke approached her twice. The school brought disciplinary proceedings against Mr Burke, who denies wrongdoing and claims his suspension was unlawful. The case is before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and continues.
Closing speeches were delivered at the Central Criminal Court for two of three men accused of raping a then-teenage girl in a hotel car park in the Leinster area on December 20, 2017. The first defendant, aged 22, pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault. The second defendant, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to rape, oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault. The third defendant, aged 23, who pleaded not guilty to rape and oral rape, is scheduled to deliver his closing speech tomorrow. Defence counsel argued that the complainant's evidence contained inconsistencies and suggested she may have manipulated information to distance herself from her actions. Counsel for the second defendant questioned the plausibility of the complainant not raising an alarm after being allegedly raped in succession by three men. Counsel for the first defendant highlighted the absence of DNA evidence linking his client to the complainant and suggested an alternative verdict of sexual assault might be open to the jury. Both defence teams urged the jury to be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that their clients knew or were reckless about the lack of consent. The trial continues before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and the jury.
Ross Hutch, 31, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for two separate assaults in August 2021. On 22 August he slashed the face of a man outside a pub on Sheriff Street, leaving serious disfiguring scars. The next day he violently attacked his ex‑girlfriend at Holyhead Hostel on Gardiner Street, punching, kicking, and stomping her down two flights of stairs. Video evidence showed the brutal attacks. Judge Martin Nolan imposed seven and a half years for the slashing and two and a half years for the assault on the woman, sentences to run consecutively. Hutch pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm in both cases. He has 75 prior convictions, including assault, firearms, and robbery. The sentence was back‑dated to 25 August 2021 when he entered custody. The court noted his history of drug and alcohol use but found no recognised psychological problem. The judge said Hutch could change his life if he wanted to.
Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor have pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The defendants are alleged to have participated in an attack on four security guards at a repossessed property in Falsk, Strokestown, on December 16, 2018. The charges include false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. On day 17 of the trial, Detective Garda Enda Jennings testified that he identified Sweeney in body-camera footage based on prior acquaintance in Ramelton. Defense counsel challenged the reliability of this identification, noting that protocols governing such recognitions were not implemented in 2019. The court heard that the identification process lacked a second witness and contemporaneous notes, which are now required under 2023 guidelines. The trial continues.
Philip Dunbar, aged 22, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 23‑year‑old Adam 'Floater' Muldoon, who was stabbed 183 times in an unprovoked attack when Dunbar was 17. His lawyers argued at the Court of Appeal that Dunbar should have been allowed to present a defence of diminished responsibility based on a mental disorder caused by chronic drug abuse. They cited expert psychiatric witnesses who said drug dependence could constitute a mental disorder distinct from intoxication. The trial judge had refused to allow the defence, and the appeal judge noted that a mental disorder must be established by a consultant psychiatrist under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. The appeal will continue before the Court of Appeal tomorrow. Philip Dunbar was found guilty.
Thomas Cunningham, 55, of Dublin 8, was convicted of attempting to communicate with a child for sexual exploitation between July and August 2019. He had been under an eight‑year post‑release supervision order after a 2017 release from a 10‑year sentence for 41 sexual offences. In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to four years, suspending the final year, and imposed a five‑year good‑behaviour period with Probation Service engagement. Cunningham pleaded guilty to three charges and admitted sending 1,660 messages to a decoy profile set up by a child‑protection group, believing the recipient to be a 14‑year‑old. He also sent 185 messages to an unidentified number and 211 to a third number, claiming the child was 15. He denied any sexual content but admitted intent to meet the children. The judge noted no contact had occurred and highlighted Cunningham's prior serious sexual assault conviction.
Paul O'Carroll, aged 45, was found guilty of possessing 3,910 images and 376 videos of child pornography, all of which were seized from his home in Knocklyon, Dublin 16. The material included sexual acts involving children aged three to 15, with the court noting that any images of children younger than ten were inadvertently downloaded. O'Carroll had no prior convictions and was cooperative during the Garda investigation, which began after a U.S. child‑protection organisation flagged a Facebook account linked to the material. He pleaded guilty on 4 August 2017. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to a fully suspended three‑year term, citing strong mitigating factors such as his remorse, lack of prior offences, and a forensic psychologist's report describing him as psychologically vulnerable with untreated depression and anxiety. The court noted his low risk of reoffending and his willingness to seek help. The sentence was suspended in full, with no custodial time imposed.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of Brendan Treanor, 34, and James Flynn, 32, until after Easter. The men are accused of robbing €7,000 from Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, on 25 January 2013, an incident that resulted in the death of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. They are also charged with conspiring, between 11 September 2012 and 23 January 2013, with convicted Garda‑killer Aaron Brady and others to break into houses to steal car keys. Treanor and Flynn plead not guilty to all charges. Brady, 31, serving a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum for Donohoe's murder and the credit union robbery, denies involvement and awaits appeal. After evidence on CCTV‑identified cars, the court noted about 15 days of prosecution material remained. The trial will resume on 18 April before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Alan Mitchell.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberations in the case of a man charged with murdering a 24-year-old from County Mayo. Matusz Batiuk, formerly of Carrabeg Estate in Swinford, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael McDonagh, who died from a single stab wound on November 16, 2020. Justice Mary Ellen Ring outlined five possible verdicts available to the jury, ranging from murder to manslaughter verdicts on grounds of self-defence, excessive force, lack of intent to kill, or diminished responsibility. The accused has maintained he acted in self-defence, telling gardaí at the scene that he stabbed Mr McDonagh because he believed his life was in danger. Evidence heard during the trial included testimony from a pathologist regarding the fatal wound and psychiatric assessments of the accused. The judge reminded the jury of conflicting accounts given by a witness present at the property. The jury, comprising nine men and three women, will continue their deliberations on the following day.
In the trial of Michael Scott, who denies murdering his aunt by running over her in an agricultural teleporter, the jury was deliberating for 11 hours and 18 minutes when the court registrar asked if they had reached a unanimous verdict. The judge, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, offered the option of a majority verdict if ten of the twelve jurors agreed, while encouraging them to continue striving for unanimity. The jury has gone home for the evening and will return tomorrow for the fifth day of deliberations. Mr Scott, 58, of Gortanumera, Portumna, Co Galway, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Treacy outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna, on 27 April 2018. The prosecution alleges that he deliberately reversed over Ms Treacy following a long-running land dispute. Mr Scott's lawyers have stated that her death was a tragic accident.
In March 2023 the Court of Appeal quashed the conviction of 55‑year‑old Martin Begley, who had been jailed for five years for sexually assaulting a seven‑year‑old boy between 2019 and 2020. The appeal was based on contradictory evidence from the child, who during cross‑examination repeatedly answered "no" to questions about alleged sexualised behaviour. The Court found that the trial judge erred by refusing the defence's application to withdraw the case on the basis of the child's inconsistent testimony. The Court noted that the child's answers, combined with the lack of clear recollection, fell into an exceptional category that warranted a quash of the conviction. The appeal did not address any other charges or outcomes, and the conviction was overturned without a new trial or sentencing order.
The High Court appeal hearing concerning teacher Enoch Burke and Wilson's Hospital School was adjourned from 9:30am to 11am on Wednesday due to uncertainty over whether Mr Burke had been notified of the earlier start time. Counsel for the school stated they had not communicated the specific time change, and Mr Burke was absent. The judge, Mr Justice Alexander Owens, previously ruled that Mr Burke was in contempt of court for interrupting proceedings and excluded him from the courtroom until he agreed to comply with court rules. Mr Burke declined to provide the required undertaking. The dispute centers on the school's claim that it was entitled to suspend Mr Burke following his objections to a student's transition, while Mr Burke alleges the suspension is unlawful and breaches his religious freedom rights. The judge rejected Mr Burke's claims that case documents had been tampered with, though he asked the school to clarify certain issues. The matter was adjourned to the standard 11am start time to allow for proper notification and attendance.