At the ongoing Roscommon eviction trial, a veterinarian testified that an injured Belgian Shepard dog was euthanised due to severe open wounds and distress following an attack at a property in Falsk, outside Strokestown. The incident occurred on December 16, 2018, five days after the property was repossessed. Patrick Sweeney (44), Martin O'Toole (58), Paul Beirne (56), and David Lawlor (43) have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The charges include false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The prosecution alleges that a group of approximately 30 armed men attacked four security guards present at the property. Security company owner Ian Gordon stated that one of the attackers struck the dog with a baseball bat, causing severe injuries. The trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury.
A 57‑year‑old man, whose identity is protected to safeguard his victim, appealed his conviction for raping his wife between 2003 and 2007. He had also pleaded guilty to raping and assaulting his younger sister between 1978 and 1987. In March 2020, a jury found him guilty of the wife's rapes and the court sentenced him to 13 years' imprisonment, with seven years for the sister's offences and six years for the wife's, to run consecutively with no suspension. The appellant argued that a screen separating him from his wife during trial could have prejudiced the jury, portraying him as "a man to be feared." The Court of Appeal heard the appellant's counsel, Michael Delaney SC, who contended that the screen and the wife's oral evidence of assaults were highly prejudicial and not sufficiently probative.
In the trial of Michael Scott, a farmer accused of murdering his 76‑year‑old aunt, Judge Caroline Biggs has continued her charge for a second day. She has spent about eight hours explaining the evidence and the legal principles the 15‑person jury must apply. The judge clarified that to find Scott guilty of murder, the jury must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that he intended to kill or seriously injure his aunt when he ran over her. If they are not satisfied, they may return a verdict of manslaughter by gross negligence, or acquit him if an accident is reasonably possible. Scott, 58, has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleges he deliberately reversed over his aunt following a long‑running land dispute, while his lawyers claim it was a tragic accident. The judge will resume her charge on Friday, after which three jurors will be discharged, leaving 12 to decide the verdict.
A pathologist told the Central Criminal Court in Dublin that a single stab wound measuring at least 12 centimetres in depth caused the death of a 24-year-old Mayo man by severing a vital artery. Dr Kathleen Han Suyin gave evidence during the trial of Matusz Batiuk, aged 33, formerly of Carrabeg Estate, Swinford, who has pleaded not guilty to murder. The accused is charged with the killing of Michael McDonagh at the housing estate on 16 November 2020. Dr Han Suyin conducted the postmortem and confirmed the wound pierced the right common iliac artery, resulting in extensive and rapid blood loss that proved fatal. She stated the depth of the injury made survival impossible. The pathologist noted that while the wound was deep, it remained unclear whether significant force was applied or whether the victim may have moved into the blade. Forensic evidence presented showed the deceased's blood on the knife recovered, along with trace blood matching a witness. The trial continues before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring.
A 19‑year‑old named Darragh Lyons was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for his role in a savage gang attack that left 17‑year‑old Alanna Quinn Idris permanently blind in her right eye. The attack, which took place on 30 December 2021 on Ballyfermot Road, involved Lyons punching Idris and other members of the gang using a saddle from an electric scooter and a hurl. Idris was struck on the face, fractured her eye socket and lost vision in one eye. She suffered additional injuries and has undergone reconstructive surgery. Lyons pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Idris, assault causing harm to her friend Louis O'Sullivan and violent disorder.
A manager at Donegal Council who dismissed the county lifeguard supervisor over alleged failures to complete ring buoy safety inspections relied solely on hearsay evidence, the Workplace Relations Commission has found. Lisa Dalton's unfair dismissal claim was upheld on 23 March 2023 following her termination in November 2021. A senior council engineer cited concerns that inspections were not appearing in an app database and that lifeguards had been given the impression the work "didn't matter". Ms Dalton disputed these allegations and stated her own inspections were completed. The adjudicating officer noted the council could not produce the complainant's line manager or officials directly involved in the dismissal process to give evidence. The council also failed to establish a procedural basis for dismissal, having not properly notified Ms Dalton that her probation period remained active. Ms Daly ordered Donegal Council to pay €10,000 compensation, finding the employer had not proven poor work performance contributed to the dismissal. The complainant's claim for over €30,000 in lost earnings was reduced due to insufficient mitigation efforts.
The High Court will hear the full dispute between Enoch Burke and Wilson's Hospital School next week, with Mr Justice Alexander Owens presiding. The case, set to begin next Tuesday, is expected to last four days. Burke was suspended from the Co Westmeath secondary school last year and was subject to a High Court injunction that required him to stay away from the school while on administrative leave. He failed to comply, was found in contempt of court, and served 108 days in prison. After his release he continued to breach the injunction and has been fined €700 daily, exceeding €30,000. He was dismissed by the school following a disciplinary hearing, a decision now under appeal. Burke denies wrongdoing, claiming his suspension stems from his opposition to transgenderism and a school directive to use a different pronoun for a student.
Richard Burke, aged 32, of Killygordon, County Donegal, has been found guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility at the Central Criminal Court. He was acquitted of murder in connection with the death of Jasmine McMonagle at Forest Park, Killygordon on January 4, 2019. The jury unanimously agreed on the manslaughter verdict following evidence from two psychiatrists that Burke's mental disorder substantially diminished his responsibility at the time of the killing. The trial judge noted that all evidence pointed toward the manslaughter conclusion, and neither prosecution nor defence disputed the psychiatric findings. Burke had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for April 18, at which the court will hear victim impact statements from Ms McMonagle's family.
A man has been convicted of the murder of a woman in County Donegal in January 2019. The victim, a 28-year-old mother, was fatally beaten and strangled in her home in Killygordon following a distressed emergency call. Gardaí from Lifford attended the property within twenty minutes of the call. Armed response units conducted a forced entry after observing a child at an upstairs window. The accused was subdued with a taser after confronting officers with a hammer and refusing to comply with instructions. During subsequent garda interviews at Letterkenny station, the man admitted to the killing. He claimed he had lost control after becoming aware that the woman had contacted gardaí. Forensic psychiatric evidence presented at trial indicated the accused had experienced psychotic illness, auditory hallucinations, and persistent delusional beliefs about the victim's behaviour. The court heard evidence of his extensive history of substance abuse and previous psychiatric intervention. Two young children were present in the property at the time but were found unharmed.
A senior High Court judge, Mr Justice Charles Meenan, praised a new pre‑trial protocol aimed at reducing litigation against the HSE over the assessment of children with special needs. The protocol, which he described as a "sensible way to proceed", requires applicants to send a pre‑litigation letter to the HSE within seven weeks of a decision they wish to challenge, and the HSE must respond within 14 days. The letter must contain all relevant information about the child and the basis for the complaint. If the matter can be resolved, the HSE should state the proposed resolution in clear terms. Mr Justice Meenan has previously called for a system to curb the rising number of judicial review actions, noting a dramatic increase in cases, averaging seven to eight per week. He welcomed the protocol but clarified it is not a mandatory court rule.
Friends of the Irish Environment CLG (FIE) sought to have its legal aid application rejected by the Legal Aid Board referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union. The Court of Appeal declined to refer the case. FIE had argued that, under Article 47 of the EU Charter on Fundamental Rights, it was entitled to legal aid for certain proceedings, including a High Court challenge to the National Development Plan. The Legal Aid Board, funded by the State, had rejected the application on the basis that the 1995 Civil Legal Aid Act excludes corporate bodies. The High Court upheld the board's decision, and FIE appealed to the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal, with Justices David Barniville, Brian Murray and Seamus Noonan, dismissed FIE's claim that the 1995 Act made it eligible for aid.
The Central Criminal Court trial of three men accused of raping a then-17-year-old in a hotel car park in the Leinster area on December 20, 2017, continued on its sixth day. 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 (22) pleaded not guilty to rape and oral rape. All charges are alleged or contested, with no findings or sentences recorded at this procedural stage. During cross-examination via videolink, the complainant disputed the third defendant's counsel's suggestion that the encounter was consensual. She stated she said no and did not participate. Defence counsel Mark Nicholas SC argued it was improbable the complainant did not notice a security guard arriving, noting the guard is expected to testify to seeing sexual activity. The complainant maintained she saw no one else. She explained she did not seek help due to fear and was in "fight or flight" mode. She admitted to using a sibling's phone to message a friend, which counsel suggested was an attempt to deceive. The complainant stated she told her mother two days later, leading to a Rape Crisis Centre referral. The trial continues before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and the jury.
Fire brigade officers gave evidence on day 13 of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court concerning an incident at a property near Strokestown, County Roscommon, on 16 December 2018. Peter Carney, station officer at Elfin fire station, described arriving at the repossessed farmhouse at Falsk to find vehicles on fire and three or four seriously injured security personnel outside. He told the jury that fire officers cordoned off the property following a risk assessment and controlled access to the scene. Brendan Foy, station officer at Strokestown fire station, testified that security guards requested re-entry but were prevented from doing so due to safety concerns and the site being a crime scene. He confirmed standard procedure involved erecting cordon tape and stationing an officer to prevent tampering with evidence. Four men, Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne and David Lawlor, have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and arson. The trial before Judge Martina Baxter continues.
Luke Strong, 25, of Saul Road, Crumlin, was sentenced to three years in prison for assault causing harm after he threw a shard from a broken ceramic bowl into the eye of a 59‑year‑old neighbour during a dispute on 6 September 2021. The incident stemmed from a quarrel between the victim's sister and her neighbours over a blocked driveway. Strong, who had not started the fight, was found to have acted recklessly, and the judge noted his remorse and guilty plea. The victim lost sight in his left eye and suffered serious injury. Strong had 53 prior convictions, including threats to kill and robbery, and had a chaotic background involving drug abuse from age 13. The sentence was back‑dated to 4 March 2023.
An 18‑year‑old named Alanna Quinn Idris was attacked on 30 December 2021 by a gang of four youths. She was blinded in one eye after being struck on the face with the saddle of an electric scooter and knocked unconscious. The attack, described by Garda Ciaran Murray as an organised, retaliatory assault, also involved a brief verbal dispute at a bus stop and subsequent violence against her friend Louis O'Sullivan. Darragh Lyons (19) pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and violent disorder and will be sentenced tomorrow. Lyons admitted assaulting O'Sullivan but denied involvement in the abusive behaviour on the bus. Two other men are facing trial and a fourth could not be identified. Ms Quinn Idris gave a victim impact statement, describing the loss of confidence, vision and the lasting emotional trauma caused by the attack. The court heard that she has undergone reconstructive surgery and may need a prosthetic eye.
The Central Criminal Court in Monaghan heard testimony on 22 March from two psychiatrists who both concluded that Richard Burke was suffering from a mental disorder that substantially diminished his responsibility at the time of the alleged killing. Mr Burke, aged 32, of Killygordon, County Donegal, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in relation to the death of Jasmine McMonagle at Forest Park, Killygordon on 4 January 2019. Forensic psychiatrist Dr Anthony Kearns told the jury that Mr Burke reported persistent delusional beliefs about Ms McMonagle's infidelity and claims she had given drugs to her children, beliefs found to be entirely false and without foundation. Dr Kearns also noted Mr Burke's history of substance abuse beginning in adolescence and periods of homelessness. Consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Dearbhála Duffy stated Mr Burke was acutely psychotic at the time of the alleged offences and shortly thereafter. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns and jury.
A key witness in a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court gave conflicting evidence regarding events at a house in Swinford, County Mayo, on November 16, 2020. Paul Maughan testified that he did not witness the fatal stabbing of Michael McDonagh (24), despite having previously told gardaí that the accused "went for" the deceased with a knife. Mr Maughan admitted breaking into the home of the accused, Matusz Batiuk (33), and stabbing him three months before Mr McDonagh's death, for which he is currently serving a prison sentence. The witness stated that Mr McDonagh carried a carpet knife that evening. When cross-examined, Mr Maughan acknowledged making inaccurate statements to gardaí, including claims that the accused had attacked him, which he later denied. Mr Batiuk has pleaded not guilty to murder. He maintains he believed his life was in danger when he inflicted the fatal wound. The trial continues before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring.
In the trial of Michael Scott, a 58‑year‑old from Gortanumera, Portumna, the jury is instructed that they may return a manslaughter verdict if they find he was grossly negligent in reversing his agricultural teleporter over his 76‑year‑old aunt, Ms Treacy, on 27 April 2018. The judge explained that to convict of murder the jury must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Scott intended to kill or seriously injure Ms Treacy. If that standard is not met, the jury may consider manslaughter by gross negligence, which does not require proof of intent. The judge also clarified that a single lie by Scott is not automatically evidence of guilt; it must be deliberate and intended to conceal guilt. He further explained that evidence of prior misconduct, such as failing to remove rubbish or turning off her heating, is not proof of a propensity to kill but provides context for the relationship. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin court, Judge Eileen Creedon directed a jury to find Jamie Berry (27) and Stephen Mulvey (31) not guilty of attempted murder and related charges because the prosecution's evidence was deemed insufficiently strong. The case involved an alleged shooting of a 17‑year‑old at a residential estate on 24 February 2021, with the defendants accused of being the shooter and an accomplice. The judge highlighted the lack of direct evidence linking the men to the crime scene, noting that CCTV footage did not show them at the shooting, and that a gun found in a burned Hyundai could not be tied to either. He also cited the absence of DNA, phone, social‑media or motive evidence. The defence argued that the circumstantial case was too tenuous, and the judge agreed, withdrawing all charges from the jury. The trial had reached its 11th day when the directed verdict was given.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 22 March 2023, Carl Powell, aged 34, was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment for his mid‑ranking role in a €1.5 million heroin, cannabis and cocaine operation. Powell, a UK national from Liverpool, pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale and to possessing proceeds of crime. He had 20 prior convictions, including a UK sentence for cultivating cannabis. Gary Graham, aged 48, a "foot soldier" from Dublin, received eight and a half years' jail for a lower‑level drug‑dealing offence. Graham pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis for sale and had two previous convictions, one a serious drug‑dealing case. Both men were arrested after Gardaí raids in Palmerstown and Dublin 2, where large quantities of drugs and cash were seized. The sentences were back‑dated to June 2022, when the men entered custody.
Two Dublin women, Holly McNevin (28) and Sarah Redmond (27), were jailed for two years after a Garda stop on Drimnagh Road on 20 September 2021 revealed over €65,000 worth of cannabis in a Fiat Brava and in Redmond's apartment. McNevin, driving, admitted possession of the drugs in the car and the cash seized, while Redmond admitted allowing her home to be used for storage. McNevin had two prior traffic convictions; Redmond had none. Both pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply. The court noted their low risk of re‑offending and strong family support but found them responsible for the drug activity, sentencing them to prison. The case highlighted the seriousness of drug possession and the court's willingness to impose custodial sentences even for lower‑level dealers.
David Gregan, 43, of Swords, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of making a false statement to a solicitor on October 20, 2017. The court heard that Gregan falsely claimed to have suffered soft tissue injuries in a 2017 collision between a Dublin Bus and a car registered to Trinity College. An anti-fraud investigator reviewed CCTV footage and determined Gregan was not near enough to be hit by the vehicles. Although Gregan withdrew his claim in 2018 and no payment was made, the parties incurred €9,000 in legal fees. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Gregan had "succumbed to the temptation of what he thought was easy money." Considering Gregan's lack of previous convictions, his 25 years of work in the security industry, and his history of mental health difficulties, the judge ruled that a custodial sentence was not appropriate. He sentenced Gregan to 150 hours of community service in lieu of imprisonment. However, the judge adjourned the case to allow the Probation Service to assess Gregan's suitability for the order. The matter is scheduled to return to court on June 12.
A High Court case brought by a student with ADHD, ASD and anxiety, represented by her mother, challenged a secondary school's refusal to grant her an exemption from studying Irish. The student had applied for an exemption under the Department of Education Circular 'Exemption from the Study of Irish', but the school's board of management denied it, citing that she did not meet the criteria in place when the case began in late 2021. The student's mother argued that the denial deprived her daughter of an appropriate education and infringed her constitutional rights, citing the psychological impact of learning Irish. The action sought declarations that the circular unlawfully interfered with the student's rights and that the school's policy was irrational, unreasonable and unconstitutional. On 22 March 2023, Mr Justice Charles Meenan was informed that the case had been resolved in favour of the student following out‑of‑court talks, and the proceedings could be struck out.
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) has brought High Court proceedings against the Garda Commissioner to stop the unilateral imposition of a new rostering schedule for its 2,500 members. AGSI argues that the proposed roster, intended to replace the Covid‑19 contingency arrangement, would worsen members' health, safety and family life by reducing free days and increasing fatigue. The current Covid‑19 roster, which required four days on of 12 hours followed by four days off, is set to expire in October. AGSI claims the Commissioner has failed to reach an agreement and may impose a new roster without its consent, breaching EU law and the legitimate expectation of its members. The court has granted AGSI permission to serve notice of the injunction proceedings, with the matter returnable next Tuesday.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 22 March 2023, the court set a trial date of 31 October for Nathan Kinsella, 44, and his partner Jennifer Dunne, 38, who are charged with six money‑laundering offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. The charges involve converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using funds deposited in an AIB account between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2019, with the defendants allegedly knowing or recklessly believing the funds were proceeds of criminal conduct. Barrister Diarmaid McGuinness SC requested a five‑week trial, noting a health factor that might affect full sitting days for Kinsella. The court agreed to vary Kinsella's bail from three to one Garda‑station visits per week. Both defendants remain on bail until 30 July, when the case will be next mentioned.
The Central Criminal Court trial of three men accused of raping a 17-year-old in a hotel car park in the Leinster area on December 20, 2017, continued on its sixth day. 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 22, pleaded not guilty to rape and oral rape. During cross-examination, the complainant testified that she did not consent to the alleged acts, stating she was scared and that the men became aggressive. She told counsel for the second defendant that she did not think she would have to shout no. Defense counsel for the first defendant suggested she had lied about the timing of her awareness and that she agreed to go for a walk, allegations she denied. The complainant stated she removed her trousers because the first defendant was going to do it anyway. She also denied suggestions that she lied to gardaí about the time before entering the vehicle or that she deleted apps to cover her tracks. The complainant confirmed she was sober and had not met the defendants before that evening. The trial continues before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and the jury.
Matthew Johnstone, aged 33, received a two‑year suspended sentence for criminal damage of data after illegally accessing the iCloud accounts of three individuals in 2016 and 2017. Johnstone, who had a prior 2018 conviction for possession of child pornography and a 2021 three‑year sentence with the final two years suspended, pleaded guilty to the data‑damage offence. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the offences were discovered during the same period the child‑pornography case was investigated. Judge Martin Nolan considered whether the two cases would have been dealt with together and concluded that the original prison term would likely not have been extended. He noted no evidence of harm or dissemination of the accessed data, and that Johnstone's motivation appeared to be curiosity. The judge imposed the suspended sentence, warning that further misconduct would lead to imprisonment.
A man with a Roscommon address has been sentenced following a burglary in Dublin over a decade ago. Tomasz Bebenek, aged 34, of Harbour Road, Tarmonbarry, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to trespass and theft at a residence in Rathgar on 15 March 2010. He took two laptops, a camera, a camcorder and a music device valued at €1,080, none of which were recovered. Blood evidence left at the scene remained unmatched until 2019, when changes to European DNA sharing procedures enabled An Garda Síochána to identify Bebenek through a UK database match. Judge Martin Nolan imposed an 18-month sentence, backdated to September 2022. The court heard Bebenek has 44 previous convictions and is currently in custody pending a European Arrest Warrant relating to matters in Poland.
A security guard gave evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding an attack on a repossessed farm at Falsk, near Strokestown, County Roscommon, on 16 December 2018. The witness told the court he was struck repeatedly, cut on the legs with a meat cleaver, doused in petrol, and bound with cable ties during an assault by a large group of armed men. The incident occurred five days after the property's repossession. Four men—Patrick Sweeney of County Donegal, Martin O'Toole of County Mayo, Paul Beirne of County Roscommon, and David Lawlor of County Meath—have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder, and robbery. The trial is ongoing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Under cross-examination, counsel challenged inconsistencies between the witness's account to gardaí and his testimony regarding events in the kitchen during the attack.
In the Central Criminal Court, Michael Scott, 58, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 76‑year‑old aunt Chrissie Treacy on 27 April 2018. Prosecutor Dean Kelly SC argued that Scott deliberately reversed an agricultural teleporter over Treacy, citing evidence of clear threats, a history of cruelty, and a dispute over 140 acres of land. He described the teleporter's impact as geometrically precise, crushing Treacy's body and removing flesh from her left hand. Defence counsel Paul Greene SC contended that the evidence suggested an accidental death, questioning the absence of disturbance at Treacy's home and the lack of evidence that she had entered the yard. He urged the jury to consider the prosecution's failure to prove beyond a reasonable doubt and to assess Scott's intent at the time of the incident. The case remains at the jury's deliberation stage.
Timmy O'Reilly, 48, of Kilkenny, was jailed after the Court of Appeal overturned his fully‑suspended 18‑month sentence for laundering over €120,000 while receiving social welfare. The appeal court, led by Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, found the original sentence unduly lenient and re‑sentenced him to 18 months with the final six months suspended. O'Reilly had pleaded guilty to eight counts of money‑laundering under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010, involving 32 offences linked to €125,000 in an Irish Life account and two credit‑union accounts over eight years. He also had a separate suspended sentence for assault causing harm. The State argued the amount laundered and the length of time involved warranted custodial punishment, while O'Reilly's counsel highlighted his lack of a broader criminal scheme and his role as a community member.
In March 2023 the Court of Appeal quashed the conviction of a 50‑year‑old man who had been sentenced to four years' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a six‑year‑old girl. The conviction had been secured in a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in May 2021 after the man pleaded not guilty. The appeal was based on the fact that the girl, who was 11 at the time of the trial, had no memory of the alleged assault and could only offer flashbacks when her video interview was played. The Court held that this lack of memory prevented the man from exercising his right to cross‑examine the child, thereby rendering the trial unfair. Consequently the Court ordered the conviction to be quashed, citing a real risk of an unfair trial due to the child's impaired memory.
A senior Trinity College manager, Brendan Leahy, who was sacked after pleading guilty to sexual assault, has been informed by the Workplace Relations Commission that the Probation Act does not provide employment protection. Leahy's dismissal was upheld by the employment tribunal, which rejected his claim under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The tribunal heard that Leahy's District Court conviction on 24 March 2021, which resulted in a three-month suspended prison sentence and a €1,000 fine, was widely reported in the media. This was followed by a further allegation of sexual harassment against him by a former employee, identified as Ms X. Leahy admitted to the sexual assault charge and was given the Probation Act in July 2021. However, the tribunal found that his failure to inform his employer of the charge before the hearing left the college with only the information of his guilty plea and the Probation Act. The tribunal ruled that Trinity College was entitled to consider the sequence of events as serious misconduct and upheld the finding of sexual harassment in respect of the second allegation. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
Richard Burke, aged thirty-two and from Killygordon in County Donegal, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of Jasmine McMonagle at Forest Park on January 4, 2019. The Central Criminal Court trial, sitting in Monaghan, heard evidence that Mr Burke told gardaí during interviews at Letterkenny Garda Station that he punched and strangled Ms McMonagle with a rope after discovering she had contacted gardaí for assistance. He described losing control of his temper, stating his mind went blank during the assault. A post mortem examination confirmed Ms McMonagle died from ligature strangulation with blunt and sharp force injuries as contributing factors. The court heard gardaí responded to a 999 call within twenty minutes and encountered Mr Burke at the scene holding a meat cleaver, which he used to strike an officer's clothing. Ms McMonagle's two young daughters were found unharmed in the property. The trial continues.
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 committed false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal at Falsk, Strokestown, on December 16, 2018. The trial is currently ongoing before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury. Evidence presented includes testimony from KBC Bank officer Danny Noone, who stated the bank repossessed the property in December 2018 after legal proceedings began in 2009. Noone indicated that public records showed the mortgage holder owned approximately 170 acres and other residential properties. Defense counsel Blaise O'Carroll SC argued that the execution order used for the eviction was invalid due to a missing affidavit of non-compliance. A security guard witness described an attack by approximately 30 armed men who forced entry into the farmhouse, using weapons including batons, crowbars, and a chainsaw. The witness reported being struck and overpowered while attempting to defend himself and colleagues. The trial continues with further evidence scheduled for presentation.
Karina Cully, 36, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment after stealing €629,000 from a small office supplies company over seven years. She transferred the money to her personal account and spent it on holidays and eating out. Cully pleaded guilty to theft, forgery, deception in a mortgage application and money laundering between 2014 and 2021. She admitted the theft was a compulsive habit she could not stop. The court noted her early guilty plea, full admissions and cooperation, and her strong work record. She had no prior convictions. The judge highlighted the persistent nature of the theft from a small enterprise where she was known daily. The prosecution had evidence of unauthorised transfers and forged mortgage documents. Cully's apology and remorse were considered, but the sentence reflected the seriousness of the repeated theft.
A 40‑year‑old man from Cork was sentenced to four years in prison in June 2021 for raping his younger sister when she was between five and nine and for sexually assaulting her again when she was 16 and he was 21. He denied both offences and had no prior convictions. In a Court of Appeal hearing on 20 March 2023, his counsel argued that the time elapsed between the offences should have been considered for mitigation, claiming the sexual‑assault sentence was disproportionate. The appeal was dismissed. The judges noted the victim's age, the breach of trust, and the fact that she had to fight off her brother during the assault. They said the sentence was proper and just, and that no part of it had been suspended. The appeal was rejected, leaving the original four‑year custodial term in place.
A 33-year-old Polish man has pleaded not guilty to murdering a 24-year-old at Carrabeg Estate in Swinford, Co Mayo on 16 November 2020. The Central Criminal Court heard that Matusz Batiuk told gardai he stabbed the deceased in self-defence after believing his life was in danger. The prosecution contends that when Mr Batiuk retrieved a kitchen knife and inflicted a single stab wound to the abdomen, he acted with intent to kill. Evidence will include recordings of emergency calls made by the accused on the night in question and garda interviews. The court heard the deceased was intoxicated at the time and that there were no defensive wounds on his body. Expert psychiatric evidence concerning the accused's diagnosed schizophrenia will be heard. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring is presiding over the trial with a jury of nine men and three women. The case is expected to last two weeks.
A murder trial opened at the Central Criminal Court in Monaghan on 20 March regarding the death of Jasmine McMonagle at Forest Park, Killygordon, County Donegal on 4 January 2019. Richard Burke, aged 32, of Killygordon pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The State outlined that Ms McMonagle, a mother of two, died from strangulation and blows inflicted by her former partner. Gardaí from Lifford responded to her emergency call that morning and discovered her body after a three-hour standoff during which Burke wielded a meat cleaver. Her children were found unharmed. The trial will focus on Burke's mental state at the time of the killing rather than the circumstances of death, which he acknowledges. Two consultant psychiatrists will give evidence that Burke suffered from a mental disorder substantially diminishing his responsibility. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns.
In a High Court case, a shareholder of Hears Technology Limited alleges that entertainer John Bishop terminated all staff contracts on 24 June while attending Glastonbury, and ended the company's lease in County Kilkenny, actions Bishop denies. Bishop's solicitor says employment law was followed and redundancies were forced by BAK Holdings Limited's attempts to scuttle the firm. BAK claims Bishop's conduct is oppressive, seeking a declaration and compensation or purchase of BAK's 42.5 % shareholding. Hears, which also claims BAK and director Brendan Morrissey defrauded it of about €1 million, has denied the fraud allegations. The dispute involves two sets of proceedings before the High Court, one for oppression and one for alleged fraud, with the judge adjourned the matter for a month to allow a stay application. The case remains pending.
The Workplace Relations Commission has ordered Work Web West Ltd, trading as Employability Mayo, to pay Ashling Kempton €1,436.32 in unpaid wages. The adjudicating officer found that the organization unlawfully cut Ms. Kempton's weekly pay by €30.56 for 47 weeks between January and December last year. This decision upholds both of Ms. Kempton's complaints, marking the second successful claim against the employer on this issue in six months, bringing her total recovery to €2,231.14. The tribunal determined that annual salary increments were part of her contract, based on a scale approved by the now-disbanded FÁS in 2008. The employer argued it was caught in the middle of a funding shortfall because the Department of Social Protection refused to recognize salary commitments previously made by FÁS. The adjudicating officer noted that while the department stated remuneration was a matter for the employer, all funding was provided by the state. The officer expressed sympathy for the non-profit organization's predicament but ruled the pay cut unlawful. Ms. Kempton, represented by the Siptu Workers' Rights Centre, stated she was the only employee affected by the cut. The employer's coordinator confirmed that political representations to the minister had failed to secure the necessary funds.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 20 March 2023, the State successfully appealed the sentence imposed on William Lyons, a 49‑year‑old from Limerick, for his role in a "vigilante mob" attack on a woman in Caherconlish on 17 February 2021. Lyons and three others entered the victim's home with faces covered and weapons, threatening to kill her and causing damage to the property. He had pleaded guilty to burglary, making a threat to kill and violent disorder. The original sentencing court had imposed a headline sentence of five years, reduced to two‑and‑a‑half years after a discount of 18 months for the guilty plea and other mitigating factors, and suspended an additional year for rehabilitation. The Court of Appeal found this to be unduly lenient, noting the seriousness of the offence and the physical and psychological harm inflicted, and ordered a re‑sentencing hearing for 28 March 2023.
During the trial of Michael Scott for the murder of his 76‑year‑old aunt Chrissie Treacy, engineer Dr Mark Jordan testified that he is not a "hired gun" and that his duty is to the court and to the oath. He explained that he provides technical advice using the scientific method and that he would inform a client if his advice conflicted with their instructions. Jordan defended a statement in his report that a jury might find it difficult to persuade that a driver of a teleporter would not know they had driven over a large woman, arguing that it was a reasonable observation. He also described the impact that caused Ms Treacy's death, noting that her injuries suggested she was upright when struck by the rear left wheel of the teleporter, and that the front wheel had already passed her when she fell. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
The murder trial of James Kilroy at the Central Criminal Court collapsed on Monday due to an unexpected and complex matter that emerged during proceedings. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring discharged the jury of ten men and two women, having sat since March 8, after informing them that an unforeseen issue had arisen unknown to all parties. The judge said both the prosecution and defence required further time to resolve the matter and that no party was at fault. Mr Kilroy, aged 49, from Kilbree Lower, Westport, County Mayo, is charged with murdering his wife Valerie French Kilroy, aged 41, at their home between June 13 and 14, 2019. He had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The defence had made formal admissions that Mr Kilroy killed his wife. The trial was listed for mention on March 27, with the judge expressing hope that a future trial date could be reserved.
In March 2023 the Workplace Relations Commission awarded €10,000 to bartender Ms Z for discriminatory constructive dismissal after a supervisor's voice note, recorded by Ms Z, said she had been ordered to "get rid" of her because of her anxiety disorder. Ms Z had asked her supervisor to keep her condition private and later reported stress and humiliation, claiming she had no alternative but to quit. The commission found that the voice note's language was deeply offensive and indicated an intention to dismiss Ms Z, and that the employer had no authority to carry out the termination. The hospitality group denied any intention to sack Ms Z, and the bar manager admitted he was not authorised to dismiss staff. The commission upheld Ms Z's complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998 and ordered compensation.
Adam Schuster, 21, pleaded guilty to demanding €3,500 from a woman in Lucan in June 2020 and to armed burglary in September 2020. He was arrested on the victim's property after a short chase and admitted to carrying a knife. The victim, who had to move homes due to fear, said the incidents caused her family to break up. Schuster's mother testified that he was under pressure from drug debt and had been receiving threatening calls. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to a four‑year term, suspended in full on strict conditions, including two years of probation. The court noted his lack of prior convictions, his efforts to rehabilitate, and his moderate risk of re‑offending. The judge described the crimes as an appalling start to his adult life and a huge violation of the homeowner's safety.
Rebecca Kavanagh, a 30‑year‑old former financial services worker, was found in her family home holding cannabis with a street value of €58,998. She pleaded guilty to one count of possession at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Kavanagh said she kept the drugs to pay a debt and later continued to trade with the dealer for personal use. She has no prior convictions. The court heard she has struggled with anxiety and depression, her partner left after their baby was born, and she began using cannabis. Since her arrest she has become drug‑free, attends counselling, and returned to work as a financial analyst. The Probation Service assessed her as low risk of re‑offending. Judge Dara Hayes imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspended it entirely, and noted her cooperation, guilty plea, and the impact on her child. The sentence was handed down with Kavanagh visibly emotional.
Matusz Batiuk, a 33-year-old man formerly residing in Carrabeg Estate, Swinford, Co Mayo, entered a not guilty plea at the Central Criminal Court on 20 March 2023 to the charge of murdering Michael McDonagh, aged 24. The alleged murder occurred at the housing estate in Swinford on 16 November 2020. Justice Mary Ellen Ring empanelled a jury of nine men and three women to hear the trial, which commenced that afternoon and was anticipated to conclude within two weeks. The court was informed that the majority of witnesses in the case originate from the Mayo region, with the deceased having connections to the Ballyhaunis and Knock areas. The accused has resided in Ireland since approximately 2006 or 2007.
A jury has been sworn in at the Central Criminal Court in Monaghan to hear the trial of a 32-year-old man charged with the murder of Jasmine McMonagle in County Donegal in January 2019. Richard Burke, with an address in Killygordon, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The alleged offence occurred at Forest Park, Killygordon on 4 January 2019. Mr Justice Paul Burns informed the jury panel of twelve that the trial is expected to last approximately two weeks. The prosecution will open its case this afternoon. Both the accused and the deceased were resident in Killygordon at the time of the alleged incident.