Earl McKevitt, a 51-year-old man from Avondale Park in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, pleaded guilty to the single charge of murdering Conor O'Brien, 19, at An Seanchrann on Trim Road in Enfield, Co Meath. The alleged incident occurred on a date between August 26 and August 27, 2021, both dates inclusive. Mr John Fitzgerald SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, informed Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court that McKevitt could be arraigned on count one of the indictment, noting that further counts may be required in due course. Upon arraignment on Thursday morning, McKevitt admitted to the charge. The judge remanded McKevitt in custody until March 3, when he will be sentenced. This procedural stage constitutes a remand for sentencing rather than a final conclusion of the case.
Dr Bruno Seigle‑Murandi, a pharmacovigilance manager at Roche Products Ireland, alleged to the Workplace Relations Commission that Roche's Irish arm had distributed non‑compliant marketing literature with a commercial purpose. He claimed that after a 2019 review, some oncologists received letters instructing them to discard all Roche literature and to advise patients to visit the practice. Seigle‑Murandi said Roche retaliated against him when he raised the issue, alleging a cover‑up to protect marketing and medical departments. Roche denies retaliation and says it acted immediately, notifying the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), which closed its file in February 2020. Seigle‑Murandi was dismissed for gross misconduct after refusing to comply with an internal audit and sending confidential emails from a personal account. The case was adjourned to Friday.
The High Court appointed Ken Fennell and Andrew O'Leary of Interpath Advisory Services as provisional liquidators for Marco Polo Network Operations (Ireland) Limited, a software firm that supplies online payment platforms to corporate customers. The appointment followed the collapse of a proposed US$12 million partnership with Bank of America, which had been negotiating a strategic alliance to replace the bank's internal account automation service. The company, which has been trading since 2016 and employs 91 people, now faces debts exceeding €5.2 million, with current liabilities outstripping assets by €2.5 million. Revenue is the largest creditor, owed €2.6 million. The liquidators were granted extensive powers to sell or preserve core assets, negotiate with employees, and manage the firm's business, with directors required to submit statements of affairs within 21 days. The matter was adjourned to early March.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Orla Crowe began giving directions to a jury of twelve in the trial of Ms Ciara Kelleher, 51, a former financial services manager. Kelleher is charged with one count of conspiring to defraud investors, clients and customers of Custom House Capital Ltd. The alleged conspiracy involved intentionally misleading investors about the location or status of their assets between October 2008 and July 2011. The judge outlined the evidence presented so far, and the trial is ongoing. Ciara Kelleher pleaded not guilty. Custom House Capital pleaded not guilty.
Linda Mitchell, 54, worked at Ballyfermot Pharmacy from 2011 until her thefts were discovered in early 2020. Between August 2019 and February 2020 she stole about €14,000 by manipulating tills and voiding sales while taking 24 Nurofen Plus tablets a day, indicating a codeine addiction. The pharmacy owner, Mr. Tadgh Dillane, suspected irregularities, installed CCTV, and hired Tonic Consultancy to investigate. Mitchell pleaded guilty and repaid €7,500, with an additional €6,500 to be paid within a week. The court, noting her remorse and lack of prior convictions, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, ordering her to remain of good behaviour and to hand over the remaining restitution. She has no previous convictions, is now employed again, and has two adult children. The case highlighted the breach of trust and significant financial loss.
Daniel Lynch, aged 25, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for coercive control of his pregnant partner between 19 September 2020 and 15 January 2022. He had full access to her phone and social media, took her money every Monday, and verbally abused her, telling her no one loved her and hoping she would miscarry. He threatened to kill her in a WhatsApp voice message on 15 January 2022, breaching a protection order. He also left a voicemail saying he would murder her the first chance he got. The judge noted his lack of remorse and imposed a concurrent sentence of three and a half years, suspending the final six months, with strict conditions including victim‑focused work and substance‑abuse treatment. The offence of coercive control carries a maximum penalty of five years. The court heard the victim's impact statement describing physical abuse, isolation, and drug use. The sentence reflects the seriousness of Lynch's conduct.
Four men have gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accused of involvement in a sustained and brutal attack on security personnel at a repossessed property near Strokestown, County Roscommon in December 2018. Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne and David Lawlor each face 17 charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and arson. The prosecution alleges that approximately 20 to 30 people arrived at the rural house around 5am on 16 December 2018, armed with various weapons, and attacked four security guards who were guarding the property. The court heard that the guards were seriously assaulted, had their hands tied with cable ties and their shoes removed. A German Shepherd dog at the property was beaten and subsequently had to be put down. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty. The prosecution intends to rely on the legal principle of joint enterprise to establish liability. The trial, before Judge Martin Baxter, is scheduled to run for five weeks.
Maurice Kiely, a Dublin musician, has sued U2 Ltd for damages, alleging that the band unlawfully used a song he claims to have written, titled "A Man and A Woman." He says he composed the track in the 1990s, performed it for U2 bassist Adam Clayton, and agreed that the band could perform it under certain conditions. Kiely contends that U2 breached the contract and his copyright by performing the song live and crediting it to Bono and the Edge on their 2004 album *How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb*. The company, represented by Kelley Smith SC, denies all allegations. Kiely, representing himself, has requested the court to address his interrogatories, which the company has refused to answer, claiming irrelevance. Mr Justice Brian O'Moore adjourned the pre‑trial motion to 10 March, citing a full March docket but acknowledging the plaintiff's medical urgency for an earlier hearing. The case remains pending.
Stephen Silver (46), from Aughavard in Foxford, County Mayo, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the murder of Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. During evidence, Mr Silver described experiencing mental health episodes since age nineteen, including believing himself to be "the second coming of Jesus" and experiencing paranoid delusions. He told the court he has been hospitalised between sixteen and seventeen times and has schizoaffective disorder. On the day of the incident, Mr Silver said he was at a hotel where he became suspicious of companions and believed English builders present were members of the SAS. He stated he checked underneath his van for explosives due to paranoia and fear. The defence argues Mr Silver's state of mind at the time of the shooting is the central issue in the case. The trial before Ms Justice Burns continues.
A former detective garda told the Special Criminal Court how he feared for his life during an armed robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, County Louth, on 25 January 2013, when a man pointed a shotgun at his face and threatened to shoot. The officer recounted discovering his colleague Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe fatally wounded by a gunshot to the head following the incident. A credit union volunteer also gave evidence, describing how a robber smashed her car window and demanded money while she heard gunshots outside. Brendan Treanor, aged 34, formerly of Dundalk, and James Flynn, aged 32, from South Armagh, have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burgle residential premises and to robbing seven thousand euro from the credit union. Aaron Brady, previously convicted of Detective Garda Donohoe's murder, is serving a life sentence with a forty-year minimum term and is appealing his conviction. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges.
Kamil Naumczyk, 40, was sentenced to 240 hours of community service in lieu of an 18‑month jail term for punching an eight‑year‑old boy in the face after a dispute involving his daughters. The incident occurred in a back garden near a cabin when Naumczyk followed the boys and struck the child, causing a broken nose and a deviated septum that required surgery. Naumczyk pleaded guilty to assaulting a child on 8 May 2021 and had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan noted Naumczyk's immediate admission, remorse, cooperation with Gardaí, long work history, family responsibilities and lack of previous offences. The judge considered monetary compensation but deemed it inappropriate for a minor. Naumczyk's suitability for community service will be assessed before the final sentence is imposed on 3 May. The case highlights the seriousness of assaulting a minor and the court's emphasis on rehabilitation.
Brian Ferns, aged 38, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for setting fire to his mother's house in Clondalkin, Dublin, causing damage of €91,240. In April 2020, Ferns repeatedly called his mother, demanding she travel to Dublin to give him money for drugs or he would burn the family home. On 3 April, he intentionally set a mattress on fire in his bedroom; the fire brigade found the blaze started upstairs. Ferns hindered the firefighters and later claimed the fire was accidental. He pleaded guilty to one count of arson, an offence with a maximum life sentence. He has seven prior convictions, including criminal damage and drug possession. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted Ferns' deliberate intent and imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final 15 months under conditions. The court highlighted Ferns' mental health issues and his participation in a rehabilitation programme. The sentence reflects the seriousness of arson and the potential danger it poses.
Ciara Kelleher, 51, of Dublin 7, pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiring to defraud investors in Custom House Capital (CHC) between October 2008 and July 2011. Defence counsel Michael Bowman argued that Kelleher was not a "goalkeeper" who would have prevented the disclosure of client fund locations. He claimed she was not brought into the inner circle by CHC executives and only encountered relevant accounts when escalated to her. Bowman highlighted emails showing Kelleher's attempts to clarify client instructions and to resolve issues with the finance department, rather than to facilitate a conspiracy. He also noted her efforts to transfer client money to a better‑yielding institution and her cooperation with Appian Asset Management. The trial judge has begun directing the jury, with proceedings to continue tomorrow.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a direct appeal by John O'Meara and his three children against the Minister for Social Protection's refusal to grant them the Widower's Pension. O'Meara's partner, Michelle Batey, died of Covid‑19 in January 2021 after a 20‑year cohabitation. The applicants argued that sections of the 2005 Social Welfare Consolidation Act that exclude non‑married partners from the pension amount to discrimination. The High Court, in a decision by Mr Justice Mark Heslin, rejected the claim, stating that the pension is intended for married spouses or formal civil partners and does not apply to cohabiting couples or children. The Supreme Court panel, comprising Mr Justice Peter Charleton, Mr Justice Seamus Woulfe and Mr Justice Maurice Collins, granted leave to hear the appeal, noting that it raises complex issues of public importance, including the constitutionality of the Act and the purpose of the pension. A hearing date will be set later.
In February 2023 the Court of Appeal upheld a seven‑year jail term for a Louth resident convicted of raping a 21‑year‑old woman at a May 2017 house party. The defendant had pleaded not guilty, was found guilty by a jury, and received an eight‑year sentence with the final year suspended. He appealed, arguing the headline nine‑year sentence was too high and that mitigating factors had not been adequately considered. The appeal was dismissed. The court noted that the defendant's strategy at trial—refusing to admit guilt—forced the victim to give evidence in the witness box, causing her significant trauma. The judge confirmed the headline sentence was within the appropriate range and that no error in principle had occurred. The case remains at the appellate level with the original seven‑year term in force.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of a 38‑year‑old man who had been sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with two years suspended, for repeatedly defiling and sexually assaulting a girl who was 13 when the first offence occurred. The man had pleaded guilty to defilement of a child under 15, defilement of a child under 17 and a single count of sexual assault. He claimed he believed the girl was 16 and that he had ceased the relationship when he discovered her true age, but he returned and continued the abuse for over three years, during which the girl gave birth to their daughter at age 15. The appeal argued the sentence was excessive, citing the man's early age and the fact that he had pleaded guilty, but the court upheld the judge's decision, noting the protracted nature of the abuse, the man's violent and manipulative conduct, and the lack of mitigation from the families.
Stephen Silver (46), from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court on a charge of murdering Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon, on 17 June 2020. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury has been directed that the central issue concerns his state of mind at the time of the shooting. Video footage from his fifth police interview, conducted on 19 June 2020, was viewed in court on Tuesday. In the footage, Mr Silver stated the garda would not be dead had he remained in his vehicle. Detective Inspector Brian Hanley put it to the accused that Garda Horkan had identified himself and announced an arrest for assault, and that Mr Silver was aware of the firearm the garda carried. Mr Silver declined to respond. Witness statements were read to the court, including one from a resident of Castlerea who heard shouting and gunshots in rapid succession.
In the Central Criminal Court, a care worker testified that the dispute over land between Chrissie Treacy and her nephew Michael Scott became more apparent in the ten weeks before Treacy's death. The care worker, who had looked after Treacy from 2016 until her death in April 2018, described Treacy's physical frailty and occasional low mood, noting that she was "subdued" and "down on herself" during that period. She also reported that Treacy's concerns about her welfare were raised with her coordinator. The court heard that Treacy and her brothers farmed about 140 acres at Derryhiney, that after their deaths Michael Scott owned half the land and Treacy owned the other half, and that she had leased both her Derryhiney and Kiltormer farms to him. The trial continues with the case that Michael Scott, aged 58, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 76‑year‑old aunt on 27 April 2018.
In February 2021, 20‑year‑old Gavin Dooner stole a delivery cyclist's electric bike outside Lidl in East Wall, Dublin. He drove off on his moped with the bike over his shoulder, having previously been seen driving dangerously and smashing windows. Dooner confronted delivery drivers Guillherme Quieroz and George Gonzaga Bento over the theft. Teenager Josh Dunne (16) and friends were nearby, hoping to buy pizza. A confrontation erupted; Dunne was stabbed by Bento, who was later acquitted of murder and other offences. Dooner pleaded guilty to stealing the bike, assault causing harm to Quieroz, dangerous moped driving, driving without licence or insurance, and criminal damage. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment and a four‑year driving disqualification. Tiernan Ryan, who joined the assault later, received nine months' imprisonment. The court noted Dooner's youth, guilty pleas and prior convictions in determining the sentence.
Ray Burke, 47, was sentenced to one year in jail for committing criminal damage that cost about €12,000. He sprayed graffiti slogans on several Dublin sites, including Clontarf Dart station, a store on Talbot Street, and the GPO on O'Connell Street, in protest over his brother's death. Burke's brother died a number of years ago, and an open verdict was recorded in the death, which may have been suicide or a jump into a canal while being pursued by gardaí. Burke pleaded guilty to three counts of criminal damage, was caught on CCTV, and has 24 prior convictions. He has a history of poly‑substance abuse and psychiatric issues, and his defence argued the acts were not typical criminal damage. Judge Martin Nolan noted Burke's motives were driven by a sense of injustice over his brother's death and imposed the sentence accordingly.
In the High Court, owners Michael O'Shea and Eithne Uí Riordan of ADT House, Crossguns Bridge, Dublin 7, are suing UK-based SLGI (Holdings) Plc for allegedly fraudulently claiming ownership of the office block. The plaintiffs allege SLGI unlawfully registered itself as proprietor and terminated a lease with tenant ADT Ltd, receiving €246,000, despite never being the lawful owners. While proceedings against third parties ADT Ltd, American District Telegraph Services International Ltd, and the Property Registration Authority (PRA) have been settled, the case against SLGI remains active. Counsel Stephen Dowling SC informed Mr Justice Brian O'Moore that the dispute with the ADT parties and the PRA was resolved, with no fraud alleged against those entities. The owners previously secured an order rectifying the land registry to remove SLGI as the registered owner. SLGI's solicitors intend to bring a motion in April to come off record. The court agreed to adjourn the matter to April to allow for the implementation of the settlement. The case against SLGI was not concluded and remains pending.
On 7 March 2022, Francis Leonard, a 60‑year‑old aircraft maintenance engineer, drove a double‑decker bus carrying 17 passengers, including 15 schoolchildren and two teachers, to a sports game when the vehicle struck a rail bridge on Moyne Road, Baldoyle. The bridge had a clearance of 12 ft 8 in (3.85 m) while the bus was 14 ft 3 in (4.35 m) high, and three height‑limit signs had been posted. Leonard had been asked to step in at short notice to drive the bus, a vehicle he was not accustomed to, and had to change routes due to roadworks. The bus hit the bridge at low speed, shearing off its top; no passengers were injured and the bridge sustained only minor chipping. Leonard pleaded guilty to one count of driving a vehicle under a structure where the height exceeded the bridge's clearance.
The State presented Ciara Kelleher, a former financial services manager at Custom House Capital (CHC), as an "integral part" of a decade‑old scheme to defraud investors. Prosecutor Lorcan Staines argued that Kelleher, who worked for a property‑investment company during the 2008‑2011 crash, was aware that clients received incorrect information about the location of their money. He cited email chains from October 2010 indicating that CHC could not afford more regulatory trouble, and noted that Kelleher had extensive knowledge of the firm's procedures. Kelleher denied knowing about these issues until 2011 and claimed she had no concerns about the process. The prosecution maintained that a large amount of client money was misappropriated and that Kelleher's role was pivotal in misleading investors. The defence urged the jury to preserve the presumption of innocence and questioned the relevance of alleged meetings with the Central Bank. Ciara Kelleher pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Silver, aged 46 from Aughavard in Foxford, County Mayo, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court accused of the capital murder of Garda Colm Horkan on June 17th, 2020 at Castlerea, County Roscommon. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder while knowing or being reckless as to whether the deceased was a garda acting in the course of duty, but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The jury's central consideration concerns the accused's state of mind at the time of the shooting. During interview footage presented to the jury on Monday, Mr Silver disputed accounts provided by witness James Coyne, describing them as "lies, absolute bullsh*t". He claimed Garda Horkan "never at any stage indicated he was a detective" and questioned why identification had not been produced. Mr Silver's behaviour during the interviews included refusing to answer questions, whistling, singing, and at one point claiming to be a captain in a cavalry reserve unit. Detective Inspector Brian Hanley testified that the accused was aggressive, angry and threatening prior to his fourth interview.
The Court of Appeal has increased jail sentences for two women convicted in Ireland's first human trafficking case involving alleged voodoo ceremonies. Alicia Edosa and Edith Enoghaghase, originally sentenced in September 2021 following a June 2021 trial at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, were found guilty of trafficking women between 2016 and 2018. Evidence indicated victims underwent ceremonies in Nigeria before being coerced into prostitution across multiple locations including Castlebar, Letterkenny and Cavan. Mr Justice George Birmingham rejected their conviction appeals and found original sentences substantially inadequate. Edosa, formerly of Mullingar, has been re-sentenced to seven-and-a-half years imprisonment. Enoghaghase, also formerly of Mullingar, received seven years and one month. The judge noted the sentencing judge faced unprecedented circumstances with no comparative guidelines for this offence type. Alicia Edosa pleaded not guilty. Edith Enoghaghase pleaded not guilty.
The High Court heard that a 21‑month delay in charging two 15‑year‑old teenagers with false imprisonment and sexual assault has denied them the chance to be tried as minors, creating a prejudice that should halt their prosecutions. The alleged incident took place in a public park in June 2019, where a teenage girl claimed she was prevented from leaving by about eight boys, one of whom allegedly forced her to perform a sexual act and another who allegedly pulled down his trousers. The girl said she was touched, forced to kiss a boy, and could not escape until friends arrived. A complaint was made to Gardaí in early 2020, and the boys were arrested and interviewed in August 2020.
A 24-year-old man from County Derry has initiated a High Court judicial review challenge against the Defence Forces following the rejection of his application to join the Permanent Defence Forces. Ronan Corey, with an address in Magherafelt, was initially accepted into the PDF subject to vetting procedures and was instructed to report to Finner Camp in County Donegal to commence training. After passing all medical, fitness and vetting assessments, his enlistment offer was suspended in July and he was required to undergo re-vetting at Cathal Brugha Barracks in Dublin. In September, he was removed from the recruitment competition for failing security vetting, with no substantive reasons provided. Mr Corey contends that the decision may be linked to convictions held by his biological father during the Troubles, from whom he has been estranged since childhood. He claims this amounts to a breach of fair procedures and constitutional justice. His counsel argues that the absence of adequate reasons for the decision constitutes a procedural violation.
A 59‑year‑old Limerick man was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for raping and repeatedly sexually abusing his partner's daughter, aged 12‑14, over a two‑year period between 1994 and 1997. The jury found him guilty on 31 counts, including sexual assault, oral rape, attempted rape and attempted anal rape, all committed in the family home. He had no acceptance of the offences and no remorse, but the judge noted his otherwise blameless life and financial support for his family. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed concurrent sentences totalling 12 years and ordered six years of post‑release supervision, during which the man must not contact the victim, must be supervised by the probation service and must not be alone with children under 18. The victim, who was not present at sentencing, described lasting trauma, anxiety, depression and complex post‑traumatic stress disorder caused by the abuse.
A Leaving Cert student, aged 12‑15, was found guilty by a jury of five counts of sexual assault against his step‑sister, aged 8‑11, committed between July 2016 and August 2018 in Dublin and a location outside Dublin. The victim, who cannot be named, wrote a note to her father in December 2019 stating that the accused sometimes touched her private parts when he visited. She described multiple incidents: being touched in front of her trousers in her home and a restaurant, having her pants pulled down in her bedroom, a failed attempt to hug and expose his penis, and an attempt to touch her mouth. She also recounted a moment when he forced her hand onto his penis. A victim impact statement, read by Garda Sergeant Gary Sexton, expressed how the abuse altered her life and caused anger toward her brother.
Carolyn Riguad, aged 63, was sentenced to one year in prison for stealing €87,000 from her employer over seven years, from 2009 to 2016. She pleaded guilty to sample counts of theft and producing a false instrument in a 270‑count indictment. Riguad, who ran the Irish arm of a UK business, diverted company funds into her own accounts, altering cheques and at one point attempting to cover her tracks by re‑diverting funds within the company. The fraud was uncovered when she went on sick leave in 2016, leading to the discovery of 258 cheques with discrepancies. Riguad denied involvement when interviewed by Gardaí, claiming a colleague was responsible. She has no prior convictions, suffers from medical difficulties and memory issues, and has an adult son with a medical condition. The court noted her competence and the breach of trust, and, considering her health, imposed a one‑year custodial sentence. The company has since revised its procedures.
Paul Clarke, 40, of Muff, Kingscourt, Cavan, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the rape of a woman in 2007. Clarke had denied the charge, claiming the victim fabricated the allegation to access his inheritance, but was convicted by a jury following a second trial after the first resulted in a hung jury. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor imposed a headline sentence of seven and a half years, which she reduced to six years, taking into account mitigating factors including Clarke's personal circumstances and a psychologist's report detailing memory issues from a 2002 car accident. The judge backdated the sentence to Clarke's initial custody in December and applied 18 months of post-release supervision. During the hearing, the judge acknowledged the victim's dignity and noted her horror that a member of Clarke's legal team had followed her on social media. The judge described Clarke's claim that the victim sought money as "unpleasant, hurtful and ugly." The court heard that the victim, then 22, was asleep in a friend's house when she was raped. She reported the incident in 2017 after years of anxiety and depression. The judge emphasized that the victim should have felt safe in her friend's home but was instead violated. The matter was concluded with the imposition of the six-year custodial sentence and supervision conditions.
Tony Gummerson, aged 42, was sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually assaulting and raping his step‑niece when he was 17 and she was between seven and eight years old, between September 1997 and March 1998. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of four counts of sexual assault, two counts of oral rape and one count of rape. Gummerson had previously been convicted of sexual assault and served a three‑year sentence in 2012. He was babysitting the child at the time and was ten years older, breaching a significant trust. The judge noted the abuse was pre‑meditated and occurred behind closed doors, often after waking the victim from sleep. Gummerson did not accept the verdict, showed no remorse or apology, and the judge imposed a nine‑year sentence with the final two years suspended on conditions. The sentence was back‑dated to his June 2022 custody entry.
The 17‑year‑old who murdered Urantsetseg Tserendorj at 14 has been sentenced to life with a review after 13 years. Judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted that current legislation offers no way to suspend part of a juvenile's sentence, leaving an "all or nothing" choice. He said the review will be conducted by a Central Criminal Court judge and that the defendant may apply for parole after 12 years. The review will occur when the boy is 28. He has received concurrent three‑ and two‑year sentences for five other offences committed on the same day, including robbery and theft of a bicycle, all back‑dated to his January 2021 arrest. The judge highlighted the boy's good behaviour in detention and the need for continued rehabilitation. The case was brought to court after the victim's husband and others expressed grief and urged support for the sentencing process. The unnamed 17-year-old pleaded guilty and was found guilty.
The High Court appointed insolvency practitioner Declan McDonald of PWC as examiner to Tower Trade Finance Ireland Limited (TTFI) and Deal Partners Logistics Ltd (DPL). TTFI has a net asset deficiency of €10.1 million and DPL €9.5 million. Both companies suffered financial difficulties after the liquidation of JACC Sports Distributors, which had supplied sports kits to the FAI. TTFI provided trade finance through loans or purchasing goods and reselling them, while DPL raised funds from individual shareholders. Investors expressed concerns, with a straw poll showing a majority opposed to examinership. The judge noted that the companies owe creditors over €13 million and that an independent report suggested a reasonable prospect of survival if a scheme of arrangement is approved. The examiner has up to 100 days to prepare a survival scheme, and the matter was adjourned to early March.
A Central Criminal Court jury has heard garda interview footage in which Stephen Silver, charged with the capital murder of Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon, on 17 June 2020, presented varying accounts of the fatal shooting. The accused, who has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter, told detectives on 18 June 2020 that Garda Horkan discharged his own firearm accidentally during a struggle. In the interviews conducted by Detective Inspectors Brian Hanley and Patrick Farrell, Mr Silver initially claimed he did not fire shots, later stating he fired only into the air, before subsequently denying he fired at all. He maintained he acted in self-defence against an armed assailant whilst en route to purchase food. The court was told Mr Silver had been off medication since September and had not slept for approximately thirty hours at the time of interview. The trial, where Mr Silver's state of mind is the central issue, continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns.
In the trial of Michael Scott for the murder of Chrissie Treacy, care workers and witnesses described a tense environment at Treacy's home in Portumna. Susan Keane, a care worker, reported that she had raised concerns about Treacy's welfare due to disputes over land with Scott, and that she had left her duties because the setting was "draining." She also noted that Treacy's beloved dog, Bradley, vanished after the house doors were locked, an event that caused Treacy great distress. Other witnesses, including Caitriona Starr, described ongoing arguments between Scott and Treacy, restrictions on access to the farm's shed, and Treacy's fear of going outside. The prosecution alleges that Scott deliberately ran over Treacy, while the defence maintains it was a tragic accident. The case is being heard by Ms Justice Caroline Biggs with a jury. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
A 26-year-old man from Sligo has received an concurrent 18-month prison sentence following his guilty plea to threatening a prison officer at Mountjoy Prison. Paul Darcy of Calry Court, Stephen Street, Sligo, made the threat on August 17, 2019, after refusing to return to his cell during the evening lock-in. When instructed by the officer to comply, Darcy charged towards him aggressively, shouting threats of violence, and subsequently warned he would harm both the officer and his home upon release. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that gardai were contacted due to the menacing nature of the threat. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence concurrently with an existing sentence, Darcy being due for release in 2026. The court noted that Darcy has since apologised to the officer and caused no further difficulties in custody whilst studying for his Junior Certificate.
Lauren Larkin, 27, was jailed for two years after two separate Gardaí raids on her Finglas home. In August 2020, a search warrant seized over €14,000 worth of cannabis, which Larkin claimed she was holding for her "boss" to pay a €1,000 drug debt. A year later, while on bail for that offence, a second raid found cannabis and cocaine worth just under €5,000. Larkin pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis for sale or supply on 14 August 2020 and to possessing cocaine for sale or supply on 23 August 2021. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to one year for each offence, to run consecutively, citing the second offence while on bail as the decisive factor. She has eight prior road traffic convictions and is a carer for her sister with serious medical issues.
Brian Carroll, 38, was sentenced to four and a half years in jail for a series of pharmacy robberies that took place over three days in November 2022. He pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery, each involving a different pharmacy in the north Dublin area. Carroll entered the pharmacies armed with a knife, demanding medication to feed his drug addiction. In one incident he cornered three female workers with a knife, while in another he threatened a cashier and later engaged in a scuffle with a passer‑by. Victims described anxiety and trauma following the robberies. Carroll has a long criminal history, including prior convictions for robbery and attempted robbery, and has been in custody since his arrest. Judge Martin Nolan noted his addiction and the repeated nature of his offences, and imposed a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final year suspended on conditions.
Luke Byrne, a 25-year-old plumber with no previous convictions, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply, where the drugs had a market value of €13,000 or more, and possession of the proceeds of crime. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a prison term of 27 months for each offence, to run concurrently. The judge departed from the mandatory ten-year sentence, citing Byrne's guilty plea, cooperation with gardai, admissions, and lack of prior convictions. Byrne admitted to holding cocaine and cash to settle a drug debt. While the judge accepted the debt narrative, he noted the case was not exceptional enough for a non-custodial sentence. The sentences are subject to review by higher courts. The report notes that the matter was adjourned for sentencing, which was subsequently carried out, but the finalisation status remains subject to appeal review.
Gezim Idrizi, 37, of Lutterstown Heights, Castleknock, was found guilty by a jury of one count of assault causing harm after punching a salesman in the face during a prolonged "serious assault" on 1 February 2016 at GZ Security, Rosemount. He was acquitted of a false imprisonment charge. Idrizi had two prior road traffic convictions. Judge Patricia Ryan, citing the injuries sustained, the effect on the victim, and the prolonged nature of the assault, imposed a custodial sentence of three years and nine months, with the final six months suspended for two years. The judge considered his cooperation, lack of relevant prior convictions, and the hardship to his family as mitigating factors. The victim suffered facial fractures, a lip laceration, bruising, and incurred €200 in medical bills and €4,000 in lost wages. Idrizi denied wrongdoing and offered compensation. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Court.
In February 2023, a Waterford man, Chris Kelly, aged 32, was caught by the Garda Armed Response Unit with a handgun while wearing disposable gloves. He had pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm on 20 May 2020, the same date and location as his co‑accused Kealan Madden. Kelly had one prior conviction for cannabis possession, whereas Madden had 13 prior convictions. The original sentence in December 2021 was six years' imprisonment with the last year suspended. Kelly appealed, arguing that his single prior conviction gave him a "justified grievance" and that he should not be treated more severely than Madden. The Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence and re‑sentenced Kelly to five years' imprisonment with one year suspended, matching Madden's sentence. The decision was based on the lack of a substantial basis for distinguishing the two men, despite Kelly's Crohn's disease and other personal circumstances.
In a High Court preliminary ruling, Mr Justice Richard Humphreys allowed the Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) to have its judicial review case against Galway County Council admitted to the Commercial Planning and Strategic Infrastructure Development List. The case concerns emergency flood‑relief works near Kylemore Abbey, which FIE argues were authorised under the 1949 Local Authorities Act in breach of EU environmental law. The council opposed admission, citing potential cost increases, but the judge found the council's objections unclear and largely unfounded. He noted that specialised lists reduce hearing times and costs, and that the council's claim of a floodgate effect was overblown. The decision recognises the commercial benefit of a quicker, cost‑effective hearing and may influence future public‑works disputes. The case will be heard in detail at a later date.
Miranda McCabe, 37, of Navan, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Stephanie Dunne at Priorswood Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin, on November 27, 2021. The court heard that Ms Dunne, who had just returned from visiting her premature baby in hospital, was attacked by McCabe on her porch. Garda Mark Reilly stated that McCabe head-butted and punched the victim, while a male co-accused, who is still before the courts, held knives and later dragged McCabe away. DNA from a hair clump found at the scene matched McCabe. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as a "savage" attack on a vulnerable woman, noting the motive remained unclear. Although the judge expressed an instinct to imprison McCabe, he cited concerns for her three children, one of whom has significant medical needs. Considering McCabe's five previous convictions and her status as a single mother, Judge Nolan did not finalise the sentence immediately. Instead, he ordered a Probation Services report to assess her suitability for community service. The matter was adjourned to May 12.
In February 2023 the Court of Appeal quashed a suspended three‑year sentence for Mark Kearney, 44, who had chained a man to the steering wheel of an abandoned car over an alleged drug debt. The original sentence, imposed in April 2022, was deemed too lenient. Kearney had pleaded guilty to false imprisonment after taking the victim from Ballymun to his Cedarhurst home, where he tied the man's right wrist to the steering wheel with a chain and padlock, removed his shoes and socks, and left him in the cold. The victim described the ordeal as psychological torture, including racial abuse. The Court of Appeal, citing the severity of the restraint, imposed a new sentence of two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the last two years and six months suspended on conditions of good behaviour and rehabilitation. The decision was based on the State's appeal that the original suspended sentence was unduly lenient.
In a Court of Appeal hearing, two men, Curtis Devlin (28) and Patrick Gray (39), had their six‑year prison sentences upheld for blackmail and demanding with menace. The men entered a couple's home in Wexford in October 2020, claiming a drug debt owed by the couple's daughter. They demanded money and threatened to kill the wife and husband. After leaving, they called the couple from a getaway car, demanding €10,000 by 9 pm and issuing further threats. The appeal court found no difference in culpability between the men, ruling the case a joint enterprise. The court upheld the original sentences, noting the pre‑meditated targeting of innocent family members to pressure payment. The victim impact statement described the family's life as changed, with them feeling trapped and obsessed with safety in their own home. Curtis Devlin pleaded guilty. Patrick Gray pleaded guilty.
The Workplace Relations Commission ruled that the Health Service Executive (HSE) failed to appear or defend itself in a pay claim brought by psychologist Diane O'Mahony. O'Mahony had been on a three‑year job‑sharing arrangement that ended when her partner left, leaving her with a "significant unmet clinical need" and increased responsibility. She sought to return to full‑time hours in March 2020 and again in May 2020, but her manager, Ms A, repeatedly denied her requests and gave no satisfactory explanation. After O'Mahony engaged a solicitor in June 2021, the HSE still did not respond. The tribunal found that O'Mahony was entitled to full‑time pay, as the job‑sharing contract had been in place for over three years and a suitable vacancy existed. The HSE was ordered to pay the difference between December 2020 and June 2021, amounting to €23,452.71, and the claim for €23,500 was upheld.
Enoch Burke brought an appeal to the Court of Appeal challenging orders directing him to remain away from Wilson's Hospital School in County Westmeath. Mr Burke contends that the school's direction to refer to a student by an alternative name and pronoun constitutes an unlawful demand to participate in transgenderism, in breach of his Constitutional rights to freedom of religious expression. The school maintains that the orders were properly granted following Mr Burke's conduct at a religious service and subsequent school function. The court heard submissions from Mr Burke, representing himself, and counsel for the school, before reserving its decision. The appeal was limited to challenges against temporary injunctions granted by two High Court judges. The court indicated it would endeavour to deliver its decision promptly on this significant matter. The full case between the parties remains pending before the High Court, with a hearing expected later in the year.
During the 13th day of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, High Court inspectors' 2011 report was presented, showing that €56 million of investor assets at Custom House Capital (CHC) were improperly transferred and used to finance property deals. The inspectors, appointed after a Central Bank complaint, found the assets—including cash and liquid equity—misappropriated to syndicate property interests or other CHC business aspects. Internal emails from 2009, involving CEO Harry Cassidy and director John Mulholland, were shown, revealing discussions about funding property deals and limiting disclosure to senior portfolio manager Ciara Kelleher (51). Kelleher pleaded not guilty to conspiring to defraud investors between October 2008 and July 2011. The trial, presided over by Judge Orla Crowe, continues with the jury hearing these findings.
A man has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment following a burglary at a residential property in Dundrum, south Dublin on July 2nd, 2022. Gary Bailey, aged 45, of Gleann Na Ri, Druids Valley, Loughlinstown, pleaded guilty to the offence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. During the incident, the male occupant confronted the intruder and a struggle ensued in which Bailey grabbed the homeowner by the groin. As Bailey attempted to escape through a bedroom window, the resident struck him several times with a golf club, causing Bailey to become briefly suspended upside down from the window blinds before falling. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Bailey's primary objective upon being confronted was escape rather than violence. The court heard Bailey had acted impulsively, telling gardaí the burglary was not premeditated and that he had been under the influence of medication at the time. The judge accepted that Bailey had displayed remorse and wished to apologise to both victims.