A 33-year-old woman convicted of manslaughter appeared before the Central Criminal Court on Monday seeking to demonstrate her capacity for rehabilitation following her guilty plea to killing a former partner. The defendant, from Ballyconnell, County Cavan, fatally stabbed the 36-year-old man at a shared residence in February 2022. Her barrister submitted that she has achieved qualifications and engaged in prison programmes since her conviction, and expressed genuine remorse to the victim's family. The prosecution contended the offence warranted a headline sentence of ten to fifteen years, noting the use of a knife as a significant aggravating factor. The court heard the incident occurred during a period marked by heavy alcohol use among household members. The defendant carries 49 prior convictions, predominantly traffic-related, with no history of violent offences. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned sentencing to the following Monday to allow further consideration of the matter.
In a High Court hearing on 7 October 2024, Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced a 17‑year‑old juvenile who had sexually assaulted and defiled a 13‑year‑old girl in a Dublin park. The boy pleaded guilty to one count of defilement of a child under 15 and one of sexual assault. The judge noted the boy's lack of consent, the use of violence, and the coercive element of the assault. He highlighted the boy's mental health diagnosis and lack of prior convictions, and remarked that the boy's prepared statements to Gardaí contained self‑serving lies. The judge advised lawyers to consider Gardaí guidelines for interviewing juveniles. The boy received a 12‑month detention sentence, while the victim, aged 15, delivered a victim impact statement describing the lasting psychological harm and her determination to prevent future victims. The judge praised her courage and noted the impact on her mental health and family.
In a High Court sentencing hearing, a 68‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to 17 counts of sexual assault against a girl aged 12‑14 between 1992 and 1994. The judge praised the survivor for delivering a victim impact statement, noting her courage and the message she sent to other children who lack a voice. The survivor described how the perpetrator touched her breasts, vagina and performed oral sex, often cornering her in his home, in his son's bedroom, and in a car. She said the abuse stole her childhood, innocence, and choice, and caused lasting anxiety, panic attacks, and health problems. She reported the abuse to Gardaí in July 2022 and sought justice for herself and her children. The judge thanked her for her effort and courage, while the defence offered an apology and expressed remorse. The case was adjourned to November for an updated probation report.
A one‑week pre‑trial hearing has started before Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. The hearing concerns senior barrister Diarmuid Phelan, 55, of Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, who is accused of murdering 36‑year‑old Keith Conlon in a fatal shooting at Hazelgrove Farm on 22 February 2022. Conlon was seriously injured and died two days later at Tallaght University Hospital. The prosecution is led by John Byrne and Roisin Lacey, while Michael Bowman and Sean Guerin head the defence. The case will proceed to trial before a jury once the pre‑trial hearing concludes.
Dean Caffrey, a 38-year-old man from Drumcondra, Dublin 9, has been arraigned at the Central Criminal Court and is set to stand trial on Thursday. He has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Sean McCarthy, aged 28, which is said to have occurred on a date unknown between August 2 and 7, 2022, in the State. The victim's body was reportedly found in Drumcondra two years ago. Justice Caroline Biggs swore in a jury of seven men and five women to hear the case. The trial is scheduled to begin before Justice Paul McDermott and is expected to last six weeks. As the matter is at the trial stage, no findings, sentences, or final disposals have been recorded. The defendant's plea remains not guilty, and the allegations are contested. No adjournments, suspended portions, or effective custody periods have been reported in this procedural update.
Galway County Council has conceded to an objection by the Friends of the Irish Environment Group (FIE) regarding emergency flood relief works near Kylemore Abbey in Connemara. The High Court hearing, presided over by Ms Justice Emily Farrell, found that the council had communicated its concession to the objection last month. The FIE had challenged the council's authorization of works under the 1949 Local Authorities Act, arguing that the Act's provisions were invalid and that the works breached EU directives on habitats and environmental impact assessments. The group sought a High Court order to quash the council's decision to authorise works at the N59 Kylemore Bridge and to impose a temporary stay on those works, as well as declarations that sections of the 1949 Act were mis‑transposed EU directives. The court adjourned the matter for two weeks to allow the parties to consider further proceedings.
Conti Birali, aged 28, withdrew an appeal against a nine‑year prison sentence after the Court of Appeal warned that it could increase sentences. The appeal was withdrawn following advice from his counsel, Mark Lynam SC, after Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy highlighted the seriousness of the case and the court's jurisdictional powers. Birali was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing serious harm to Austin Doherty, who was left a wheelchair user after being kicked, stamped on and beaten. Birali also pleaded guilty to violent disorder with others on the same occasion. The victim, aged 38, suffered a nearly concave head and other injuries, and his prognosis is unlikely to improve. Birali's appeal was dismissed, and he remains sentenced to nine years in prison. The case also involved co‑accused Craig Maples, who received seven years for violent disorder and assault.
Former 2FM presenter Nikki Hayes (real name Eimear Black O'Keeffe), aged 44, avoided a criminal conviction after pleading guilty to possessing €15,000 as proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB bank account. The money, comprising €10,000, €2,600 and €2,400, was withdrawn from an injured party's account and deposited into O'Keeffe's account. She had six prior convictions for minor road‑traffic offences and had her sentencing hearing adjourned twice, once after a fall and once to seek treatment for alcohol addiction. O'Keeffe has since completed residential treatment, is drug‑ and alcohol‑free, and has repaid the full amount to the victim. Judge Martina Baxter discharged her under Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act, meaning she will not incur a criminal conviction. The court noted her vulnerability, mental‑health diagnoses, and rehabilitation efforts as mitigating factors. O'Keeffe is no longer employed in radio and is pursuing further training and an accountancy course.
A farm worker in County Cavan has been awarded nearly €14,000 by the Workplace Relations Commission following a ruling that his former employer failed to provide statutory annual leave entitlements over a six-year period. The complainant, employed at a piggery from December 2017 to November 2023, received only 18 days' paid holiday despite being entitled to four weeks annually under law. The adjudicator upheld complaints under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994, and Payment of Wages Act 1991. The company director conceded certain wage deductions and public holiday pay shortfalls but argued historic annual leave claims were time-barred. The adjudicator found the employer failed to demonstrate due diligence in ensuring leave was taken and ruled the working time complaint well-founded. Drumlolan Pork Ltd was ordered to pay €11,520.65 for unpaid annual leave, €2,245 for failure to provide written terms, and €127.01 for wage and public holiday deductions.
In the Special Criminal Court, Jaures Kumbu, 18, pleaded guilty to a firearms offence arising from the Christmas Eve 2023 shooting at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown. Kumbu was charged with possessing a sub-machine gun in circumstances giving rise to the reasonable inference that he did not have it for a lawful purpose. The State's case, presented during a previous bail hearing at the Court of Appeal, alleges Kumbu removed the weapon from the scene where Tristan Sherry was killed after fatally shooting Jason Hennessy Senior. Gardaí stated they currently have no idea where the firearm is. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, presiding in the three-judge court, adjourned sentencing until November 4. Kumbu was originally scheduled to stand trial with six others accused of various offences related to the incident. Those trials are expected to begin later this year. Among the co-accused, five individuals are charged with Sherry's murder. Additionally, Jonas Kabangu and an unnamed young man who turned 18 after being charged are accused of violent disorder at the same location on that date. The matter regarding Kumbu's sentence remains pending due to the adjournment.
In a case heard by the Workplace Relations Commission, former compliance chief Billie Stevens of AAO IE Services Limited was awarded €13,333, the amount of one month's salary that had been unlawfully withheld. Stevens, who had been employed as head of compliance and money‑laundering reporting officer from 18 July 2023 until 31 August 2024, claimed that the company had deducted the full monthly salary of €13,333 from his pay in August 2023 and that he had made repeated requests for the payment without success. The complaint, lodged under the Payment of Wages Act 1997 in November 2023, was supported by documentation. The company's chief executive, Danny Brewster, admitted that money was owed but could not state the amount. The adjudicator, Christina Ryan, found the employment relationship to be genuine, confirmed that the deduction was unlawful, and awarded Stevens the back pay of €13,333 gross. The decision was issued on 4 October 2024.
The Workplace Relations Commission upheld the dismissal of delivery driver Szymon Stolarczyk after he admitted stopping a 15‑year‑old girl on the street and offering her chocolate from the window of a company van. The incident occurred on 15 December 2023 at a housing estate where Stolarczyk and a colleague were making deliveries. He claimed he had never been told in training not to share food with people on the street, but the company argued that a complaint from the customer and a report to Gardaí had led to an investigation. Stolarczyk was suspended with pay on 18 December, admitted the facts, and was sacked for gross misconduct. The tribunal found the dismissal fair, rational and proportionate, and rejected his claim of unfair dismissal.
In a High Court sentencing hearing, a teenage boy under 18 was sentenced to life in detention with a review after 15 years for the murder of 51‑year‑old Lorna Woodnutt. The boy, who cannot be named under the Children's Act, used a sledgehammer to kill Woodnutt on 29 September 2023 outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. After the killing, he posted a 17‑second video of the victim's body on Snapchat, which was later removed when Gardaí arrived. The judge described the boy's actions as "sickening" and noted his "unhealthy interest" in extreme male role models that shaped a negative attitude toward women. The boy, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and an adjustment disorder, showed aggressive behaviour at home and school. The sentence will be reviewed in 2038, with release dependent on progress and risk assessment. The court ordered bi‑annual probation reports and psychiatric assessments. The unnamed 17-year-old pleaded guilty.
A startup, Cushla Health Systems Ltd, was ordered by an employment tribunal to pay former chief medical officer David Morris €88,134 after the tribunal found that the company unlawfully deducted his salary, notice pay and accrued annual leave. Mr Morris, who had been due €125,000 a year for the first five months of 2024, had experienced repeated late payments from July 2022 to December 2023 and no payments at all in 2024. He claimed the company's CEO, Richard Egan, had repeatedly assured him of funding but failed to provide formal notice of termination until 30 May 2024, after an informal "layoff" discussion in April. The tribunal concluded that the company was liable for unpaid wages in April and May, and directed the company to pay the full amount to Mr Morris.
A Leaving Certificate supervisor from Monaghan has failed in a claim before the Workplace Relations Commission seeking over €1,600 in mileage expenses from the State Examinations Commission. Daniel Murphy alleged he was underpaid for travel to St Ciaran's Community School in Kells, County Meath, where he has supervised exams since 2021. He contended that driving via the N2 motorway was the only practical route to avoid potential delays from agricultural traffic on minor roads, yet his mileage claims were systematically reduced. The SEC maintained it could only reimburse the shortest distance according to Department of Finance regulations. Adjudicator Christina Ryan dismissed the complaint, ruling that mileage expenses fall outside the definition of wages covered by the Payment of Wages Act and therefore do not fall within the tribunal's jurisdiction.
Tom O'Riordan, a former Aer Lingus captain, has filed a claim with the Workplace Relations Commission alleging whistleblower penalisation and breaches of employment rights. He claims that on a flight from London Heathrow to Dublin three years ago he was exposed to "toxic fumes" that caused chronic fatigue syndrome and brain damage. O'Riordan says he made protected disclosures about fumes and falsification of reports to Aer Lingus management, the Health and Safety Authority, the Minister for Transport, the Air Accident Investigation Unit, the Oireachtas and on social media. He argues that the reduction of his sick pay to 75 % of his salary in January 2024, the withdrawal of sick pay in April, and the disciplinary proceedings that led to his dismissal last month constitute whistleblower penalisation. Aer Lingus, represented by Tom Mallon BL, denies any safety risk and claims O'Riordan defamed the airline, leading to his dismissal.
The Department of Education was ordered to pay €5,000 to Cormac Flynn, a legally blind student, after a tribunal found that he was denied access to a summer tuition programme during the Covid‑19 pandemic. Flynn, who had less than 10% sight and required magnification for close work, was told by his school that he was not eligible for home tuition under the July Provision scheme in 2020, even though blind children at primary level were normally included. His mother applied for the scheme in June 2020, hoping his needs would be met, but Flynn was refused and later had to drop honours maths. The tribunal held that the Department could have included him in the scheme based on his needs, and directed the Department to compensate him for the exclusion. The decision was upheld by the tribunal, recognising the impact of the denial on Flynn's education.
Poliane Fernandes Lima, a fashion buyer, was dismissed by Elland Distributors Ltd (trading as Born Clothing) on 25 January 2024 after her work visa had expired two days earlier. She had a renewal appointment scheduled for 28 January and had informed the payroll administrator a month earlier that her visa renewal would be delayed. The company's manager, Marty Murphy, issued a termination letter without any investigation or discussion about her visa status. The Workplace Relations Commission found that the dismissal was unfair, citing the absence of any procedural safeguards and reliance on incorrect information. The adjudicator noted that Lima had applied for a visa renewal well before it expired, meeting the Department of Justice's grace period criteria. Consequently, the tribunal ordered Elland Distributors Ltd to pay Lima €25,000 in compensation for the unfair dismissal.
In a landmark decision, the Workplace Relations Commission ruled that fiddle player Matt McGranaghan was an employee of MEPC Music Ltd, not an independent contractor, and awarded him compensation for unfair dismissal and breaches of employment rights. The tribunal applied the Supreme Court's 2023 test to distinguish employees from contractors in the entertainment sector. McGranaghan earned about €50,000 a year from roughly 220 gigs over six years, and the WRC awarded him €26,880 for unfair dismissal, €12,480 for various statutory breaches, and €4,480 for notice pay. MEPC's lawyers contested the ruling, arguing McGranaghan was self‑employed and that treating him as an employee saved the company 15% in PRSI. The company has now filed an appeal to the Labour Court, claiming the decision should be overturned on behalf of the music industry, which it says relies on independent contractors. The appeal's grounds have not yet been set out.
Alan Ecock, a banker who had worked part‑time as a barman at Kavanagh's Pub in Stoneybatter, was dismissed by Allied Irish Banks (AIB) in December 2023 after a senior manager read a news report about his earlier unfair dismissal from the pub. The WRC found that the pub dismissal was "heartless" and "completely unlawful." Ecock has now lodged further complaints under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and the Redundancy Payments Act 1967. AIB lawyers argued that Ecock had denied working at the pub when questioned, but later recanted when confronted with evidence. Ecock's solicitor said he had been honest about his pub work, which had not breached his banking contract. The tribunal heard that Ecock's dismissal followed an internal investigation that found he had provided false information about his pub involvement and bank‑system access. The case was adjourned for further testimony.
In a decision issued on 20 September 2024, the Workplace Relations Commission tribunal ordered Lidl Ireland GmbH to pay former Paralympic athlete Nadine Lattimore €2,000 for disability discrimination. The complaint arose on 14 February when a Lidl employee told Lattimore to move her guide dog, Pilot, away from a bakery shelf, citing concerns that the dog might interfere with or lick food. Lattimore explained that she was blind and required the dog for assistance. She described the interaction as humiliating and hostile, and noted that a later employee apologized and clarified that she was not the owner of a dog that had previously eaten bakery stock. Lidl acknowledged the request to move the dog but denied that the conduct amounted to discrimination. The adjudicator found a failure by staff to ensure reasonable access, causing unnecessary upset, and awarded the compensation. The case follows a similar June ruling against Dealz Ltd for a separate breach of the Equal Status Act.
The Workplace Relations Commission ordered an unidentified supermarket to pay €6,000 in compensation to a Roma man for racial discrimination and harassment under the Equal Status Act 2000. Adjudicator Thomas O'Driscoll found that the man was refused service on 5 October 2023 based on a stereotype associated with his Roma heritage, rejecting the respondent's claim that he was barred for shouting and calling staff racists. The tribunal concluded the refusal of service constituted discrimination that was not satisfactorily rebutted, and the ejection from the shop amounted to harassment. The adjudicator noted the humiliation suffered in front of the claimant's daughter as an aggravating factor. While the claimant alleged victimisation for filing a previous notice of discrimination on behalf of his wife, the tribunal found no evidence that shop workers knew of this notice, thus rejecting that specific claim. The respondent denied bias, attributing the incident to the claimant's aggressive behaviour, but the adjudicator deemed their evidence unconvincing, particularly regarding the deletion of crucial CCTV footage. In a separate decision, Adjudicator Patsy Doyle awarded €5,000 to an 11-year-old Traveller boy who was refused service at a different shop. The tribunal found the shop failed to prove its policy of not serving unaccompanied under-14s after 6pm was applied consistently, noting receipts showed non-Traveller minors were served without issue. The shop was ordered to ensure its policy is implemented in a non-discriminatory manner. Both decisions were anonymised.
The Workplace Relations Commission awarded €550,131 to former Twitter Ireland executive Gary Rooney for an unfair dismissal. Rooney claimed his employment ended when he did not click "yes" on an email from Elon Musk demanding acceptance of new, unspecified terms within 24 hours. The email, titled "A Fork in the Road," warned that failure to respond would result in a three‑month severance package. Rooney argued the deadline was unreasonable and that the email constituted a threat, ultimatum and misstatement. The WRC found that Rooney's failure to click "yes" did not amount to resignation, that Twitter had prevented him from accessing his work, and that the dismissal was unfair due to lack of substantial grounds. The commission calculated the award to include €200,000 for prospective future loss of earnings and dismissed a separate claim for a 2022 performance bonus. Rooney's solicitor praised the outcome, noting the award surpassed the previous record of €440,000.
A 34-year-old man has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment following his conviction for rape at the Central Criminal Court. Shaun O'Donnell, originally from Leeds in the United Kingdom, was found guilty of one count of rape and one count of sexual assault against a woman at a Donegal residence on 26 March 2021. The offence occurred while the victim slept beside her partner and newborn baby. O'Donnell, who had been staying with the couple, initially climbed into the bed undetected. Upon discovering his identity, the woman left the room. Mr Justice David Keane described the breach of trust as "fundamental" and noted the grave harm caused to the victim. The judge imposed the sentence without suspension, observing that O'Donnell had not accepted the verdicts or expressed remorse. A concurrent sentence of two years and eight months was imposed on the sexual assault charge. The sentences were backdated to February of the previous year when O'Donnell entered custody.
Colin 'Ollie' Murphy, aged 50 and a former 15‑year member of the band Ham Sandwich, was convicted at the Central Criminal Court for raping a woman in her Dublin home in September 2020. The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, described the assault as occurring in her bedroom after a party, with Murphy claiming the encounter was consensual. Murphy denied the allegations, later accepting the jury's verdict and apologising to the victim. Mr Justice David Keane sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions, including engagement with relevant services. The sentence was reduced from an initial eight‑year headline, taking into account Murphy's lack of prior convictions, low risk of re‑offending and his expressed remorse. The conviction was back‑dated to 7 March, when Murphy entered custody.
Christopher Shane Frane (36) consented to his surrender to Northern Ireland at the High Court, ending an appeal process where he had previously argued against extradition. Frane, who pleaded guilty to the 2013 manslaughter of Constable Philippa Reynolds, had absconded from Northern Ireland in January while on day-release and was arrested in the Republic in February. His original sentence included a minimum of six years and an Indefinite Custodial Sentence requiring him to remain in prison until proving he is no longer a danger to the public. During the appeal, his counsel, Karen Quinlivan KC, argued that this regime was "extreme and draconian" and unconstitutional, citing a Northern Ireland Court of Appeal description of such sentences. Although a judgment was due in October, Frane took the stand before Mr Justice Paul Burns to consent to his surrender. He will be returned to Northern Ireland within a maximum of 20 days. The matter was not concluded by a final judgment on the merits of the constitutional arguments, as the defendant's consent rendered the legal challenge moot regarding the immediate surrender.
A refugee asylum‑seeker, Irfanullah Refah, who fled Afghanistan in 2017, won €10,000 from a Workplace Relations Commission tribunal after his landlord, Aidan Corless, sent a text message in July 2023 that the tribunal described as "blatant racism." The message, sent during a tenancy dispute, accused Refah of living in the apartment "illegally" and threatened that authorities would check his papers and possibly deport him back to Afghanistan, where he feared for his life. Corless apologized, saying the text was sent in frustration and that he was "not proud of it." The tribunal found the message referenced Refah's immigrant status and was discriminatory under the Equal Status Act 2000, awarding the compensation accordingly. The case highlights the impact of racially‑charged communication on a vulnerable tenant during a tenancy dispute.
An accountant, Mohammed Nurulain Boda, won over €40,000 in a tribunal decision against Oasis Global Management Company (Ireland) Ltd after he refused to relocate to the UK when the firm closed its Dublin office. The Workplace Relations Commission found that senior executives harassed him, calling him a "lazy bastard" and instructing staff to "f*** him up." Boda's salary was stopped the day he informed the company of his decision, and his network access was cut off two days later. He claimed discrimination on the basis of his Indian nationality. The tribunal awarded €18,000 for a breach of the Employment Equality Act, €7,470 for unpaid bonus and commission, €14,837 for unpaid salary, and a statutory redundancy payment of nearly €12,000 for nine years' service. The decision also directed the company to pay the sums under the Payment of Wages Act 1991.
A tribunal ordered Komfort Kare to pay a manager €7,000 after finding it unreasonable to expect him to return to work the morning after his wife's miscarriage. The manager, who left work on 21 May to bring his wife to Rotunda Hospital, requested force majeure leave for two days. The CEO, Brenda Kavanagh, replied that force majeure is only for one day and suggested unpaid carer's leave instead. The manager argued he was entitled to up to three days of paid force majeure leave in a year. The adjudicator, David James Murphy, found the company's refusal and invasive request for a care plan to be inconsistent with the Parental Leave Act. He upheld the complaint and awarded €7,000 in compensation. The decision was published on 2 August 2024.
A man charged in connection with the disposal of body parts of murdered teenager Keane Mulready-Woods has been granted legal aid by the Special Criminal Court. Stephen Carberry, 46, of Sandymount Avenue, Dublin 4, appeared before the court on Friday to receive formal notice that he will be tried before the three-judge, non-jury tribunal. He faces three charges relating to the death of the 17-year-old, who was killed in a house in Drogheda, County Louth, in January 2020. The charges allege that Mr Carberry transported and disposed of body parts between January 13 and 15, 2020, potentially to benefit a criminal organisation. He is further accused of obstructing the apprehension or prosecution of the teenager's murderer and of setting fire to a vehicle. Remains were subsequently discovered at various locations, including Rathmullan Park in Drogheda. Mr Carberry will return to court in October.
Nathan McDonnell, 44, a garden centre owner, has been granted legal aid by the Special Criminal Court for charges related to the largest ever crystal meth haul in the State. He appeared briefly to receive formal notice of trial before a three‑judge, non‑jury court, and the matter was adjourned to 14 October. His co‑accused, James Leen, 41, also appeared and was formally served notice of trial before the Special Criminal Court, with his custody remanded until 14 October. Leen faces five charges, including directing a criminal organisation's activities, importing crystal meth at Cork Port, and possessing the drug at Ballyseedy Garden Centre. McDonnell faces five charges, including possession of crystal meth at Cork Port and Ballyseedy Garden Centre, and an alleged participation in activities that could facilitate the importation, sale and supply of a controlled drug by a criminal organisation, contrary to the Criminal Justice Act 2006.
A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator ruled that Integral Fitness and Leisure, trading as Bettystown Leisure Ltd, was within its rights to refuse a membership renewal to former patron Nedas Juknevicius. The decision dismissed Juknevicius's complaint of discrimination and victimisation under the Equal Status Act 2000. The dispute originated on 28 March 2023, when Juknevicius accused senior coach Guy Bates of inappropriately touching his wife during a class. An independent investigation commissioned by gym owner Brian Browning found no evidence of inappropriate conduct, concluding that Bates had merely assisted a member with an exercise. During the confrontation, Juknevicius allegedly used derogatory language toward Bates, which Bates described as shocking. The adjudicator, Michael McEntee, characterized the incident as a "borderline serious public brawl" initiated by Juknevicius's remarks. Although Juknevicius disputed the gym's characterization of his behavior as intimidating during a subsequent visit in September 2023, the adjudicator found that the gym's decision to decline the renewal was justified by the March incidents. The adjudicator noted that a public altercation is not inherently discriminatory and that victimisation could not follow. Consequently, Juknevicius's complaint was deemed not to succeed, clearing the gym of the alleged violations.
In a Workplace Relations Commission decision, a hospitality manager who claimed he was subjected to a "constant stream of sexually inappropriate texts" from a senior colleague after a brief flirtation was awarded €45,000 for sexual harassment. The manager, Mr B, joined the firm in May 2021 and reported that Ms A, the financial controller, became flirty in August 2021 and attempted to kiss him in September, which he declined. He said they had two kisses over a three‑to‑four‑week period before he told her it had to stop and denied any relationship. Ms A then sent him repeated sexually inappropriate messages, photographs and videos via WhatsApp until July 2022, despite his clear refusals. Mr B ceased contact and blocked her number. The tribunal found the company's anti‑harassment procedures deficient and upheld the harassment claim under the Employment Equality Act 1998, but found no evidence of victimisation or constructive dismissal. The award was €45,000.
An adjudicator of the Workplace Relations Commission found it "clearly inappropriate" that a restaurant managing director collected €193 a week in cash from a waitress who lived in a shared house owned by the director, without any formal tenancy agreement or written record. The waitress, employed on a work permit, claimed she suffered illegal wage deductions and that the director demanded €7,500 to facilitate her visa renewal, after which she was dismissed. The director denied the allegations, stating the payments were agreed rent and that the waitress had resigned verbally. The tribunal rejected the wage‑deduction claim under the Payment of Wages Act but awarded the waitress nearly €12,000 for employment rights breaches, including unfair dismissal and multiple working‑time violations. The decision noted the director's failure to maintain proper tenancy documentation and to follow grievance procedures before dismissal. The total award was €11,730.
Wayne Higgins, 27, was convicted of raping a woman in Cork city on 28 August 2019. The victim, who was intoxicated, had asked Higgins to escort her to a bus stop after drinking with him. While stopped in a laneway, Higgins raped her in broad daylight. Neighbours shouted at him and threatened to call the Gardaí, but he replied, "It's just sex," and fled. The victim later testified that she could not identify him at the time and that DNA evidence linked him to the assault. Higgins, who had a history of drug, robbery, stalking, harassment and breach of a barring order convictions, was sentenced by Mr Justice Paul Burns to ten years' imprisonment. The final year was suspended for three years on the condition that he engages with the Probation Service and has no contact with the victim. The court noted his moderate risk of re‑offending and his significant alcohol addiction. Wayne Higgins pleaded guilty.
A 50‑year‑old man was sentenced to ten years in prison for raping his step‑daughter, who was 11 at the time of the assaults. He pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, production of child pornography and sending sexually explicit material to a child, all committed in November 2023. The court found evidence of a prolonged grooming campaign that began when the man sent inappropriate text messages to the nine‑year‑old step‑daughter and continued for almost two years, including explicit images and videos of the child. The judge noted the man's lack of insight and the risk of re‑offending, and imposed a suspended year of the sentence on strict conditions, including probation and no further contact with the child. The sentencing was delivered by Mr Justice Paul Burns at the Central Criminal Court. The case was brought by the prosecution team led by Patricia McLaughlin SC.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced two defendants for their roles in the unlawful administration of the euthanasia drug Dolethal to two dogs at Ashton Dog Pound in July 2020. Vet Sydney Nagle, 65, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing or permitting a non-vet to possess the medicine, as well as four counts regarding record-keeping failures. He was fined €12,500, payable over six months. Judge Nolan noted Nagle was a fine vet who had done considerable service but failed to know the law, adding that Nagle may face consequences from an ongoing Veterinary Council of Ireland fitness-to-practice inquiry. Raymond Connolly, 56, the pound supervisor, pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing the vet-only medicine and causing or permitting a lay person to administer it. He was fined €400, payable over six months. The judge described Connolly's culpability as low, stating he followed established instructions and could not be expected to know the legal intricacies. The court heard the dogs, an Akita and a Bichon Frise, suffered vomiting and diarrhoea after being dosed orally; one died, and the other was humanely euthanised days later. This follows previous fines for former pound manager Donal Moroney and owner David Stone for similar offences.
David Callaghan, aged 33, was sentenced to 13 and a half years in prison for assisting an organised crime group involved in international money laundering and drug trafficking between 29 April 2021 and 4 February 2022. The sentence was reduced to 8.5 years with the final five years suspended. The court heard that Gardaí discovered an electronic ledger showing over €924,000 moved between June 2021 and January 2022, and that Callaghan communicated with a driver via the Signal app about money laundering, drug trafficking and operational details. Evidence included photos, videos, and instructions for handling drugs and cash. Callaghan pleaded guilty, exercised his right to silence during the interview, and later expressed regret, promising to avoid future criminal activity and to protect his children. The judge cited mitigating factors, including the tragic deaths of three of Callaghan's siblings, when suspending part of the sentence.
Tomas Kleinas, 48, of Victorine Abbey, Trim, was sentenced to 13 years in prison with the final two years suspended on strict conditions after pleading guilty to raping a woman on 25 July 2020. The victim, who was holding an eight‑month‑old baby, was tied up, blindfolded and subjected to repeated sexual assault, including forced oral sex and digital penetration, while a 12‑year‑old child was also present. Kleinas threatened to kill the baby and used a knife to threaten the victim's teeth. The assault was alcohol‑related and the victim reported it to the Gardaí the following day, where extensive bruising and a black rope were found. Kleinas had prior minor convictions dating back to 2006 and was deemed unsuitable for probation. The judge noted his lack of remorse and the victim's desire to avoid reliving the events, leading to the suspended portion of the sentence. Kleinas had previously worked in construction and runs a beauty salon.
Tony Guilloteau, aged 32, was extradited from France to Ireland after a campaign of sexual assaults on young women on the Dublin commuter rail and near train stations in 2020. He pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault and two counts of offensive sexual behaviour between 13 February and 11 March 2020. The offences included exposing himself to a 17‑year‑old on the Dart, masturbating in front of a 26‑year‑old on a train, and assaulting women aged 21 to 22 at various stations. Guilloteau had previously served an 18‑month community sentence in France for similar offences. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment, back‑dated to 30 January, after noting the aggravating nature of the five victims and his expressions of remorse. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the impact on the victims and the court's consideration of his guilty plea and personal circumstances.
Thomas Wymbs, a 67-year-old former B&B owner from Sligo, was sentenced today by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring at the Central Criminal Court. He was found guilty by a jury of one count of raping a female guest between February 22 and 23, 2020. The complainant, a European woman in her 20s, was staying at Wymbs' establishment in Moneygold, Mount Temple, Co Sligo, where he was the sole proprietor. Prosecution evidence indicated that Wymbs invited the victim to join him for a drink; she later woke to find herself in his bedroom where the assault occurred. Wymbs had claimed the act was consensual. In her sentencing remarks, the judge highlighted the fundamental breach of trust, noting that the victim was a paying guest and a stranger in the country, which Wymbs exploited. Although the judge acknowledged Wymbs' work history, health issues, and the fact that this was a single act, she emphasized the seriousness of the crime. Wymbs was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended. The sentence was backdated to July 22, 2024, to account for time already spent in custody. The victim's impact statement detailed ongoing anxiety, panic attacks, and an inability to work resulting from the incident.
Anthony Byrne, 55, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction on two counts of raping his stepdaughter, Kim Jordan, in 2002. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring imposed an 11-year prison term, with the final 18 months suspended. The sentence was backdated to May 15 last year to account for time already spent in custody. Byrne, of Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, was found guilty after a trial in May. The court heard the offences occurred when Ms Jordan was 15, including an incident in Spain on her birthday and a subsequent attack in their family home. Ms Jordan waived her anonymity to allow Byrne to be named. The judge noted aggravating factors, including the rape of a child and the breach of safety in the victim's bedroom. Byrne had claimed the encounters were consensual, describing them as an "affair," a view the judge rejected, citing a lack of remorse and understanding of consent. In a victim impact statement, Ms Jordan stated she felt humiliated by Byrne's trial conduct, which she said portrayed her as a "teenage sexual temptress." The judge acknowledged Byrne had no previous convictions and had worked his whole life. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
A man has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the rape of his then 15-year-old niece in County Roscommon in November 2017. The 50-year-old defendant, who immigrated to Ireland from Central Europe in 2015, was convicted following trial earlier this month. He does not accept the verdict. Gardaí became suspicious after observing the man's car parked in an unlit location and subsequently discovered the assault had occurred. The victim did not initially disclose the incident but made a formal complaint in early 2019 after confiding in a family friend. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a pre-mitigation sentence of 12 years, suspended the final three years, and ordered the defendant to leave the jurisdiction upon release and not return for ten years. He is also prohibited from all contact with the victim and her family. The sentence was backdated to his custody date in May 2023. Breach of these conditions or commission of any future sexual offence will result in activation of the suspended sentence.
Marcus Duggan, aged 53, was convicted of two indecent assault and one rape offences committed between 1983 and 1991. The crimes involved his sister, Yvonne Ratcliffe, who was 12, 15 and 18 at the times of the incidents. In each case, Duggan's friends held her down while he assaulted or raped her. Ratcliffe, who waived anonymity, gave a victim impact statement describing the abuse, shame and isolation she endured. Prosecutor Patricia McLoughlin highlighted the family's poverty, neglect and exposure to pornography. Judge Tony Hunt sentenced Duggan to five years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on strict conditions, and directed that he have no contact with Ratcliffe. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of his custody. No other convictions or prior offences were recorded. Marcus Duggan pleaded not guilty.
The 51‑year‑old Offaly man was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment for a single count of sexual assault on a teenage girl who was the daughter of his then‑partner. He had previously received a 10‑year sentence for sexually abusing the victim's younger brother between 2015 and 2019. The new sentence is consecutive to the earlier term, with the last nine months suspended on the condition that he engages with the Probation Service for three years and has no contact with the complainant. The court heard the man pleaded guilty to 27 charges against the brother, including oral and anal rape, and that the assault on the girl occurred in 2012‑2014. The victim's impact statement described lasting emotional harm, migraines, poor sleep and a permanent state of exhaustion. The man denied the allegations and claimed the girl was fabricating the story.
Leonard Merdanj, 42, of Westbrook Park, Balbriggan, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to an additional two‑year prison term for possessing €380,000 worth of cannabis. The sentence runs consecutively to his existing nine‑year term for rape, which is set to expire in June 2028. Merdanj had pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 21 April 2017 at the same address. Gardaí searched his home following a confidential tip‑off, finding about 19 kg of cannabis in several locations, some wrapped in blankets. Merdanj admitted the possession during an interview and had previously been convicted twice. Defence counsel argued he was used by a third party to store the drugs because of debt and a drinking problem, and that his only role was to allow the use of his home. He is a father of two and a certificate from Albania confirmed no convictions there.
An 18-year-old man from Rathmullan, County Donegal, has been sentenced to four years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a dangerous high-speed pursuit through the capital in November 2021. Aaron Donnelly pleaded guilty to two counts of endangerment and one count of unlawful use of a vehicle without consent. During the incident, Donnelly drove a stolen car at speeds exceeding 160km/h whilst evading gardaí, travelling the wrong way down Dame Street at 100km/h and through multiple red lights. The pursuit, which began after gardaí spotted three youths acting suspiciously, saw other road users forced to take evasive action to avoid collision. Judge Martin Nolan placed the offence in the "middle to high" range of endangerment, disqualifying Donnelly from driving for six years. The sentence was backdated to January, with the court noting Donnelly's age at the time of the offence, his cooperation with authorities, and positive progress in custody.
Jonathan Diggins, a 47‑year‑old former pupil of US First Lady Jill Biden, was jailed for three and a half years after he was caught with €330,000 worth of ketamine in a suitcase at Dublin Airport. The suitcase, which had a false bottom, was found when Diggins returned to Ireland to search for it after it missed a connecting flight from Brussels to San Francisco. He pleaded guilty to one count of importing drugs on 6 November 2023. The court noted the high value of the drugs and that Diggins had returned to Ireland to retrieve the suitcase, describing the activity as nefarious. Judge Orla Crowe took into account mitigating factors, including his status as a non‑national and his role as a father, before sentencing. The sentence was back‑dated to 28 November, when he entered custody.
The Supreme Court ruled that the Labour Court erred in ordering the reinstatement of Mr Aodhagan Ó Suird as principal of Gaelscoil Moshiolog, a decision made in 2015 after his dismissal. While the Labour Court had found the dismissal unfair, the Supreme Court held that it had not properly considered the exceptional nature of reinstatement and the practical implications for the school. The Court therefore set aside the Labour Court's order and refused to remit the case for a fresh consideration, citing the passage of time and Mr Ó Suird's continued service as principal. It also overturned High Court orders that had awarded him arrears of pay and legal costs, directing those sums to be repaid to the board. The decision was delivered by Chief Justice Donal O'Donnell and a panel of four other judges. The case stemmed from allegations that Mr Ó Suird had inflated enrolment figures and from earlier complaints about his conduct with a student.
A 24‑year‑old man, Camden Konopka, was sentenced to a ten‑year suspended term for attempting to murder his mother by setting fire to their home, locking her inside and discarding the keys. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, back‑dated the sentence to May 2020 and ordered that the balance of the term be suspended for ten years, during which Konopka must be supervised by Nua Healthcare Services. He is required to remain at a supervised location, follow all staff directions, take his medication, and may not contact his mother directly unless she initiates communication. Konopka has been in custody for over four years and has a history of mental illness. The court noted the case was "distressing" and that the punitive element had been adequately addressed. The sentence aims to minimise future harm to Konopka and those around him. Camden Konopka pleaded guilty.