In a Circuit Court hearing on 7 March 2024, Judge Pauline Codd sentenced 31‑year‑old Dean O'Neill to 20 months' imprisonment, with the last six months suspended, for biting two Gardaí during a routine search at Kevin Street Garda Station on 13 April 2023. O'Neill, who has 109 prior convictions, told officers he had HIV and threatened them, but the court heard he does not have the virus. He bit one officer wearing latex gloves, damaging the glove but not breaking the skin, and another officer felt a burning sensation and a tooth indentation. O'Neill pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting a peace officer and a threat of serious harm. The judge highlighted his addiction problems, history of drug use, and urged him to seek support after release. No victim impact statements were filed, and both officers later resigned for unrelated reasons. The case was the defendant's first Circuit Court appearance.
Diego Costa Silva, 35, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife, Fabiola Camara De Campos Silva, 33, at their home in Charlestown Place, Finglas, Dublin 11, on November 4, 2021. The Central Criminal Court heard evidence from two consultant psychiatrists who agreed that Mr Costa Silva suffered from a cannabis-induced psychotic disorder, a mental disorder under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. They testified that he believed his wife was possessed by a serpent and that he had to decapitate her to ensure the serpent was dead. Both experts stated that due to this disorder, Mr Costa Silva did not understand the nature and quality of his actions or that they were wrong. Prosecution and defence counsel both submitted that the evidence supports a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath has begun charging the jury, who will consider their verdict tomorrow. The matter is at the sentencing stage following the validated procedural stage, though the final verdict is pending.
Red' Larry McCarthy was sentenced to six-and-a-half years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for his role in the attempted murder of Christy Keane. McCarthy, 45, pleaded guilty to making a vehicle available to the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation, which was used as a getaway car during the shooting of Keane in June 2015. The offence, contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, carries a maximum penalty of 15 years. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs set a headline sentence of 10 years, reduced by 20% to eight years in mitigation for his guilty plea and positive rehabilitation efforts in Donegal. The court suspended the final 18 months of the sentence, conditional on good behaviour and probation supervision. McCarthy had already served two years, seven months, and 20 days in custody, which was credited toward the effective term. The judge noted his 14 previous convictions, including a prior UK sentence for possession of a firearm. In a related case, Noel Price was previously jailed for six-and-a-half years for assisting the same organisation with a vehicle intended to facilitate the attempted murder. The court highlighted the ongoing feud between the McCarthy-Dundon and Keane-Collopy gangs, which has resulted in numerous violent offences.
The Workplace Relations Commission continued its hearing into claims by Garda whistleblower Lois West, who was absent after her legal team said she was unwell due to the stress of the proceedings. West, a former deputy head of the Garda Siochana Analysis Service, has complained under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Payment of Wages Act 1991 against the Garda Commissioner, the government and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. She alleges her career has been stymied since she testified to the Oireachtas about errors in Garda homicide data six years ago and that the force mishandled her complaint about bullying and sexual harassment by a senior official. The tribunal sat until 8 pm to accommodate evidence from Garda chief information officer Andrew O'Sullivan and HR director Edmund O'Reilly. The hearing is continuing late into the evening for the second time this week.
A Dublin man, Keith Redmond, aged 45, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for attempting to send sexually explicit material to a fictitious 14‑year‑old girl over a three‑month period in late 2022. The case involved 83 pages of text between Redmond and a decoy named 'Amber', created by a UK‑based group called 'Volunteers for Predator Exposure'. Redmond sent four photographs of his penis and engaged in grooming‑like discussions, offering to buy a phone and plan a meeting in Leeds. He pleaded guilty to the offence, claiming he had not sought contact with a child and that the operation bordered on entrapment. The judge, citing aggravating factors such as moving the conversation to a private platform, imposed a two‑year custodial sentence with the final six months suspended for one year, and ordered probation and no unsupervised access to children.
Michael Murray, 52, formerly of Seafield Road, Killiney, pleaded not guilty to a single count of knowingly making a false report that caused a safety apprehension while he was imprisoned at Midlands Prison, Portlaoise on 7 March 2021. The allegation was that an anonymous caller, claiming to be from the Irish National Liberation Army, had called the Samaritans to report that explosives were planted at the home of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. No explosives were found and the call was traced to the prison. Murray, who was alone in his cell with a telephone that night, denied making the call but admitted having links with the paramilitary group. He said the threat was ludicrous, arguing that it made no sense for him to isolate himself at 8.30 p.m. and threaten the Minister. He claimed his grievance was with the policies of the Director of Public Prosecutions office, not with McEntee herself.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 6 March 2024, Niall Brooks, aged 26, was sentenced to three years and three months' imprisonment for his role in an unprovoked mob attack on a nightclub bouncer at Buzz nightclub, Red Cow Moran Hotel, on 9 November 2019. Brooks pleaded guilty to an amended charge of assault with intent to commit violent disorder after initially denying assault causing harm. He received a two‑year sentence for the nightclub assault and a consecutive 15‑month sentence for possessing 150 g of crack cocaine for sale or supply, found in an air vent in his kitchen. The court noted that the security guard suffered a punctured lung, three stab wounds to his back, two fractured ribs and a fractured elbow, and that the attack involved a group of six to ten men, including Brandon Brooks, who had previously been sentenced for assault in the same incident.
A 61‑year‑old man named David Clarke was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment after the court found he had evaded excise duty on 74,148 cigarettes and 141 kg of tobacco, which he claimed he was selling to traders. The products were seized from his home and a shed at a second house he rented on St Attracta Road, Cabra, Dublin 7. Clarke admitted sourcing the goods but did not identify the supplier. He pleaded guilty to evading excise duty and to a fine cut for the rolling of cigarettes with intent to defraud the State on 5 September 2022. The State suffered a loss of €121,565, and €65,000 was found during the search, though no application had been made for that cash. Clarke has prior minor road‑traffic convictions. He is a retired newsagent, a carer for his 87‑year‑old mother, and volunteers with Vision Ireland and a local soccer club.
Philip Cox, 39, was tried for attempted murder after he stabbed his former partner, Cristal O'Brien, twice in the leg on 1 December 2022 at a York Street flat. He claimed he had no intention to hurt her and that the incident was a blur. O'Brien said Cox had threatened to stab her "to pieces", broke two knives, then retrieved a third, describing the attack as terrifying. A neighbour, Alice McGrath, testified that Cox said he would kill O'Brien and that he did not care if he went to prison. Cox pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder charge. He also faced separate charges of assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and producing a knife during a dispute, for which he had pleaded guilty. The trial was heard in the Central Criminal Court, with the jury hearing the evidence and the defendant's statements. The case is ongoing.
A senior Garda analyst, Lois West, is testifying before the Workplace Relations Commission about alleged sexual harassment and bullying by a senior official at Garda Headquarters. West claims the official told her he was not Garda‑vetted and produced his own vetting material, and that he threatened national security and her safety. She says the force mishandled her complaints, leaving her on extended sick leave without income. West alleges the official made a vulgar comment about a "blonde with big tits" that she interprets as a direct reference to herself. The hearing is part of a protected disclosures case under the 2014 Act, and the press is barred from naming the accused. West has spent over 12 hours giving evidence and the hearing continues.
Diego Costa Silva, 35, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife, De Campos Silva, 33, at their home in Charlestown Place, Finglas, on November 4, 2021. The Central Criminal Court jury is being asked to return a special verdict under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. Detective Garda Carl Smith testified that Mr Costa Silva told gardai he heard voices and believed his wife was possessed, stating, "sometimes you have to behead somebody." He alleged he felt unsafe after confessing to infidelity and feared his wife would kill him. He described striking her with a cup, choking her, stabbing her, and cutting off her head with a knife. Det Sgt Louise McHugh stated that following interviews, Mr Costa Silva was released from detention before she arrested and charged him with murder. Garda Colin Miley testified that two days prior, he found Mr Costa Silva distressed and disorientated while running barefoot in Dublin city centre. Mr Costa Silva was detained under the Mental Health Act and taken to the Mater Hospital, where he expressed suicidal thoughts. A urine analysis was positive for cannabis. The accused has only previous convictions for minor road traffic matters. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath.
In a 2024 Supreme Court ruling, the court held that the High Court erred in granting an injunction that restrained Unite the Union from industrial action against H.A O'Neill Limited. The injunction, obtained after a union ballot and a first strike, had been based on the company's claim that the union's action was unlawful and that a valid trade dispute did not exist. The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, found that the 1990 Industrial Relations Act provides an absolute bar to such injunctions when the union is registered, the ballot favours action, and the employer has been given at least a week's notice. The court noted that the relevant sectoral employment order had been quashed and that the injunction should not have been granted. The case will return for final orders later this month.
The Central Criminal Court has seen delays in murder trials because defence lawyers struggle to secure psychiatric assessments for their clients. Although up to 20 % of murder cases involve psychiatric issues, HSE‑employed psychiatrists are not legally required to provide reports for either side. Defence psychiatrists work voluntarily, and a lack of available experts has created a backlog. The Criminal Legal Aid scheme pays psychiatrists €120 per hour, far below the €184 rate approved for State prosecutors, discouraging experts from taking defence work. The Department of Justice has imposed a cap on hours and requires pre‑approval of estimates, further limiting access. Recent cases have highlighted the difficulty of finding psychiatrists, with some defence teams seeking experts abroad. The Department is reviewing fee arrangements, but no delays have yet been confirmed in the single case cited. The court remains concerned about the impact on trial schedules.
Michael Murray, 52, formerly of Seafield Road, Killiney, Dublin, is on trial for making a false bomb threat to the Minister of Justice's home. While imprisoned in Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, he allegedly phoned the Samaritans claiming explosives were planted at Helen McEntee's residence. The call was traced to a unique identification number registered to Murray, who was alone in his cell with telephone access that night. Murray denied making the call but admitted having links to a paramilitary group. He claimed to have been part of a "Criminal Revenge Group" that threatened Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the Minister of Justice, stating "Leo is to get it this week." The court heard video footage of Murray's interview after his arrest, where he discussed the group's threats and his frustration. He also said he regretted the call. The trial is ongoing before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury. Michael Murray pleaded not guilty.
Lois West, a former deputy head of Garda Analytics, says she was sexually harassed and bullied by a senior officer at Garda Headquarters who claimed he had shot dead 27 people. West describes the officer as volatile and emotionally unstable, noting he would sit between her and her office door, speak for hours, and orchestrate one‑on‑one situations. She alleges he told stories of previous partners meeting "sticky ends" and left a bottle of alcohol and chocolates on her desk after an outburst. West says she complained to an assistant commissioner, who responded with a letter that she felt ignored her concerns and prioritized the officer. She claims the officer was later removed from the force. West is on long‑term sick leave and has filed complaints under the Protected Disclosures Act, Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act and Payment of Wages Act.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Philip Cox, 39, was accused of attempting to murder his former partner, Cristal O'Brien, after a 12‑month relationship. O'Brien testified that on 1 December 2022 Cox entered their flat, threatened to stab her "to pieces", and brandished a knife. She described a violent confrontation in which Cox broke two knives, then sought a third, and attempted to stab her while she fled to a neighbour's flat. O'Brien was injured, sustaining two stab wounds to her left thigh, a broken lip, and bruising. During the trial, Cox interrupted proceedings, calling O'Brien a "lying c***", and was subsequently removed from the courtroom. The judge apologized for the interruption and instructed the jury to focus on the evidence presented. The case remains pending before Mr Justice McDermott. Philip Cox pleaded not guilty.
Niall Sheehy, a 59‑year‑old car‑sales owner from Ballinteskin, Stradbally, pleaded guilty to four counts of breaching the Data Protection Act for disclosing personal information obtained from the Garda Pulse system between June 2019 and February 2020. He had no money exchanged for the data and did not request it, but the information was sent to him by a serving Garda who had a "cosy relationship" with him. The Garda's phone was seized in March 2020, revealing ten screenshots of Pulse data sent to Sheehy. Sheehy's home was searched and he fully cooperated. Judge Martin Nolan, noting his long‑standing community standing and lack of criminal intent, sentenced him to one year in prison, suspended in full on strict conditions, and found no malice in his receipt of the data. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Paulo Ronchi, 39, a chef from Brazil, was found to have had a psychotic episode when he attacked his landlady, a fellow tenant and two Gardaí on the night of 21 August 2021. He assaulted the sleeping landlady, pulling out clumps of her hair and claiming she was the devil, then jumped from a second‑floor bedroom window onto the Gardaí below, injuring them and biting one. He also caused criminal damage to the bedroom, damaging furniture, a door and the walls. The landlady suffered bleeding from the assault and reported €800 in damage and loss of rental income, along with stress, depression and anxiety. Ronchi pleaded guilty to three counts of assault causing harm, one count of assault and one count of criminal damage. He was remanded on continuing bail and the case was adjourned to June 10 for a psychiatric report and a urine analysis to confirm he was not smoking weed.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old named Calistus Omoikhudu received a fully suspended three‑year prison sentence for assault causing harm and possession of a knife after stabbing a rival group member in the thigh with a kitchen knife on Nutgrove Avenue, Churchtown, on 10 May 2019. The victim suffered a 15‑cm laceration and required surgery. Omoikhudu, who had no prior convictions, admitted the offence, expressed regret and presented an apology letter. The court noted his age, lack of parental oversight at the time, and his subsequent maturation and good behaviour after returning to Ireland from Nigeria in 2022. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the suspended sentence on strict conditions and directed Omoikhudu to be supervised by Probation Services for 15 months. The sentence was based on the Children's Act and the court's assessment that he was unlikely to re‑offend. Calistus Omoikhudu pleaded guilty.
The High Court heard that a protest at a new Ukrainian refugee accommodation site in Newhall, Naas, Co Kildare, has "de‑escalated". Total Experience Limited, trading as Pastures New Accommodation, was building emergency accommodation for hundreds of Ukrainian refugees and had obtained a temporary injunction to stop protesters from blocking the site's entrances. The plaintiff's lawyers said that, despite the injunction, a campsite had been erected by protesters, which they alleged was trespassing. Counsel for the plaintiff reported that the campsite had been removed overnight, reducing the urgency of the matter. The court agreed to adjourn the case to the following Thursday, keeping the injunction in place. No protesters attended the adjourned hearing, and the plaintiff's application to amend the proceedings was postponed. The injunction remains in force while the case is pending.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a 62‑year‑old man was convicted of assault causing harm, assault and producing a knife during disputes with his wife in a short‑lived, dysfunctional marriage in Kerry. The offences occurred in May 2020 and the summer of 2019, when the couple's relationship had soured and both abused alcohol. In one incident the man brandished a large kitchen knife toward his wife, but his teenage stepson removed it. In a second incident he berated the 15‑year‑old stepson for noise, grabbed him, and when the wife intervened he punched her. The man was acquitted of rape and coercive control. Sentencing, Mr Justice Paul Burns imposed a one‑year term suspended on conditions including no contact with the ex‑wife and son and completion of a domestic violence course. The woman and children had moved to a refuge for days, and the couple are now divorced.
A 58‑year‑old man from Cork was sentenced to 11 years in prison for a campaign of sexual abuse that began when his nephew was eight and ended when the boy was ten, between 1996 and 1999. The defendant was found guilty of three counts of oral rape and three counts of anal rape. He threatened to stab the nephew's parents if the boy disclosed the abuse. The nephew, who was not named to protect his identity, read a victim impact statement in court, describing the physical pain, bleeding, and lasting psychological trauma he endured. He said the abuse changed him, leading to ongoing mental health struggles, difficulty maintaining relationships, and attempts at suicide. He now has a child and hopes to inspire other survivors to come forward. The judge noted the deliberate, calculated nature of the abuse and imposed a sentence of 12 years, suspending the final year on conditions.
Shane Romel Bullock, a 29‑year‑old Canadian from Toronto, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to importing 29.8 kg of cannabis, valued at €597,048, into Ireland. He was arrested after a customs sniffer dog flagged two suspicious pieces of luggage bearing his name and flight number. Bullock initially denied ownership but later admitted the bags were his, claiming he did not know their contents but had agreed to transport them from Canada to London via Dublin, for a promised €2,000. He has been in custody since his arrest. The court accepted his admission of high risk and reckless conduct, noting his remorse. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, back‑dated to his initial remand in July 2023.
A trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard allegations that Diego Costa Silva, aged 35, fatally attacked his wife at their apartment on Charlestown Place, Finglas, Dublin in November 2021. The prosecution alleges that Mr Costa Silva struck his wife, Fabiola Camara De Campos Silva, aged 33, with knives and severed her head from her body. Emergency services were called in the early morning of November 4th, with the accused telling responders he believed he had killed his wife. Gardaí discovered the deceased in a doorway with knife wounds and a blade protruding from her chest. Mr Costa Silva has pleaded not guilty to murder. The defence has made admissions regarding the death but indicated it will seek a special verdict under the Criminal Law Insanity Act 2006, centring on the accused's mental state at the time. Psychiatric evidence from both prosecution and defence experts will be presented to the jury. The trial before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath continues.
Ken Oman, a 41‑year‑old former League of Ireland centre‑back and Ireland U21 international, voluntarily surrendered to Northern Ireland authorities to face charges of causing a broken jaw to Cliftonville player Caoimhín Bonner during a 2016 Premiership match at Solitude. The incident, captured on TV, led to Bonner losing two front teeth and sustaining a broken upper jaw. Oman received a six‑match ban from the Irish Football Association. The warrant, issued in the Republic and endorsed by the PSNI, refers to the offence as grievous bodily harm, punishable by up to seven years' imprisonment in the UK. At the High Court, Oman confirmed he had been fully advised of his legal options and signed consent papers. The judge ordered his extradition to Northern Ireland within 20 days, noting Oman had complied with bail conditions and had engaged a solicitor in the North.
Michael Murray, 52, formerly of Killiney, Dublin, is on trial before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury for one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else. He pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleges he phoned in a bomb threat to the home of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee while imprisoned in Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, on March 7, 2021. The jury heard that an anonymous caller claiming to be from the INLA reported explosives at the Minister's home; no explosives were found, but the call was traced to a unique identification number registered to Mr. Murray. Video footage of a garda interview played to the jury showed Mr. Murray admitting to having "well-known" links to the INLA. He denied making the threat, stating he regularly called the Samaritans. The court also heard details of his criminal history, including convictions for armed robberies and a 2010 conviction for kidnapping and rape, for which he was initially sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, later increased to 19 years on appeal. The trial continues.
Keith Redmond, 45, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempting to send sexually explicit material to a child between 30 August and 3 December 2022. He had not initiated contact with a fake profile of a 14‑year‑old girl named 'Amber' created by the UK group Volunteers for Predator Exposure, nor had he sought an underage girl. Redmond's profile on the social media platform Kick listed him as a 44‑year‑old male from Ireland. After 'Amber' contacted him, they exchanged 83 typed pages of messages, which began as ordinary conversation but became sexually explicit. Redmond sent four photographs of his penis and discussed meeting 'Amber' for sexual activity, offering to buy her a phone and to live together. The UK group used open‑source technology to locate Redmond and contacted an Irish group, Child Online Protection Enforcers, who located him in Dublin.
Lois West, a civilian analyst in the Garda Siochána Analytics Service, claims she faced intense pressure and harassment to approve a one‑sided report from a review group that she said was a "flagrant attempt" to undermine the methodology that had flagged misclassification of homicide data. She says her line manager was physically confronted by a senior officer who told him to intervene, and that she was pressured to sign off on recommendations in May 2017. West has lodged statutory complaints against the Garda Commissioner, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, and the government under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, and a claim under the Payment of Wages Act. She alleges ongoing sexual harassment and continuing penalisation since she and colleague Laura Galligan began challenging homicide statistics in 2017. The case is currently before the Workplace Relations Commission, where evidence on her sexual harassment complaint will be heard.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 4 March 2024, Philip Cox, 39, pleaded not guilty to a single count of attempted murder of his former partner, Cristal O'Brien, after an incident on 1 December 2022 at York Street Flats. The prosecution presented evidence that Cox had broken two knives during an argument with O'Brien, pursued her, and then broke a third knife to continue the attack. O'Brien fled to a neighbour's home, where Cox broke the neighbour's door, unbolted the lock, and threatened her again. She later hid behind a car and called Gardaí, who arrested Cox. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, will focus on proving Cox's intent to kill and the physical acts of breaking and using the knives, with a potential duration of up to one week. The case also notes Cox's prior guilty pleas for assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, and knife production, which do not affect the attempted murder charge.
The High Court heard that protesters continue to obstruct entrances to a refugee accommodation site in Naas, Co Kildare, despite a temporary injunction granted last week. Gary McCarthy SC, with Barry Mansfield BL, representing the applicant, Total Experience Limited trading as Pastures New Accommodation, told Mr Justice Oisin Quinn that the protest remains ongoing. Counsel alleged that while some protesters left, others erected a campsite at the entrance, preventing larger articulated lorries from accessing the site. The applicant claims the protesters are trespassing and requested to amend proceedings to address this alleged trespass, extend the previous order, and add the names of several identified individuals. The court heard the facility, contracted by the State to provide 985 beds, was scheduled to open this week but remains delayed. No defendants appeared or made representations. Mr Justice Quinn accepted the matter remained urgent and adjourned it to later this week. The applicant also alleged that protesters previously used tactics including human shields and parked cars to block access, constituting a nuisance. The company expressed concern over aggressive social media posts alleging threats of fire and sabotage, noting fears of escalation given previous incidents involving refugee accommodation.
The High Court has granted Ditch Media Limited permission to pursue judicial review proceedings against Donegal and Wicklow County Councils over their maintenance of public staff ethics registers. The media company claims both councils have failed to comply with obligations under the 2001 Local Government Act by declining to provide electronic copies of employee interest registers without significant charges. Donegal County Council offered to supply copies for €375, whilst Wicklow County Council quoted €152.94 excluding postage. Ditch Media contends that other local authorities, including Mayo and Clare County Councils, have provided comparable registers electronically at no cost. The applicant company argues the councils have unlawfully withheld information of public interest and that the charges are unreasonable and disproportionate. Ms Justice Niamh Hyland granted permission for the proceedings on an ex-parte basis on Monday. The company seeks declarations that the councils have misinterpreted what constitutes a register and have erred in their construction of the 2001 Act. Both cases will return to court next month.
The High Court appointed Ken Fennell and Eamonn Richardson of Interpath Advisory as joint provisional liquidators for Pressing Matters Limited, trading as Dublin Vinyl, Ireland's sole vinyl record manufacturer. The court heard the company, founded in 2016, employs 22 full‑time staff and four contractors and supplies records to major labels, including artists such as Taylor Swift. Pressing Matters has suffered significant losses in 2002 and 2023, citing the Covid‑19 pandemic, Brexit, the Ukraine war, the loss of a major contract and delays in the delivery of pressing machines. The company's directors petitioned for liquidation, arguing that an orderly winding‑up would best serve employees and creditors. Mr Justice Oisin Quinn confirmed the company's insolvency, granted the liquidators powers, and adjourned the case to April, noting the firm's liabilities exceed its assets by €1.9 million.
A 45‑year‑old chronic alcoholic was jailed for 16 months after he ignored his 11‑year‑old daughter's pleas for help when her mother collapsed and later died in their apartment during Covid‑19 restrictions. The mother, in end‑stage alcoholism, died of acute alcohol intoxication, and the daughter cared for her for about four days, bringing blankets and food, before seeking help from neighbours. The father, now sober, told Gardaí he did not remember the events and described himself as a monster. He pleaded guilty to two charges of child cruelty in 2020, with no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan noted the father's severe alcohol problem and the child's neglect, but imposed a three‑year sentence with the final 20 months suspended, citing the father's guilty pleas, cooperation, lack of criminal record and work history. The case was reported under restrictions to protect the child's identity.
David Howard, a retired firefighter from Dun Laoghaire, pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder arising from an incident on October 15, 2019, at Loughlinstown Drive, Loughlinstown, Co Dublin. The matter was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where the prosecution alleged Howard engaged in a "boxing match" with a third party during an altercation in which his cousin, Derek Reddin, was fatally stabbed by Andrew Lacey. Lacey was previously found guilty of manslaughter, and the Court of Appeal recently quashed his original sentence of seven and a half years with 18 months suspended, imposing a new term of six years and nine months. In Howard's case, the court accepted he had no previous convictions, acted as a central witness in Lacey's trial, and attempted to provide first aid to the deceased. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as unfortunate, noting Howard's limited involvement and good behavior afterward. He imposed a nine-month sentence suspended on strict conditions, determining that Howard did not deserve a prison term.
David Douglas, 65, from Belfast, was jailed for a year after pleading guilty to two charges of masturbating in a public place at Dundrum Town Centre in March 2022. He admitted playing an "eye contact game" for about 20 years, focusing on young girls. An off‑duty Garda and her 11‑year‑old daughter reported that Douglas sat close to them in the food court, looking at them, and later ran when security alerted the Gardaí. CCTV showed Douglas masturbating outside his clothing near where girls were seated, and he claimed he used alcohol to reduce inhibitions. He has 33 prior convictions, including road traffic offences and sexual offences, but none involving physical contact. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to 15 months' imprisonment, suspended the final three months, and imposed 12 months of probation on release.
Daunte Millar Wruck, a 21‑year‑old Canadian, pleaded guilty on 1 August 2023 to importing a controlled drug for sale or supply after customs found 29.8 kg of herbal cannabis in two suitcases at Dublin Airport, valued at €596 000. He claimed the items were artworks he intended to take to Birmingham. Wruck admitted possession but said he expected a $10 000 reward. Garda Peter Elliott and counsel Paul Murray described him as a "complete and utter patsy" who entered an early guilty plea, answered all questions, and cooperated. The investigation revealed messages from a third party arranging flights from Toronto via Ottawa to London, then to Birmingham via Dublin, and providing money for the flights. The court noted Wruck's lack of prior convictions, young age, and lack of Irish ties.
A 76‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for raping a 15‑year‑old girl in the late 1980s. The victim, who was babysitting for a woman with whom the defendant was having an affair, was lured to the Wicklow mountains under the pretext of a job interview and raped there. In a separate incident he took her to the babysitter's home, where he raped her while she was cleaning the house. The victim also reported that the defendant forced her to perform oral sex on him and that he held her by her hair. He pleaded not guilty to the charges of rape and indecent assault. A jury convicted him on two rape charges and three indecent assault charges.
In March 2023, at the Central Criminal Court, Stephen Mulvey (32) and Jamie Berry (28) were found not guilty of attempted murder of a 17‑year‑old boy on 24 February 2021, possession of a Beretta pistol with intent to endanger life, and Berry was also charged with criminal damage to a home on Eugene Street. Both men had pleaded not guilty to all charges. In March 2024, the Court of Appeal overturned the acquittals, ruling that the evidence presented at the original trial required a jury's consideration. The Court of Appeal quashed the acquittals and ordered a retrial. Mr Justice Paul McDermott announced that the retrial would commence on 14 October 2024 at the Central Criminal Court. The case concerns the attempted murder of a teenager at a Dublin south inner‑city residential estate and the alleged possession of a firearm and criminal damage on the same night.
A 39-year-old man with 174 previous convictions has been sentenced to 14 months imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for breaching conditions of a suspended sentence, including a lifelong driving disqualification. James Maughan was convicted in February in the District Court of 16 offences arising from a hit-and-run incident involving an off-duty garda's vehicle. No injuries resulted from the collision. Judge Pauline Codd described Maughan's continued driving despite the ban as an "intolerable" and "outrageous" situation, noting that someone would eventually be injured. Maughan, previously of Cloghran, County Dublin, has an extensive history of road traffic offences spanning a decade. The court heard he became homeless after his suspended sentence was imposed in 2022 and was not accessing required medication for paranoid schizophrenia. Upon release, the judge requested continued medical supervision.
A 38‑year‑old Lithuanian woman, Sandra Sandaraite of Academy Street, Navan, was charged with the murder of a 47‑year‑old Polish man, Zbigniew Czech, at the same address on 10 December 2022. At the Central Criminal Court she pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a plea accepted by the State. She said "not guilty to murder, guilty to manslaughter" when the charge was read. Her lawyer said the charge arose from a domestic dispute. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the case to a sentence hearing on 16 May to allow for urinalysis and probation reports.
A 35-year-old Brazilian man pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court today to the murder of his wife at their home in Dublin in November 2021. Diego Costa Silva is charged with the killing of Fabiola Camara De Campos Silva at Charlestown Place, Finglas. The trial, which opened before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury, is expected to last approximately five days. The court will consider the question of insanity as a special verdict. The prosecution's case will be supported by evidence from gardaí, emergency service personnel, and two consultant forensic psychiatrists. Both the accused and his wife had emigrated from Brazil, with Mr Costa Silva having worked at a public house in Blanchardstown.
During a trial on March 7 2021, Michael Murray (52) of Seafield Road, Killiney, was accused of making a false bomb threat against Minister Helen McEntee's home. The call was traced to a unique identification number registered to Murray, used on a prison telephone at Midlands Prison, Portlaoise. Jury evidence showed Murray was alone in his cell at the time, with all cells master‑locked and no other prisoners able to access the phone. The assistant chief officer, Patrick McCabe, confirmed that the cell would not have been opened until the next day. Detective Garda Shane Curran identified the call's source as the prison, and IT staff Noel Reilly admitted he had not reported a phone‑system issue that allowed prisoners to call solicitors. No other calls to the Samaritans were made from Murray's number until March 20, and the trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury. Michael Murray pleaded not guilty.
In a sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court, a woman gave a victim impact statement after being raped by Aidan Kestell, 55, the husband of a friend. She described the assault as an "atrocious attack" that left her a "waking corpse," causing anxiety, paranoia, nightmares and a loss of her former self. She said the rape ended her habit of walking home alone after nights out and that society's perceptions of sexual assault are "all wrong." She noted that Kestell had no prior convictions and that the crime involved an abuse of trust, premeditation and occurred in a public place near her home. The court heard that Kestell was remanded in custody pending a March 15 sentencing and that the case was being treated as a higher‑category offence by the DPP. The woman thanked the court, Gardaí, the prosecution and her family for their support.
Mark Wells, a former Shopify employee, was made redundant on 26 July 2023 after he raised a grievance alleging misandrist abuse from a customer and discrimination by female team leads. Wells had filed several statutory complaints against Shopify International Ltd, but only pursued a victimisation claim under the Employment Equality Act 1998 when his case was called in June 2024. The tribunal heard that a customer had used foul language, made wild accusations of domestic abuse, and sent racist, sexist and harassing emails to the firm. Wells' internal grievance, rejected in May 2021, was upheld on appeal later that summer. He claimed he was blamed for the abuse and treated differently because he was male. After a second grievance in June 2022, disciplinary proceedings were launched but stopped on 18 July 2023. Wells' second grievance was rejected on 25 July 2023, and he was notified of redundancy the following day.
Three sisters from Galway accused their older brother, Martin Davis, of repeated sexual abuse during the 1970s. Carmel Connelly, aged 10 at the time, was raped by Davis, who was then 15‑16, and later subjected her to digital penetration while masturbating. Michelle Davis, aged seven when first abused, was forced into anal penetration and later had her underwear removed and her anus penetrated by Davis, who was 23. Audrey Stanley, nine at the time, was abused with tickling games that escalated to genital touching. Davis denied all charges during a 2018 interview. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of one count of rape and eight counts of indecent assault. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to eight years' imprisonment, back‑dated to his custody, and placed him on the sex offender register. The sisters read victim impact statements, urging others to come forward for support.
In March 2024 the Workplace Relations Commission dismissed 61 test cases brought by 181 hospital consultants who alleged age‑based discrimination after austerity‑era contracts cut their pay by 30 % compared with senior colleagues. The Irish Hospital Consultants Association had lodged nearly a thousand statutory complaints under the Employment Equality Act 1998 in 2019, and the tribunal considered the cases in hearings from November 2022 to September 2023. The commission found that the pay differential was due to the date of appointment, not age, and that the 30 % cut applied only to new entrants after 1 October 2012. The decision, issued this morning, rejected all claims and left the doctors with the option to continue under the lower pay or accept a higher‑pay SláinteCare contract. The IHCA said it would not comment on the ruling and the claimants may appeal to the Labour Court before the end of the month.
Andrew Lacey, a 35‑year‑old father of five, was convicted of manslaughter for stabbing Derek Reddin to death on 14/15 October 2019 after an altercation on Loughlinstown Drive. The original sentence of seven and a half years with 18 months suspended was increased by the Court of Appeal to six years and nine months with no portion suspended. The appeal court found that the trial judge, Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, had given too much weight to the difficulties faced by Lacey's children, describing them as "innocent victims" and citing reports of educational issues. The Court of Appeal held that these circumstances were not central to the sentencing hearing and quashed the suspended portion, imposing the new term. The decision was made by a three‑judge panel, including Mr Justice George Birmingham, who noted that the suspended portion had no evidential basis in this case.
During a trial, Michael Murray, 52, pleaded not guilty to a single count of knowingly making a false report that caused apprehension for the safety of another. The false report was a bomb threat to the home of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, allegedly made from the Samaritans. The State argued that the call was traced to the prisoner number of Murray, who was imprisoned at Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, on 7 March 2021. Evidence included a report from Noel Reilly, an IT officer at the Irish Prison Service, who showed that an outgoing call from the prison matched the duration and time of the bomb threat and used Murray's unique prisoner number. Reilly explained that prisoners must enter a number to access the phone system and that calls to the Samaritans are logged but not recorded.
Kevin Murphy, 28, of Bray, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of harassment and one count of making a threat to kill between July 2021 and July 2022. He sent 200 abusive, violent and distressing messages to a family, including graphic sexual texts, threats to kill, and insults. The victim was a 16‑year‑old girl who had been his surfing student; her mother also received harassing messages. Murphy's communications included threats to "clip their car" and to kill the boyfriend of a family member. He was initially detained in February 2022, later arrested again, and admitted to some of the messages. Garda Rachel Corcoran and counsel noted that his behaviour occurred during an episode of psychosis and that he had voluntarily committed himself to hospital for four weeks in March 2022. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two and a half years in prison, suspended in full, and imposed a 15‑year no‑contact order with the injured parties.
A 35‑year‑old serial offender, Dean Masterson, who had 122 prior convictions and was on bail, was sentenced to one year in prison for robbing an Italian man in St Stephen's Green on 1 May 2018. Masterson and two accomplices followed the victim, who was walking from Harcourt Street, and attacked him from behind. One of the men placed the victim in a chokehold, forced him to the ground, and seized his phone, ATM card, cigarettes, Italian ID card and €1 in cash. The incident was captured on CCTV. Masterson pleaded guilty before trial. The court noted his guilty plea, apology, and claims of drug addiction at the time of the offence, and considered mitigating factors. The judge imposed a two‑year sentence, suspended the final 12 months, and ordered 12 months of probation after release. The victim has returned to Italy and declined to give a victim impact statement.