Conor Murphy, aged 23, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for stabbing a shop security guard three times in the neck with a ballpoint pen. The attack took place at Centra, Neilstown Shopping Centre during the Covid‑19 pandemic, after the guard asked Murphy to wear a mask. Murphy later approached the guard and stabbed him, saying to the victim that it was "lucky it's only a pen". The victim suffered superficial injuries and no victim impact statement was filed. Murphy has six prior convictions, including a six‑year sentence for assault causing serious harm. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 18 March 2021. The judge noted Murphy's intoxication at the time and his "bad humour", and remarked that the pen is not mightier than the sword. His earliest possible release is November 2027.
Michael Dickson, a 59‑year‑old Briton from Nottingham, was given a two‑year suspended sentence for violent disorder during the anti‑Pegida riot in Dublin in February 2016. The offence occurred at the Four Courts Luas stop on February 6, 2016, when a group of ten men attacked three men travelling on the Luas, shouting, punching and kicking them. CCTV footage was presented to the court. Dickson pleaded guilty. He has seven prior convictions, including a 1996 IRA mortar attack on the Osnabrück army base in Germany, for which he was sentenced to six years and six months for attempted murder and causing an explosion. He served three years of that sentence and was released under the Good Friday Agreement. The court imposed a suspended sentence, with no custodial term, for the 2016 incident.
Michael Murray, a convicted rapist and child abductor, lost an appeal against a disciplinary sanction imposed by the Governor of the Midlands Prison for throwing a bible at Judge Karen O'Connor during a sentencing hearing in July 2021. The sanction, which removed ordinary privileges for 40 days, was upheld by the High Court and the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal agreed with the lower court that the Governor was lawfully entitled to discipline Murray under the 2007 Prison Rules Act, even though the incident occurred while he was in court custody. The Court of Appeal dismissed all but one of Murray's arguments, finding that the Governor's action was within jurisdiction. The Court also allowed an appeal concerning the High Court's refusal to recommend payment to legal representatives under the Legal Aid Custody Issue Scheme. Murray, aged 51, had previously been sentenced to 16 years for threats and harassment, and had earlier convictions for rape and sexual assault.
Patricia Kelly, 61, the widow of the late founder of the suicide‑prevention charity Console, pleaded guilty to one count of failing to keep proper books of account as a director between December 2006 and May 2015. The court found that 96 payments totalling €223,000 were traced to accounts controlled by her husband, Paul Kelly, who had died by suicide in 2020. The prosecution could not prove a wilful failure, so no custodial sentence was imposed. Judge Martin Nolan fined Kelly €1,500, to be paid within six months, and disqualified her as a director for five years. The charity, which received €2.03 million from the HSE between 2010 and 2016, is in liquidation and is subject to ongoing civil proceedings by its liquidator. The case highlighted a lack of cooperation with audits and the movement of records offsite. The fine was considered modest given Kelly's limited means and widow's pension.
In a 2024 decision, the Workplace Relations Commission found that Centz Discount Retail Holdings Ltd had discriminated against former in‑house counsel Sarah Treacy on the basis of gender and disability, and had failed to pay her wages and provide a constructive dismissal. The tribunal noted that Treacy's pro‑rata salary was lower than that of a male solicitor, Mr X, at several points in 2020 and 2021, and that the company delayed a promised salary increase until October 2021. Treacy also claimed the firm refused her request to work from home after an ADHD diagnosis, instead offering an unsuitable cash‑office role. The tribunal described the grievance investigation as superficial and biased, and concluded that the employer's conduct was intolerable.
In a record‑setting decision, the Workplace Relations Commission ordered Hyph Ireland Ltd to pay its founder, Mick Kiely, €464,000 for unfair dismissal. The award includes €440,000 for loss of earnings over a 17‑month period and €24,000 for notice pay. Kiely, who had earned €340,000 a year as chief executive before being dismissed in 2021, claimed that the dismissal was contrived on the basis of a visa allegation and that he was locked out of company premises. The tribunal found the dismissal unfair, noted Kiely's rapid re‑establishment of a new business within 17 months, and concluded that the non‑compete clause limited his ability to mitigate losses. The decision surpassed the previous record award of €329,000 and is the highest dismissal award ever made by the WRC. The company admitted the contract was governed by Irish law and the dismissal was unfair.
Patrick Gorman, a former Air Corps airman who served 35 years, claims he was denied a retirement ceremony after making protected disclosures in 2014 and 2015. He alleges that up to six former members of the No 4 Support Wing at Baldonnel Aerodrome were similarly treated. Gorman's representative, Niall Donohue, told the Workplace Relations Commission that the denial undermined his reputation within the Defence Forces community. The State, represented by Hugh Guidera BL, argues Gorman is too late to file a penalisation claim, citing that he filed a statutory complaint in November 2022, more than two and a half years after retirement. Guidera also contends that Defence Forces personnel are "workers" under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, not "employees," and therefore lack the same protections. Commandant David Brennan testified that unit presentations are organised by colleagues and peers, and that no decision was made to exclude Gorman.
In a High Court hearing on 21 February 2024, Michael Flatley, the 65‑year‑old dancer, claimed that Hiscox Societe Anonyme's Irish branch had refused to pay his monthly relocation expenses of up to €80,000 and intended to cancel the insurance policy covering his Castlehyde Manor property from 8 March. Flatley, represented by Ronnie Hudson BL and solicitor Max Mooney, obtained an ex‑parte order to restrain Hiscox from cancelling the policy and to prevent denial of coverage for the Fermoy property until the proceedings concluded. He argued that the insurer had been aware of the property's unsafe chemical residue and had renewed the policy in November, yet now sought cancellation on the basis of changed occupancy. Flatley said the insurer had not compensated him for vacating the home, and he feared difficulty in securing alternative coverage if the policy were cancelled. The case will return to court later that week.
A 35‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment for assaulting his former partner and breaching a protection order. The court heard that the woman had obtained a live protection order two months earlier. On the night of the assault, the man, who had been watching their son, became agitated, appeared intoxicated and violently struck the woman, banging her head against a wall three or four times, throwing her to the ground, pulling her by the hair, shouting and stamping on her head. She blacked out, managed to escape, called the Gardaí and was taken to Beaumont Hospital for head injuries. The man had previously been granted High Court bail with a condition to stay away from the woman's home and not contact her or their son. He breached this bail and the protection order by returning to the house, where he also struck a babysitter. The unnamed 35-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a High Court hearing, Hitianland Limited, trading as 'Xi'an Street Food', claimed that IR Entertainment Limited's planned restaurant 'Meet Xi'an' would breach its registered trademark. Hitianland operates eight authentic Chinese restaurants in Ireland, including two near the proposed Dublin 7 location. The plaintiff argued that the name 'Meet Xi'an' and a logo featuring similar Chinese characters would cause confusion and damage its goodwill. IR Entertainment denied wrongdoing. Hitianland, represented by Imogen McGrath SC, highlighted its 2017‑established brand, awards, social media presence, and significant investment. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Mark Sanfey, granted Hitianland permission to serve short‑notice injunction proceedings, with the case set to return next week. The injunction seeks to restrain infringement and damages. The matter remains pending.
Ryan Murphy, 25, of Lusk, Dublin, pleaded guilty to knowingly making a false report to Gardaí and money laundering. He claimed a robbery in Balbriggan on 2 April 2020, alleging masked men took his bank cards and deposited €32,000 into his account. Gardaí found no CCTV evidence of such men and discovered an unusual €31,912 lodgement. Murphy admitted lying about the robbery, citing a €500 drug debt and fear of the criminals. He had provided his bank details via Snapchat, hoping to receive €3,000–€4,000, but never received money. The account was frozen upon receipt of the funds; he sought to "un‑freeze" it by filing a robbery complaint. Judge Martin Nolan described the crime as "pure stupidity" and imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, deciding Murphy did not deserve jail at this stage.
Rodin Van Hooff, 43, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of intentionally or recklessly assaulting two gardai at Lynwood, Ballinteer, Co Dublin, on March 2, 2023. The court heard that Van Hooff, who was living in a tent at the time, refused to leave the area when directed by officers and swung at them, striking one on the back of the head. He was restrained with pepper spray and arrested. Van Hooff's bail was revoked in July last year, resulting in two months spent in custody. Judge Martin Nolan noted that the officers were performing their duty and sustained no injuries. Acknowledging Van Hooff's "unusual lifestyle and philosophy of life," the Judge stated that such views are permissible provided no crime is committed. Judge Nolan initially intended to impose a suspended sentence of three months but reduced this to a suspended one-month sentence to account for the time Van Hooff had already spent in custody. The matter was finalised with this suspended sentence.
A High Court judge has ruled that Gemma O'Doherty must appear before the court to answer alleged contempt of an existing injunction. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey was satisfied that Ms O'Doherty had breached an order restraining her from harassing Edel Campbell of Kingscourt, County Cavan, whose son died by suicide. The injunction, granted in June, followed Ms Campbell's claim that Ms O'Doherty unlawfully published an image of her late son in connection with Covid-19 vaccination claims. The judge found that Ms O'Doherty had made statements in video posts across multiple months in apparent disregard of the order and noted she was absent from Wednesday's hearing. Mr Justice Sanfey stated that journalism cannot excuse such conduct and that intimidation of the plaintiff had demonstrably continued after the injunction was granted. Ms O'Doherty denies all allegations against her. She is required to appear before the High Court on Friday morning.
A Central Criminal Court jury has convicted two men of raping and sexually assaulting a teenage girl in a hotel car park in Leinster in December 2017. The first defendant, aged 25, pleaded not guilty to rape, oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault. The second defendant, aged 24, pleaded not guilty to rape and oral rape. The State alleged the then 17-year-old victim was assaulted by the men, who were aged 17 and 18 at the time, after going for a drive with them. This was the second trial in the case, following a hung jury in 2023. After seven and a half hours of deliberation, the jury convicted the 25-year-old of all charges against him. The 24-year-old was convicted of oral rape, while the jury indicated it was not in a position to reach a verdict on the rape charge against him. Both defendants broke down in tears as the verdicts were read. They were remanded in custody pending sentence on April 22 next, when a victim impact report will be submitted to the court. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon thanked the jury for their time.
Egidijus Aleliunas, 43, of The Paddocks Way, Adamstown, Lucan, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to multiple counts including deception, possession of false documents, use of a false instrument, and possessing and transferring the proceeds of criminal conduct over a seven-year period. Judge Nolan described Aleliunas as a "very competent man" who could reform himself. His wife, Anastasija Pavola, 37, of The Paddocks; father-in-law Viaceslav Pavlov, 68, of Earlsfort Road, Lucan; and mother-in-law Natalja Pavlova, 65, of Abbeydale Gardens, Lucan, each pleaded guilty to engaging in the transfer of property that was the proceeds of crime between June and August 2017. The court found they acted recklessly by allowing their bank accounts to be used for transfers to a Dubai investment company. Judge Nolan handed each of them suspended sentences of two years. He noted their good work histories and lack of previous convictions, stating it would be unjust to imprison them. Judge Nolan also agreed not to disqualify Pavola as a director to protect her business. The matter was finalised with these sentences.
The High Court upheld An Bord Pleanala's refusal to grant retention permission for St Margaret's Recycling and Transfer Centre Limited to continue using its waste facility at Sandyhill, St Margarets, which has operated since the late 1990s. The operator had appealed the board's decision, which had been made after a 2021 Fingal County Council permission that was limited to three years and subject to 17 conditions. The board refused retention on grounds that the operator had not supplied sufficient evidence to assess environmental impact and that the proposed waste disposal contravened the council's land‑use zoning objectives. The court found the board's reasoning correct, noted that the operator's claim that the council had not required a full Environmental Impact Assessment was mistaken, and rejected all grounds raised by the operator. The decision confirms the board's refusal and the operator's appeal was dismissed.
Aaron Brock, a 19‑year‑old from Manchester, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison after pleading guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to smuggling 29.3 kg of cannabis worth an estimated €586,000 into Ireland from the United States. The drugs were found at Dublin Airport on 9 July 2023, shortly after Brock's flight from Los Angeles. He had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Brock was under financial debt, reportedly £10,000, due to gambling, and that he felt pressured to repay the debt. The judge considered Brock's young age, lack of previous convictions, cooperation with Gardaí, and early guilty plea, and concluded he was unlikely to re‑offend. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence while taking into account the defendant's circumstances. The case was prosecuted by Pieter Le Vert BL and defended by Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC.
Glen Duff, 36, of Doon Court, Poppintree, Dublin 11, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for two robberies and an assault causing harm in Temple Bar. The first offence occurred on 17 April 2022 when Duff and an accomplice attacked a tourist, kicking and stomping on his head before taking a €300 wallet. The victim suffered concussion and ongoing memory problems. The second offence took place on 23 June 2023, when Duff and another man robbed an American tourist who had just arrived in Ireland, stealing his wallet, passport and driving licence and leaving him with a broken finger. Both incidents were captured on CCTV and led to charges in May 2023 and November 2023, respectively. Duff pleaded guilty to all charges.
Ryan O'Toole, aged 34, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment after a cocaine‑fueled assault on Garda Karl Byrne outside a Dublin apartment block on 11 December 2022. O'Toole, heavily intoxicated, repeatedly punched, bit and knocked Byrne unconscious, also lifting him into a headlock and throwing him to the ground. Byrne suffered a concussion and a fractured nose, though the fracture's cause was uncertain. O'Toole pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and had seven prior convictions, none for serious offences. Judge Martin Nolan noted O'Toole's extreme intoxication and aggression, concluding he deserved prison. Garda Sergeant Paul Daly confirmed Byrne returned to work two weeks later. O'Toole's early guilty plea was seen as a sign of remorse, and he has since addressed his addiction issues. The court imposed the 18‑month term without further details on suspension or custody.
Lisa Lee, 41, was granted bail after a bench warrant was issued for her arrest following a failure to appear at the Central Criminal Court. Lee had previously received a half‑suspended four‑year sentence for discarding a knife used by Noel Lennon in the fatal stabbing of Isaac Horgan on 29 March 2021. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, described Lee as being in the "last‑chance saloon" and emphasized that her bail conditions would require her to reside at a named hostel in south Dublin, remain sober, keep her phone on hand for Garda and probation officers, and stay out of Dublin 2. The court noted that Lee had breached release conditions by committing public order offences and allegedly stealing a mobile phone. Mr Justice Hunt adjourned the matter to 8 April, stating that Lee's engagement with probation services could affect future cases. Lisa Lee was found guilty.
Seven Ghanaian fishermen have brought claims before the Workplace Relations Commission alleging they are entitled to statutory redundancy payments in addition to compensation received under a vessel decommissioning scheme administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara. The men, recruited to work in Ireland under an atypical work permit scheme for non-EU fishers, received payments based on years of service aboard the same vessel when their employer applied for €2 million in decommissioning compensation in 2022. Their union representative contends the decommissioning payments have no legal bearing on separate statutory redundancy entitlements, with individual claims ranging from €8,736 to €3,443. The vessel owner's legal team argues the scheme compensation was intended as redundancy payment in lieu of additional statutory entitlements, and that granting the claim would create discriminatory outcomes for Irish and EU fishermen. Adjudicator Jim Dolan has reserved judgment pending further consideration of the submissions.
A 73‑year‑old man, whose identity is withheld to protect victims, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to four counts of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault. The offences occurred between 2012 and 2019 in County Tipperary, involving two young girls who were cousins of the complainants. The first victim, aged about ten or eleven at the time of the first contact, described a pattern of inappropriate touching, kissing and an attempted rape that ended when she entered secondary school. The second victim, aged about four or five, was raped on three separate occasions, the first when she was five or six. Both girls, now 17 and 16, gave impact statements detailing how the abuse has left them unable to recall happy childhood memories, caused them to feel unsafe, and led to shame, suicidal thoughts and trust issues.
Former 2FM presenter Chris Greene has agreed to withdraw all claims of whistleblower penalisation and unfair dismissal against RTÉ after a compromise was reached at the Workplace Relations Commission. The settlement, announced at the WRC hearing, means Greene will no longer pursue claims under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 or the Payment of Wages Act 1991. The dispute centred on Greene's allegations of sexual harassment and workplace impropriety, which he said were protected disclosures that led to his marginalisation and dismissal. RTÉ contested Greene's status as an employee and argued he had no entitlement to employment‑rights claims. The WRC hearing, which had been delayed for over two hours, concluded with the parties agreeing to a written compromise and Greene withdrawing his complaints, including the protected disclosure element. The case had been scheduled for two days of hearing before adjudicator Breiffni O'Neill.
Deirdre O'Grady, a cancer survivor with chemotherapy‑induced nerve damage, filed a complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998 against the Health Service Executive (HSE). She had been promised a full‑time office role in Tuam after her treatment, but when the Covid‑19 pandemic began in 2020 she was redeployed to Ballinasloe and required to work full‑time in a kitchen, contrary to medical advice. The HSE argued it had adhered to medical recommendations and that occupational health reports deemed her fit for the duties. The tribunal found the HSE had made some efforts but failed to meet its legal obligations for reasonable accommodation. The adjudicating officer awarded O'Grady €5,000 for disability discrimination, while rejecting a claim for extra mileage compensation as an unreasonable burden on the employer.
John Doyle, 49, of Littleton, Co. Tipperary, was convicted in Wexford of two counts of rape and four counts of sexual assault against his two daughters and his niece. The offences occurred between 2006 and 2017 in the family home and a mobile home. Doyle denied wrongdoing and maintains his innocence. The judge, Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford, described the acts as a "breach of trust of the gravest kind" and imposed concurrent sentences of 12 years for the rape counts, with one year suspended on strict conditions. He received additional sentences of six and four years for the sexual assault counts, all to run concurrently, and was directed to remain away from the victims for five years post‑release under probation supervision. The court noted Doyle's refusal to accept responsibility and the impact on the victims' safety and trust.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 19 February 2024, taxi driver Neville Griffin, aged 49, pleaded guilty to endangerment after a 2021 incident in which he drove off while an inter‑county playing Garda was pursuing a suspect. Griffin, who had five prior convictions, was described by the judge as having acted in a "spur of the moment" decision, a "total misjudgement" that was "extremely dangerous." He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, but the sentence was fully suspended on strict conditions, including a €3,500 payment to the injured Garda within 12 months. Griffin brought €1,500 to court as a token of remorse. The Garda, who was injured and out of work for seven weeks, received medical treatment and was unable to resume county training. The court noted Griffin's good character and the lack of serious harm caused, but upheld the suspended sentence for the offence.
Mamadou Alpha Bah, 27, was sentenced to six years in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a violent sexual assault that occurred on 2 September 2020. The offence involved Bah chasing a 43‑year‑old woman through a hotel corridor after she had gone to his room, where he pinned her to a bed, threatened her, punched her, forced her to remove her clothes and sexually assaulted her through her clothing. He also attempted to force her legs open and followed her to the bathroom, where she escaped. CCTV footage captured the chase. Bah pleaded guilty on the morning of his trial and was found remorseful. He had no prior convictions at the time of the offence but had been convicted of sexual assault and false imprisonment in August 2021, receiving a five‑year sentence with one year suspended in October 2023.
The 19‑year‑old accused of assaulting a male in a 2020 incident now seeks to halt his criminal trial in the High Court, arguing that the prosecution has been delayed by 43 months. He was 15 when the alleged altercation near a railway station occurred, and was arrested, fingerprinted and interviewed by Gardai shortly thereafter. Despite this, he was not charged until September 2023, when he was 18 and no longer protected by the Children's Act. He claims the Director of Public Prosecutions failed to secure an expeditious trial, and that the delay is "inexcusable" and "unexplained". Represented by James Dwyer SC and Sarah Connolly BL, he has brought judicial review proceedings to restrain further prosecution. Ms Justice Niamh Hyland granted permission to proceed on an ex‑parte basis, with the matter to be returned to a date next month.
The Registrar of Companies has filed High Court actions to annul District Court orders that granted two companies, Kitchen Innovations Limited and Greenay Ltd, additional time to file their annual returns. The Registrar argues that the courts lacked jurisdiction to issue a second extension beyond the single 28‑day period normally allowed. The proceedings, represented by Brian Conroy SC and John Freeman BL, seek to set aside the orders and declare any returns filed under them as not lawfully registered. Justice Niamh Hyland granted the Registrar permission to proceed ex‑parte, with the case scheduled for a hearing next month. The Registrar also requests declarations that the returns were not delivered within the statutory periods and should be removed from the register. The action follows the lifting of a pandemic‑era suspension on enforcement of non‑filing penalties, which will resume shortly.
Former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 55, was found guilty of stealing €18,144,385 from six banks during the Celtic Tiger era. He was convicted on ten counts of theft in a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial; the jury could not agree on the remaining eleven counts. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Lynn to five and a half years' imprisonment, crediting him for seven and a half years spent in Brazilian prison. The headline sentence was 13 years, but the final imposed term was five and a half years, with the credit for time served. Lynn was extradited from Brazil in 2018 after spending four and a half years in a harsh prison. He and his wife Brid Murphy were present at sentencing, showing no visible reaction. The court set a hearing for asset confiscation on 16 April. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
The former chief technical officer of Altada, Denis Canty, obtained a €10,238.01 award from the Workplace Relations Commission for an illegal 22.5% wage deduction that began in July 2022 and continued until October 2022. Canty claimed the deduction from his €125,000‑a‑year salary after the company was put on layoff in July and later entered receivership on 4 November 2022. He resigned three weeks later. Canty's claim was filed after the receivership process had begun, and although the initial six‑month deadline had passed, the adjudicator accepted his claim as within an extended period due to the "storm and stress" of the receivership. The commission declined to consider a separate €39,000 claim for an unpaid bonus, as it was not included in the original statutory complaint. Canty's award follows a similar compensation of €24,262 awarded to former Altada executive Graham Baitson.
Sandra Hehir, sister of Christy Keane, pleaded guilty in October to laundering €124,055 found in her attic. Defence counsel requested a suspended sentence, citing her lack of prior convictions and positive rehabilitation. The Special Criminal Court adjourned the matter to February 26 for sentence finalisation. In related proceedings, her son Warren Hehir, who pleaded guilty to laundering €59,000 and possessing a Rolex, was jailed for five years and three months, with the final 12 months suspended. His wife, Vicky Hehir, also known as Victoria O'Halloran, pleaded guilty to laundering the same €59,000. The court sentenced her to two years in prison, fully suspended, on conditions that she refrain from contact with the Keane gang and reside away from Garryowen and Kilmurry. The court noted that a custodial sentence would be unduly harsh on her three children. Prosecutors indicated that five other counts could be considered, while three others would receive a nolle prosequi. The investigation targeted the Keane Organised Crime Group, with evidence suggesting Hehir's financial activities were inconsistent with her legitimate income.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the family of 78‑year‑old John O'Neill, who was killed by his nephew Thomas Lorigan (34), expressed profound grief and fear. The niece, Niamh Higgins, described the murder as a "heinous" act that left a "hollowness" in the family. She highlighted the brutality shown in CCTV footage and the impact on the community of Lisdoonvarna, where elderly residents now feel a shared trauma. The court heard three victim impact statements, all detailing the emotional devastation and the sense that the crime was "beyond torture" because it was committed by a relative. Judge Paul McDermott noted the mandatory life sentence imposed on Lorigan, back‑dated to his 2022 arrest, and emphasized the importance of the victim's voice in such proceedings. The sentencing reflected the severity of the violence and the lack of remorse from the offender. The family thanked responders and expressed that John's memory would remain with them forever.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the sentencing hearing for Nathan Kinsella until June 17 to allow gardai to complete an investigation into newly filed tax returns. Kinsella, 44, of Richmond, Blackrock, Co Dublin, previously pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to deliver full and true Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) returns for the years 2018, 2019, and 2020. The charges alleged he failed without reasonable excuse to comply with section 46(2) of the Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Act 2003 while residing at addresses in Saggart, Dublin, and Blackrock. During the hearing, the Director of Public Prosecutions stated that Kinsella had recently filed income tax returns for the same period, which the State described as "not in keeping with the evidence" regarding funds on which CAT should have been paid. Defense counsel explained the returns were filed on accountant advice to encompass all money received. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, presiding on behalf of the three-judge court, ordered the adjournment to permit gardai to investigate the basis of these new returns and any overlap with the funds in question. Kinsella was previously sentenced to two years in prison in 2012 after pleading guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), an unlawful organisation, following an investigation into paramilitary activity at the funeral of Alan Ryan.
Andrew 'Andy' Cash, aged 30, was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment with the final year suspended for the manslaughter of his brother‑in‑law John Cash, aged 40, who was stabbed to death on Hebron Road, Kilkenny City, on 3 May 2022. Cash was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after a jury verdict of 10‑2. The judge noted that the attack occurred in broad daylight on a busy street, in front of John Cash's wife, and that Cash had continued to shout threats and abuse at the victim while he lay on the ground. Cash had been drinking and taking tablets at the time of the incident. He had previously been accused of assault causing harm to John Cash's wife and of producing a knife during a dispute, but was found not guilty of those charges.
A former senior official at the Department of Justice, Niall Colgan, 39, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of possessing child abuse material. He admitted to having two indecent videos and two indecent images of children, which he had at his home on 1 February 2022. The judge set a sentence hearing for 7 May, after a report will be prepared.
Gerard O'Brien, a former Circuit Court judge aged 59, was convicted in December 2023 by a Central Criminal Court jury of one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault involving six young men. The offences, which took place between March 1991 and November 1997 in Dublin, were committed while O'Brien was a teacher in his 30s. The complainants, four of whom were his students, were aged 17 to 24 at the time. O'Brien denied all charges. He resigned from the judiciary in February 2024. Defence counsel requested a delay of the sentence hearing to allow completion of several reports, which are expected to be ready by mid‑April. The court agreed to adjourn the hearing to 29 April, and O'Brien remains on continuing bail.
Noel Foran, 61, of Lucan, was sentenced in July 2023 to three years' imprisonment for ten sexual assaults on his step‑daughter between 1991 and 1998. The court imposed 18‑month consecutive sentences for the first and tenth charges, while the remaining eight were considered by Judge Orla Crowe. Foran pleaded guilty before trial and claimed he had been "cured" after attending the Granada Institute in 2004. At the Court of Appeal, his counsel argued the consecutive sentences were disproportionate, noting Foran's lack of prior convictions and his low risk of reoffending. The appeal also highlighted the victim's prolonged suffering, including PTSD, self‑harm, and over 500 days in St Patrick's Hospital. The court reserved judgment on the appeal, noting the sentencing judge had discretion to impose a single four‑year sentence or consecutive terms. The case remains pending.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 16 February 2024, the court considered the case of Neville Griffin, 49, who pleaded guilty to endangerment after a taxi he was driving was pursued by an inter‑county Garda. The Garda, who was injured in a separate incident and had been out of work for seven weeks, had grabbed the passenger and the taxi door in an attempt to stop a fleeing suspect. Griffin stopped the vehicle within seconds, but the Garda fell to the road and was injured. Griffin's lawyers described the offence as reckless and momentary, noting no serious harm was caused. The judge adjourned sentencing to Monday, remanding Griffin on bail. The case highlighted the Garda's injury and the brief nature of the incident, with no further legal action reported in the article.
Lee Hardy, 27, of Georges Hill Apartments, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty on 18 January 2022 to possession of cannabis for sale or supply after being found with almost €50,000 worth of cannabis. He had no prior convictions. Garda Alan Browne reported that a confidential search of Hardy's premises uncovered two kilograms of cannabis, weighing scales, bagging equipment and two mobile phones, valued at €49,022. Hardy claimed the items were his and that no other house occupants were involved. The prosecution argued Hardy was acting on instructions from third parties and holding the drugs for them. Hardy's defence highlighted his good work history, full‑time employment since leaving school, and that he was a pro‑social individual struggling with drug addiction. Judge Martin Nolan, considering Hardy's guilty plea, cooperation, and the circumstances, departed from the mandatory ten‑year minimum and imposed a two‑year custodial sentence, stating he could not consider a non‑custodial option.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the bulk of an appeal by Dafora Unlimited Co, trading as Mr Price Branded Bargains, against a High Court ruling that prohibited it from selling certain grocery items at Barrow Valley Retail Park. The court upheld the decision by Mr Justice Mark Sanfey, which found that Dafora breached its lease by selling goods defined as groceries alongside anchor tenant Dunnes Stores. The High Court had determined that 'groceries' extends beyond food to include non-durable consumable household items purchased frequently, such as cleaning products, toiletries, and pet care items. Dunnes and landlord Camgill Property A Sé Ltd had secured an injunction preventing these sales. Dafora argued the High Court erred in interpreting the lease and that the injunction was ambiguous. The Court of Appeal, comprising Mr Justice Seamus Noonan, Mr Justice Robert Haughton, and Ms Justice Nuala Butler, largely agreed with the High Court's findings. However, the court amended one declaration to add the phrase 'provided that such items are non-durable' to the list of prohibited items, aiming for greater clarity. Mr Justice Haughton noted that Dunnes was substantially successful. Consequently, the court proposed that Dafora pay 90% of Dunnes' costs of the appeal, with the costs order to be finalised at a later date.
Sandra Adams, a member of the pressure group The Countess, claimed she was denied entry to a National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI) meeting on 9 June 2022 because of her religious beliefs, alleging discrimination under the Equal Status Act 2000. The NWCI argued that a risk assessment had to be escalated after a press release by The Countess threatened a transgender board member, raising concerns about potential disruption and harm. Witnesses testified that Adams would have been admitted if not for the press release, and that the NWCI's decision was based on safety rather than religious discrimination. The tribunal found no evidence of discrimination, concluding that the refusal was on non‑discriminatory grounds. Adams' claim was dismissed, marking the second loss for a Countess activist in similar disputes.
John Murphy, a 43‑year‑old married secondary school teacher, was sentenced to one year in prison for sexually exploiting a 16‑year‑old girl via Instagram. He communicated with the victim for a full year while she was preparing for her junior certificate exams, with the content escalating to explicit descriptions of penetration. A probation report noted that Murphy tended to rationalise his behaviour, had a medium risk of reoffending, limited understanding of the harm caused, emotional disconnect, limited insight, and displayed sexually compulsive behaviour over a long period. The sentencing judge had originally set a headline sentence of six years, reduced it to three years, and suspended the final two years, a decision criticised by the Director of Public Prosecutions for placing too much weight on mitigating factors such as Murphy's good career and lack of prior convictions. Murphy also pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography in 2008 and 2010. The Court of Appeal reserved its judgement.
Hamid Zatout, aged 26, had been sentenced to six and a half years for a series of robberies in which he snatched designer watches from vulnerable victims, some worth up to €47,000. The Court of Appeal, after reviewing the evidence of multiple robberies and an attempted robbery, warned his lawyers that an appeal could result in a higher sentence. Following a discussion with the court's president, Mr Justice George Birmingham, Zatout's lawyers withdrew the appeal, citing the court's willingness to increase the sentence if an error was found. The court noted that the offence was very serious and that the sentencing judge had considered a "double figures" sentence. Zatout had pleaded guilty to four robbery charges, one assault causing harm, and one attempted robbery, and had been living in a hotel in Dundalk at the time of his arrest. The case involved extensive CCTV evidence and the involvement of accomplices who followed victims before the robberies.
Keith Riggs, 40, of Finglas, pleaded guilty to arson, threats to kill and threats to cause damage. He set a Garda's private car on fire on 13 August 2020 while the owner was on patrol outside Bridewell Garda Station. Riggs poured accelerant from a Dunnes Stores bag under the car, igniting it and leaving the vehicle to burn. CCTV captured the act; forensic DNA linked Riggs to the bag and gloves. He also threatened to kill the owner of his apartment and to burn down Bridewell Garda Station. Riggs had previously been convicted of arson at a Dublin homeless hostel in March 2022, which left a 22‑year‑old woman with catastrophic injuries. He is already serving a nine‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for that offence. Judge Elva Duffy sentenced him to four and a half years imprisonment, to run concurrently with his existing term.
In a High Court ruling, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore declared that Garret Hevey and David Peile, jailed in 2019 for a €5.5 million forestry investment Ponzi scheme, were personally liable for Arden FM's debts. Hevey was ordered liable for €3.8 million, while Peile was ordered liable for an unspecified portion that will be determined at a future hearing. The court found that Arden FM, operated by the pair, had deceived mainly older foreign investors into believing their money would purchase forest land and yield returns after tree sales. In reality, the company spent only €133,000 on 30 acres of land and returned €393,000 to investors. The liquidator, Declan De Lacy, sought the orders, and the judge confirmed the fraudulent nature of the scheme and the defendants' intent to defraud creditors. The case remains at the stage of finalising Peile's liability. Garret Hevey pleaded guilty.
Lucy Ewins, a Kenyan‑born resident of Ireland for over 30 years, has brought an injunction application against Promontoria Scariff Designated Activity Company and receiver Mr David O'Connor, alleging unlawful conduct in the sale of her four‑bedroom home in Knocknacarra, Galway. She claims the defendants' agents changed the locks, attempted to market the property for auction, and that a representative once stayed overnight in the sitting room, constituting trespass and a breach of her privacy rights. Ewins also alleges intimidation and harassment over several years. She seeks to restrain the defendants from selling or trespassing on the property. The High Court granted her permission to file the injunction, and the case was adjourned for two weeks to allow the defendants to reply. The defendants deny all allegations in the "strongest possible terms" and have offered undertakings not to sell or attend the property until the matter returns to court.
The High Court struck out a claim by financial fund Everyday Finance DAC against applicants Helen Bracken and Joseph Bracken, ruling that the delay in progressing the proceedings was inexcusable and inordinate. Ms Justice Marguerite Bolger dismissed the action, which sought over €1m in judgement regarding a defaulted loan originally advanced by AIB Plc in 2007 for a housing project in Ferbane, Co Offaly. The applicants, represented by solicitor Donnacha Anhold, opposed the claim and successfully brought a pre-trial application to have it dismissed on grounds of delay. They alleged they were prejudiced by the eight-year period between the commencement of proceedings in 2013 and the trial being set down in late 2021. The applicants rejected AIB's assertion that they signed a 2009 letter extending the facility, stating the signatures were not theirs and that they never consented to the alleged extension. The judge noted that the delay would render witness evidence fragile and unreliable, particularly given the absence of certain documentation and the serious injury sustained by Mr Bracken in 2017. She found that the balance of justice favoured dismissing the claim, rejecting the plaintiff's argument that dismissal would force a write-off of substantial debt. The court indicated a provisional view that the applicants were entitled to their legal costs. The matter was adjourned and will return before the court next month for final orders.
In February 2024 the Court of Appeal quashed the convictions of John O'Donoghue, a 54‑year‑old from Rathkeale, who had been jailed for ten years for assault causing serious harm to a 74‑year‑old Willie O'Driscoll Sr. in December 2017. The appeal was based on the prosecution's failure to obtain and preserve CCTV footage that a local resident had confirmed was operational at the time of the incident. The court found that Gardaí had an established duty to seek out such footage, but had not done so, depriving O'Donoghue of a reasonable prospect of defence. The court also noted that a Garda notebook was disclosed to the defence during the trial without prior notice, a procedural fault that was deemed unsatisfactory but not sufficient to overturn the conviction on that ground alone. The convictions were quashed and the case was adjourned for a possible retrial on 22 March 2024. John O'Donoghue pleaded not guilty.
Bobby Fenton, a livestock agent for Grasstec, was dismissed after the company alleged he had traded livestock on his own account during working hours. Fenton admitted knowledge of a private cattle sale brokered by a colleague, Mr A, but claimed he was simply "in the wrong place at the wrong time" when a manager spotted him at a farm in West Cork on 22 June 2021. Grasstec argued that the sale, worth €9,000, constituted fraudulent dealing and that Fenton's failure to report Mr A's activities warranted dismissal for gross misconduct. The Workplace Relations Commission found that Grasstec had shown "a total disregard for any type of fair procedure" and that Fenton's dismissal was unfair, awarding him €2,000 in compensation under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The decision noted that Fenton had contributed to his own dismissal but that the employer's process was flawed.