The Supreme Court declined to hear former FAI chief executive John Delaney's appeal against a decision that allowed the Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA) to access over 1,100 documents seized from the FAI in 2020. Delaney argued that the documents were protected by Legal Professional Privilege (LPP) because they contained legal advice he received during his tenure. The High Court had found the documents were not privileged, a ruling upheld by the Court of Appeal. Delaney's appeal to the Supreme Court was rejected on the basis that it would merely repeat arguments already fully considered in the High Court and Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court therefore concluded that it was not in the interests of justice to allow a further appeal, ending the case at the appellate level. The CEA remains free to use the seized material in its ongoing criminal investigation of the FAI.
Michelle Spellissy, a solicitor with the Legal Aid Board, brought a whistleblower penalisation claim after her manager docked her a day's pay and opened a disciplinary process when she complained about headaches and electrical shocks caused by a noisy ventilation fan in her office. She also alleged that her absence from work while attending a State‑sponsored Irish exam was treated as unauthorised. The Workplace Relations Commission found that the Board had not properly determined whether her absence was unauthorised, noting that Spellissy had not been told how the Board wanted her to treat exams or study time. The WRC awarded her €123.50 in back pay and dismissed her other complaints, concluding that the Board's actions did not amount to penalisation. The case remains at the employment‑tribunal stage, with no further outcome reported.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, William Cassidy, 59, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for arson at Apache Pizza and three and a half years for assault causing harm, the last two years suspended. Cassidy had thrown two petrol bombs into the pizzeria on 9 July, set his jacket on fire, and then attempted to stab a female pedestrian on Drumcondra Road. He told Gardaí he sought "suicide by cop" and that the petrol bombs were intended for self‑harm. The court noted he had previously complained about noise from the shop, had a history of suicidal ideation and had stopped seeing his psychiatrist. Cassidy pleaded guilty to arson, possession of petrol bombs, assault, and possession of a knife. The judge described him as a dangerous man suffering mental health difficulties and said he was unlikely to reoffend with proper treatment.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Chen Hsien Tsai, 59, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for money‑laundering after he was found carrying more than €1.78 million in cash at Dublin Airport's Terminal One on 7 March. The cash, in euro, sterling and US dollars, was discovered in two envelopes and in bags that also contained food and sanitary items. Tsai, who has no fixed abode in Ireland and no prior convictions in Ireland or the UK, claimed he was merely transporting the money for a friend and was not paid for the service. He admitted to being afraid and frightened when arrested. Judge Martin Nolan noted that an English‑speaking national might have received a longer sentence and that the prison could be a lonely place for a foreign national. The sentence was back‑dated to the day of his arrest. The case has attracted the interest of UK authorities. Chen Hsien Tsai pleaded guilty.
Tadhg Keely, 19, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing a Toyota Aqua from Belview Court, Blackrock, Co Dublin, and endangerment on the N81 Tallaght bypass. He pleaded guilty to these charges and further admitted to dangerous driving on the N7 in Naas, Co Kildare. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as extremely dangerous, noting Keely's "disgraceful behaviour" when he drove through traffic cones, forcing a workman to "jump for his life." The court heard Keely led ten garda patrol cars on a 40-minute chase at speeds exceeding 160km/h, blowing two tyres and driving on the wrong side of the road. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, with the final year suspended due to his young age, guilty plea, and difficult background. Judge Nolan disqualified Keely from driving for three years and ordered one year of probation supervision upon release. Keely, who has 36 previous convictions, was in State care at the time. The matter was finalised with this sentence.
Michael Dunne, 50, a serial offender with 51 prior convictions, was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 18 months for throwing blue paint on a Luke Kelly statue, causing €240 damage. Nine months of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions. Dunne pleaded guilty on 12 July 2020 and had previously missed a sentencing date in December, leading to a bench warrant. The judge cited aggravating factors such as his criminal history and the bench warrant, but also noted mitigating factors including his guilty plea, expressions of remorse, vulnerable history, and personal circumstances. Garda David Kelly identified Dunne through CCTV footage. Defence counsel highlighted his drug addiction, mental health difficulties, and the impact on his family. The court acknowledged the case's media attention but emphasized that Dunne must face the consequences of his actions.
During the Dublin District Coroner's Court inquest into the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, expert witness Dr Will Hutchinson testified that no accelerant was found and there was no evidence the fire in the west alcove was caused by arson. He explained that the Gardaí investigation had focused on the alcove, where the fire was first seen, and that samples taken over three days revealed no arson‑related substances. Hutchinson noted that witnesses who reported seeing a fire outside the club were observing a separate blaze, likely in the roof space, and that the timing of calls to emergency services supported this. He also discussed the possibility of expanded polystyrene insulation (Polyzote) on heating ducts as a potential fuel source, but confirmed no evidence of deliberate ignition in the alcove. The inquest will resume next Monday.
In a Central Criminal Court murder trial, the accused Patrick McDonagh (52) is charged with the death of his neighbour Peter McDonald (73) on Whitechapel Road, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, on 25 July 2020. McDonagh is alleged to have swung a machete at Garda armed support units who had forced entry to his home before being tasered and restrained. McDonagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State has not accepted. The trial heard that McDonald was found face‑down on his driveway, surrounded by blood, with a deep laceration from under his left ear to the Adam's apple and a deep cut on his left forearm. The injuries were described as incompatible with life. The case is proceeding before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury of nine men and three women.
Steven Russell, 47, of Cooperhill, Julianstown, was given a fully suspended one‑year prison sentence after pleading guilty to exposing his penis to a 10‑year‑old school girl in September 2020. He was ordered to pay €5,000 to the child's parents or guardians within six months to help cover therapy and counselling costs. The case had been listed for trial three times before the guilty plea, with the child prepared to give evidence each time. Russell had no prior convictions. The court noted the offence's seriousness and the impact on the child, but also considered his early plea, lack of previous convictions, family responsibilities, and the brief nature of the interaction. The offence does not result in Russell being registered as a sex offender. The suspended sentence means no custodial time unless the sentence is later activated.
Trevor Byrne, the appellant, has appealed his 2021 convictions at the Court of Appeal regarding the 2010 armed robbery of Boylesports in Swords, Co Dublin. Byrne, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of robbery, possession of a firearm, false imprisonment, threatening to kill, and unlawfully seizing a vehicle. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath sentenced him to eight-and-a-half years for the robbery and false imprisonment, six-and-a-half years for the threat to kill, and seven-and-a-half years each for the firearm possession and vehicle seizure. These sentences run concurrently with each other but consecutively to a separate nine-year sentence for a 2019 firearms offence, resulting in a total of 17.5 years. Byrne's counsel argued the convictions were unsafe due to procedural defects in the CCTV identification process, specifically the lack of contemporaneous notes by Detective Garda Patrick McDonagh. The State contended the evidence was admissible and supported by other circumstantial evidence, including a phone dropped at the scene linked to Byrne. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, reserved its judgment, meaning the matter was adjourned and not concluded.
In a High Court hearing on 25 January 2024, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey set aside a subpoena that had been issued by Paul Coyle to compel Gabriel Makhlouf, Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, to give evidence in a property dispute brought by Ken Fennell, James Anderson and Start Mortgages. The judge found the subpoena to be flawed, lacking a clear statement of the party requesting the evidence and the documents to be produced, and concluded it was an abuse of process. The Central Bank is not a party to the case, which seeks an injunction to vacate a property in Mullingar. The subpoena was described as a "fishing expedition" and a nullity. The application to set it aside was made by Shelly Horan BL for the bank, and Mr Coyle was not present at the hearing, being in the United States. The defendants did not object to the application.
An ex‑employee of the Chinese‑owned PPE firm Suirsafe Technologies Ltd, Spela Pintar, secured €68,541.54 after she quit in October 2022 following months without pay. The Workplace Relations Commission upheld her complaints under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, the Payment of Wages Act 1991 and the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. Pintar had not received her €4,450.50 monthly salary from July to early October 2022, after agreeing to a pay cut from the original €4,600. She had emailed the company repeatedly for the outstanding wages and presented an email where a representative said Suirsafe had "no budget" to pay her. The adjudicator found the company's non‑payment amounted to repudiatory conduct, justified her resignation and awarded €48,000 for constructive dismissal, €14,378.54 for unpaid wages and €6,163 for accrued annual leave, including €3,000 for a rights breach. The total award was €68,541.54.
During the trial of Thomas Lorigan, accused of murdering his 78‑year‑old uncle John O'Neill, the court heard that Lorigan, who was arrested for assault causing serious harm, was questioned by Gardaí about blood on his clothing. In an inference interview, Lorigan was told that a failure to explain the presence of blood could lead a jury to draw an inference. When asked to account for blood on his black boots and blue jeans seized from Gleann Bhreandain, he replied "no comment." Forensic evidence showed the boots and jeans contained DNA from both Lorigan and O'Neill, and the jeans' lower leg matched O'Neill's profile. Lorigan was also asked about a box of alcoholic drinks seized from the uncle's house, to which he again made no comment. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. Thomas Lorigan pleaded not guilty.
A 30‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with the last two years suspended, for a single count of rape committed on 9 February 2018. He claimed the act was involuntary, citing a sleep disorder called sexsomnia and describing himself as an "automaton." The victim, who had previously worked with him, was persuaded to lie in bed, fell asleep, and was then raped. She reported the assault to the Gardaí on 15 February, and DNA evidence linked the man to her clothing. The judge noted the seriousness of the offence and the victim's impact, but also considered the defendant's lack of prior convictions and supportive testimonials from family and employers. The sentence included strict conditions, such as supervision by the Probation Service, and the court acknowledged the defendant's remorse while noting he did not accept wrongdoing. The unnamed 30-year-old was found guilty.
During the inquest into the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, expert witness Dr Will Hutchinson explained that the blaze would have been less likely to spread if carpet tiles had not been present on the walls. He noted that a low ceiling, foam on the seats, burning droplets, and the presence of carpet tiles all contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, which killed 48 people. Dr Hutchinson described how the fire may have originated in the west alcove or the hot press, and how heat from the low ceiling intensified the blaze. He also discussed the role of the hot press's immersion heater, the potential for electrical faults, and the impact of the ceiling's height on heat radiation. The inquest will continue tomorrow in the Pillar Room of the Rotunda Hospital.
A trial date has been set for the wife and brothers of Jozef Puska, who is currently serving a mandatory life sentence for the murder of Ashling Murphy in Tullamore, Co Offaly, on January 12, 2022. The wife of Jozef Puska, Lucia Istokova, and his brothers Marek Puska and Lubomir Puska are accused of failing to disclose information to gardaí between January 12, 2022, and January 27, 2022, at Tullamore Garda Station. Jozefina Grundzova and Viera Gaziova are accused of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of a person. The trial, which is expected to last up to four weeks, is scheduled for April 28, 2025, and will be heard together. Free legal aid for senior and junior counsel was granted to all five defendants, who were not required to attend the court. The matter was adjourned by Ms Justice Karen O'Connor to a case management list in June. Jozef Puska had pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Murphy, but an unanimous jury found him guilty after just two hours of deliberation.
A Central Criminal Court jury will hear evidence that 52‑year‑old Patrick McDonagh of Whitechapel Road, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, is charged with murdering his 73‑year‑old neighbour Peter McDonald on 25 July 2020. McDonagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the DPP, so the trial proceeds. The State's counsel, Philipp Rahn SC, described the victim as a quiet pensioner who lived alone with cats, and said the killing involved a machete and knife, with multiple chopping and stabbing wounds to the head and neck. Witnesses reported McDonagh shouting threats, appearing drunk and mentally unstable, and that he was seen with a machete in his hand. Gardaí arrived at the scene early, found McDonald in a pool of blood, and seized the weapons. The case is being treated as murder, with the jury asked to consider whether McDonagh's mental state could give rise to a defence of diminished responsibility.
A financial fund, Mars Capital Finance Ireland Designated Activity Company, has applied to the High Court for an injunction to order several alleged trespassers to vacate a property at Rosehill Avenue, Firies, Co Kerry. The fund claims that in September last year attempts to take possession of the property were thwarted by the presence of several known and unknown individuals, including defendants Martina Moriarty, Sinead O'Connor, Brian McCarthy, Colman McCarthy, Donal O'Sullivan and others. Ms O'Connor, the only defendant to appear, maintains she has a valid tenancy and disputes all claims. Mars seeks a swift determination, arguing that Ms O'Connor's separate proceedings are intended to delay the injunction. The judge has set a timetable for document exchange and will hear the case again early next month. The property was subject to a 2007 mortgage, possession proceedings were initiated in 2016, and a possession order was granted in 2018.
Nathan Kirby, 22, of Grand Canal House, Lower Rathmines Road, Dublin 6, was given a fully suspended two‑year sentence and ordered to pay €7,500 to a 76‑year‑old pensioner who was injured on Lower Rathmines Road on 6 January 2022. Kirby pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after an argument over change in a Holland and Barrett shop where he worked. He punched and kicked the pensioner, fracturing his jaw, breaking his dentures and knocking out a front tooth. The court noted Kirby's guilty plea, good work history and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors. Judge Martin Nolan said Kirby had lost his temper but was unlikely to reoffend, and ordered him to maintain good behaviour for the suspended period. Kirby admitted the assault, expressed remorse, and is currently employed by Hertz Car Hire, planning to open a café in the future.
Anthony Dennis, 39, of Ballyfermot, was sentenced to an additional year and nine months in prison for threatening to kill a prison officer at Cloverhill Prison on 29 September 2020. The judge described the conduct as part of a "pattern of intimidation" that included several incidents. Dennis, who has 331 prior convictions—almost 200 for traffic offences—has spent half his life in custody. The first threat occurred while he was smoking on the prison landing, after which he ignored officers' requests to return to his cell. He later called the officer a "tramp" and a "scumbag" and threatened to "blow his head off" after being placed in a close‑supervision cell. The court noted that Dennis had been remanded since 12 January and that he has three prior assault convictions but no prior convictions for threats to kill. The sentence was back‑dated to 12 January. Anthony Dennis pleaded guilty.
A 75-year-old milk collection haulier from Castlederg, County Tyrone, has received a fully suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for failing to remit over €160,000 in VAT to the Revenue Commissioners between 2012 and 2015. James Wauchope pleaded guilty to six sample counts of the offence. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a headline sentence of five years but suspended it in full for three and a half years, citing extenuating circumstances. The court heard that Wauchope suffers severe post-traumatic stress disorder following an incident in which he was locked in one of his trucks with a bomb by the IRA, and that he endured the death of a son who required round-the-clock care following a 1986 road accident. The judge stated that life had inflicted sufficient punishment on the defendant. Wauchope was ordered to repay €65,000 to Revenue within one year, in addition to €60,000 already repaid. He has no previous convictions.
A forensic scientist presented a mixed DNA profile taken from inside a pair of boots heavily stained with the blood of widower John O'Neill, who was beaten to death in his own home. The DNA matched both O'Neill and the accused, Thomas Lorigan, a 34‑year‑old man known locally as 'Mossy' and the victim's nephew. The boots, recovered from a house where Lorigan stayed the night before the body was found, were described as steel‑capped Portwest boots in size 46 with a thick chevron‑shaped sole pattern. The scientist also matched footwear impressions on the victim's kitchen floor and on carpet, as well as partial impressions on a Dell laptop, to the boots. Blood found on the boots matched O'Neill's profile, and a mixed DNA profile from inside the boots contained both O'Neill's and Lorigan's DNA. Thomas Lorigan pleaded not guilty.
John McGrath, a volunteer in his seventies, challenged St John Ambulance's decision to force him to retire because he was over 70, claiming ageist discrimination under the Equal Status Act 2000. He argued the retirement policy was arbitrary and ignored his proven ability to perform the role, citing that he met all certification requirements and had received training. McGrath's letter to the charity in June 2022 stated he would not resign, and he alleged no consultation with the charity's executive, where he sat. The charity defended its policy by citing a 2018 review of its governance structure, noting the executive's average age was 75 and raising health and safety concerns about the physical demands of volunteer work. The Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator, Breiffni O'Neill, found no breach of the Act, concluding that the charity's decision was outside the scope of the Equal Status Act and dismissed the discrimination complaint.
In a High Court case, Judith Dixon and Liam McLoughlin of The Station House, Curraghbeg, Adare, Co Limerick, challenged a notice from Limerick City and County Council that the council intended to acquire part of their property at Blackabbey, Adare, under the 2007 Water Services Act. The couple argued that the council's action was unconstitutional because the Minister for Housing had not commenced the section of the Act that would allow an appeal against such acquisitions, thereby denying them a constitutional right to appeal. They sought orders to quash the council's notice and declarations that the notice breached their constitutional rights. The case was settled, with the council agreeing to quash the notice and pay the couple's legal costs. The settlement was confirmed by Ms Justice Niamh Hyland, and the case was struck out.
Gary Maloney, a used‑car salesman, was dismissed by Bill Griffin Motors after he went on a holiday in Albufeira, Portugal, during a week when the company's directors were attending a family wedding. Maloney had requested annual leave for the week of 10 October 2022, but the sales director, David Griffin, denied the request, insisting the sales team be present. Maloney travelled to Albufeira, where he met the directors at a bar and took a selfie with them, which was circulated among staff. When he returned to the dealership, he was confronted by senior sales executive David Fleming, who questioned his whereabouts and told him to leave. Maloney claimed he was told to leave the premises and that the employer would contact him. The Workplace Relations Commission found no evidence of a disciplinary process and ruled the dismissal unfair, awarding Maloney €12,500 in compensation for his financial loss of €19,026.
A Luas employee, Matthew Cullen, claimed that a security manager said he would not hire black or Indian staff. The Workplace Relations Commission ruled that Cullen's report was a protected disclosure, but he was not penalised for it. Cullen also alleged that his safety concerns about staffing levels and equipment were ignored, and that he was dismissed after refusing to check tickets. The commission found no evidence of penalisation for his safety complaints and dismissed his statutory complaints. The commission accepted that Cullen's allegations of discriminatory recruitment were a protected disclosure, but found no proof that the manager had hiring authority. The decision concluded that Cullen was not sent home because of his refusal to work, and that the company had no evidence of unlawful hiring practices. The case was closed with no further findings.
Garret Smith, 35, was sentenced to 13½ years in prison after a jury found him guilty of manslaughter for stamping Edward 'Liam' O'Sullivan to death in Kilkenny in 2020. The jury had deemed Smith too intoxicated to intend murder, leading to a manslaughter verdict. Smith denied the murder charge and accepted the verdict, though he argued the sentence was too severe. He was also convicted of violent disorder at the same location. In the Court of Appeal, his counsel contended that the trial judge had misclassified the offence as the worst category and had not adequately considered mitigating factors such as lack of premeditation and Smith's personal circumstances. The State maintained that the sentence was fair, citing the brutality of the assault and the victim's severe injuries. The appeal was still pending at the time of the report.
In a January 2024 sentencing, 52‑year‑old Jason Kennedy, who has 100 prior convictions, was jailed for a series of violent offences. On 16 November 2017 he attacked his date, stole her car, drove it at high speed, crashed it 200 metres down the road and assaulted two gardaí, one of whom suffered a fractured hand. Kennedy pleaded guilty to assault, dangerous driving and criminal damage to a garda's stab vest. He also pleaded guilty to trespass and theft of a €285 till at an unoccupied Aunt Annie's bakery kiosk in Jervis Shopping Centre on 9 August 2022, where CCTV captured him and his DNA was found on the till. The judge, Martin Nolan, sentenced him to three years for the first incident and 2 years 3 months for the second, to run consecutively. Kennedy is currently serving a four‑year sentence for another matter and has a son and two grandchildren.
During the Stardust inquest, Dr Will Hutchinson, a fire investigator with 23 years of experience, presented expert testimony on possible origins of the nightclub fire. He suggested the fire could have started in a hot press, where electrical connections to immersion heaters may have had issues, or in the West alcove, where carpet tiles on the walls were a critical factor in rapid spread. He noted no evidence of resistive heating at a West alcove socket and no fuel in the ceiling void, making a fire there unlikely. The expert reviewed video recreations and expert reports, highlighting the role of carpet tiles in spontaneous ignition of seats and the rapid development of thick black smoke. He concluded that, due to severe damage and conflicting witness evidence, the exact area of origin could not be determined with certainty. The inquest will continue tomorrow.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster described the body of 78‑year‑old widower John O'Neill, found on his kitchen floor with a heavily blood‑stained, flattened face. She reported severe blunt‑force trauma, multiple fractures of facial bones, a traumatic brain injury, and extensive bruising and lacerations consistent with repeated kicks, blows and stamping. The deceased's heart was normal, and a toxicology report showed an alcohol level of 97 mg, equivalent to three pints. Dr Bolster concluded that respiratory compromise from inhalation of blood, caused by the severe facial and neck trauma, was the cause of death. The prosecution alleges that Thomas Lorigan, 34, the victim's nephew, repeatedly kicked O'Neill while wearing steel‑capped boots, leading to the fatal injuries. Lorigan has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
Sean McGovern, injured in the 2016 Regency Hotel attack, is named in the Special Criminal Court as a senior leader of the Kinahan organised crime group. The court heard sworn testimony on the Kinahan cartel's command structure and activities, and evidence that 33 people linked to the organisation, who were "going to be involved in violence and murder," have been arrested by Gardaí. Detective Superintendent David Gallagher testified that the Kinahan group is driven by monetary gain, primarily through drug trafficking, and enforces control by violence, firearms and murder. He described the organisation as hierarchical, with a core in Dubai and cells in Europe and South America, noting a dramatic fall in violence since 2018. Gallagher confirmed McGovern's leadership role and that he is currently based in Dubai. The hearing also covered the murder of Noel Kirwan, mistakenly targeted by the Kinahans, and the prosecution of Michael Crotty for facilitating that murder. Michael Crotty pleaded not guilty.
Martin Gordon, a Paralympic cyclist and barrister, has filed a claim under the Equal Status Act 2000 against Semogo Ltd, the operator of La Maison restaurant in Dublin. He alleges that the bistro discriminated against him and his guide dog by refusing them entry on 14 January 2023 due to a "no dogs inside" policy. The restaurant contends that all indoor tables were booked and only offered outdoor seating. It has provided booking system data to the Workplace Relations Commission but claims that CCTV footage from the day is largely missing, except for brief clips of Gordon's arrival and departure. The hearing began with a dispute over the disclosure of documents and a request for the adjudicator to recuse himself due to a potential bias. The case will be scheduled for a full day of hearings at a later date by the WRC.
In a high‑speed chase on 27 December 2022, 20‑year‑old Kian Andrews drove a Toyota Avensis at 160 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, repeatedly rammed two Garda patrol cars, and drove on the wrong side of the road. Garda Sergeant Daniel Cuffe, patrolling the Sandyford and Dundrum area, pursued the vehicle, but Andrews refused to stop and continued to drive at dangerous speeds. When the Garda cars blocked the Avensis, Andrews attempted to drive into Sergeant Cuffe's car, prompting the officers to produce firearms. Andrews immediately raised his hands, cooperated, and was arrested. A small amount of cocaine and a flick knife were found in the vehicle. Andrews pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving and possession of drugs, and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment and a three‑year driving disqualification. The judge noted that the firearms produced by Gardaí had the desired effect in securing his arrest.
William Connors, aged 30, pleaded guilty to providing false documents for a fake passport application. He supplied his birth certificate and other papers to a third party who used them to apply for a passport at a Garda station in Kildare in January 2020. The application was certified by a Garda who is now facing charges. The Passport Office detected that the photos did not match Connors' previous passport and launched an investigation. Connors has 19 prior convictions, all for road‑traffic offences. He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to a two‑year term, suspended on conditions, after the court accepted his remorse and the minor nature of his earlier offences. The case is part of a broader investigation involving several co‑accused, including the certifying Garda, who are due to stand trial next year.
Cian Jones, 22, was found guilty of two counts of robbery and two of attempted robbery for leading a gang that robbed mobile phones from four teenage boys on a northbound Dart train between Dun Laoghaire and Tara Street. The court described the offence as serious, noting the victims were travelling home and were forced to sit beside the robbers, who threatened to stab them and demanded their phones. Jones took three iPhones and a Samsung A52, returned a blue iPhone and the Samsung, and demanded a factory reset from one victim. He also demanded cash, which the boys did not have, and warned them not to report to Gardaí. The judge imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions, and noted Jones's early guilty plea and personal circumstances as mitigating factors.
Killian McCabe, aged 27, was arrested on 20 November 2022 in Knocklyon, Dublin, with €718,240 worth of cannabis, cannabis resin, cocaine, amphetamine and heroin in two vans. He also had €30,800 in cash seized. Charlene Murphy, aged 33, was found with €87,240 worth of cannabis resin in her car and an additional €4,480 worth of cocaine in her home. Both pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply; McCabe also pleaded guilty to possessing proceeds of crime. McCabe, with 43 prior convictions, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment. Murphy, with 25 prior convictions, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment. The sentences were imposed by Judge Martin Nolan in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The article reports the convictions and sentences only, without further speculation or future outcomes.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 22 January 2024, Nepalese native Kamal Kumar Nepali, aged 24, was found guilty by a jury of rape, burglary, assault causing harm, sexual assault and four counts of trespass in Cork. The offences occurred on 1 March 2022 during student Rag Week celebrations. Nepali had burglarised four houses in an attempt to find an intoxicated woman to rape; all four houses had male occupants. He then broke into a house at 5:30 am on 28 February 2022, where he raped a woman who had returned from a pub, slept, and was later found with bruises and injuries. The victim, who had been drinking, described the assault and the subsequent panic. Nepali denied the charges, but his statements changed during detention. He has no prior convictions. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 11 March 2024.
In a 2024 inquest into the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, Dr Will Hutchinson, a fire investigator and forensic scientist, presented evidence to the jury about potential ignition points. He highlighted a severely damaged hotpress in the main bar near where the blaze was first noticed and an electrical outlet in the West alcove as areas that might have influenced the fire's origin. Hutchinson emphasized the importance of not focusing on a single answer, noting that burn patterns on exit doors suggested some were open early while others were closed or forced open. He also discussed the role of a curtain and carpet tiles that melted, contributing to the spread. The investigation will continue to examine these areas in detail, with the goal of proposing a seat of fire and testing hypotheses before drawing conclusions. The inquest proceeds the following day.
A 17-year-old male was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to one count of assault causing harm on January 17, 2023, and one count of production of an article, a vice grip, during a dispute on December 5, 2022. Judge Elma Sheahan described the unprovoked attacks on two victims, including one on the Luas, as "disturbing" and "appalling," noting the defendant's significant role and use of the vice grip in a "frenzied manner." While the judge initially intended to impose a global period of detention of 34 months, with the final six months suspended under Probation Service supervision, she determined this order was not enforceable under the Children's Act. Consequently, she imposed a sentence of 28 months in detention, with the teenager required to liaise with relevant services during this period. The court considered mitigating factors, including the defendant's lack of previous convictions, age, expressions of remorse, and family support, alongside aggravating factors such as the level of violence and the unprovoked, repeated nature of the offending.
Mark Dolan, 49, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to masturbating in front of a child at a north Dublin address on 6 May last year. Judge Martin Nolan set a sentence date of 20 March and remanded Dolan on continuing bail until that date.
A contempt of court application against Gemma O'Doherty has been adjourned to February 12th following a hearing in the High Court. The motion, brought by Edel Campbell from Kingscourt, County Cavan, seeks Ms O'Doherty's attachment and possible committal to prison for alleged breach of court orders restraining her from harassing Ms Campbell and from publishing images of Ms Campbell's late son. Ms O'Doherty was not present at Monday's hearing, having reportedly left the jurisdiction. Her solicitors formally withdrew from representing her in the proceedings. The underlying dispute concerns the alleged unauthorised publication of an image of Ms Campbell's son in media controlled by Ms O'Doherty, which the plaintiff claims caused her emotional harm. Ms O'Doherty denies all allegations and intends to contest the contempt claim fully.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan presented evidence that Christopher 'Noel' Kirwan, an innocent man with no criminal involvement, was shot six times and died from multiple gunshot wounds to his head, chest, arm and abdomen. The pathologist identified eight separate injuries caused by six bullets, including a bullet that entered Kirwan's chest, damaging the aorta and the lower lobe of the left lung, leading to heart and lung failure. Additional wounds to the chest, abdomen and right arm caused blood loss. A bullet entered Kirwan's head below the right eye, fracturing his upper jaw and lodging beneath the lower jaw. Toxicology tests were negative for drugs or alcohol. Michael Crotty, 40, is on trial for allegedly facilitating Kirwan's murder by topping up a mobile phone for Sean McGovern; Crotty pleaded not guilty to the single charge.
Daniel Sheehan, aged 24, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing 263 rounds of ammunition in suspicious circumstances on 3 June 2022. He admitted to the ammunition and a replica Beretta pistol found in a laptop bag during a search of his home, which was part of a misuse‑of‑drugs investigation. The search also uncovered a small amount of cannabis, a laptop bag, and Republican literature. Sheehan had previously been charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army but that charge was dropped. He has three prior convictions for drug possession and public order. The DPP noted the offence falls in the lower range of offending, with a maximum penalty of 14 years and a presumptive mandatory minimum of five years if no exceptional evidence is presented. The case was adjourned to 8 April to allow a probation report to be prepared.
Cathy Moore, superintendent at the Charles Sheils housing complex for older people in Killough, Co Down, was dismissed in September 2021 after a wave of complaints from residents who opposed Covid‑19 lockdown measures she enforced. An independent investigator found no basis for the complaints, yet the charity's governors re‑opened an investigation and terminated her employment, a process the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) described as flawed and contrary to natural justice. The WRC held that Moore was "entirely blameless" and awarded her €10,000 compensation under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The tribunal noted that the dismissal was akin to a mutiny, with residents resisting her authority and the charity yielding to group pressure. Moore had served since 2013, received a €4,658 allowance and tied accommodation, and was forced to relocate to Dublin after her dismissal. The case confirmed her legal domicile in Ireland, giving the WRC jurisdiction to adjudicate.
James Anthony Kelly, 57, of Ballycashin, Waterford, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for raping and sexually abusing a boy he had befriended. He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, two counts of oral rape and two counts of gross indecency involving a child under 17, committed between March 2000 and March 2003. The victim, aged 14 to 17 at the time, was a friend of Kelly's who had been involved in local youth clubs. The abuse took place while the boy was camping or in isolated spots during car drives, involving mutual masturbation and oral sex. Kelly denied grooming and claimed the boy had initiated some encounters. He was a former Garda Reserve member. The judge imposed an eight‑year sentence, suspended 18 months, with strict conditions for probation and therapeutic intervention.
A 52‑year‑old man, Patrick McDonagh, who admits killing a 77‑year‑old pensioner in west Dublin on 25 July 2020, will go on trial for murder. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The plea was rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions, and Mr Justice Paul Burns assigned a jury of nine men and three women. The case may run until 7 February, with the trial set to begin Wednesday at 11 a.m. before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath. Witnesses include civilian observers and forensic psychiatrists Dr Mary Davoren and Professor Patricia Casey.
A 28‑year‑old man was convicted of raping a woman he described as his best friend. He pleaded not guilty to a single count of rape relating to an incident on 7 November 2018. The jury found him guilty in November 2021 and he was sentenced to seven years, with the final three and a half years suspended, by Justice Deirdre Murphy in May 2022. He appealed, arguing that the trial judge's comments to the jury about the right to silence during Gardaí interviews unfairly prejudiced him. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice George Birmingham, agreed that the judge's remarks had impacted the man's right to silence and quashed the conviction. The case was adjourned to 16 February for further submissions on a possible retrial. The article does not state any subsequent outcome.
Dainius Sakevicius, 54, pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm on 26 December 2022 after drinking for five days. He entered his former partner's bedroom about 30 minutes after she had gone to bed at 10.10pm, looking for a speaker, and punched her repeatedly on the forehead, right eye, nose and mouth. The victim sustained bruising, swelling, a loose tooth and arm soreness, and was treated at St Vincent's Hospital before being referred to St James's Hospital. Photos and a medical report were presented to the court. Gardai found Sakevicius intoxicated at his Bray address and deemed him unfit for interview. The victim later withdrew her statement and declined a victim impact statement. The case was adjourned to 14 April for finalisation, with a probation report to be compiled. The court noted Sakevicius had no prior convictions and had paid over €4,000 for the victim's medical costs.
Dermot McManus, 53, of Keating Park, Killalee, Co. Limerick, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to four years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on the condition of good behaviour, after pleading guilty to three money‑laundering charges. The judge set a headline sentence of five years but reduced it to four years, citing McManus's blindness in one eye and Crohn's disease. McManus had been claiming a single‑rate disability allowance of €230 per week and had not paid tax. He had hidden €28,550 in cash in two socks and a jacket pocket, and had a Mercedes Sprinter van valued at €10,500. The court ordered forfeiture of the cash seized and the van. The case stemmed from Operation Coronation raids in September 2021, which targeted organised crime in Co. Limerick. The judge noted McManus's 22 previous convictions, including a burglary‑related offence. The sentencing hearing was presided over by Mr Justice Paul Burns.
Vicky Hehir and Warren Hehir were sentenced at the Special Criminal Court after pleading guilty to money laundering charges linked to the Keane organised crime group. Vicky Hehir, 30, admitted to laundering €12,000 in cash for renovations at a Limerick City home and one charge relating to €59,000 for works at Kilmurry Court. The court found her involvement was solely due to her marriage and placed her offending at the lower end of the scale. She was sentenced to two years in prison, fully suspended, on conditions that she refrain from contact with organised crime groups and reside away from the Garryowen and Kilmurry areas. Her husband, Warren Hehir, 33, pleaded guilty to handling €59,000 in cash and a Rolex watch, both alleged to be proceeds of criminal conduct. The judge noted his mid-level status within the gang and 54 previous convictions. He received a headline sentence of seven years and three months, reduced to five years and three months, with the final 12 months suspended. Conditions require him to refrain from contact with organised crime and demonstrate a law-abiding lifestyle. The court also ordered the forfeiture of two seized Rolex watches and all seized money. Sandra Hehir, Warren's mother, previously pleaded guilty to laundering over €100,000 at her home, though she was not sentenced in this specific hearing.