The Special Criminal Court heard that Tristan Sherry was subjected to 'savage levels of violence' at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on December 24, 2023. Prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC alleged that after Sherry fatally shot Jason Hennessy Snr, he was disarmed and attacked by a group using chairs and kicks. Sherry died from blunt force trauma, while Hennessy died from gunshot injuries. Noah Musueni, David Amah, and Michael Andrecut, all charged with murder, entered not guilty pleas. Their lawyers admitted their clients were present, that Sherry died from the violence, and that they were correctly identified on CCTV. Wayne Deegan, also charged with murder, is awaiting a neuro-psychologist report and will be tried later. Jonas Kabangu, Diarmuid O'Brien, and Brandon Hennessy, charged with violent disorder, also pleaded not guilty. Their counsel accepted Sherry's death resulted from the incident's violence. Jaures Kumbu previously pleaded guilty to removing the sub-machine gun used to kill Hennessy, which remains unretrieved. The trial, presided over by Justice Kerida Naidoo, Judge Elma Sheahand, and Judge James Faughnan, was adjourned to continue tomorrow.
Serhat Aksakal, a commis chef at the Odeon Bar and Restaurant in Dublin 2, appeared before the Workplace Relations Commission regarding a statutory complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998. The applicant alleged that a senior colleague, identified as MR Z, touched his body with his genital area while he accessed a low fridge. Aksakal stated he used ChatGPT to prepare his formal complaint, attributing similar phrasing in witness statements to translation tools rather than collusion, a suggestion raised by the respondent's representative. The tribunal heard that Kivaway Ltd, the venue's operator, dismissed MR Z in August following the complaint, while Aksakal and a third witness remain employed. The respondent characterized the incident as crass horseplay, whereas the adjudicator noted the complainant was entitled to feel his dignity was affronted. Aksakal also alleged he was rostered to work alone with MR Z after his initial complaint. The matter was adjourned for a further hearing in January or February to address additional evidence and a second statutory complaint under the Payment of Wages Act concerning tip distribution.
Cesar Fernandes Borges Filho, 34, was sentenced in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to seven counts of deception. The charges related to dishonestly inducing individuals to take out purported motor insurance policies at an unknown location in the State during 2019 and 2020. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Filho targeted members of the Brazilian community who were unfamiliar with the Irish insurance system, collecting approximately €12,500 for policies that were not valid. The judge stated that Filho had taken advantage of a situation, leaving trusting people at a loss. In passing sentence, Judge Nolan acknowledged excellent mitigation due to Filho's cooperation with gardaí and his guilty pleas, noting he was unlikely to reoffend. The court imposed a three-year prison sentence, suspending the final year on specific conditions. These conditions require that Filho's motorbike be sold and the proceeds divided among his victims to provide compensation. The matter was finalised with this sentencing order.
In a High Court civil damages action, Nikita Hand alleges that Conor McGregor and James Lawrence raped her at the Beacon Hotel penthouse in Dublin in December 2018. Hand says she walked away when McGregor told her "suck on that" referring to his penis. A doctor testified that Hand had bruises on her neck, hands, arms, knees, thighs, back and a nine‑centimetre scratch on her right breast. Hand also claims oral, vaginal‑digital and vaginal penetration by McGregor, all non‑consensual. McGregor and Lawrence deny the allegations. The case is set to continue before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury of eight women and four men, with the trial expected to last two weeks.
During a murder trial, a jury examined CCTV footage showing Brandon Gavin, 22, entering and briefly exiting a car before fleeing the scene. The footage captured Gavin's movements in the estate, his brief presence in the back seat of the deceased's black Audi, and his subsequent run across the road. Audio from the clip included the sound of a car door closing and opening, followed by voices shouting "call an ambulance." The prosecution argued that Gavin, armed with a knife, stabbed Marius Mamaliga, 19, in the neck, claiming self‑defence. A folding penknife found in River Valley Park contained the deceased's blood and DNA matching Gavin's. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, continues the following day. Brandon Gavin pleaded not guilty.
Andrew Jordan, a 71‑year‑old former GP and director of the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP), was fined €10,000 for failing to keep adequate accounting records for the NAGP, a lobbying group that went into liquidation in 2019. Jordan pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to keep proper accounts for a company that wound up and could not pay its debts, creating uncertainty about its assets and liabilities. The offence took place between January 2017 and December 2018. Jordan, who worked voluntarily for the NAGP and was not paid, had been due about €60,000 from the organisation to cover expenses he incurred by hiring a locum to cover his practice days. Judge Martin Nolan described Jordan as "derelict in his duties as secretary and director" but noted he did not profit from the offence and had no prior convictions. The judge ordered the fine to be paid within six months.
At the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, a murder trial heard that Dean Caffrey (38) made enquiries about renting a storage unit shortly after the death of Sean McCarthy (28). Mr Caffrey, of Beaucort, Achill Road, Drumcondra, denies murdering Mr McCarthy, whose body was discovered in a wardrobe at the accused's apartment four days after he went missing in August 2022. Prosecution counsel Kathleen Noctor SC told the court that the accused had told gardaí the deceased arrived armed and threatened him over a suspected heroin theft, and that a struggle ensued during which he discharged a firearm fatally. Emma Flynn, an employee of a Dublin storage company, testified that on 3 August 2022, a man identifying himself as Dean Caffrey submitted an online request for a storage unit at the Charlestown depot. Ms Flynn confirmed she subsequently spoke with the customer by telephone. The trial, before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, continues. Dean Caffrey pleaded not guilty.
In a murder case heard at the Central Criminal Court, the accused, Robert Murphy, was stopped by Gardaí after a hostel resident was found dead with four stab wounds. Gardaí seized a bag containing two large knives, a balaclava, blood‑stained clothing and a mobile phone. The prosecution, led by Paul Greene SC, presented evidence that the incident occurred in the early hours of 19 April 2023 at a bedsit on Harrington Street, where the deceased, Jamie Kavanagh, was staying. The prosecution argued that Murphy, who lived next door, admitted to stabbing Kavanagh, causing his death. The defence, represented by Brendan Grehan SC, highlighted Murphy's admission and focused on the circumstances and intent at the time. The trial, scheduled to last six to seven days, will continue before Justice Melanie Greally and a jury of twelve. The case remains at the State's opening stage. Robert Murphy pleaded not guilty.
A High Court civil jury trial is currently underway involving Nikita Ní Laimhín, the applicant, and defendants Conor McGregor and James Lawrence. Ms Ní Laimhín alleges that on December 9, 2018, at the Beacon Hotel in Dublin, she was subjected to a 'vicious and violent' sexual assault by Mr McGregor, which she claims amounted to rape. She states she was left 'weeping and shivering in pain' and required medical intervention to remove an embedded tampon. The plaintiff seeks €1 million in lost earnings and compensation, alleging lasting psychological trauma and career disruption. Mr McGregor and Mr Lawrence deny all allegations, maintaining that any sexual contact was consensual. The defence characterises the claim as malicious and 'tantamount to extortion.' Counsel for the plaintiff, John Gordon SC, argued that the defendant's assertion of consent in the face of alleged physical restraint and injury is implausible. The jury, comprising eight women and four men, is tasked with determining the facts based on the balance of probabilities. The matter remains at the trial stage, with evidence ongoing and no final judgment or sentence issued.
A man has been sentenced to four years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the rape of his younger cousin in County Mayo in 2006. Noel Gallagher (33) of Dadreen, Louisburg, was convicted following trial in April after pleading not guilty to the anal rape of the victim, then aged nine, which occurred in a shed on the family farm between October 2006 and March 2007. The victim, now 27, waived his right to anonymity and read an impact statement to the court, describing how the offence blighted his teenage years and caused profound psychological harm, including suicidal ideation. He stated that seeking justice had allowed him to reclaim his voice. Mr Justice David Keane noted the victim's strength and resilience throughout the legal process. The judge set a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to five and then four years, taking into account the defendant's age at the time of the offence, his lack of prior convictions, and the time elapsed. A two-year post-release supervision order was imposed.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of former rugby star Brendan Mullin, aged 61, focused on a €500,000 transfer from Bank of Ireland Private Bank to Spice Holdings in 2011 that has never been recovered. Mullin faced 15 charges, including nine theft counts, five false accounting, and one deception count, but the jury was directed to find him not guilty of deception. The prosecution alleged Mullin, as managing director of the private bank, stole €573,281 between 2011 and 2013, comprising the €500,000 transfer and about €61,000 in personal legal fees paid by the bank, plus smaller payments to Grant Thornton and Beechwood Partners. Mullin claimed the €500,000 was a payment to his company Quantum to settle a future debt, while the bank argued it was a processing error.
The trial of six men accused of offences relating to the murder of Tristan Sherry was adjourned at the Special Criminal Court. The proceedings, presided over by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, were originally scheduled to begin on Monday but were postponed to allow the prosecution time to consider a series of admissions prepared by defence counsel. Prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC informed the court that these admissions would shorten the trial process, and she stated she would prepare her opening speech accordingly. The court agreed to adjourn the opening until the following day. Four defendants are charged with the murder of Mr Sherry, who allegedly shot a man dead at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on 24 December 2023. The accused are Noah Musueni, Wayne Deegan, David Amah, and Michael Andrecut. Jonas Kabangu is charged with violent disorder at the same location and date. A sixth defendant, a minor from Blanchardstown, is also charged with violent disorder but has not been identified in the media. All charges remain alleged or contested, and no pleas, findings, or sentences have been recorded. The matter was adjourned and is not concluded.
The Court of Appeal has upheld the 14-year jail term and lifetime driving ban imposed on Michael Collins (50), of St Finian's Park, Drogheda, Co Louth, who was convicted of dangerous driving causing the death of Jillian Thornton on May 27, 2016, at Waterside Great, Duleek, Co Meath. The conviction followed a trial lasting almost two weeks at Trim Circuit Court in July 2019. Collins was also convicted on two charges of endangerment, 12 charges of dangerous driving, and of driving under the influence of cannabis on the same date. At the Court of Appeal on October 11 this year, defence counsel Michael Lynn argued that the overall sentence of 15 years with one year suspended was 'clearly disproportionate' and that the 14-year term was 'almost double' that imposed in other more severe cases, contrary to the totality principle of sentencing. He also challenged the imposition of a three-year sentence for one endangerment charge and a five-year sentence for the other, while making the 10-year sentence consecutive to the longer sentence of five years. Additionally, he argued that the judge had made an error in imposing a life-long driving disqualification on Collins. The appeal was dismissed, with the court finding that no double counting or error in principle had taken place in the sentencing. The court also dismissed Collins' appeal against his driving ban, stating that he still posed a risk to members of the public and should not be allowed to return to the road. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
Former rugby international Brendan Mullin, aged 61, was found guilty by a jury of 12 of 14 charges in a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial. He was accused of stealing more than €570,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank between 2011 and 2013, and of five false accounting offences. The jury returned not‑guilty verdicts on a deception charge involving a payment authorisation letter and on two charges relating to Beechwood Partners. Mullin denied all allegations. The trial, lasting three weeks, examined evidence of payments to McCann Fitzgerald, Beechwood, and Grant Thornton, and the transfer of €500,000 to Spice Holdings in the British Virgin Islands. The judge remanded Mullin on bail ahead of sentencing, ordered him to surrender his passport, and set a sentence date for 25 November. No further details of the sentence were provided in the article.
A jury was sworn in for the High Court civil trial involving Mixed Martial Arts star Conor McGregor and a co‑defendant over an alleged "in effect, rape" of a woman at a Dublin hotel in December 2018. Mr Justice Alexander Owens explained to the jury that the plaintiff, hair‑colourist Ms. Nikita Ní Laimhín, claims the defendants sexually assaulted her, an act he described as "in effect, amounted to a rape." The case is a civil action seeking damages from both defendants. Mr McGregor, aged 36, appeared in court wearing a dark blue suit, navy tie and white shirt, accompanied by his father and the co‑defendant. The judge instructed the jury of eight women and four men to remain impartial, avoid external research, and not act as private detectives. The trial is expected to last two weeks, with the jury available for a possible three‑week extension.
Peter Sheeran, 33, of Carraig Mor, Kilcoole, County Wicklow, was convicted of robbery after he armed himself with a bread‑knife and stole €1,000 from Murphy's Gala store in Kilanerin on 17 June 2023. He left a two‑year‑old and a seven‑year‑old in a car while he carried out the robbery and was subsequently caught by passers‑by. Sheeran pleaded guilty at Wexford Circuit Court in December 2023, where Judge Cormac Quinn imposed a five‑year sentence, with the final year suspended. On appeal, Sheeran's counsel argued that he had no prior convictions, was acting under duress, and the offence was not premeditated. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that the planning was minimal and the knife was more akin to a machete. Judge Patrick McCarthy acknowledged the duress but noted premeditation in Sheeran's preparation and disguise.
The jury in the €570,000 theft trial of former rugby international Brendan Mullin will resume deliberations on Tuesday after having spent about five and a half hours on the case before being sent home. Mullin, 61, of Stillorgan Road, Donnybrook, Dublin 4, is accused of stealing more than €570,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank between 2011 and 2013 while serving as managing director. He denies all charges. The trial continues.
John Curtin, aged 59, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with the final year suspended for one year, after a jury convicted him on 78 counts of rape and sexual assault against eight boys between 1995 and 2007. The Central Criminal Court heard that Curtin, a former hospital porter, lured boys around the age of 11 with cigarettes, then abused them in his home and other rural locations, encouraging them to touch him and, in some cases, to sit on his lap in his car. Victims described lasting psychological damage, including depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and difficulties in education, relationships and employment. Curtin denies the charges and has never apologized. The judge imposed a 20‑year sentence, a one‑year suspended term, and conditions of probation, a sexual offenders treatment programme and no contact with children.
A 50‑year‑old man was sentenced to a fully suspended term of three months and two weeks for kicking his partner in the head and breaking her jaw while she held their two‑year‑old toddler. He pleaded guilty to common assault, a lesser offence than the original assault‑causing‑harm charge, and the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the plea. The incident occurred on 10 September 2010 in their home; the victim later required surgery and has since had sole custody of the child. She reported the assault in 2021, and the man was arrested in 2022. A safety order remains until May 2026. The judge, citing the victim's injuries, the lack of apology, and the aggravating circumstances, imposed the suspended sentence and ordered the defendant to pay €500 for medical costs, with an option to accept the remaining €1,500 or have it directed to a women's refuge.
Innocent Aigbekaen, 31, of Dundalk, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two money‑laundering counts involving €75,816 and €60,989 between April 2016 and October 2017. Garda detective Jennifer Connolly described a scheme that ran for 18 months and laundered about €331,000. Judge Pauline Codd said Aigbekaen was a "mule herder" who recruited people, including his wife and co‑workers, to use their bank accounts for the illicit proceeds. He was sentenced to four years in prison, with the final three years suspended for three years on strict conditions. The sentence was reduced from an initial headline of five years because of his guilty plea and long employment history. Aigbekaen's defence noted he had not been involved in any other offences since the offence, apart from a cannabis case that was struck out. The court accepted that he had taken responsibility for his role in the scheme.
At the Central Criminal Court, Geunter Lohse pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of his mother Ruth Lohse by arson at their shared home in Coolvoy, Doochary, County Donegal on 12 April 2022. The 63-year-old was originally charged with murder, but the State accepted a plea to manslaughter. The court heard that Mrs Lohse, aged 88, died from inhaling fumes after three fires were lit in the house. Lohse had lived with his mother throughout his life and was distressed about family plans to return him to Germany while she remained in Donegal. Defence counsel indicated that Lohse has expressed genuine remorse and intends to return to Germany upon completion of his sentence, undertaking not to return to Ireland. He has no previous convictions. Justice Melanie Greally adjourned the matter to 11 November for sentencing, remanding the accused in custody pending that hearing.
In the Central Criminal Court, 22‑year‑old Brandon Gavin pleaded not guilty to the murder of 19‑year‑old Marius Mamaliga, who was stabbed in the neck on 23 February 2023. The prosecution argued that Gavin entered the back seat of a car behind Mamaliga and, without warning, stabbed him with a knife, claiming the act was an attempt to kill or seriously injure the victim. Gavin's father, Eddie, testified that his son had called him in distress, saying "Dad, I f**ked up," and that Gavin had been shaking and hysterical. He also said that Gavin wanted to hand himself in and that the son had no intention of hiding. The court heard that Gavin's mother, Jacqueline, had known of his long‑standing mental health problems and that he had used marijuana and cocaine. The trial is proceeding before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
The High Court has granted a mother of a 17‑year‑old vulnerable teenager permission to bring a legal challenge against the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) and the HSE. The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has OCD, ADHD and procedural psychosis and has been under an interim care order since 2023. He has been the subject of multiple minor wardship orders and has displayed violent behaviour at home, including breaking windows, punching a brother, threatening family members with a knife and defecating in the garden. Gardaí were called on several occasions and the boy was admitted to hospital for three weeks before absconding and returning to threaten his mother with a knife. After a psychiatric assessment describing an acute exacerbation of OCD, he was discharged on a phased basis. The mother alleges that Tusla and the HSE have breached statutory duties and failed to provide an appropriate placement under the European Convention of Human Rights.
Arslan Cheema, 29, received an 18‑month suspended prison sentence for sexually assaulting a 19‑year‑old student outside her accommodation in Dublin in April 2021. The victim, who had been on first‑name terms with Cheema and had ordered takeaways from him, described the assault as a profound violation of trust that left her emotionally devastated, requiring hospital treatment and medication. Cheema pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault. Judge Orla Crowe imposed the suspended sentence on strict conditions for three years, noting the breach of trust and the victim's impact statement. Cheema will be listed on the sex offenders' register and warned that any negative Garda attention during the period could lead to a different view. He has no prior convictions and had lost his Bus Eireann job following the case's publicity.
A 42‑year‑old man, Robert Murphy, has admitted killing but denies murder in the death of Jamie Kavanagh on 19 April 2023 at a hostel on Harrington Street, Dublin 8. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter when arraigned before the Central Criminal Court. The court noted that Murphy was residing at the hostel at the time of the alleged events and had previously lived in Blanchardstown. Justice Melanie Greally swore in a jury of seven men and five women; the trial will start tomorrow and is expected to last six to seven days.
An Irish tribunal ordered the Irish arm of Securitas Group to pay security officer Lukasz Nowak €2,500 and restore three days of his annual leave after he was denied force majeure leave. Nowak had requested leave to care for his wife, who had undergone emergency surgery for complications during the birth of their second child on 25 May and was severely incapacitated on 27 May. He argued that the situation was urgent and that he could not leave his wife alone overnight. The company contended that the circumstances did not meet the statutory definition of force majeure and that he could use unpaid carer's leave or annual leave instead. The WRC found that the three days should be treated as force majeure leave, directed Securitas to amend its records, and awarded the compensation. The decision was made by adjudicator Jim Dolan.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, 18‑year‑old Jaures Kumbu pleaded guilty to removing a sub‑machine gun from a Christmas Eve party at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown, where Tristan Sherry shot Jason Hennessy Senior. Kumbu was holding a toddler in his arms when the shooting occurred. CCTV showed Hennessy placing the child in a booth before a struggle with Sherry, after which Hennessy was shot. The firearm fell to the ground and was later taken by another man. Kumbu, who had not brought the gun to the scene, picked it up and hid it in his tracksuit. The court considered a headline sentence of seven to ten years, with a presumptive minimum of five years, and adjourned sentencing to 2 December. The gun remains missing. Six men are to be tried tomorrow for Sherry's death. The case highlights the chaotic nature of the incident and Kumbu's lack of intent to use the weapon.
Herbert Kilcline, a 62‑year‑old former solicitor, was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of eight counts of property fraud involving two Dublin City properties on Phibsborough Road and St Marys Road. The charges included failing to apply required measures as a designated person, using a false instrument and fraudulent procurement of entry to the land registry between September 2016 and June 2018. Kilcline had previously been jailed in May 2021 for a €120,000 social welfare fraud. The jury deliberated for four hours and 15 minutes. Co‑accused Matthew Murphy, aged 52, was acquitted of four counts, including money laundering, theft and failing to keep records between April 2017 and April 2018, with two counts dismissed by the judge's direction. Philip Marley, 53, pleaded guilty to three counts of fraudulent procurement of a false deed, fraudulent entry into the land registry and deception. All counts relate to the two properties.
Driver Margaret Casey, 73, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. On June 17, 2023, at Orwell Road, Rathgar, Dublin 11, Casey's vehicle mounted a kerb and struck a pedestrian on the footpath. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge. Judge Orla Crowe noted that Casey had a momentary lapse in concentration following a difficult hospital visit to her brother. The court accepted that no aggravating factors, such as intoxication or speed, were present, and Casey's conduct at the scene was exemplary. The victim, a man in his sixties, suffered a fractured jaw and injuries to his skull, ribs, and neck, requiring five days in hospital. He has since significantly recovered and did not wish to make a victim impact statement, stating Casey had been through enough. Judge Crowe set a headline sentence of two years imprisonment. However, considering the mitigating circumstances and Casey's personal situation, including her care for her ill brother, the judge imposed a 12-month sentence fully suspended for two years. Additionally, the offence carries a mandatory four-year driving disqualification.
During the murder trial of Brandon Gavin, an eyewitness described a brief, seconds‑long episode in which Gavin, described as "calm and collected," entered the back seat of a black Audi, slowly drew a knife and stabbed Marius Mamaliga on the left side of his neck before fleeing. The witness, David Octavian, testified that he saw Mamaliga's hand on his throat, that he called an ambulance, and that Mamaliga was unconscious for about ten minutes. Octavian also confirmed that Gavin and Mamaliga had previously met over drug matters, with Gavin owing Mamaliga €2,000 for cocaine. The prosecution argued that Gavin intended to kill or seriously injure Mamaliga, while Gavin claimed self‑defence, stating that Mamaliga had attacked him. The trial is ongoing before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury. Brandon Gavin pleaded not guilty.
Evidence heard at the Central Criminal Court on Monday has revealed that modified blank-firing pistols are becoming increasingly prevalent, with one such weapon used in a 2022 fatal shooting in Dublin. Detective Garda Janette O'Neill testified that a converted Zoraki blank pistol was recovered during the investigation into the death of Sean McCarthy. The firearm had been deliberately altered with a new barrel and had its serial number removed, making it capable of firing .32 calibre ammunition. Det Gda O'Neill stated that such modifications are illegal under the Firearms Act and that these weapons appear to be arriving from Europe with growing frequency. Dean Caffrey, aged 38, of Achill Road, Drumcondra, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to Mr McCarthy's murder between August 2 and 7, 2022. The prosecution contends Mr Caffrey intended to kill or cause serious injury when discharging the firearm. The trial, heard before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, continues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 1 November 2024, Feliks Andrianov, 54, was found guilty of assault causing harm after an incident at a McDonald's restaurant near Dublin Airport on 5 July 2019. The case involved a security guard, Michael Norris, who had clamped Andrianov's taxi after the driver left the car to visit a nearby Circle K. Andrianov returned, confronted the guard, and grabbed him, resulting in a dislocated left shoulder for Norris. Andrianov claimed he had been struck first, but CCTV and body‑cam footage showed no contact from the guard. The prosecution presented a victim impact statement detailing Norris's injuries and subsequent employment loss. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting the seriousness of the offence and mitigating factors such as Andrianov's good character and family ties, sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment, suspended in full for 18 months. Andrianov represented himself at the sentencing hearing.
A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator awarded a former chemical waste worker €28,341.86 for unfair dismissal, finding that a formal bullying complaint was the clear motive for his termination. The worker, who served as a waste operations lead, was dismissed on 10 February 2023 after raising concerns about workplace conduct. While the worker alleged he was penalised for making 25 protected safety disclosures regarding the mishandling of hazardous chemicals, the adjudicator, Úna Glazier-Farmer, rejected these claims, ruling that the worker failed to meet the burden of proof for most incidents and did not use the company's mandated reporting system. The employer did not dispute breaches of the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act 1973, or the Payment of Wages Act 1991, but denied penalisation under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. The tribunal accepted that the worker's January 2023 email alleging bullying constituted a protected act. Consequently, the adjudicator awarded €23,642.17 for loss of earnings under the Unfair Dismissals Act, €3,747.05 for non-payment of notice, and €952.64 for unpaid wages. No separate award was made for penalisation under safety legislation, as the adjudicator lacked jurisdiction to compensate twice for the same dismissal. The decision was anonymised due to commercially sensitive allegations.
Former Ireland rugby international Brendan Mullin, 61, of Donnybrook, Dublin 4, is on trial in the Central Criminal Court, accused of stealing over €570,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank between 2011 and 2013. He has pleaded not guilty to one count of stealing €500,000 on December 16, 2011, eight other counts of stealing just over €73,000, one count of deception, and five counts of false accounting. The jury was instructed to find him not guilty of one specific count of deception relating to a payment authorisation letter. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC argued in closing submissions that Mullin never intended the bank to suffer a loss, noting that the bank was made whole by payments made in 2013 and 2015. Grehan described the decade-long delay in bringing the case to trial as a "Sword of Damocles" hanging over Mullin, asserting there was no good reason for the delay and that the bank prioritised recovering funds over investigation. The defence contended that the €500,000 transfer involving Spice Holdings resulted from a processing error and that Mullin arranged for his company, Quantum, to repay the sum under pressure to clear his name. Grehan further stated that legal fees paid by the bank were returned by Mullin in April 2013. The jury is due to begin deliberations.
David Williams, 68, and co-accused Crystal Talia, 46, pleaded guilty to multiple charges at the pretrial stage. Williams admitted to multiple sample counts of deception between January 2019 and June 2020, as well as defrauding a Galway woman in her 80s by dishonestly inducing her to buy a Kuboto U27 mini-digger for €7,841. Talia pleaded guilty to impeding an investigation by allowing Williams to use her bank accounts. The court heard allegations that Williams, who is not a qualified barrister, operated bogus legal firms to scam approximately 1,200 people. In the separate mini-digger case, Williams allegedly directed the victim to a vendor and provided his own bank account details, though Gardaí traced the machine to a third party and fully refunded the victim. Judge Orla Crowe refused a request for a probation report but granted time for Williams to gather character references. The matter was adjourned, with both defendants remanded on continuing bail for finalisation on December 13.
The jury in the trial of barrister Diarmuid Phelan, accused of murdering Keith Conlon on his farm, was sent home for a second day after Judge Siobhan Lankford announced a difficulty because the next prosecution witness was unavailable. Phelan, 56, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Conlon, 36, which occurred on 24 February 2022 at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght. The judge said the jury had heard a lot of evidence but not all, and that more would come. She warned the twelve jurors, nine men and three women, against discussing the case or using social media and instructed them to refrain from independent research. The trial, expected to last six weeks, will resume on Monday at 2 pm. The case continues before Judge Lankford and the jury.
The trial of Brendan Mullin, a former Ireland rugby international and former managing director of Bank of Ireland Private Bank, focuses on allegations that he stole over €570,000 from the bank between 2011 and 2013. Mullin denies all charges. Prosecutor Dominic McGinn argues the case boils down to dishonesty, emphasizing that repayment of money does not negate theft if the intent was to deprive the owner. McGinn outlines how Mullin allegedly arranged for bank funds to be paid to McCann Fitzgerald Solicitors and other firms, then had those payments refunded to the bank, suggesting an attempt to conceal the theft. He also highlights Mullin's role in transferring €500,000 to Spice Holdings and later repaying it in 2015, arguing this demonstrates his central involvement. Mullin has pleaded not guilty to one count of stealing €500,000 and eight counts of stealing smaller amounts, as well as counts of deception and false accounting. The trial continues.
Katie Farrell, 27, of The Orchard, Ardee, Co Louth, was arrested at Dublin Airport on 16 January 2024 after a search of her luggage revealed 14.9 kg of cannabis with a street value of €299,626. She had travelled alone from Alicante, Spain, and was stopped when her luggage was screened. Farrell made no admissions during her interview and was described by the Garda detective as a courier acting under the instruction of a third party. She has no prior convictions but has a history of drug addiction and low self‑esteem. In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Elva Duffy noted her cooperation, voluntary surrender, and personal circumstances, describing her as a vulnerable person who was manipulated. The judge imposed a four‑year prison term, suspended the final twelve months for two years, and ordered twelve months of probation upon release. The sentence was back‑dated to the day she entered custody.
A 43-year-old Dublin man has pleaded guilty to possessing approximately €3.9 million worth of cannabis for sale or supply at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Justin McCormack, originally from Boyle, Co Roscommon, was arrested on October 11th last year after gardaí stopped a white transit van and discovered a large quantity of drugs wrapped in plastic bags. A further 1,174 kg of cannabis was subsequently recovered from a business unit on Esmond Avenue in Fairview. Defence counsel described McCormack, a cabinet maker of over twenty years, as an "ordinary, hard-working man" who transported the drugs due to financial desperation and impaired judgement arising from substance misuse. The court heard McCormack had accumulated significant legitimate business and personal debts at the time of his arrest. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case until November 14th to allow time for consideration of extensive documentation, including psychological and prison governor reports. McCormack has remained in custody since his arrest.
The Court of Appeal upheld a ruling that the Department of Transport must allow a learner driver, Osama Elsharkawy, to inspect the legal advice it received when changing the penalty points regime. Elsharkawy, who had a provisional licence from 2012 and a full licence from 2021, was disqualified for six months after accumulating seven penalty points in 2021. He argued that the new seven‑point threshold should only apply to those who entered the licensing system on or after 1 August 2014, and that the Department had applied it to those who entered earlier without providing a legal basis. The High Court found that the Department had used the legal advice for its advantage, waiving privilege. The Court of Appeal held that the Department must disclose any documents referred to in its pleadings, whether oral or written, and that there is a prima facie right to inspect them.
Carl Armstrong, who had been serving a suspended portion of a 10‑year sentence for a similar offence, was caught in December 2022 with €400,000 worth of cocaine and heroin at an apartment in Dublin. He was charged with possession of cocaine and diamorphine for sale or supply. Armstrong had been released from the custodial part of his earlier 10‑year sentence 18 months before the offence, and the judge reactivated the suspended portion. The court found that he had carried out the offence for financial gain, citing pressure from his family. He pleaded guilty, showed remorse and had undertaken rehabilitation. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a 13‑year sentence, suspended the final three years, and set conditions for the suspended period. The sentence was back‑dated to the day of the search, with the suspended portion running concurrently with the custodial term.
At the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard that the family of Dean Caffrey became fearful when three men visited their parents' home in Achill, County Mayo, seeking information about the accused. Alan Caffrey, the defendant's brother, testified that he received a concerning phone call four days after drug dealer Sean McCarthy was last seen, with the caller asking if his brother had "answers to questions" and making reference to "dead bodies". Alarmed for his family's safety, Alan Caffrey resolved to locate his brother and bring him to gardaí. Dean Caffrey subsequently attended Ashbourne Garda Station in County Meath, where he informed officers that Mr McCarthy's body could be found in a wardrobe in his apartment. Mr Caffrey has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Sean McCarthy between 2 and 7 August 2022. The prosecution contends he discharged a firearm with intent to kill or cause serious injury. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
A 22‑year‑old man, Brandon Gavin, is on trial for the murder of 19‑year‑old Marius Mamaliga, who died from a neck stab on 26 February 2023. The jury heard that the incident lasted about 14 seconds, during which Gavin entered the rear passenger seat of Mamaliga's black Audi, reached forward and stabbed him once in the neck. Gavin allegedly dropped his mobile phone and two HSE appointment cards in the rear footwell, which were recovered by gardaí. He claimed he stabbed Mamaliga in self‑defence, fearing for his life because he owed €2,500 for drugs. Gardaí also recovered a knife with Gavin's DNA on the handle and the victim's blood on the blade. Gavin has pleaded not guilty. The trial is before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruled that it had no jurisdiction to consider John Malone's complaint under the Equal Status Act 2000 that he was denied entry to Silverstream Priory because he mentioned his father was a Traveller. Malone, aged 53, claimed he had been invited to stay at the monastery's guest house in July 2022 and offered a place, but that the prior's attitude changed after he disclosed his Traveller heritage. An internal email from the prior expressed doubts about Malone, and the master of novices later stated that Malone's conduct at a retreat made it "not advisable" for him to join, citing his age and lack of engagement. The WRC found the complaint "not well founded" and dismissed it, noting it had no authority to adjudicate the matter. The case remains unresolved.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 22‑year‑old defendant pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual assault against a former girlfriend who was 16 at the time of the offences. The victim, who has not been named, criticised the Director of Public Prosecution's decision to accept the plea, stating she did not want to take the deal and felt her privacy had been exploited again. She described a pattern of intimidation, including the defendant waiting for her at school gates and sitting near her in classrooms, and detailed the emotional and psychological impact of the abuse, such as nightmares, panic attacks, self‑harm and suicidal ideation. Mr Justice Paul Burns noted the defendant's juvenile status and the controlling behaviour, and imposed a sentence of four years with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions for three years.
The trial of Prof Diarmuid Phelan, a barrister and law lecturer accused of murdering Keith Conlon, was adjourned until Friday morning. Phelan, 56, pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Conlon, 36, at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght, Dublin 24, on February 24, 2022. Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford sent the 12 jurors away for the day, stating there was no work for them due to reasons outside her control. She noted the trial is ahead of schedule and expected to conclude within the estimated six-week timeframe. In her opening address, Roisin Lacey SC outlined the State's case, alleging that three men, including Conlon, trespassed on Phelan's land while hunting. Phelan told gardai he shot a loose dog with a Winchester rifle, after which the men threatened him. He claimed he fired a Smith & Wesson revolver in the air in self-defense, but Conlon was struck in the back of the head. The State asserts Phelan intended to kill or cause serious injury. The defense is expected to argue the shooting was an accidental result of a legitimate act of self-defense. Conlon died at Tallaght University Hospital two days after the incident. The matter was adjourned and continues before Ms Justice Lankford on Friday.
A pregnant bar supervisor in Cavan has been awarded €18,000 by the Workplace Relations Commission after successfully claiming discrimination following her dismissal. The worker was let go by Brandon Taverns Ltd, operator of the Imperial nightclub in Cavan Town, in November 2023, just five days after informing her line manager of her pregnancy. The company later cited unproven allegations of sexual misconduct by a male colleague as justification for the termination, allegations that had never been raised during the worker's employment. The WRC adjudicator found the allegations constituted an attempt to retrospectively justify the dismissal and determined the worker had been discriminated against on grounds of pregnancy in breach of the Employment Equality Act 1998. The adjudicator also found the employer had breached statutory obligations regarding provision of written employment terms. Brandon Taverns Ltd was ordered to pay €17,500 compensation for the equality breach and a further €500 for the statutory breach.
Former rugby international Brendan Mullin, aged 60, denies 15 charges of theft and false accounting against him. He told Gardaí he arranged a €500,000 repayment to Bank of Ireland Private Bank in 2015 because he could not leave allegations of that nature hanging. Mullin, who was managing director of the bank from 2011 to 2013, claims the money came from his company Quantum Investment Strategies and was transferred to the bank's solicitors, Arthur Cox, after the bank's solicitors advised that a processing error had occurred. He says he had no role in the transfer of the €500,000 to Spice Holdings, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands, and that the transfer was made by the bank's own staff. Mullin has pleaded not guilty to one count of stealing €500,000 and eight counts of stealing about €73,000, as well as one count of deception and five counts of false accounting.
Mark O'Neill, 51, pleaded guilty to possessing a loaded Smith and Wesson revolver and ammunition on 7 September 2022. He had ten prior traffic convictions. Judge Orla Crowe, after noting his remorse and that the incident was out‑of‑character, set a headline sentence of seven years but reduced it to four and a half years, suspending the final six months. O'Neill had pointed the gun at a relative during a family dispute, issuing threats and claiming the man owed him money. Gardaí recovered the revolver and six rounds of ammunition from his home, and DNA matched O'Neill. He had a history of drug addiction and intoxication, but his defence argued the event was isolated and he had since ceased drug use. The judge acknowledged his good behaviour and health issues but upheld the sentence.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the accused, law professor Diarmuid Phelan, 56, is charged with the killing of Keith Conlon, 36, at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght on 24 February 2022. Phelan, a barrister and farmer, pleaded not guilty. The jury heard that Conlon had previously been arrested for burglary in 2010, during which he became "extremely violent", kicked a Garda and tried to jump from a patrol car. Conlon had pleaded guilty to burglary and assault in Dun Laoghaire District Court and received a 12‑month probation order. The prosecution alleged that on the day of the shooting, three men, including Conlon, trespassed on Phelan's land while hunting, and that Phelan fired a Smith & Wesson revolver in self‑defence, unintentionally killing Conlon in the back of the head. The trial continues tomorrow before Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury of nine men and three women.