In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Mark Moran, 44, received a suspended 21‑month prison sentence for possession of 782 images and 20 films of child sexual abuse material seized from his home in 2015. The court noted that no aggravating factors such as distribution were present, and that Moran had no prior convictions. He pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and acknowledged that the material was not downloaded intentionally. Judge Martin Nolan applied a non‑custodial option in line with Court of Appeal precedent, imposing a fully suspended sentence on strict conditions. Moran's admission of guilt, lack of previous offences, and mitigating circumstances were considered, and the judge warned that any repeat offence would be treated differently. The sentence reflects the seriousness of possession of child sexual abuse material while recognising the absence of aggravating conduct.
Jamie Geoghan, aged 28, was one of four men who entered a Dublin boys' secondary school on 13 October 2022 and violently confronted a teenage student. CCTV showed Geoghan throwing a steel pole at the student, narrowly missing him and a staff member, while the student had taken a hammer from his bag in self‑defence and fled. Geoghan pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, back‑dated to 22 July 2024. He is already serving a six‑year sentence for another offence. The other three men – Jack Craig (21), Josh Neary (22) and Scott Purdue (25) – had already been sentenced to 16‑month terms, with Craig's sentence suspended in full. No physical injuries were reported, but the incident caused widespread fear among students and staff, leading to the retirement of one staff member. The court noted Geoghan's long history of offending, with 79 convictions since 2013, and his previous promising football career.
A 41‑year‑old man, Mihail Ciorici, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with the final year suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to rape and oral rape of a college student in Fermoy, Co. Cork. The victim, who was intoxicated and attempting to hail a taxi, was taken from a car, raped, and left to survive in freezing conditions. She was found the next morning in an abandoned house, critically hypothermic and covered in cuts and bruises. Ciorici had previously been convicted of drunk driving, theft and a Moldovan conviction for assault and false imprisonment. The court noted the victim's lack of a victim impact statement and her desire not to engage further with the case. The sentencing considered his guilty plea and family support, and he was ordered to undergo five years of post‑release supervision. The case was prosecuted by Anne Rowland SC.
A 25‑year‑old man was sentenced to six years' imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for raping a 20‑year‑old woman in Galway in July 2021. The victim, whose identity is protected, gave a victim impact statement in which she blamed herself for being naïve and expressed that she could no longer live independently, having moved back in with her parents. She described how the assault occurred after she invited the man to her home, how he forced her to surrender her phone, and how he later feigned a heart attack. The man, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted by a unanimous jury. He has five prior convictions and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. The judge set a headline sentence of seven‑and‑a‑half years, reduced to six years after mitigating factors, and ordered post‑release supervision for two years under the Probation Service, with penalties for non‑compliance.
In a tribunal decision dated 30 October 2024, the Mulroy Woods Hotel was found to have breached the Equal Status Act 2000 by discriminating against Martin McDonagh, a member of the Traveller Community, on the basis of his surname. McDonagh had booked a stay for himself and his family on 20 August 2023 through Booking.com under his own name. The hotel informed him at 12.40 pm on 19 August that it had no availability and cancelled the booking, citing a "glitch" on the Booking.com site. McDonagh then re‑booked the same night under the surname of a relative, Fitzgerald, and the reservation was accepted. He later made two further bookings for other family members, all of which were confirmed without issue. McDonagh claimed he was denied accommodation because of his Traveller identity and that the hotel used the alleged website glitch to justify its refusal.
A 16‑year‑old girl was gang‑raped by Patrick Kelly (22) and Joseph Byrne (44) in a Kildare town between March and June 2020. The attacks occurred in a car, Byrne's home, and two fields, with the men alternating vaginal, oral and anal rape. The victim, now 21, gave a victim impact statement via video link, describing the men as "the monsters in her dreams" and detailing the physical and emotional pain she endured. Justice Paul McDermott sentenced Kelly to 13½ years, with the final two years suspended, and Byrne to 15 years, both under strict post‑release supervision and prohibited from contacting the victim. The court noted the repeated, non‑consensual nature of the assaults and the victim's vulnerability. The sentencing reflected the severity of the gang‑rape and the men's disregard for her protests. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court. Joseph Byrne pleaded guilty and was convicted.
A 32‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to raping a woman on 23 August 2020 at his home in County Cork and to possessing child sexual abuse material. The victim, who had met him through social media in May 2020, was present with his young child when the assault occurred. He forced her to kiss, then raped her, covering her mouth and forcing her to masturbate. After the incident he apologized and sent messages to the victim, who later complained to Gardaí. Gardaí found three videos and two images of child abuse material on his phone, which he admitted were sent by a third party. He had no prior convictions. Mr Justice Paul Burns sentenced him to a headline term of seven years for rape, reduced to four and a half years with 12 months suspended, and a concurrent six‑month sentence for possession of child sexual abuse material.
David McCullagh, a former IT manager at Ballyseedy Restaurant Ltd, claims he was dismissed on 13 January after the company's CEO, Nathan McDonnell, was arrested for a multi‑million euro drug seizure. McCullagh says he was paid €50,000 for a three‑day week while studying, and that his hours and pay were cut unilaterally in August 2023 without explanation. He alleges the company failed to update contracts, denied him annual leave, and cut his email access in October 2023. McCullagh filed a grievance and was told he was being made redundant, with a severance package based only on statutory entitlements. He estimates he is owed over €21,000 in unpaid wages and leave, plus a statutory redundancy payment of about €3,000. The Workplace Relations Commission will decide on his claims by the end of the week, while the Revenue Commissioners plan to wind up the company next Monday. Nathan McDonnell pleaded guilty.
Law professor Diarmuid Phelan, 56, denies murdering Keith Conlon, 36, at Hazelgrove Farm, Tallaght, on 24 February 2022. In court, Phelan told Garda Kevin Curran that he had shot a man before pulling a Smith & Wesson revolver from his jacket pocket. Curran described how Phelan, driving a red Hilux jeep, claimed a male had been shot and that he needed help. Phelan admitted to shooting Conlon, who lay on his back with a gunshot wound to the back of the head. Phelan then surrendered the revolver, which had eight rounds, three of which had been fired. The revolver's rounds were described as possibly crow‑shot, used for shooting birds and rats. The trial continues before a jury and Justice Siobhan Lankford. Keith Conlon pleaded not guilty. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
During a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a witness, Peter Gray, former head of financial control at New Ireland Life Assurance, testified that former Ireland rugby star Brendan Mullin, then managing director of Bank of Ireland Private Bank, requested in August 2011 that a €500,000 payment owed to the bank be transferred to a client account, an action Gray described as "unusual" and "not standard practice." Gray explained that the payment had initially been transferred to the private bank in July 2011 and returned to New Ireland within days, raising suspicions. In a phone conversation, Mullin suggested two possible client accounts, one possibly Spice Holdings, and claimed the transfer would be "administratively more simple." Gray noted his unease and recorded the conversation, later noting that the bank's compliance and senior management questioned the legitimacy of Spice Holdings and ultimately directed that no payment be made to a client account.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard evidence concerning the day after a man's death in a Drumcondra apartment. A work colleague testified that Dean Caffrey, who is accused of murdering Sean McCarthy on August 2, 2022, appeared to be in good form while working at Dublin Airport three days after the alleged incident. The witness said Caffrey chatted about sport and women during their shift and was frequently on his phone, mentioning plans for a holiday. Separately, Caffrey's ex-girlfriend told the court she had planned to visit his home that day but changed her mind after he said he had been napping. The trial heard that Caffrey later attended Gardaí voluntarily and directed officers to McCarthy's body, which was found wrapped in plastic inside a suitcase in a wardrobe. Caffrey, aged 38, of Beaucort, Achill Road, Drumcondra, has pleaded not guilty to murder. The prosecution alleges he intended to kill or cause serious injury. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
Nebojsa Rasic, 26, was jailed for four years after a high‑speed chase in Dublin that saw him drag a garda, strike another officer, and drive through an accident scene, endangering firefighters, civilians and cyclists. Rasic, who had no licence or insurance, was caught after a pursuit that involved throwing cannabis packages and resisting arrest. He pleaded guilty to three endangerment charges, possession of cannabis for sale, three dangerous driving offences and driving without licence or insurance. The judge, citing Rasic's mental health issues, imposed the sentence and an eight‑year driving disqualification. Rasic's defence highlighted his epilepsy, recent suicide attempt and remorse, urging the court to consider a chance for rehabilitation. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The Supreme Court will decide whether an 'Isaac Wunder' order can be issued in family‑law cases involving child access and maintenance, after a father who has appeared in over 100 court proceedings costing more than €300,000 was barred by the Court of Appeal from filing any further legal action against his former partner without the court's permission. The Court of Appeal upheld a High Court decision that had withdrawn the father's permission to pursue a judicial review, finding he had made misstatements and failed to disclose relevant information. The father argues his applications were to protect his rights as a father and to maintain his son's access, and that the proceedings were not vexatious. The Supreme Court will examine the legality of such orders, the circumstances under which they may be issued, and whether the Court of Appeal erred in its decision. The case highlights the court's role in managing serial litigants who repeatedly prolong or disrupt proceedings.
A 23-year-old man from Longford has been sentenced to three years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction for the rape and sexual assault of his younger cousins. The defendant was found guilty of orally raping his cousin when she was aged eight or nine, and of sexually assaulting her younger sister when she was between seven and eight years old. The offences occurred between 2016 and 2021, when the defendant was between 14 and 18 years of age. The first victim, now 16, detailed the profound psychological impact of the abuse, including night terrors and anxiety. The second victim, now 12, said she initially remained silent about the assault before coming forward after her sister disclosed her own experience. In sentencing, Mr Justice Paul Burns acknowledged the defendant's age at the time of the offences and reduced the headline sentence accordingly. The final 12 months of the three-year sentence on the rape charge are suspended, subject to probation supervision for three years following release.
Ruth Lawrence, 42, of Clontarf, faces trial for the murders of Anthony Keegan, 33, and Eoin O'Connor, 32, whose bodies were discovered on Inchicup Island, Lough Sheelin, on 26 May 2014. The trial was scheduled for 7 October 2024 by Mr Justice David Keane, but the State reported that Lawrence's lawyers had not yet received full disclosure. At the Central Criminal Court, Michael O'Higgins SC for the Director of Public Prosecutions informed Ms Justice Karen O'Connor that disclosure remains incomplete, while James Dwyer SC for Lawrence noted several outstanding matters and could not predict when the trial would be ready. Justice O'Connor adjourned the case to a mention on 21 November. Lawrence was charged in May 2023 with two counts of murder following the discovery of the bodies, which were found after a fisherman detected a smell from the island. The men were described as "inseparable" friends at their June 2014 funeral.
Diarmuid O'Brien, 18, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to three charges: possession of a side‑by‑side double‑barrel shotgun, possession of cannabis for the purpose of unlawful sale, and possession of 630 g of phenacetin linked to drug trafficking. The offences occurred on 7 May 2024 at Tolka Valley Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, was instructed by Fiona Murphy SC to arraign O'Brien on these three counts and to seek a trial date for the remaining 12 charges, which include possession of various controlled drugs for sale, possession of 15 rounds of 9 × 18 mm Makarov ammunition and ten 12‑Gauge ELEY Olympic shotgun cartridges, and further possession of cannabis, diamorphine, cocaine and ketamine for sale. O'Brien was remanded in custody pending the later trial. The case is set to proceed in the Special Criminal Court.
In a case heard by the Workplace Relations Commission, Amir Sajad Esmaeily, a lecturer at Dublin Business School, was awarded €53,000 after the college admitted that dismissing him for logging into his college email from Iran was unfair. The college had argued that Esmaeily's access from a "prohibited" country constituted a serious breach of policy, leading to his dismissal on 3 February 2023. Esmaeily's solicitor noted that he had travelled to Iran to attend his uncle's funeral and that his wife was seriously ill at the time, factors that the tribunal considered. The college's lawyers conceded the dismissal was unfair, and the tribunal focused solely on compensation. Esmaeily's annual salary was €50,000, with additional duties bringing his earnings to €91,000. The tribunal awarded €53,000 as just and equitable compensation for the unfair dismissal.
During a theft trial, Bank of Ireland Private Bank client services director Nicola Johnston testified that former rugby international Brendan Mullin, then managing director, approached her in July 2011 and asked her to sign a €500,000 payment authorisation to Northern Trust in France, referencing a company called Spice Holdings. Johnston said she had no supporting documents and was told by Mullin that she need not know details, so she signed. She later cancelled the authorisation the next morning and informed Mullin, who did not return. Johnston raised the issue with senior bank officials, but the only evidence of the transaction came from a December 2011 compliance sign‑off. Defence counsel argued Johnston's account was fictional, citing a note from finance officer Kim Lloyd that Mullin had counter‑signed the authorisation earlier that day. Mullin denies all 15 charges, including the €500,000 theft, and has pleaded not guilty to related counts of deception and false accounting. The trial continues.
Emmett Henry, 35, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a submachine gun and silencer, and possession of various drugs for sale or supply, both occurring at an apartment block in Finglas in November 2022. The court heard that gardaí discovered a cannabis growing facility in Henry's flat, including 1,500 cannabis jellies, while a separate search of a locked storage area revealed a silenced submachine gun, ammunition, and significant quantities of cannabis and cocaine. Judge Orla Crowe noted that while the offences carried presumptive minimum mandatory sentences of ten years for drugs and five years for firearms, she departed from these minimums due to exceptional circumstances. She acknowledged Henry's role as a trusted operative in a sophisticated operation but considered mitigating factors, including his guilty pleas, difficult childhood, and rehabilitation efforts for his drug addiction. Judge Crowe imposed consecutive sentences totalling seven and a half years. She suspended the final six months of the sentence under Probation supervision to incentivise Henry's continued rehabilitation. The matter was finalised with this sentencing.
The Court of Appeal heard that a 15‑year‑old was convicted of anal rape of a 15‑year‑old girl and sentenced to six months and one week of detention followed by the same period of community supervision. The State argued the sentence was too lenient, citing aggravating factors such as the victim's alcohol consumption, the anal injury sustained and the defendant's intent. The State also challenged the judge's discounts for the defendant's age and for delays in investigation. The defence maintained that the judge's assessment was within the discretion available and that mitigating factors were appropriately considered. The court reserved judgment on the appeal. The case involved the defendant taking the victim to a derelict house, giving her cider, and forcing sexual acts while she repeatedly said "No" and cried. The victim's impact statement described lasting fear and avoidance of leaving home. The unnamed girl pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
Soufiane Mountassir, 39, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for false imprisonment and assault causing harm after he forced his former partner into the boot of her own car and beat her for one hour and 40 minutes. The victim, who was his partner at the time, was subjected to repeated blows, was forced to drive to dark locations, and suffered injuries including blood on the steering wheel and gearstick. Mountassir, who was drinking, taking Dalmane, cocaine and smoking cannabis, claimed to be Moroccan and gave vague answers to Gardaí. He was also wanted in Germany for arson, for which a separate sentence of three years and one month had been imposed. The State argued the sentence was too lenient, citing the severity of the assault, the abduction, and the aggravating factors, while Mountassir's counsel maintained the judge had imposed an appropriate sentence. The Court of Appeal will reserve judgment. Soufiane Mountassir pleaded guilty.
The jury in the trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, accused of murdering an unarmed trespasser at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght, has viewed dashcam and mobile phone footage from the day of the incident. Garda Dara Kelly presented seven segments totalling 12 minutes, six from an ATV dashcam and one from the deceased Keith Conlon's phone. The mobile footage shows Conlon speaking to Phelan before being shot, with male voices saying "You're f**ked now" and "this is not the end of it mate, I'm telling you, you shot the f**king dog for nothing." The dashcam footage captures Phelan's movements, including retrieving a rifle, conversing with farm workers, and driving off. Phelan, 56, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Conlon, 36, who died two days after the February 24, 2022 shooting. The trial continues before Justice Siobhan Lankford and a 12‑member jury.
A child-rapist GAA coach has been denied leave by the Supreme Court to appeal against a four-year increase in his sentence for what a judge described as 'unusual, shocking and extremely disturbing' crimes. The man, who cannot be identified to protect the victim's identity, was sentenced in December 2021 to 10.5 years imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath. The accused pleaded guilty to 15 counts with consent to the facts of all the offences being considered as part of the sentencing process. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, where the man had entered guilty pleas in April 2021 in relation to 15 sample counts including oral rape, attempted anal rape, sexual assault, false imprisonment, assault causing harm and criminal damage. The court heard evidence of further sexual assaults during a trip to London, but these counts were dropped as they had taken place outside the jurisdiction. The offences occurred between 2004 and 2010 at locations including the man's home, a midlands sports grounds and a hotel in Dublin. The accused had been extradited from the US to face the charges. At the Court of Appeal in March, Eilis Brennan SC, for the State, submitted that the original nine-year sentence was too low as the victim had endured a 'continuum' of sexual and physical abuse as well as 'emotional torture' over a six-year period. The Court of Appeal increased the sentence to 14 years and six months with the final 18 months suspended. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, noting that the Court of Appeal had conducted a 'thorough examination of the facts' and that there was 'nothing' to suggest that any law was mis-applied in what was a 'difficult case that was sensitively considered'. The matter was adjourned at the appeal stage.
A 40‑year‑old Wicklow man was sentenced to seven years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, for raping his wife after a child entered the room. The offence occurred while the couple were still living together for their children, despite a broken relationship. The victim was preparing for a bath when the man offered a back rub, refused, and then forced her to strip and raped her. A child witnessed part of the assault. The man denied the rape, claiming it was consensual, and later sent messages acknowledging the act but also demanding the charges be dropped. He maintains his innocence. The judge noted the man's acquired brain injury but found no diminished responsibility. The sentence considered the victim's severe harm, the child's witness, and the man's lack of prior convictions, imposing strict probation conditions upon release.
A Russian nanny who had been employed by a company to care for the children of two directors during their acrimonious divorce was removed from the company's payroll in June 2022. She continued to work and received her net wages from a separate company account, a fact the children's mother confirmed. The nanny, who had been in Ireland since 2010 and had a work visa, argued that the payroll change was solely due to the divorce proceedings and that she remained an employee. The adjudicator found the company breached the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994 by failing to provide written statements of employment terms. He awarded the nanny €1,800 in compensation, ordered the company to supply the required statements within a week, and noted that the nanny was lawfully in Ireland and still employed by the firm.
In the Special Criminal Court, Thomas 'Nicky' McConnell, aged 38, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gareth Hutch, 36, on 24 May 2016. Barrister Mark Lynam SC argued that McConnell does not match the description of the gunman given by witnesses. Key witness Mary McDonnell, who spent hours in the gunmen's apartment, could not identify McConnell from photographs and described the gunman as having a blonde hair‑lock from the forehead, whereas McConnell has closely cropped black or dark hair. Another witness also described the alleged gunman as blonde. CCTV footage cited by the prosecution, showing McConnell with the second gunman, Jonathan Keogh, was said by Lynam to depict a man of smaller build with different facial features. Lynam acknowledged that McConnell was involved in criminal activity before the shooting and was in possession of a BMW intended as a getaway vehicle, but he stressed that this does not prove McConnell was a shooter. Nicky' McConnell was acquitted.
James Kilroy, 51, from Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo, has been granted legal aid to appeal his murder conviction. He was unanimously convicted at the Central Criminal Court of murdering his wife in June 2019, following his third trial after two previous proceedings collapsed. The jury rejected Kilroy's insanity defence, which centred on cannabis-induced psychosis. During the trial, psychiatric experts disagreed on whether such a condition constitutes a valid legal defence under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. The trial judge noted the jury's verdict accorded with legislative policy, as self-induced scenarios are not recognised defences. Kilroy received a life sentence last summer. The Court of Appeal granted him legal aid for two counsel to pursue his conviction appeal, one of twelve applications heard that morning.
Aaron Gumble, 28, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to eight years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended, for dangerous driving causing death, leaving the scene and theft of an e‑scooter. The offence involved the hit‑and‑run killing of 87‑year‑old Mary Bernie on Eccles Street, Dublin 7, on 20 June last year. Gumble, who had been on bail for theft offences, was also disqualified from driving for ten years. He pleaded guilty and was found to have 140 previous convictions, including theft, burglary and drug offences. The judge noted his guilty plea and substance‑abuse history as mitigating factors, but highlighted the aggravating factor of leaving the scene. Gumble's sentence will run consecutively to a three‑month term he is already serving for burglary offences, and he will remain under probation supervision for 18 months after release.
Donna Dineen, aged 28, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for hijacking a taxi on 26 July 2023. She used a seat belt to choke the driver, who was in his late 60s, and then dragged him out, punching or kicking him before driving off. The victim was left battered and bruised and has not returned to taxi driving. Dineen pleaded guilty to unlawful seizure of a vehicle and assault causing harm. The judge noted the brutality of the assault and the victim's inability to resume work, but also acknowledged Dineen's rehabilitation efforts. The final nine months of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation supervision. Her co‑accused, Gillian Byrne, will be sentenced separately next year after pleading guilty to the same offences. The court heard Byrne had called 999 voluntarily and expressed remorse. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Gerry Harte, 71, was sentenced to eight years in prison at the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty on a trial date to 15 counts of indecent assault. The court heard that Harte sexually abused his two younger sisters and younger brother during the 1970s and 1980s at their family home in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan. The victims, who waived anonymity, described growing up in a "house of horrors" and detailed the long-term psychological impact, including PTSD and anxiety. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath noted the offending was of a "gross kind" and marked the serious, persistent nature of the abuse by setting a global headline sentence of 11 years. However, the judge reduced the overall sentence to eight years to account for mitigation, specifically Harte's guilty plea and his lack of previous convictions. Defense counsel Michael O'Higgins SC highlighted Harte's remorse and rehabilitation, while the judge commended the victims for their dignity and courage in coming forward after decades. The matter was concluded with the imposition of this custodial sentence.
The Central Criminal Court sentenced a 54‑year‑old man to ten and a half years' imprisonment for a series of violent offences committed at his family home in County Tipperary. He raped his stepdaughter and forced her to watch while he raped his wife, using an axe during the assault. Earlier that year he was convicted of sexual assault, sexual exploitation of a child, oral rape, assault causing harm and threats to kill against his stepdaughter, and of rape, oral rape, assault causing harm, assault causing serious harm and a threat against his wife. The court noted that both victims were afraid to speak and that the man had threatened to kill the stepdaughter if she disclosed the abuse. He denied the allegations and claimed a conspiracy.
During a murder trial for the death of Keith Conlon, a video recorded by a trespasser moments before the shooting was shown to the jury. The clip captures male voices shouting threats and remarks such as "You're f**ked now" and "this is not the end of it mate, I'm telling you, you shot the f**king dog for nothing." The prosecution described a heated exchange between Diarmuid Phelan and the trespassers after Phelan shot a dog on his farm. Witness Julien Roudaut, a 24‑year‑old French farmhand, testified that Phelan fired warning shots into the air and that it was difficult to believe Conlon was actually shot. Roudaut also noted that Phelan's first shots were aimed at the air, and that the shooting occurred in a flash. The trial continues with the jury hearing further evidence of the incident. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
The High Court has heard arguments regarding the extradition of John Edward McNicholl and Seamus Christopher O'Kane to the UK, where they face charges related to the 1975 murder of Constable Robert John McPherson in Co Derry. Mr McNicholl is alleged to have murdered the constable and attempted to murder a second officer, while Mr O'Kane is charged with possession of firearms, including an RUC-issued weapon recovered during the ambush. Defense counsel argued that the extradition proceedings are oppressive and constitute an abuse of process, citing a nearly 50-year delay in seeking surrender. They contended that the pursuit of the men, initiated days before the UK's Legacy Act came into force, breached their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights and was driven by a change in the political climate. The State, represented by Remy Farrell SC, countered that arguments regarding abuse of process by Northern Irish prosecutors are matters for the courts in Northern Ireland, not the Dublin High Court. The court was told that previous extradition requests were refused on political grounds under the 1965 Act, but subsequent legislation removed such refusals. Mr Justice Pat McGrath deferred judgement and adjourned the matter to December 16.
The Workplace Relations Commission ruled that the Killarney Advertiser must pay €45,000 to former receptionist Laura O'Regan after she was dismissed in September 2019 for making a protected health‑and‑safety complaint. O'Regan had reported that a drunken homeless man, Mr J, repeatedly entered the office, stared at her, and became verbally abusive, threatening her safety. She had requested that a gate be installed at the front desk; the managing director, Cormac Casey, dismissed the idea and allegedly offered her a baseball bat as a "metaphor" for protection. The tribunal found Casey's comment was not a metaphor and that O'Regan's dismissal was directly linked to her safety report, constituting a protected disclosure under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The award equated to nearly 98 weeks of gross wages for O'Regan.
A secondary school teacher from Donegal Town has appealed her conviction for indecently assaulting a 13-year-old male student in 1985. Jacinta McSherry O'Connor, now 64, was found guilty following a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial in October 2023 and sentenced to three years imprisonment on each of two counts, with the final six months suspended. At the Court of Appeal, her legal team contended that the trial judge erred in allowing the jury to hear portions of her garda interview in which she disclosed being a victim of sexual assault herself. The prosecution argued this evidence was relevant to establishing a pattern of grooming behaviour. The court heard that McSherry O'Connor had discussed sexual matters with the boy, who had developed a crush on her, during private tutoring sessions in his home. Judges expressed concern about a teacher sharing such details with a young pupil. Judgment has been reserved.
The Court of Appeal found that the fully suspended sentence imposed on Mark Harris, a 29‑year‑old drug dealer, was too lenient and quashed the original four‑year‑six‑month sentence. Harris had been caught with over €500,000 worth of cocaine, cannabis and cash, and had pleaded guilty to drug supply and money‑laundering offences. The Court held that the circumstances did not justify a wholly suspended sentence and ordered a new sentence of four and a half years, with the final one and a half years suspended under the same conditions as before. The Court also quashed the suspended money‑laundering sentence, taking that charge into account in the resentencing. Harris was sent to jail today following the Court of Appeal's ruling.
A 29‑year‑old drug dealer, Dylan Clements, was sentenced to three years in prison with the final 18 months suspended after the Court of Appeal overturned a fully suspended sentence imposed by a Circuit Court judge. Clements had been found in possession of cocaine and cannabis worth over €28,000, including a large block of cocaine valued at €26,575 and cannabis worth €2,220. He pleaded guilty to one count of possession of drugs for sale or supply under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act and was originally sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan. The Court of Appeal, citing the legislation's presumptive minimum sentence of ten years for such offences, ruled that the original sentence was unduly lenient and that no special circumstances justified a fully suspended term. The appeal court ordered a probation report and quashed the original sentence, leading to the resentencing.
During the trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, an unarmed trespasser was reported to have turned his back after Phelan fired one or two shots from his revolver toward the air. French farmhand Julien Roudaut, aged 24, testified that he and Phelan were working on Hazelgrove Farm in February 2022 when they heard a dog bark and followed it into a wooded area. Roudaut said Phelan fired a shot at something on a steep bank, after which a man appeared and an argument ensued. Roudaut observed the man turn his back to Phelan after the first or second gunshot, and that the shots were fired toward the sky. Roudaut could not recall the exact number of shots or the precise direction, but he noted that Phelan was panicked and said "oh s**t" when he went to assist the injured man. The case remains before the jury. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
The Workplace Relations Commission awarded Graziano D'Amato €42,000 after finding that TripAdmit Ltd breached the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 by dismissing him without providing a written reference. D'Amato, a salesman hired in September 2021, was dismissed in February 2024 after failing to meet aggressive sales targets. The company's chief executive, John Maguire, explained that the firm had reduced staff from 14 to seven due to funding shortages and that D'Amato's performance was below expectations, with only 46% of his target achieved and a single client generating revenue. D'Amato argued that the dismissal letter cited his clients' poor performance, not his own, and that he had received no formal warning. The tribunal found TripAdmit's refusal to give a written reference contributed to his loss of earnings and awarded the compensation. The decision noted that the dismissal lacked clear grounds and that the company had not demonstrated substantial justification for terminating D'Amato.
In a High Court decision on 24 October 2024, a ruling against the security company Sablecross Limited (trading as Frontline Securities) in a case brought by Frank Reidy of Limerick was set aside. Reidy, who claims to be heavily involved in the GAA, alleged that after the 2018 All‑Ireland Hurling final at Croke Park he entered the pitch to collect jerseys and was suddenly assaulted by security and stewards. He says his arm was twisted behind his back and he was forcefully ejected. Reidy's action names the GAA, represented by Tom Ryan, and Sablecross. The court noted that the GAA had filed a full defence and the case was awaiting a hearing. The judge found that a miscommunication about correspondence had caused a default judgment against Sablecross and, in the interests of justice, set that judgment aside, while the proceedings against the GAA continued as normal.
The trial of former Ireland rugby international Brendan Mullin, aged 60, continues. Mullin is accused of stealing €500,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank in December 2011 and an additional €73,000 in other amounts between July 2011 and March 2013. The prosecution alleges he authorised payments to solicitors McCann Fitzgerald, accountants Beechwood Partners and Grant Thornton for work for his company Quantum Investment Strategies or for himself. The €500,000 was allegedly transferred to Spice Holdings, a company incorporated in 1997 and registered in the British Virgin Islands, and later moved to a Royal Bank of Canada account in Jersey. Evidence included bank records, invoices, and correspondence from Northern Trust and Spice Holdings. Mullin pleaded not guilty to all counts, including one of deception and five of false accounting. The trial remains ongoing.
Geovane Ferrnandes, a 31‑year‑old Brazilian, was jailed for three and a half years after being caught at Dublin Airport with 6.7 kg of cocaine, worth €489,790. He pleaded guilty to possessing the drug for sale or supply at Terminal One on 18 March. Ferrnandes claimed he was motivated by the need to fund expensive medical treatment for his daughter, who suffers severe asthma and requires frequent hospital stays. He said he had no knowledge of the contents of the parcel he carried and had not received any payment for the smuggling. The court noted he was caught "red‑handed" and had no prior convictions in Ireland. Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of six years but imposed a term of three and a half years, back‑dated to his March arrest. Ferrnandes has expressed remorse and intends not to return to Ireland after serving his sentence.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, a 27‑year‑old man, who was on probation, attacked his former partner in her home shortly after she ended their two‑year relationship. The victim, who was present at home alone after meeting friends, was assaulted inside the house, sustaining bruises on her face, neck, arm, abdomen and back, as well as marks on her leg caused by a knife handle. Her iPhone and a flowerpot were also damaged. The man, who has nine prior convictions, was convicted last July of assault causing harm and criminal damage. He was found not guilty of false imprisonment and production of an article capable of causing serious harm, and the jury could not reach verdicts on rape and threats to kill or cause serious harm. The Director of Public Prosecutions entered nolle prosequi on those two charges, dropping them.
In the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution presented DNA, CCTV and mobile phone evidence linking Thomas 'Nicky' McConnell to the 2016 murder of 36‑year‑old Gareth Hutch. Fiona Murphy SC argued that McConnell was involved in both planning and execution alongside Jonathan Keogh, who was already convicted. Evidence included CCTV of McConnell parking a BMW in front of Hutch's home, the car's use as a getaway vehicle, and a Skoda Octavia parked nearby. DNA from the BMW matched McConnell, and a Blackberry phone showed extensive contact with other suspects and instructions to flee to the UK. McConnell denied the charge, pleading not guilty. The court heard that McConnell's movements were misrepresented to Gardaí, and that he was "at least very similar" to the man identified by a witness. The case remains pending, with the defence scheduled to present its closing argument on Friday.
During the murder trial of law professor and farmer Michael Phelan, witness Alexandra Fernandes testified that she was "frozen to the spot" and afraid when she saw two intruders walking toward Phelan on the farm. She described seeing a rainbow and telling co‑workers to make a wish, and that one said, "I just want to stay alive for today," which astonished her. Fernandes said she had seen the intruders, described as determined, walking up the field and that Phelan fired a third shot at the same time the intruders were turning to leave. She reported hearing a noise like a firecracker and that the shots were fired quickly, with no time between them. Fernandes also stated she had not seen the first intruder reach for his pockets. The testimony was given in direct evidence on Tuesday and was cross‑examined by the defence. The trial continues before a jury.
In a decision published on 23 October 2024, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruled that it was reasonable for Centric Mental Health to require its Kerry‑based employee, Rafael Jorge, to travel to the Dundrum office in Dublin once a month. Jorge had accepted a fully remote contract in August 2022 after turning down a job offer. In January 2024, Centric's HR officer notified him that, due to changing business needs, he was required to attend the Dundrum office a minimum of two days per week. Jorge objected, citing his remote status and residence in Tralee, and raised a grievance. The HR director subsequently reduced the requirement to one day per month. Jorge sought a pay rise, lunch allowance and travel expenses; the company offered the latter two.
Graham McGuinness, aged 32, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to causing serious harm for a violent attack on Martin Reilly on 11 June 2020. McGuinness, who has 53 prior convictions, repeatedly slashed Reilly's neck, arms, torso and face with a homemade blade wrapped in tissue, shouting "I'm going to kill you" during the assault. The attack began near Busáras and continued toward Store Street Garda Station, where Reilly attempted to seek help. The court noted the severity of the injuries, including a gash exposing Reilly's jawbone, and the public nature of the violence. Mitigating factors included McGuinness's guilty plea, remorse and difficult upbringing, while aggravating factors were the viciousness, duration and weapon used. The suspended portion requires McGuinness to pay a €100 bond, remain at a listed address, provide a phone number, address drug addiction and attend all probation appointments.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 23 October 2024, Mr Justice Paul McDermott highlighted that murder trials are being delayed because psychiatrists at the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) cannot provide private reports for the courts. He spoke to lawyers in 13 murder cases where the accused's psychiatric condition is a potential issue. Both defence and the Director of Public Prosecutions reported mixed success in securing consultant psychiatrists willing to produce court reports. The judge explained that psychiatrists are overworked, with duties extending beyond contracted hours, leaving no time for private work. He also noted that psychiatrists may be barred from reporting if they treat the accused as a CMH patient, and that some legal teams complain about inadequate payment from the legal aid system. Mr Justice McDermott said he would continue to monitor progress but has no control over securing psychiatrists, stating his hands are tied.
Garry Gibson, 39, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply after setting up a sophisticated two‑level grow‑house in his home. The court heard that Gibson had no prior convictions and that he had been under financial pressure from rising mortgage payments. He admitted to modifying the property to create the grow‑house, bypassing electricity, and that he had already completed two or three cultivation cycles. During the search, 50 mature plants and 1.4 kg of cannabis were seized, valued at over €68,000. Gibson accepted responsibility, stating he was working but had been injured and could not work for a time. Judge Elva Duffy imposed a headline sentence of seven and a half years, reduced to five years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The court noted Gibson had not been a "gillie" but had engaged in the offence for profit.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Ireland rugby international Brendan Mullin, aged 60, denied 15 charges of theft and fraud involving over €570,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank. Mullin testified that he had always borne personal responsibility for his legal fees and that he had not indicated the bank would pay any portion. He argued that statements suggesting the bank would cover part of his costs were inaccurate and unfair. Mullin's solicitor, Roddy Bourke, confirmed that the bank had indeed provided assistance with legal fees, but Mullin maintained he had not authorized such arrangements. The court heard evidence of Mullin's meetings with Bourke in April 2013, his claims of not seeing the bank's memorandum, and the bank's subsequent inquiries into invoicing. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with a jury hearing the case.