In a Dublin trial, Lorcan Murphy, a 32‑year‑old Garda, pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault causing harm after allegedly fracturing a 17‑year‑old's skull on June 1 2021. The jury, hearing closing speeches and the judge's charge, was urged to consider the Garda's perspective and the possibility that criminalising force might deter officers. Defence counsel Justin McQuade argued that Murphy acted under an honest belief in the necessity of force, even if mistaken, and that the initial use of force during the arrest was not excessive. He highlighted the split‑second decisions required of uniformed officers and suggested that the force used—a leg sweep—was an unfortunate secondary impact. Prosecutor John Gallagher contended that the sweep and subsequent head impact constituted disproportionate force, causing a fractured skull and brain bleed, and questioned whether the level of force was reasonable. The trial continues.
In a tribunal decision dated 22 July 2025, the Workplace Relations Commission found that Boyne Valley Meats Ltd's dismissal of de‑boner Jose Antonio Viana‑Pereira in January 2024 was procedurally unfair, though the employer's decision to dismiss was deemed reasonable. The case centred on an incident where Viana‑Pereira allegedly pointed a knife at director Robin Gogan while shouting in Portuguese. Gogan reported feeling threatened and told Viana‑Pereira to leave the line, eventually sending him home. Viana‑Pereira claimed he was told to "go back to Brazil," a claim the tribunal rejected as a racial discrimination complaint. The adjudication officer, Orla Jones, noted inconsistencies in Viana‑Pereira's account and found no proper dismissal procedure had been followed, awarding him €1,500 for unfair dismissal and one week's wages in lieu of notice under the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act 1973. Viana‑Pereira's representatives plan to appeal to the Labour Court.
Stelian Ciuciu, a 32‑year‑old brothel keeper described as stateless and of Roma origin, pleaded guilty to 20 counts including organising prostitution, brothel‑keeping, using false instruments and money laundering. He rented eight properties from unsuspecting landlords by posing as one half of a couple with an escort partner, using a WhatsApp group of about 450 members to advertise the premises. Ciuciu maintained the properties, advised escorts to remain discreet, and laundered roughly €320,000, mostly in cash, to pay rent. Gardaí discovered the scheme when landlords raised concerns, leading to investigations that uncovered brothels in the rented homes and cash deposits in Ciuciu's accounts. He was arrested in November 2023, and €11,000 in cash was seized. The court noted the maximum sentences for the offences range from five to 15 years, and the case was adjourned for finalisation.
A 16‑year‑old boy, born in January 2009 at Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, received a €1.9 million settlement after a High Court approved a claim of medical negligence. The mother sued the HSE for alleged breaches of statutory duty, citing a delayed Caesarean section and abnormal cardiotocography (CTG) readings that were not properly monitored. The child was delivered 80 minutes after the decision to perform the emergency Caesarean, with a 50‑minute delay beyond the usual timeframe. He suffered severe breathing difficulties, hypoxia, and a delayed resuscitation, during which an anaesthetist allegedly interfered with the attending doctor's attempts to intubate. The newborn spent 11 days in intensive care, had an MRI‑confirmed kidney and brain infarct, and was left with severe personal injuries. The settlement was reached without an admission of liability, and the court approved it on the day of the hearing. The family welcomed the outcome and urged a review of maternity care in Ireland.
In Tallaght District Court, a Dublin man in his 30s was denied bail after the judge heard he allegedly planted a small tracking device in his child's car seat and sent up to 50 abusive emails a day to his ex‑partner, breaching a safety order. Garda Gavin Cribbin cited eight alleged breaches of the order in June and July 2025, including the device discovery on 29 June when a relative received a phone alert. The complainant confirmed the device, described as an AirTag‑type, was hidden in the seat used for custody exchanges. The man allegedly admitted to a relative that he had placed the tracker. He also sent repeated abusive emails, some containing verbal abuse, and was permitted only to contact the injured party about child access. The judge, citing the O'Callaghan principles, found a real risk of interference and refused bail, remanding the man in custody for a video hearing on 25 July 2025.
Martin Hayes, aged 36, was convicted of manslaughter for the death of Amadea McDermott, aged 27, in a home in Coolock on 20 July 2017. He was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by a majority verdict in the Central Criminal Court in November 2023. Hayes had pleaded not guilty to murder and claimed that McDermott had stabbed herself, a claim the court rejected. He admitted using violence against her. Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him to 12 years and six months, citing domestic violence and a history of aggressive behaviour. Hayes appealed, arguing the judge over‑weighted aggravating factors and under‑weighted mitigating ones. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy dismissed the appeal, affirming the 12‑year‑six‑month sentence and noting limited mitigating factors and significant aggravating domestic violence evidence. The appeal was rejected on the basis that the judge's factual findings were correct and the sentence was appropriate.
Karrin Breslin, a lingerie saleswoman who had worked for Chantelle Lingerie Ltd for nearly twenty years, won €15,800 for constructive dismissal after the Workplace Relations Commission found that the company repudiated her contract by failing to address her health‑related grievances. Breslin claimed that the department store's understaffing and rostering after the Covid‑19 lockdown caused her mental and physical health to deteriorate, leading to anxiety, low mood, high blood pressure and gastrointestinal problems. She had taken seven periods of certified medical leave between January 2022 and summer 2023 and ultimately resigned on 31 October 2023 after her last shift on 25 June 2023. The adjudicator, Patricia Owens, ruled that Chantelle's failure to resolve serious roster and staffing issues amounted to a repudiation of contract, awarding Breslin full losses for five months' unemployment. The case was heard under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The disability discrimination complaint was struck out of time.
A 24‑year‑old Moldovan national, Valeriu Melnic, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by a Central Criminal Court jury after he stabbed his sister's partner, Ion Daghi, to death with a kitchen knife on 12 May 2024. Melnic told Gardaí he was "so drunk" that he could not remember the stabbing, and he had earlier said "I will kill you" to Daghi. The jury rejected the prosecution's murder case, accepting the defence of intoxication and provocation. The judge, Mr Justice David Keane, noted the graphic evidence and the jury's service, and remanded Melnic in custody until a sentencing hearing on 3 November. The Daghi family will be able to give a statement at that hearing. The case was listed for mention on 20 October. The trial detailed the night's events, including multiple bottles of whiskey, a dispute, and the fatal stab wound to Daghi's chest.
Gerry Cash, 33, was convicted of trespassing on a vulnerable 88‑year‑old pensioner's home in County Kildare. The original sentence was nine months' custody with the final six months suspended. Cash appealed only the severity of the sentence, not the conviction. The appeal court, hearing evidence from Garda Padraig Murphy and a victim impact statement, found the original sentence too lenient. Judge Dara Hayes increased the effective custodial term from three to six months, suspending only the final three months for a twelve‑month period on the condition that Cash does not contact the victim or his family again. The appeal did not alter the conviction or the suspended portion; it merely doubled the effective custody from three to six months. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no further outcome reported.
A man with over 70 previous road traffic convictions has been sentenced to five years' imprisonment for dangerous driving causing the death of a pregnant woman at Galway Circuit Criminal Court. Frank Barrett, aged 44, of Ballybane, Galway, was driving a car in which Irene Lynch was a passenger when it crashed into a wall and became submerged in water near Menlo in the early hours of March 2024. Ms Lynch, who was 17 weeks pregnant, died in hospital a week later from a hypoxic brain injury, as did her unborn daughter. Barrett was disqualified from driving at the time of the incident and had consumed significant quantities of alcohol and cocaine. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, drink driving and driving without insurance. Judge Brian O'Callaghan imposed a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to six years with the final 12 months suspended for three years, citing Barrett's early guilty plea and remorse as mitigating factors. Barrett was disqualified from driving for ten years and fined €1,500.
A 34‑year‑old man named Mark McCourt pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to facilitating a criminal organisation in the importation of firearms, ammunition and explosives into the State between 10 February 2023 and 19 July 2024. He admitted that, knowing the organisation existed, he participated in or contributed to activities intended to assist the organisation or its members in committing serious offences, specifically the importation of firearms, ammunition and explosives. McCourt also confessed to unlawfully possessing two .233 Remington calibre barrels from AR‑15 pattern rifles and, on the same date and location, nine 9mm Luger calibre barrels, eight frames for Sig Sauer semi‑automatic pistols, a frame for a Canik semi‑automatic pistol and four slides for a Sig Sauer P320 9mm Luger semi‑automatic pistol, with circumstances indicating he did not have them for lawful purposes.
Samantha Otto, a 63-year-old applicant, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after being found guilty by a jury of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old male in a Rathmines laneway on October 26, 2022. The court heard that Otto, who identifies as female but is biologically male and has not received a gender recognition certificate, has one previous conviction for assault causing harm dated April 27, 2019, for which a suspended sentence was imposed on October 20, 2020. Judge Pauline Codd noted the difficulty in sentencing individuals whose gender identity does not align with their biological sex, particularly given the lack of a formal model for housing transgender prisoners. The judge highlighted that the victim, who was 18 at the time, described the incident as a gross violation of his bodily integrity. In mitigation, counsel cited Otto's difficult background and acceptance of the jury's verdict, though the judge noted the absence of a guilty plea and the egregious nature of the accused's attempt to blame the victim. The court imposed a three-year jail term, noting that Otto was on a suspended sentence at the time of the offence. Additionally, the judge ordered that Otto be placed on the Sexual Offenders' Register.
The trial of Lorcan Murphy, a 32‑year‑old Garda from Pearse Street Station, for assaulting a teenager in 2021 has entered its closing phase at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Murphy pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault causing harm under the 1997 Act. The prosecution has finished calling witnesses; the defence will not present evidence. Judge Pauline Codd will hear closing speeches tomorrow.
Clive McCowan, 45, a former PhD student in social studies, was sentenced to just over three‑and‑a‑half years in prison for possessing €285,000 worth of heroin. He pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply at Millrace Park, Saggart, on 6 June 2024. Gardaí searched his residence at Rossfield Court, Tallaght, and found approximately 2 kg of heroin, 147 g of cannabis, and 8 g of cocaine, along with weighing scales and a boiler. McCowan admitted to receiving the drugs two weeks earlier, having been instructed to cut a section of diamorphine, and claimed he had a drug debt of €30,000. He had eight prior convictions, including robbery, and had previously completed a residential treatment programme. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the substantial mitigation and McCowan's cooperation, imposed a four‑year sentence, reduced by four months for his treatment. The court considered this his second incursion into drug‑dealing activity.
Murilo Dos Santos, 36, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material between November 2020 and January 2021. Gardaí seized his phone during a separate investigation, finding 66 videos that contravened the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act. Dos Santos shared these videos with six others via a sharing app and WhatsApp, including a 5‑minute clip of a child aged 6‑12 months strapped down, and other footage of children aged 8‑12 and 10‑14 years in sexual activity. He also sent a MEGA folder link and a photograph of himself, claiming he was acting as a vigilante. Judge Orla Crowe revoked his bail and remanded him in custody until 1 December 2025 pending sentencing. No other participants were prosecuted. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
James O'Reilly, aged 63, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of oral rape, five counts of sexual assault and three counts of sexual exploitation of his daughter Bridget, who was between six and ten years old when the abuse occurred. The offences took place at the family home in Waterford between 2010 and 2014. O'Reilly was found guilty on all nine charges in the fourth trial after earlier trials were aborted or inconclusive. He received a headline sentence of 13 years, with the final year suspended for 12 months on strict conditions, including probation supervision after release. The judge described the conduct as an egregious breach of trust, noting violence, threats and a lack of remorse. O'Reilly's son Thomas gave a character reference, and the daughter waived anonymity to name her father. No prior sexual convictions were recorded, though he had three unrelated convictions.
At the Special Criminal Court, six accused men pleaded guilty to charges related to a foiled drug importation operation off the south coast. Angel Del Rio Sanz, Anuar Rahui Chairi, Aleksandar Milic, Kiumaars Ghabiri, Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega, and Angel Serran Padilla admitted to conspiring with others to import controlled drugs in excess of €13,000 between February 27 and March 14, 2024. The prosecution alleged the group attempted a sea rendezvous with the vessel Cool Explorer to smuggle 840kg of cocaine, which was later found washed up in Denmark. Evidence presented included the seizure of a rigid inflatable boat, vehicles, and nautical equipment at Tragumna Pier in Cork. The court heard that the RIB's GPS data indicated an attempt to intercept the ship's path. The matter is currently at the pre-trial stage; sentencing for the guilty pleas is ongoing, with the hearing continuing. Separately, co-accused Ali Ghasemi Mazidi, Sean Curran, and Raul Tabares Garcia sought trial dates. The court adjourned the matter for a mention on July 28 to list a trial date, meaning the proceedings for these three defendants have not been concluded.
Anthony Matheus Rosas De Souza, 29, was jailed for importing cocaine after being stopped at Dublin Airport. He claimed he was visiting Ireland as a fan of Conor McGregor and Irish pubs, and that he had heard Irish beer was good. De Souza admitted he was forced to transport the drugs from Brazil because he owed money to a loan shark, who threatened his mother and promised to write off his debt if he brought the suitcase into Ireland. He was on remand since his arrest. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court he pleaded guilty to importing cocaine on 1 November 2024. Six packages weighing 2.88 kg, worth an estimated €201,600, were found in the suitcase. Judge Orla Crowe accepted that he acted as a drug mule and imposed a sentence of three years, backdated to his first entry into custody last November. The sentence was set after the court noted the damage caused by the drug trade.
A jury of eight men and four women is set to return to the Central Criminal Court to continue deliberating the verdict in the murder trial of Moldovan national Valeriu Melnic, aged 24, who is accused of fatally stabbing Ion Daghi, aged 39, with a kitchen knife on 12 May 2024. Melnic pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury has spent five hours and 52 minutes over two days considering the case and has not yet reached a unanimous verdict. Judge David Keane has advised that they may seek a majority verdict, requiring at least ten jurors to agree, and has asked them to return tomorrow for further guidance on the defence of provocation. The jury is also instructed to consider whether intoxication could negate intent, and whether provocation could reduce the charge to manslaughter. The case remains at the deliberation stage, with no verdict yet announced.
More than 70 asylum seekers at an accommodation centre in Athlone, County Westmeath, have been offered alternative housing while the government prepares emergency legislation to address accommodation pressures, the High Court heard. Of approximately 125 people remaining at the facility, offers have been extended to 70 residents, with responses expected within a week. The High Court action, taken by Independent Ireland councillor Paul Hogan through judicial review, centres on the validity of a statutory instrument used to expedite construction at Lissywollen. The State has conceded the instrument was invalid and is developing remedial legislation. Ms Justice Emily Farrell adjourned proceedings to next week but cautioned against further deferrals, noting the government had sufficient opportunity to bring legislation before the Dáil. Counsel for Cllr Hogan argued that November dates for legislative submission had become untenable, with the minister's process alleged to be unlawful and irrational. The government cited significant systemic pressure in seeking to maintain the status quo pending legislation.
Marese Craig, 28, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six and a half years' imprisonment for a series of thefts that included stealing a €27,000‑worth bag of cancer medication from an elderly American tourist and a handbag from a mother in a neonatal intensive care unit. The judge noted Craig's 191 prior convictions, including 18 burglaries, nine robberies, 102 thefts and 16 deception offences, and her drug addiction. Craig pleaded guilty to thefts, burglaries and possession of stolen bank cards between 2022 and 2024. She admitted the offences, expressed regret and was found to have been unaware of the contents of the bags she stole. Judge Orla Crowe imposed consecutive sentences totalling seven and a half years, suspended the final 12 months, and required Craig to engage with the Probation Service for 18 months after release. The court described her conduct as "deplorable" but allowed her a chance to re‑enter society constructively.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, nail technician Odonchimeg Genenbat, who had been employed for just over a month at Love Your Nails, was awarded €1,000 in compensation for an unfair dismissal. Genenbat was hired on 26 November 2024 and received a termination text on 27 December, without any standard employment documents or payslips. She had requested payslips on 14 December, which were denied, placing her under Section 36 of the National Minimum Wage Act 2000. The adjudicator, Michael McEntee, noted that the dismissal lacked proper procedures, interviews or appeals, and that the employer, Colm Tyrell, failed to attend the hearing. Tyrell cited alleged performance issues, but the tribunal found the dismissal arbitrary and awarded the compensation, marking the first such claim under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 to succeed in over two and a half years.
Stephen Mooney, aged 53, was sentenced to a mandatory life term at the Central Criminal Court for murdering his 43‑year‑old wife, Anna Mooney. He admitted to stabbing her after discovering evidence of an affair on her phone. Mooney recorded the act and later called emergency services at 1.09 am on 15 June 2023, stating he had killed her. Gardaí accessed his phone, finding a 90‑minute video and audio of the murder and the events leading up to it. The pathologist reported a 13.3 cm stab wound that pierced the heart, diaphragm and abdominal cavity, with additional wounds to her back, arm and hand. Mooney apologized to the family and children, and the judge imposed the mandatory life sentence, noting the severe harm caused. The case remains under the jurisdiction of a parole board. Stephen Mooney pleaded guilty.
During a sentencing hearing on 21 July 2025, the court considered the case of Richard Treacy, 36, who had previously been convicted of manslaughter, dangerous driving, violent disorder and other offences. Treacy pleaded guilty to a money‑laundering offence under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010, admitting that between 1 January 2014 and 12 January 2021 he concealed the true source of funds used to pay for renovations at his family home in Limerick. The court heard that €100,000 had been spent on the property, which had been purchased by another party in 2014, and that the renovations were carried out over several years. Garda Ronan O'Reilly presented evidence that cash, including £3,900 and €4,000, was found in the house, and that Treacy had no employment record.
A Workplace Relations Commission adjudication hearing involving applicant Kate Rellis was adjourned after the adjudicator determined that a defence witness was not in a suitable setting. The hearing, which concerned a complaint against the South East Technological University Student Union under the Payment of Wages Act 1991, was called on via videoconference but quickly suspended. Adjudication officer Gaye Cunningham noted that SETUSU president Erin Foley had joined from a car and welfare officer Lucy Kate Bosch was on a train. Ms Cunningham stated that background noise from other passengers made the environment unsatisfactory for a formal hearing, comparing it to being on a public street. Although Ms Foley indicated that Ms Bosch was a necessary witness, the adjudicator emphasized that respondents could have applied for a postponement if participants were unavailable in a safe setting. Ms Rellis expressed agreement with the decision but wished to proceed. The adjudicator instructed that all parties must be in a reasonably formal, office-like setting for the next date. The matter was adjourned pending a re-scheduled hearing as soon as possible.
Jamie Moss, 22, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to two offences of possessing a 9mm Makarov semi-automatic pistol and one round of ammunition without lawful purpose. The charges relate to an incident on February 16, 2024, at Old Navan Road, Blanchardstown. Moss's co-accused, Sarah Jane Byrne, 27, previously pleaded guilty in June to five offences. These included possession of the same 9mm Makarov pistol and ammunition, as well as 27 rounds of Luger 9mm ammunition, a 12-gauge sawn-off Beretta shotgun, and a Tokarev submachine gun, all allegedly held without lawful purpose at the same location on February 16, 2024. The State requested that the cases be joined, noting Byrne's sentencing hearing is listed for October 20. Defence counsel Carol Doherty BL requested a probation report for Moss, highlighting his recent completion of education. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor directed the preparation of the probation report and remanded Moss on continuing bail. The matter was adjourned to October 20 for sentencing, with the court indicating the proceedings for both accused would be joined at that stage.
Paul Davis, 38, of Finglas, Dublin 11, appeared at Tallaght District Court where he pleaded guilty to criminal damage at Rathfarnham Garda Station and to threatening, abusive behaviour and intoxication in a public place at Marlay Park on 29 June 2024. The court heard that Davis was highly intoxicated at the Longitude festival, where he aggressively confronted Gardaí and security staff. After being pepper sprayed and arrested, he allegedly urinated on a cell door while in custody. Davis has 54 previous convictions. Although he initially reported being drug-free, he later admitted to the Probation Service that he still smokes cannabis daily, rendering him unsuitable for community service. In court, Davis claimed cannabis "isn't a drug," a statement Judge Patricia McNamara rejected, noting the chemical nature of the substance. Judge McNamara convicted Davis and imposed a three-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. She also fined him €200, payable within four months. Davis paid €105 in court to cover the cost of cleaning the cell. The judge ordered that Davis must remain of sober habits and abstain from all illicit or non-prescribed drugs during the suspended period.
Three armed forces members – Jordan Kavanagh (24), his brother Jerome (23) and friend Jason Keating (24) – attacked a young man in a late‑night bar after a drink was spilled. The trio pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and violent disorder. The victim, a man in his 20s, suffered a concussion, broken teeth and facial scarring. All three resigned from the army before court. They expressed remorse and submitted apology letters. The judge, Sinéad McMullan, noted their potential and the impact on the victim, ordered a Probation Report and considered restorative justice. The case was adjourned for sentencing on 3 November, with the men remanded on continuing bail. No prior convictions were recorded for any of the defendants.
Darren Dowling, 48, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court following a July 2024 trial in which he was found guilty of eight counts of oral rape and three counts of indecent assault. The offences, which occurred at a Clondalkin address between 1990 and 1993, were committed against his cousin, Alan Murphy, who was aged between three and six at the time. Dowling, who was a juvenile during the offending period, had previously served a nine-month sentence in Jersey for a separate offence involving an undercover officer. Justice Paul Burns imposed concurrent sentences of five years and three years, reducing headline sentences of 13 years and eight years respectively due to Dowling's age at the time of the crimes. The final 12 months of the five-year term were suspended on strict conditions, requiring Dowling to engage with Probation Supervision upon release. The court noted the severe impact on the victim, who suffered behavioural problems and substance abuse issues as a teenager. Although the sentencing was completed, the matter was adjourned for mention to allow for the hearing of a Supreme Court case regarding the naming of juvenile accused persons who reach adulthood. Consequently, the report could not be published until now. Dowling waived his anonymity, and the victim has also waived his anonymity to have Dowling named.
An English man, Alexander Kay, 26, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for importing almost €50,000 worth of cannabis into Ireland. Kay initially claimed he was bringing the drugs home from Thailand because they were cheaper, but later admitted the cannabis was not for his own use. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the offence of importation at Dublin Airport on 21 November 2024. Customs officers found the drugs in his luggage while he was transiting through Dublin from Abu Dhabi on his return from Thailand. Kay had no prior convictions. His defence counsel argued that Kay was acting to clear a drug debt and had cooperated with authorities, citing his early guilty plea and personal circumstances. Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of five years but imposed the reduced term, noting substantial mitigation.
Sean Cullen, aged 22, of Hope Avenue, East Wall, Dublin 3, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of criminal damage and one count of common assault. The charges related to incidents at the Fairview DART Depot on 25 September 2021, where he pepper-sprayed an Irish Rail employee during a confrontation, and to graffiti damage caused to train carriages at multiple locations between February 2020 and November 2021. The total damage caused amounted to €60,914, with Irish Rail estimating additional costs of €40,000. The injured employee sustained a swollen face and back injury but has since made a full recovery. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four-year sentence, fully suspended, on condition that Cullen does not reoffend. The judge noted Cullen's remorse, his current employment as an apprentice electrician, and the €2,000 restitution offered to the victim. No further offences have been recorded since his arrest.
In the trial of Lorcan Murphy, a 32‑year‑old Garda, the witness Darragh Fitzpatrick testified that on 1 June 2021 he heard a shout of "knife" and then saw Murphy "spear tackle" a 17‑year‑old teenager to the ground on Essex Street and at Pearse Street Garda Station. Fitzpatrick described the teenager as limp and lifeless after the tackle, and he heard the Garda shout "where is the knife?" before the teenager was handcuffed and placed on the ground. Aileen Fitzmaurice, also present, confirmed that the teenager was face‑down and that the Garda van arrived shortly after. Eoghan Hickey reported hearing the Garda say "drop the knife" repeatedly. Donal Grant, an investigator, presented Murphy's statements, in which Murphy said he had instructed the teenager to remove his hands from his pockets, that the teenager produced a glass bottle, and that Murphy performed a leg sweep to bring the teenager to his feet before handcuffing him. Lorcan Murphy pleaded not guilty.
The High Court heard evidence in John Magnier's lawsuit against Richard Thomson-Moore and Barne Estate regarding the collapse of a purported €15 million sale of the 751-acre property. Mr Magnier seeks to enforce a handshake agreement dated August 22, 2023, while the defendants contend no binding deal existed without trustee consent. During testimony before Mr Justice Max Barrett, Mr Thomson-Moore addressed allegations that a third party offered him a "secret" phone to contact rival bidder Maurice Regan without trace. Mr Thomson-Moore stated he did not personally receive or use the device, noting he was already in contact with Mr Regan on his personal phone after the exclusivity period expired. Counsel for Mr Magnier, Caren Geoghegan SC, read text messages alleging the third party kept Mr Regan updated on the deal and that Mr Thomson-Moore expressed skepticism about the sale's finality. Mr Thomson-Moore acknowledged telling the third party that the deal was "far from done" but denied using tax matters to stall the transaction, citing genuine concerns. The defendants maintain that the trustees initially favored the Magnier bid but later accepted Mr Regan's higher €22.25 million offer. The matter remains ongoing, with the hearing continuing at the High Court.
The jury heard that the 24‑year‑old Moldovan national Valeriu Melnic, who stabbed Ion Daghi to death with a kitchen knife, was heavily intoxicated after drinking three bottles of "firewater." Melnic pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The defence argued that intoxication and provocation should reduce the charge to manslaughter, citing Melnic's memory loss and the alleged assault by Daghi. The prosecution countered that Melnic's statement "I will kill you" and the circumstances of the struggle showed intent to kill, making murder the appropriate verdict. Judge Keane explained that intoxication is not a full defence to murder and that provocation must be a sudden, complete loss of self‑control. The jury was instructed to decide between guilty of murder or guilty of manslaughter. Valeriu Melnic was acquitted.
A mentally ill man, diagnosed with bipolar disorder and psychosis, had his four‑month jail sentence for breaching a safety order overturned on appeal. He had pleaded guilty in the District Court to breaching a safety order twice under section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018 and to trespassing under section 3 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. He also faced charges of making off without payment, theft and failure to appear in court. The appeal was lodged after the court heard that he had been arrested on 3 October 2024 at a woman's property where a safety order was in place, and again on 9 May 2024 at an Applegreen on Stillorgan Road where he poured petrol worth 60 cents into a bag and left without paying. He was also charged with failure to appear in court for that offence.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Jineesh John, aged 43, was found not guilty by reason of insanity on all counts of attempted murder, false imprisonment, and related offences. The case centred on an incident on 21 May 2023 when John, holding a hammer, drove a former colleague to a car, applied chilli powder to her face, and threatened to kill her, claiming she had infected him with HIV through kissing. No physical contact had occurred, yet John maintained a delusional belief of infection. Forensic psychiatrists for both sides agreed he met the criteria for the special verdict under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006, citing delusional disorder and depression. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded John to the Central Mental Hospital until a psychiatric report is delivered on 28 July. The victim was praised for her courage in calming John and for her testimony. The trial lasted two days, with the jury reaching the verdict in about 40 minutes.
In a Tallaght District Court hearing, a woman in her 40s, whose name is withheld for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to breaching a protection order on 19 July 2024, violating Section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018. The court heard that she had made a threatening phone call and sent abusive text messages to her former partner, who was left in fear. The texts included insults such as "junkie bastard" and accusations that he was not the father of their child, and a phone call in which she threatened that he would never see their daughter again. The judge, Patricia McNamara, noted this was the woman's second conviction for breaching a protection order. She was sentenced to seven months' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, on strict conditions that she not reoffend, take prescribed medication and pay €200 within five months. If she breaches any of these conditions, she will face the seven‑month term.
Seamus Behan, a 12‑year van driver for Liberties Recycling Development and Training CLG, lost his unfair dismissal claim after the Workplace Relations Commission rejected his complaint. The company said Behan's conduct on 20 December 2023, when he allegedly shouted abuse, behaved aggressively and damaged property, amounted to gross misconduct. Management had suspended both Behan and the other worker, Mr A, and sent them home. Behan's representative argued that witness statements were hand‑picked and that CCTV footage, which had been taped over during the Christmas break, was omitted. Behan denied using a slur and claimed he was provoked by Mr A's remarks about his religious beliefs. The tribunal, following the company's evidence, found Behan's behaviour to be aggressive, uncontrolled and unacceptable, and upheld the dismissal.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal of an unnamed 34-year-old man, who was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury in February 2023 of raping a 15-year-old girl in a midlands town in January 2019. The appellant, who does not accept the verdict, argued that the trial judge erred in refusing to allow his legal team to cross-examine the victim regarding a contraceptive bar she was using at the time. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, delivering the judgment for the three-judge court, ruled that the trial judge did not fall into error in exercising his discretion. The court found that evidence of the victim's contraception was irrelevant to the issue of whether she had consented or engaged in sexual intercourse with the accused, noting it was material that should not be introduced under applicable legislation. The man was sentenced by Mr Justice Paul Burns to ten years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended for three years under probation supervision. The sentencing judge noted the man opportunistically took advantage of being alone with the girl, was aware of her approximate age, and used verbal abuse during the attack. The court also acknowledged the physical injuries the victim sustained. The man had denied sexual contact with the girl, claiming she had not reported the incident immediately, though she later disclosed the events to gardai after seeking hospital treatment for injuries.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, a migrant chef, Mohammad Usman Ghani, claimed he was unaware of a debit card opened in his name after he left Daata Restaurant. Ghani, a commis chef on a 2023 work permit, said he had no knowledge of the card until a Garda raid in December 2024 uncovered his documents at the restaurant's premises. He alleged that his wages were withheld while working about 70 hours a week and that the director, Fahid Saleem, pressured him repeatedly. Saleem denied threatening deportation or harassment, stating he treated staff as family and had no knowledge of any wage withholding. The case was reported as "amicably resolved" after talks, with no further public hearings scheduled. The restaurant, founded in 1999, operates several locations in Wicklow and Dublin.
The case concerns a 17‑year‑old youth with 44 prior convictions who has accused Garda Lorcan Murphy of fracturing his skull. The youth, who has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault causing harm, admitted that ten days after the alleged assault by the Garda, he kicked and beat a person at an ATM on O'Connell Street and then stole from their pockets. He also carried out a further assault on a staff member two weeks later. During cross‑examination, the youth claimed he had no recollection of the incidents, attributing memory loss to head injury, alcohol and cannabis. He denied lying in a GSOC interview and stated he had not drunk. Medical evidence showed a skull fracture and brain contusion, and the youth had left hospital against medical advice twice. The trial is ongoing before Judge Pauline Codd.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 17 July 2025, the prosecution presented evidence that Jineesh John, 43, was suffering from a delusional disorder when he allegedly falsely imprisoned a former work colleague in his car, sealed the door handles with tape, threw hot chilli powder into her eyes, and threatened to kill her. John also threatened her with a hammer and demanded she record on a mobile phone that she had given him a sexually transmitted disease in 2021, despite no sexual contact. The defence sought a not‑guilty by reason of insanity verdict under the Criminal Law Insanity Act 2006. Two consultant psychiatrists, one for each side, agreed that John was mentally ill at the time of the offence. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, is set to continue tomorrow. Jineesh John pleaded not guilty and was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 17 July 2025, three men were found to have received sentences that were too lenient for a "targeted and pre‑meditated" arson that took place on 17 May 2022. The incident involved a stolen Toyota Avensis being rammed into the ground floor of the Tip Top Tanning Studio on Tullow Street, Carlow, and set alight with an accelerant. The blaze spread to the building's upper residential apartments, where families were sleeping. Keith McCormack Smith (24), Jason Ryle (26) and PJ Lyons (21) had all pleaded guilty to arson and related offences. Their original sentences—four, three‑and‑a‑half and three‑and‑a‑half years respectively—were increased to seven, six and four‑and‑a‑half years. The Court of Appeal quashed the original sentences and imposed new headline sentences of ten, nine‑and‑a‑half and nine years, each with a suspended portion, to reflect the seriousness of the offence.
The Court of Appeal heard arguments regarding the conviction of Wayne Cooney for the murder of Jordan Davis (22) in Darndale, Dublin, on May 22, 2019. Cooney, who pleaded not guilty to murder and possessing a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and ammunition, was convicted by a jury in July 2022. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC argued that the trial judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, effectively closed down the defence case by delivering an argumentative charge that favoured the prosecution. The prosecution alleged Davis owed €70,000 to Robert Redmond, Cooney's then-girlfriend's brother. Robert Redmond pleaded guilty in April 2024 to conspiring with Cooney to murder Davis and received a seven-year prison sentence. Rachel Redmond, Cooney's ex-girlfriend, was convicted earlier this year of impeding Cooney's apprehension. During the appeal, O'Higgins contended the judge's comments were strident and denied the defence a fair airing. In response, DPP counsel Bernard Condon SC stated the judge correctly advised the jury to avoid evidential wastelands and that the conviction was supported by CCTV and DNA evidence linking Cooney to the scene. The court has adjourned the matter to deliver its judgement at a later date.
Thomas Bacon, 33, of Davitt Park, Ballybrack, Co Dublin, admitted smoking cannabis the night before his court appearance. He pleaded guilty to possessing diazepam without a prescription on 20 December 2022 and to using threatening and abusive behaviour and failing to comply with a Garda direction on 31 October 2020 at Kilbogget Park, Cabinteely. On that day a bonfire had been lit and Dublin Fire Brigade firefighters were trying to extinguish it when Bacon obstructed them. Garda Robert Ryan directed Bacon to leave the area; Bacon refused and verbally abused the garda, telling him to "go f*** himself". Bacon was arrested for failing to comply with a garda direction and for using threatening and abusive behaviour in a public place. He also claimed he had used cocaine for 20 years but was now clean, though he admitted to cannabis use the night before the hearing. The case was adjourned to 17 November for a probation report and urine analysis.
James Duffy, a part‑time taxi driver and pensioner from Finglas, has pleaded not guilty to a charge that he brought 14,000 cigarettes into Ireland without paying excise duty. The alleged offence, which would amount to over €11,000 in duty, is said to have occurred on 26 April 2024 at Dublin Airport. Duffy's lawyers applied to the High Court for a judicial review of the summons issued to him, arguing that the summons lacked written information on his procedural rights under EU regulations. They contend that this omission prevented Duffy from making an informed decision when he represented himself and entered a not‑guilty plea. The High Court granted permission for the challenge, stayed the Circuit Court proceedings, and adjourned the matter to October, with a trial date set for next April. The case remains pending in the Circuit Court.
A 37‑year‑old man was sentenced to seven years in prison at the Central Criminal Court for raping a woman while she slept and then raping her again after she escaped the first assault. He pleaded guilty to two rape charges on 29 September 2019. The victim, whose identity is protected, described feeling like a "rag doll" during the attacks and suffering anxiety, PTSD, panic attacks and a loss of time with her children. She said she now locks herself in her bedroom and feels like a prisoner. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, imposed an eight‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions for three years, directed the defendant to be supervised by the Probation Service for three years post‑release, and gave credit for time served. The court praised the victim's courage and hoped she would continue to recover with support from family and friends.
A man has pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Tom Niland at the Central Criminal Court, five days into his trial. John Irving, aged 31, of Shanwar, Foxford, County Mayo, changed his plea on the morning of July 17th. He is the third person to admit to manslaughter in connection with the death of the 73-year-old, who was assaulted at his home near Skreen, County Sligo on January 18th, 2022. Mr Niland suffered serious injuries including brain bleeding, facial fractures and multiple broken ribs during the attack. He was placed on life support but died from complications of his injuries twenty months later. Francis Harman and John Clarke had previously pleaded guilty to the same offence. The Director of Public Prosecutions indicated the guilty plea to manslaughter satisfied the prosecution's case. Justice Eileen Creedon discharged the jury and adjourned sentencing to October 13th, pending victim impact statements and psychological reports.
An 83‑year‑old driver, Thomas Hamilton, admitted to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that he may have "nodded off" when he mounted a footpath on Howth Road, colliding with an 11‑year‑old and a 10‑year‑old girl. The older girl suffered fractures to her leg and ankle and a minor head wound, requiring surgery and leaving permanent scarring; the younger girl sustained soft‑tissue injuries. Both girls were taken to hospital and later interviewed by specialist Gardaí, and both now suffer from post‑traumatic stress disorder. Hamilton, who has no prior convictions, was found guilty of two counts of careless driving causing serious bodily harm. He was sentenced to a suspended three‑month custodial term, with a €1,000 payment to each family, and he has since surrendered his driving licence and insurance. The court noted that the accident occurred in dry weather with good visibility, and that Hamilton had no memory of the incident.
The High Court trial concerning a disputed €15 million agreement for the 17th-century Barne Estate in Tipperary continued before Mr Justice Max Barrett. Applicants John Magnier, Richard Thomson-Moore, and Century Barne Estate are parties to the litigation, where Mr Magnier seeks to enforce an alleged handshake deal. Mr Thomson-Moore, giving evidence in defence, stated he was "shocked" by an "untoward" offer of two envelopes containing €50,000 in cash, described by the Magnier side as a "luck penny" or token of appreciation. The defendants deny a binding agreement existed, noting that estate trustees ultimately accepted a higher offer from Maurice Regan, who is not a party to the case. Mr Thomson-Moore testified that while a price was agreed, a final deal was not, and that the cash was later returned. Cross-examination focused on lists of the mansion's contents, with the Magnier side suggesting an intent to withhold high-value items from trustees, an allegation Mr Thomson-Moore denied. The matter remains at the trial stage and has not been finalised.