Deirdre Arnold, 42, a former HSE addiction counsellor, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for acting as a getaway driver for Brian McHugh, who murdered Lisa Thompson. The Central Criminal Court heard that Arnold drove McHugh to Thompson's home on 9 May 2022, where she waited outside for over an hour before driving him away, and later helped him evade prosecution by checking him into the Clayton Hotel. She also used her silver Hyundai Tucson to dispose of evidence taken from Thompson's house. Arnold had previously complained of domestic abuse and had an interim barring order against McHugh. She pleaded not guilty to the two counts of aiding and abetting and of perverting the course of public justice. The judge noted her history of abuse, her remorse, and her role as a mother, and reduced the headline sentence from five to three years after considering mitigation.
Six men from Iran, Ukraine, the Philippines and the UK were jailed for a combined 129 years after a 2.2‑tonne cocaine seizure on the bulk carrier MV Matthew. The Special Criminal Court, presided over by Ms Justice Melanie Greally, sentenced each defendant to a term ranging from 13.5 to 20 years, with the longest term imposed on Dutch national Cumali Ozgen (50) at 20 years. Ozgen was described as the crew member most closely connected to the Dubai‑based criminal organisation that planned and funded the operation. Other defendants received 18 years for Filipino Harold Estoesta, 17.5 for Iranian Soheil Jelveh, 16.5 for Ukrainian Vitaliy Vlasoi, 15 for Iranian Saeid Hassani, 14 for Ukrainian Mykhailo Gavryk, 14.5 for Ukrainian Vitaliy Lapa and 13.5 for British Jamie Harbron. The court noted that the defendants had pleaded guilty and that most had no prior convictions.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a mother in her 50s pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of sexual assault and one count of rape, claiming she never sexually abused her three‑year‑old daughter or facilitated her uncle's rape. She said she felt "slightly sick" when told she had abused the child before age four and denied any other alleged assaults, including a claim that she bit her daughter. The mother also denied being present when her daughter was raped by her uncle and denied any sexual activity with him. The uncle, in his 40s, pleaded not guilty to five rape counts and one oral rape count, denying all allegations and stating he did not know why his niece would accuse him. A third defendant, aged in his 50s, pleaded not guilty to one oral rape count and denied any contact with the child. The trial continues.
A Ballina man has been sentenced to one year and four months in prison for stabbing another man with a broken beer bottle during an altercation in the town four years ago. Stephen Lawrence, aged 23, of Cloonishlawn pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Oisín McCarron at Greenhills housing estate on 3 April 2021. Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court heard the incident occurred following a verbal and physical row between the two men, then teenagers, after a night of drinking. Judge Eoin Garavan noted elements of provocation and that both parties had been involved in the altercation. The victim suffered deep lacerations to his face, jaw and neck requiring plastic surgery and continues to experience psychological trauma. A family contribution of €5,000 was presented to court in recognition of the harm caused. The judge acknowledged Lawrence's genuine remorse, stable family background and lack of previous convictions. The sentence, comprising two years and three months with eleven months suspended for two years, was backdated to September 2024.
An unnamed man in his 50s was sentenced at Dún Laoghaire District Court after being convicted of breaching a safety order. The defendant had pleaded not guilty to two counts of breaching a safety order under Section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018, alleged to have occurred on 13 and 19 September 2024. Judge Conor Fottrell found the charges proven, describing the incidents as clear breaches of court-imposed restrictions. The man was prohibited from attending his former partner's home under a three-year safety order granted in May 2023, which limited contact to email for child access matters. The complainant told the court that the man appeared at her property twice within a week, causing her to live in constant fear and lose trust in the legal system. Although the accused claimed he believed he had permission to attend on 13 September to drop off money, no email authorizing this was produced to the court. The judge noted the order's terms were unambiguous and found the woman's evidence credible. The defendant received a two-month suspended sentence, suspended for 12 months, on the condition that he stay away from the woman's home and fully comply with the safety order.
A former boarding supervisor at Ireland's only Irish-language boarding school has secured €12,000 in compensation after being let go when the school transitioned to day pupils only. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) upheld multiple statutory complaints by Antóin Ó Dúllaing against Gaelachas Teo, the school's patron. Ó Dúllaing worked as a supervisor at Choláiste an Phiarsaigh and Scoil na nÓg until the boarding facility closed in May 2024. He claimed he was not given notice of the closure or statutory redundancy, and was underpaid by €20,912.67 over nine years of service. He also alleged breaches of the National Minimum Wage Act, Organisation of Working Time Act, and other employment rights. Gaelachas Teo argued that Ó Dúllaing did not meet the 104 weeks' continuous service requirement for statutory redundancy and that supervisors were informed of the decision to suspend boarding services.
A jury of twelve, consisting of three men and nine women, is deliberating a verdict in the murder trial of Ryan Kearney, 39, who stabbed Jeffrey Jackson, 50, to death in a Co Kildare apartment on 8 February 2024. Kearney has pleaded not guilty, claiming he acted in self‑defence. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, instructed the jury to decide whether the killing was murder, manslaughter or a lawfully justified homicide. He explained that if the jury believes Kearney honestly believed he was defending himself and that the force used was reasonable, the verdict should be not guilty. If the force was deemed excessive, the verdict could be not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. If the defence of self‑defence is rejected, the jury must consider a partial defence of provocation. The jury is required to reach a unanimous verdict.
Faizal Akbar, a 61‑year‑old Pakistani man living on Benburb Street, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to fraudulently claiming €43,715 in social welfare payments between 2010 and 2019. He used a false Afghan passport to open a bank account, obtain an M10 form and apply to the Department of Social Protection, receiving the benefit under his own name. The passport also enabled him to travel to Pakistan to see his wife and children. When the passport expired, he reported the issue to his bank, which alerted the gardai. In 2023 he discovered he was actually entitled to the benefit and now receives it legitimately. The court noted he had no prior convictions, no wealth, and shared a room with three other adults. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a suspended two‑year sentence, suspended in full for four years on his own recognisance, stating the sentence would remain in effect for that period.
John O'Brien, a field sales rep for PrePayPower, claimed constructive dismissal after facing escalating abuse from customers amid record energy price inflation. He said he was forced to quit in late 2022 and early 2023 after encountering abusive, intoxicated, and physically threatening customers in Dublin. O'Brien reported incidents to his managers, who he said responded indifferently or hostilely, and that he was told to stop contacting them about minor incidents. He resigned in March 2023, citing mental health and loss of faith in the company. The Workplace Relations Commission rejected his claim, finding that while his managers' behaviour was unreasonable, it did not justify immediate resignation. The commission upheld a separate complaint under the Terms of Employment (Information) Act, ordering PrePayPower to pay €1,000 for breach of contract.
The High Court heard that Ryan Casey, partner of murdered teacher Ashling Murphy, has settled a defamation claim against the BBC over comments made about his victim impact statement during a 2023 live broadcast. Casey said he was "finally free" to speak again and to honour Ashling, while the BBC clarified it does not view him as a criminal or hateful figure. The settlement, reportedly a six‑figure sum, was reached without any court order. Casey's statement at the sentencing of Ashling's murderer, Josef Puska, had highlighted the victim's contributions and the perceived failure of the state to protect people. The case was struck out by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, ending the legal dispute. The settlement resolves the dispute between Casey and the broadcaster.
Patrick Kelly, 63, of Moneymore, Drogheda, County Louth, was arrested at Dublin Airport in January 2025 after customs officers noted his suspicious behaviour. A search of his luggage revealed just under 20 kg of cannabis, valued at about €398,680. Kelly admitted in a Garda interview that he had acted as a "suicide mission" and "complete madness", and pleaded guilty to importation of cannabis and possession for sale. He had minor prior traffic convictions and had been remanded since his arrest. Prosecutor Antonia Boyle said Kelly, who retired in November 2023, had been living "hand to mouth" on his pension and was depressed over not being able to buy Christmas presents for his two grandchildren. He claimed he was approached by someone who knew of his financial hardship and offered money to transport the drugs from Thailand.
Michael Cash, 33, of Ashlawn Park, Ballybrack, was found by Gardaí on a Luas track in Cherrywood carrying two golden hatchets and a large kitchen knife while riding an e‑scooter. He was wearing a balaclava and attempted to flee when officers arrived. Cash dropped one hatchet, which Gardaí recovered, and the other hatchet and knife were found concealed on his person. He pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of the hatchets. Cash has 116 prior convictions, including false imprisonment, assault, criminal damage and road traffic offences, and a history of alcohol and drug problems. The court noted his guilty pleas, cooperation with Gardaí, and his willingness to enter a custodial sentence. Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain imposed a three‑year sentence, with the final 12 months suspended for two years, and directed Cash to be placed under probation supervision for two years and to engage in a drug treatment programme.
A man in his 30s, whose name was not disclosed, was denied bail by the Dún Laoghaire District Court after being charged with armed robbery and possession of an offensive weapon. The robbery took place on 30 June at Centra in Sandyford Hall, where the suspect entered the store at about 8.45 pm, demanded money from a 21‑year‑old cashier while holding a kitchen knife, and fled on a bicycle with roughly €500 in cash. CCTV footage shows him cycling past a pharmacy in a black tracksuit and Nike runners, with his face visible. The next day, Gardaí stopped him near the scene, found €490 in a satchel and a Stanley knife, and later recovered a medium‑sized kitchen knife from his partner's residence. The court cited the seriousness of the charges, the strength of the evidence, and the risk of further offences or non‑appearance as reasons for denying bail.
A man aged 33 has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexually assaulting a teenage girl at a staff party in County Mayo in July 2020. The trial is taking place at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Eoin Garavan and an all-male jury. The complainant, now aged 21, gave evidence that she was 16 at the time and had consumed several bottles of cider during the event. She alleged the accused, whom she had not previously met, engaged in sexual contact with her in a bathroom and later in an alleyway without her consent. The woman told the court she objected to the contact and pushed the man away. The defendant faces two counts: sexual assault at the party premises on 14 to 15 July 2020, and defilement of a child under 17 at a separate address on 15 July 2020. He denies both charges. The trial is expected to continue for several days.
Gerry Norman, a 24-year-old abattoir worker from Ballina, Co Mayo, has been sentenced to four years imprisonment with the final two years suspended at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to one man and assault causing harm to another following an unprovoked attack in Diamond's carpark, Ballina on 19 December 2021. Judge Eoin Garavan described the incident as random and fuelled by alcohol and cocaine, noting that one victim sustained a skull fracture and brain bleed, resulting in permanent hearing loss and tinnitus. The judge acknowledged mitigating factors including Norman's lack of prior convictions, completion of an anger management course, and demonstrated commitment to addressing substance abuse. Norman has offered €15,000 in total compensation to the victims. He was ordered to keep the peace for two years upon release.
In March 2023, Liam Óg Lynch, an Irish Rail employee, took control of a gantry crane after a contractor's operator was denied permission to operate it. Lynch, who had been instructed not to use the crane, argued the load was unsafe and landed it to prevent further danger. The load collapsed, trapping a contractor's foot, which Lynch then rescued with a crowbar. Irish Rail's investigation deemed Lynch's actions a reckless violation, leading to a final written warning and subsequent dismissal under a temporary contract provision. Lynch's union claimed the investigation was inadequate and the dismissal unfair. The Workplace Relations Commission ruled the dismissal procedurally and substantively unfair, denied reinstatement, and awarded Lynch €12,000 in compensation for the unfair dismissal. The decision was published on 2 July 2025.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Ryan Kearney, aged 39, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jeffrey Jackson, 50, who was stabbed at The Lamps, Kilcock, on 8 February 2024. Kearney claimed he acted in self‑defence after a scuffle with Jackson, who he described as prone to rage and violence and whom he called a "complete lunatic." He said he had taken a knife from Jackson's partner and delivered "a few jabs" to the neck, believing the victim was dead, and that he had no intention to kill. The prosecution, represented by Brendan Grehan SC, argued that Kearney's account did not match the pathology evidence, noting that Jackson suffered 16 separate knife injuries, including a 17‑cm wound, and that the knife was "buried to the hilt." Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC countered that the pathologist's findings suggested the injuries could result from a dynamic struggle with momentum from both sides, and that Kearney's actions were a reasonable.
An on‑bail offender, Stephan Obelngoa, 24, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a fully suspended 12‑month term for assault causing harm, assault of a peace officer and resisting arrest. The offence occurred on 2 October 2023 at The Square, Tallaght, when Obelngoa dragged an 11‑year‑old visually impaired girl away from her mother, threw her into a concession stand, and spat blood and saliva at Garda officers who tried to restrain him. He was pepper‑sprayed and subdued by security guards before Garda arrival. The court noted Obelngoa had six prior convictions, was on bail, and had been unmedicated for six months, suffering from schizophrenia. Judge Ni Chulachain accepted the defendant's guilty plea and the victim's young age, imposed a 12‑month imprisonment term, but suspended it in full on strict conditions, citing a low risk of re‑offending under probation supervision.
The Court of Appeal has decided to refer the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions after Conor McGregor withdrew a motion to introduce alleged new evidence in his appeal against a civil jury's finding that he raped Nikita Hand. The withdrawal came after McGregor's lawyers cited difficulties with the admissibility of a report from a former Northern Ireland pathologist. Ms Hand's counsel argued that the motion was intended to undermine her client's reputation and that the new evidence was "all lies." The court will notify the parties of the documentation it intends to provide to the DPP. The decision comes while the court is also reserving judgment on McGregor's substantive appeal and a costs appeal involving James Lawrence, who was found not liable for assaulting Hand. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no verdict or sentencing yet announced.
Siddarth Thirunavukkarasu, a shop supervisor at Circle K's Belgard filling station in Tallaght, brought a complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998 alleging gender‑based harassment after his manager, Julita Howe, allegedly told him to "be a man" and forced him to supervise a homeless man cleaning a bathroom that had been contaminated with faeces. Thirunavukkarasu claimed he was made to watch the homeless man clean the toilet with bare hands, was threatened with Garda reporting if he did not comply, and was instructed to give the man gloves and a blue towel while holding the door open. He reported nausea and discomfort from the smell and refused to continue, but Howe allegedly replied "Come on, be a man." The Workplace Relations Commission found no evidence of discrimination or victimisation but accepted that the remark constituted harassment, ordering Circle K to pay €1,000 in compensation.
DJ Carey, a former hurling star aged 54, pleaded guilty on the morning of his trial to ten counts of defrauding people by falsely claiming to have cancer and needing money for treatment. The charges cover the period 2014‑2022 and involve 13 complainants, including Denis O'Brien and the Conway family. One count of dishonestly inducing a person to pay was struck out, leaving the remaining counts for sentencing. Carey's defence highlighted his genuine health problems, noting he underwent heart surgery last summer, and requested legal aid and a psychological report. Judge Patricia Ryan granted these requests, set a sentencing hearing for 29 October, and remanded Carey on bail until then. The case was to be heard without a jury, with the prosecution originally expecting about 28 witnesses. Carey is a celebrated former Kilkenny hurler who has won five All‑Ireland medals and served as a selector and U21 manager after retirement.
The trial at the Central Criminal Court involves a woman who denies that she imagined being raped by her uncle but admits she has struggled with memories and misidentified her age at some alleged incidents. She claims she was raped by her uncle on several occasions, including oral rape, and also alleges sexual assault by her mother and a family friend. The defendants—her uncle, her mother, and another man—face 21 counts of sexual assault and rape from 2000 to 2014, mainly at the family home. All three defendants plead not guilty. The woman gave direct evidence that she was about five‑and‑a‑half when her uncle first raped her, that she was eight at a later oral rape, and that she saw her mother and uncle engaging in sex when she was around six. She also testified that she was sexually assaulted by her mother multiple times and by a family friend.
Wayne Harte, 44, of Cloonmore Lawns, Tallaght, was found guilty of possessing a firearm and ammunition in his home on 8 November 2023. He claimed the gun was given to him by a third party for self‑defence after his shop and family were allegedly threatened. The court noted the weapon was "operative and lethal" and that Harte's explanation could not be verified by Gardaí. Harte had prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences, and was a carer for three children. Judge Martin Nolan, acknowledging the defensive claim and references in support of Harte, departed from the mandatory minimum of five years and imposed a five‑year suspended sentence, suspended in full under conditions. Harte thanked the judge during sentencing. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old pleaded guilty to three sexual offences against a nine‑year‑old foster child, including oral rape and two sexual assaults between June 2022 and August 2023. He admitted to habitual viewing of pornography on his phone and to having forced the child to perform oral sex on him on about ten occasions. The child, who had lived with the family for five years, was removed to her grandmother's care after the abuse was reported. The teenager expressed remorse and said he was sorry and ashamed. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed an 18‑month detention for the oral rape and a concurrent 12‑month detention for the other two offences, deferring the sentence until April 2025 to review the teenager's progress. The court noted the child's ongoing therapy and the impact on her family.
In the High Court, lawyers for Nikita Hand argued that the Director of Public Prosecutions should consider perjury proceedings after Conor McGregor withdrew his bid to introduce new evidence in his appeal of a civil jury's finding that he raped Ms Hand. The civil case, decided last year, awarded Ms Hand €248,000 in damages. McGregor's appeal team had planned to present sworn statements from neighbours Samantha O'Reilly and Steven Cummins, who claimed to have seen an assault. O'Reilly's affidavit suggested she witnessed a man push Ms Hand to the ground and then kick her, but Ms Hand has called the allegations "lies" and "vigorously" disputed them. The court allowed McGregor's withdrawal of the new evidence application, and the appeal will continue tomorrow. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no further decisions yet.
A 46-year-old man has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment following a deliberate fire at a house in Shankill, Dublin in December 2024. Jason Flynn of Longford House, Spencer Dock, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to arson at the address on 5 December 2024 and possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 23 December 2024. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Flynn travelled over 19 kilometres to set fire to a car and Christmas wreath at the family home in the early hours, knowing a family of five was inside. A neighbour's alert enabled their escape. The court was told this was the second fire Flynn had caused at the property; he had previously set a fire there in 2001 after being evicted from the adjacent house, which he then occupied. Judge Martin Nolan noted Flynn acted with malice and forethought, stating that had the family not been alerted, fire could have entered the home with potentially fatal consequences. Flynn has 19 previous convictions including arson and assault causing serious harm.
Caithlin Balmer, 26, voluntarily reported herself to Gardaí after engaging with a Snapchat user who offered her "quick cash" and asked her to allow the man to use her bank account. She pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing proceeds of criminal conduct totalling €21,400, with €16,409 transferred or withdrawn from the victim's account. Balmer admitted she withdrew some funds and handed cash to the man, who paid her €175. She claimed no role in gathering victim information or taking money from the account. The court accepted her pleas on the basis of recklessness, noting her remorse and cooperation. Judge Pauline Codd set a headline sentence of two and a half years, then imposed a 12‑month sentence suspended in full on strict conditions, citing her genuine remorse and employment as a nursing care assistant. The sentence reflected her being "highly naïve" and "highly reckless" in the offence.
A shop worker, Artur Czopek, who claimed he faced racial discrimination after being excluded from workplace gift collections for birthdays and significant events, has lost his case. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) rejected his complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998 against TJX Ireland Unlimited, which operates as TK Maxx. Czopek, a Polish part-time sales assistant in Newbridge, Co Kildare, alleged that an assistant manager only selected Irish employees for the collections, excluding non-Irish workers. He stated that after complaining to the store manager, Scott Cooper, in 2024, the practice continued. The tribunal heard that the collections were for milestone birthdays and work anniversaries, and that non-Irish employees, including a Latvian, Polish, and Russian worker, had received gifts. Adjudicator Bríd Deering found that the evidence did not support claims of racial discrimination, noting that beneficiaries included various nationalities and that Czopek's complaints lacked sufficient evidence.
In a murder trial, Brendan Grehan SC for the Director of Public Prosecutions argued that Ryan Kearney, 39, had stabbed Jeffrey Jackson, 50, with a knife that was "buried to the hilt" and that the injuries described by Kearney as "a few jabs to the stomach" did not match the pathology evidence. Grehan cited State Pathologist Dr Sally Anne Collis, who identified 16 sharp‑force injuries, 15 of which were stab wounds, including a 17 cm wound to the chest. He claimed the evidence contradicted Kearney's account of a self‑defence encounter and that the knife had penetrated deeply, indicating intent to kill. Grehan urged the jury to find Kearney guilty of murder, while defence counsel Michael Bowman SC challenged the prosecution's description of the knife's use. The trial is set to continue tomorrow. Ryan Kearney pleaded not guilty.
Jason Hughes, aged 21, pleaded guilty to arson at Pairc Na Greine, Tallaght, on 9 December 2022, for which he received an eight‑and‑a‑half‑year custodial sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 27 October 2023. The court found that the fire, set on the balcony of an apartment complex, caused €80‑90 000 in damage and left the occupants, including Hughes's estranged father, with nothing. Hughes was 19 at the time of the offence and had a history of chaotic life, ADHD, suicide attempts and drug activity. He appealed, arguing that part of the sentence should have been suspended to encourage rehabilitation, citing his personal circumstances and the psychological report. The Court of Appeal will decide at a later date. The appeal was heard by defence counsel Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC and represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Aoife McNickle BL. The case remains pending.
A Spanish tourist, aged 19 at the time, was raped in Dublin city centre on New Year's Eve 2019. The victim, who has since expressed a desire to meet her attacker in a safe space, said she wants to confront him about his cruelty and to see him acknowledge his wrongdoing. Christopher O'Grady, 33, was found guilty of one count of rape in March 2025. He has 65 prior convictions and was homeless during the offence. The victim's impact statement described lasting trauma, including loss of confidence, fear of walking alone at night, and hypervigilance. O'Grady has admitted guilt and wishes to apologise. Both parties have agreed to consider restorative justice, but the court noted that this does not preclude a custodial sentence. The case was adjourned to July 24 for the prosecution to investigate the restorative justice option. The trial also covered the victim's subsequent encounter with a second man, who was not charged.
A bilingual barrister assisted proceedings at the Special Criminal Court today after an interpreter experienced difficulty during his first court appearance. The Spanish-language interpreter, who has worked in hospital settings but not previously in a courtroom, became anxious while translating for defendants charged in connection with an alleged drug importation conspiracy. Defence counsel Cathal McGreal BL, noting the translation issues, offered support, and the interpreter subsequently continued with the day's business of scheduling matters. Six men require trial dates in the case, including Sean Curran, aged 37, with an address at Carrickyheenan, Aughnacloy, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. Ten men in total, from Ireland, Spain, Serbia, and the Netherlands, are charged with conspiracy to import controlled drugs valued in excess of €13,000 between late February and mid-March 2024. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor adjourned matters to July 21 for trial date setting, with further mentions scheduled for July 7.
In a tribunal hearing, the Workplace Relations Commission ruled that Free Now Ireland Ltd could not be held liable for the conduct of a taxi driver who allegedly spat at passenger Amit Chawla on 17 March 2024 at Heuston Station. Chawla, an Irish citizen of Indian origin who uses a walking stick, claimed the driver made discriminatory remarks about his race, disability and sexual orientation, and refused service. The driver reportedly identified Chawla by his walking stick, asked if he was Indian, made comments about his sexuality, and after hanging up shouted further remarks before spitting. Free Now's lawyers argued the company had no responsibility for self‑employed drivers, citing the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. The tribunal found Free Now had no control over the driver and that vicarious liability did not arise, rejecting the complaint as fundamentally flawed. The company had only provided a booking and payment platform. The decision was delivered by adjudication officer Maire Mulcahy.
A man from Castlebar has pleaded guilty to sharing intimate images of a woman without her consent on two separate occasions. Daniel Humphreys, aged 38 and residing on McHale Road, admitted the offences at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court, which fall under legislation commonly known as Coco's Law. The incidents occurred on October 6, 2021 and around June 1, 2022. Humphreys also pleaded guilty to harassment of the same woman spanning from February 11, 2021 to June 1, 2022 across various locations. He has no previous convictions. Judge Eoin Garavan ordered both psychological and probation reports to assist in sentencing. The case has been adjourned, with a sentence hearing scheduled for October 21.
Bernard McDonagh, aged 30, of Gortnafolla, Turlough, Castlebar, has affirmed guilty pleas to five charges at Castlebar Circuit Court. The charges arise from incidents on November 11 last year at various locations in Castlebar. McDonagh admitted assaulting a garda and another man at Tesco, Knockacroghery. He also pleaded guilty to theft of a bottle of gin valued at €35 and clothing worth €420 from TK Maxx. A further charge concerned criminal damage to a vehicle wing mirror in an Aldi carpark. McDonagh, currently on an enhanced regime in custody, was remanded pending sentencing on July 22. Judge Eoin Garavan directed that probation and governor's reports be prepared for the hearing.
A 33-year-old man from County Mayo has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault and child defilement at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court. He denies sexually assaulting a female at a county address between 14 and 15 July 2020, and separately denies defiling a child under 17 at another location on 15 July 2020. The defence indicated the alleged incidents occurred at a work or office gathering. A jury of twelve was sworn in by Judge Eoin Garavan, with the trial expected to conclude within three days.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 39‑year‑old Garda Shane Flanagan pleaded guilty to inciting two men to rape a woman and to six counts of endangerment for impersonating her on FetLife.com and Facebook, inviting violence against her and her two teenage daughters between 2018 and 2020. He also pleaded guilty to possession of four images of child sexual abuse material. The victim, who had no romantic or sexual history with Flanagan, described the impersonation as a calculated, predatory act that left her lifelong scars. Flanagan, who had been suspended in 2021 and retired in March 2024, was remanded in custody for finalisation of sentence. The court heard extensive evidence, including over 2,000 screenshots, 219 doctored images, and the victim's address and personal details shared by Flanagan. The case highlighted the breach of trust by a fellow Garda and the severe impact on the victim's safety and mental health.
A 43-year-old man was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for raping his estranged wife at their Tipperary home. The defendant, who pleaded not guilty to two charges of rape alleged to have occurred in April and May 2022, was convicted by a jury on one count. The jury failed to reach a verdict on the first incident, and the Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi, meaning that charge will not be tried again. Mr Justice Paul Burns imposed a sentence of seven years, with the final year suspended for three years. The court heard that the victim, who had been married to the accused since 2010, used a rolling pin to fight him off during the May 2022 incident. The judge noted the accused had broken trust by taking advantage of the victim while she was asleep in her own bed, citing their prior relationship as an aggravating factor. Mitigating factors included the defendant's lack of prior convictions, work history, cooperation with gardaí, and status as a good father. The victim's impact statement described severe mental and financial distress, including PTSD and an inability to work. Defence counsel noted the client did not accept the verdict but had been cooperative during the investigation.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 30 June 2025, Cristian Topiter, aged 39, pleaded guilty to the theft of a mobile phone and a suitcase from a Ukrainian woman in Smithfield Square, two hours after he had set fire to St Michan's Church. The arson, for which he was jailed for six years in February, destroyed two mummified bodies, including an 800‑year‑old Crusader, and caused a financial crisis for the parish. The court heard that the stolen phone was never recovered, while the suitcase, found at Topiter's address, remained unopened. Topiter claimed no memory of the incident and offered apologies to the victim, who has since returned to Ukraine. Judge Pauline Codd, noting his trauma and progress in prison, imposed a one‑year term to run concurrently with his existing sentence for the arson, and declined to add any further time for the theft.
A migrant worker has vowed to appeal after the Workplace Relations Commission dismissed his discrimination complaint against the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding the Local Authority Home Loan Scheme. Aloke Tirawy alleged he faced unlawful discrimination based on his non-EU nationality when Mayo County Council and Meath County Council rejected three mortgage applications in 2024. Though Mr Tirawy met eligibility criteria including a five-year residency requirement, the Housing Agency declined his applications citing a 2023 credit policy not publicly available. Adjudicator Brian Dolan ruled the complaint was misdirected, finding the local authorities rather than the Housing Agency were the service providers and therefore the proper respondents. Mr Dolan expressed sympathy with arguments that the Department's approach fragmented accountability, but concluded the complaints were not well-founded on procedural grounds. Mr Tirawy's solicitor has indicated an intention to pursue the matter further through the courts.
Conal Sheridan, aged 32, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to multiple counts of sexual assault, oral rape and defilement of a girl aged nine to sixteen between 2004 and 2011. The abuse began with inappropriate touching and escalated to digital penetration, oral rape, and grooming, including sending pornography. Sheridan's four prior convictions were for minor road traffic and drug offences. The victim, who remained anonymous, testified that the abuse destroyed her life, leading to overdose attempts, self‑harm, drug and alcohol problems, severe mental health issues and complex PTSD. Sheridan's plea of mitigation highlighted his early fatherhood and employment history. Judge Paul McDermott imposed a concurrent seven‑year prison term, suspended the final 18 months for two years on strict conditions, and ordered Sheridan to have no contact with the victim. The sentence reflects the prolonged, repeated nature of the offences and the significant harm caused.
Michelle Murray, a client services manager at Cagney Maintenance Service Ltd, was dismissed in August 2024 after an investigation found her training record fraudulent. The investigation was triggered when a cleaner, Sylvia Sanchez, arrived at a Dublin site with blue dye in her hair, contrary to a dress‑code policy. Murray had warned Sanchez that the dye was not allowed, leading to Sanchez's resignation. Murray claimed she had not falsified any documents and that the alleged training record had been forged. An HR officer's investigation revealed "clear fraudulent information" in Sanchez's record. The Workplace Relations Commission found the dismissal reasonable but unfair because Murray was denied the right to cross‑examine her accusers. The tribunal awarded her €10,000 in compensation, including €5,580 for unfair dismissal and €4,500 for a breach of the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994. No further claims were upheld.
In the Central Criminal Court, a woman accused her mother, an uncle and another man of raping and sexually assaulting her between 2000 and 2014. She denied that friends influenced her to report the allegations to the gardai. During cross‑examination she confirmed that her mother had abused her, including at a family holiday home when she was four, and that she had been raped by her uncle when she was about five and a half. She also testified that her mother and uncle had sex while she was present at age six, and that she had been orally raped by a man in his 50s at age 13. The defendants, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to all 21 counts of sexual assault and rape. The case is still before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
During the trial, Gardaí questioned Ryan Kearney, 39, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jeffrey Jackson, 50, at The Lamps, Kilcock, on 8 February 2024. Kearney claimed he stabbed Jackson in self‑defence after a scuffle, stating he had no intention to kill and was afraid for his life. He said he had taken a knife from Jackson's partner, stabbed him in the neck, and later stabbed him again when Jackson attacked him. Gardaí noted that Kearney's account was inconsistent: he admitted to stabbing Jackson in the back, washing the knife, and cleaning his hands, yet the prosecution's evidence showed 16 separate knife wounds, including one 17 cm deep, and Jackson was over eight times the legal drink‑driving limit. Kearney also admitted to fabricating parts of his story, including claims of intruders in the apartment. The prosecution's evidence was presented, and the trial was set to continue tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury.
Sumod George Sam, 45, pleaded guilty at Tallaght District Court to being in charge of a vehicle while exceeding the legal breath alcohol limit. The court heard that on August 9, 2023, Garda Dylan O'Malley found Sam asleep at the wheel of a white Honda Insight on Greenhills Road, Dublin 12, with the engine running and an empty vodka bottle in the passenger seat. A subsequent breath analysis recorded 99 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath. Sam, who resides in Terenure, Dublin 6, had a previous drink-driving conviction and was already serving a three-year disqualification imposed in May 2024. Defence counsel Lauren Flanagan BL described the incident as an act of "stupidity" while Sam was "partying with friends," noting his remorse and willingness to undertake a driver awareness course. Judge Patricia McNamara described the alcohol level as "extremely dangerous." The court convicted Sam and imposed a five-year driving disqualification, effectively extending his existing ban by three years. Additionally, a four-month prison sentence was imposed, suspended for two years on Sam's own bond of €400. Conditions require him not to drive or be in control of a vehicle and to remain of sober habits. Sam had already surrendered his licence to Blanchardstown Garda Station.
The High Court lifted an anonymity order, allowing Trinity College Dublin and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland to be named in a legal action by a pharmaceutical student who was found to have plagiarised a colleague's work. The student, who remains anonymous, had previously faced two findings of plagiarism and was not placed before a fitness‑to‑practice committee. He is now pursuing action against the Provost, Fellows and Scholars of Trinity College and the Society. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Garrett Simons, allowed the naming of the respondents but upheld the student's anonymity. The student, in his 20s and two exams from qualification, argues that the fitness‑to‑practice review is unfair for a student and that his academic errors were unintentional. The matter is adjourned to 20 October. The student's legal team maintains that the university's policy treats plagiarism under disciplinary regulations, not fitness‑to‑practice.
Wayne Judge, 33, a repeat offender with 123 prior convictions, had his five‑month custodial sentence for criminal damage on July 28 2023 replaced by a fully suspended ten‑month term on appeal. Judge had previously pleaded guilty in the District Court to five counts of criminal damage, one count of theft, one of trespassing and one of public intoxication. The offences involved smashing windows of an Audi, a Renault Kadjar, a Toyota and a second Toyota, and stealing a pair of Ray‑Ban sunglasses. The incidents occurred on Hampton Wood Court, Mayeston Rise and Hampton Wood Road in Finglas, and a taxi in Dubbercoss. Judge's sentence was made consecutive to a two‑year custodial term he is currently serving for another matter. The appeal court, after hearing the case, imposed a ten‑month suspended sentence to be supervised by the probation service for two years.
A 19‑year‑old, who was 17 when he first appeared before the courts, pleaded guilty to murdering 43‑year‑old Aaron Keating on 13 June 2023. The defendant began using drugs at 12 and had a history of medical and educational disengagement. He stabbed Keating with a knife hidden behind a bin on Main Street, Ongar, Dublin 15, after a brief confrontation that lasted about five seconds. Keating died from a single stab wound that severed his aorta. The court noted the defendant is at high risk of reoffending without support interventions. He will not face a mandatory life sentence because he was a child when the murder was committed, and sentencing is adjourned to 7 July 2025. The case highlights the defendant's drug use, prior disciplinary issues in custody, and the family's profound grief.
The former Ireland hockey international Catriona Carey, aged 47, faces a money‑laundering trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court scheduled for 27 January 2027. She is charged with three offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010, one each in 2019, 2020 and 2021, for allegedly converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using proceeds of crime. The alleged proceeds were held in a bank account in the name of Careysfort Asset Estates Ltd at Wise Europe SA. Carey's barrister, Kevin Roche BL, requested a trial date and indicated the trial would last four to six weeks. Judge Orla Crowe set the trial date and bailed Carey to that date. Two co‑accused, John Steadmond (48) and Paddy Maher (57), were also before the court, each charged with 17 related offences, including unlawful solicitor activity and false representation to induce deposits.
A 25‑year‑old sportsman, Calvin Dunne, was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison for the manslaughter of Dylan McCarthy, 29, who died after being assaulted during a melee outside a Kildare pub in August 2022. The judge found that Dunne had delivered a one‑stride kick to McCarthy's head, which caused a traumatic head injury and spinal injury. Dunne had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter but withdrew the plea; he was later found guilty of both manslaughter and violent disorder. The sentence was reduced by 25 % from a headline of nine years, with the final six months suspended for 12 months. A co‑accused, Sean Kavanagh, 27, received a two‑year‑six‑month sentence for assault causing harm, with four months suspended for 12 months. Both defendants were found not guilty of murder. The court noted the impact on the McCarthy family and the defendants' low risk of reoffending.