A 74‑year‑old man was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for sexually assaulting his nephew, who was six at the time, in December 1991. The abuse occurred in three separate incidents on the same night, in the toilet and TV room, when the man placed his hand on the boy's penis and forced the boy to touch him. The victim disclosed the abuse to his mother that day, and the family contacted authorities. The boy later attended St Louise's Unit in Crumlin Hospital, where records and social‑worker transcripts were read at trial. The accused, who cannot be named to protect the victim's identity, denied the allegations but accepted the jury's verdict. Judge Elva Duffy imposed the custodial sentence after arranging a health plan to meet the defendant's complex medical needs. The victim's impact statement described 34 years of trauma and the relief of the guilty verdict. The unnamed 74-year-old was convicted.
A 27-year-old man from County Galway has brought an appeal against his five-year sentence for money laundering, contending the term was disproportionate. Brian Cummins, Balgaddy Road, Tuam, pleaded guilty to money laundering contrary to the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. He was sentenced to seven years with the final two suspended at Galway Circuit Court in July 2024. The Court of Appeal heard that Cummins had connections to organised crime figure Barry Young, who was convicted of directing a criminal organisation. Cummins facilitated a €1,000 transfer to an account nominated by Young following criminal damage to a house in Tuam in October 2019. Defence counsel argued the sentence was excessive given the modest sum involved and Cummins' limited involvement with the criminal enterprise. The Director of Public Prosecutions opposed the appeal, stating the judge had exercised proper discretion. Justice Tara Burns indicated judgment would be reserved until 14 July.
An 85‑year‑old former principal of St Augustine's School, Aidan Clohessy, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment after being convicted of 19 counts of indecent assault against six boys aged 10 to 13. The offences, which took place between 1969 and 1986, involved inappropriate touching and were described by the judge as "atrocities at night time". Clohessy, who served as principal from the early 1970s until 1993, was found guilty in two separate trials at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. In the first trial he received 14 counts of indecent assault, and in the second he received five counts. He was acquitted of three further counts. Victim impact statements highlighted lasting mental health, educational and employment effects. Clohessy denied wrongdoing and acknowledged corporal punishment used at the school. He will not appeal the verdicts. The sentence was imposed with consideration of his age and health.
In a High Court hearing, the State applied for a stay on a December order that quashed the use of a statutory instrument to fast-track the development of a refugee facility at Lissywollen, Athlone. The applicant, Independent Ireland Westmeath Councillor Paul Hogan, had previously secured a finding that the expedited development was unlawful due to inadequate environmental screening and a lack of ministerial expertise. Hogan alleged the process was unlawful, irrational, and breached fair procedures. The State's counsel, Aoife Carroll SC, argued that closing the facility posed a serious risk to the dignity and safety of asylum seekers, noting that 137 residents remained. She described the conceded breach as procedural rather than substantial and stated that corrective legislation was imminent. Counsel for Hogan, Oisín Collins SC, countered that the State should use existing planning laws and enforcement notices rather than seeking a stay. Justice Emily Farrell heard the arguments and adjourned the matter, indicating she would deliver her judgment on the stay application on Wednesday.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing in Limerick, Thomas "Tossy" Nyhan, a 60‑year‑old married farmer from Crookstown, Co Cork, was convicted of two counts of rape. The victim, who had been raped by Nyhan in January 2011 and again in April 2019, delivered a victim impact statement in which he described the assaults as "cold, calculated and violent." He said he had told Nyhan about his trauma and vulnerabilities, and that Nyhan had used references to his children to manipulate him. The victim reported feeling constantly anxious, "trapped" and "a ghost" of his former self. He urged the court to impose a sentence that reflected the impact of the rapes and thanked those who had supported him. Justice Mary Ellen Ring revoked Nyhan's bail, remanded him in custody and postponed sentencing to 21 July 2025. Nyhan denied the allegations and his lawyer maintained his innocence. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
An asylum seeker, Omar Haddouche, aged 25, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for violent disorder after he joined others in stamping on a stranger's head during a melee on Dublin's O'Connell Street. The incident began when a group of men, including Haddouche, collided with another group outside the Savoy Cinema. A fight erupted, involving punches, kicks and the use of a belt wrapped around a fist. Haddouche and an accomplice stamped on the victim's head while he was on the ground, causing severe injury that left him with 75 % loss of sight in one eye. The incident lasted about 60 seconds and was captured on CCTV. Haddouche pleaded guilty, admitted his behaviour was unacceptable, and the judge described the violence as "inherently serious." The court imposed a custodial sentence, with no mention of a suspended portion.
In a trial held in Kilcock, a woman named Breda Kearney testified that her nephew, Ryan Kearney, returned from a shop with blood on his hands and claimed he had stabbed her partner, Jeffrey Jackson, in the neck. Kearney described how she had gone to the shop after Ryan's arrival, then returned to find him standing in the hallway with blood on his hands. She reported that Ryan told her he had stabbed Jackson and thought he was dead. Kearney then found Jackson lying on a couch with blood spilling from his nose and mouth, and a wound on his abdomen. She attempted to call emergency services while trying to stop the bleeding. The prosecution argued that the evidence of 16 knife injuries did not align with Kearney's account of a self‑defence attack. The case is set to continue before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury. Ryan Kearney pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on an appeal by an unnamed 54-year-old woman, with the decision scheduled for July 14. The State has indicated it will not oppose the bid to quash her conviction and will not seek a retrial. The appellant was convicted in July 2024 of four counts of sexual assault against three disabled sons and one count of child neglect. She was sentenced to eight years in prison, with the final two years suspended, by Judge Catherine Staines at Clonmel Circuit Court on December 17, 2024. She remains on bail pending this appeal. Defence counsel argued that the sole evidence against her—admissions made to a psychologist during five days of interviews, including polygraph tests—was not voluntary and may have resulted from inducements. The trial judge had previously expressed serious concerns about the admissibility of these admissions but felt bound by a Supreme Court ruling that upheld their use. The DPP stated that while the Supreme Court's judgment was emphatic, the impact on admissibility in this specific setting is difficult to assess. The court, comprising Ms Justice Tara Burns, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore, and Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, heard the submissions and will deliver its ruling on the validity of the conviction on July 14.
Jordan Lanigan, 25, of Darndale, Dublin 17, had his conviction for driving under the influence of drugs overturned on appeal. The appellant had pleaded not guilty to the charge in the District Court, where he was subsequently convicted and sentenced to a one-year driving disqualification and a €300 fine. At the District Court Appeals Court, Judge Jonathan Dunphy allowed the appeal, finding that the prosecuting garda's evidence was insufficient to prove the roadside drug test was completed. Garda Fergal McSharry testified that he stopped Lanigan on Clonshaugh Road on March 4, 2019, smelled cannabis, and administered a Drager oral test which returned a positive result. However, the judge noted that the garda only stated he handed the test to Lanigan and that Lanigan handed it back, without providing direct evidence that Lanigan actually placed the device in his mouth or completed the required procedure. The judge ruled that this was an essential element of the procedure and could not be inferred, noting the test may have been refused or returned uncompleted. Consequently, the conviction was quashed, and the matter was not finalised with a new sentence but rather resulted in the overturning of the original District Court finding.
Two drug dealers, Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24), were sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 22‑year‑old footballer Mahamud Ilyas. The court heard that the pair beat Ilyas in an apartment in Blanchardstown, stamped on him, kicked him, and struck his head with a hammer. They tied his hands and feet, wrapped him in a duvet and drove him to a wooded area at Belgree Lane, Co. Meath, where they left him to die. The judge described the killers' conduct as "massive loss of control" and "callous". Ilyas's mother, Muna Ali, spoke of her son's promise and the pain of his death. The sentencing followed a unanimous jury conviction of murder. The case also involved co‑accused Robert Burns and Lorenzo Cantaragiu, who pleaded guilty to impeding the arrest or prosecution of the killers.
In a decision by the Workplace Relations Commission, a video‑technology company was ordered to pay a salesman €27,429 in wages that had been illegally withheld. The salesman, who joined the firm in April 2023 on a €75,000 base salary and up to €55,000 commission, resigned in August 2024. He claimed that his wages were repeatedly unpaid or partially paid from November 2023 through June 2024, and that he was promised payment that never materialised. He presented emails and WhatsApp messages from senior executives confirming the amounts owed. The company had paid two months' wages after a loan in August 2024 but failed to settle the remaining balance. The WRC found the company had made an illegal deduction and directed it to pay the full amount under the Payment of Wages Act 1991. The decision anonymised the parties to encourage a swift resolution without publicity.
Gardai failed to revoke a man's bail after a judge heard he strongly denies breaching a protection order. The man, whose identity is withheld to protect the injured party, is accused of appearing at the building where his former partner works and where their child's crèche is located on June 6, the same day he had appeared before Tallaght District Court on a breach of a protection order and was granted bail. Garda Catherine Conroy alleged the man was captured on CCTV entering the building at 1 pm and was escorted out by another man, and that the injured party saw him and fled in fear, though no verbal exchange occurred. Conroy applied to revoke bail under the O'Callaghan principles, citing concerns that the man might continue to intimidate or interfere with the injured party. The court heard that Gardaí had tried to contact the accused in the two weeks after the alleged breach but received no response.
Michael Uhrovic, 46, of Landsdale Lawns, Tallaght, was stopped by gardaí on 25 September 2023 at Catherine Tynan Road for driving without a licence or insurance. He pleaded guilty. The Tallaght District Court noted he had 12 prior convictions, including several road‑traffic offences, and had been disqualified from driving for four years in 2018 and again for ten years in 2020. Judge Patricia McNamara convicted him of driving without insurance, disqualified him for a further five years, and imposed a €600 fine payable within five months. He received a five‑month custodial sentence, suspended for two years on a €200 bond, with a warning that a repeat offence would activate the sentence. The case was heard under sections 38(1) and 38(5)(a)(i) of the Road Traffic Act 1961, as amended, and sections 56(1) and (3) of the same Act.
Eddie Irwin, a senior adviser to John Magnier, has denied being kept in the loop regarding the tax affairs of the Barne Estate, which Magnier sought to purchase. Irwin, who has worked with Magnier for 40 years, rejected being described as the billionaire's 'fixer' or 'right-hand man'. He stated that Coolmore Stud, which Magnier founded, does not use such titles. The case involves Magnier's claim that Maurice Regan, a US-based construction magnate, outbid him for the 751-acre estate in Tipperary. Irwin said he was contacted by the Thomson-Moore family, who own the estate through a Jersey trust, to provide tax advice. He claimed that a KPMG tax expert was consulted, but he did not attend the meeting. Irwin denied that he received an 'off-the-record' report from the expert, as alleged by counsel. He also expressed concerns that the tax issue raised by the Thomson-Moores was brought up just before the end of an exclusivity agreement.
A 89‑year‑old Tipperary man, Sid Green, was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment, with the final five years suspended, for 22 counts of rape and one count of sexual assault of a child committed between 1993 and 1998. The victim, who remains unnamed, testified that the abuse began when she was seven and continued until she was about twelve, describing lasting emotional and psychological damage. Green, who has no prior convictions and is now in a nursing home in Offaly, was found guilty at the Central Criminal Court in Tullamore. The judge, Mr Justice Patrick McGrath, noted Green's advanced age and medical difficulties, including limited mobility and the need for nursing care, as mitigating factors. The sentence will take effect from 10 July 2025, with the prison service prepared to accommodate Green's medical needs. The victim praised her resilience and the support she received from her husband and family.
Patrick Berry, 40, of Ballyfermot, Dublin, was sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for theft. He pleaded guilty to stealing 12 electric scooters, valued at €7,780, from a storage unit at a business park in Ballymount on November 16, 2020. The scooters have not been recovered. Judge Orla Crowe described the offence as "opportunistic," noting it occurred during the pandemic when the area was quiet. The judge highlighted that the theft nearly caused the collapse of the victim's new business, causing significant stress. Aggravating factors included Berry's 30 previous convictions, eight for theft, and the value of the goods. Mitigation included his addiction issues, which he is addressing, and a €3,200 payment offered by his parents as a token of remorse. Judge Crowe imposed a sentence of two years and six months, which was suspended for four years on strict conditions, including remaining drug-free. The court directed that the €3,200 be paid to the injured party's company. The judge stated the court wished to "give this man a chance."
Joseph Kelly, 71, lost an appeal against a six‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence for smuggling €1.8 million worth of cannabis across the border in a transit van. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale on 16 April 2019 and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan on 11 March 2024. Gardaí stopped him on the N4 after receiving confidential information about a white Ford transit used to move cannabis. They found 19 white nylon sacks containing vacuum‑packed cannabis herb valued at €1,877,160. Kelly had driven the vehicle to Lisburn before returning via the M1, M50 and N4. He was evicted, living in subsidised accommodation, and had a gambling problem that led to debts. Defence counsel argued the sentence was excessive and that part of the term should have been suspended to encourage rehabilitation.
Deirdre Arnold, a former HSE addiction counsellor, pleaded not guilty to two counts of impeding the prosecution of Brian McHugh and perverting the course of public justice. A jury found her guilty of assisting McHugh, who was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment on March 10 for murdering Lisa Thompson. The court heard that Arnold drove McHugh to the crime scene, waited outside, and helped him evade arrest by checking him into a hotel and allowing her Hyundai Tucson to be used to dispose of evidence. Defence counsel Patrick Gageby SC argued that Arnold acted under fear of abuse and had become addicted to heroin and crack cocaine after meeting McHugh. He noted she has resigned from her state job and is the sole financial support for her three children. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath remanded Arnold on continuing bail until July 4, when she will be sentenced. Victim impact statements highlighted the lasting trauma on Thompson's family, with her daughter stating that Arnold's actions silenced her mother's voice forever.
In a Dublin shopping centre, 24‑year‑old Stephan Obelngoa, who was on bail, dragged an 11‑year‑old visually impaired girl away from her mother and brother. The mother, who was walking with her family, saw the boy, who was topless, and tried to avoid him. She then noticed her daughter had vanished from her peripheral vision and turned to find the child being dragged by Obelngoa. The girl screamed, cried and struggled; Obelngoa threw her into a concession stand. Two security guards subdued him, and when Gardaí arrived he shouted, spat a mixture of blood and saliva, and tried to bite them as they attempted to cuff him. The girl was examined the next day, suffering minor spinal tenderness and abrasions, and reported extreme anxiety and trouble sleeping in public places thereafter. Stephan Obelngoa pleaded guilty.
Gary Coffey, 37, was found guilty by a jury of one count of anal rape and one count of sexual assault after a Central Criminal Court trial in March 2025. The offence occurred at Coffey's home in Dublin, where the victim had been invited and had consented to vaginal sex but repeatedly refused anal sex. Coffey persisted, eventually inserting a finger and then raping her anally. The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, reported the assault to gardaí and was taken to a sexual assault treatment unit. Coffey was sentenced to a headline term of seven years, reduced to six years, with the final nine months suspended. He must be supervised by the Probation Service for 12 months after release. The court noted that consent can be withdrawn and that Coffey had no legal consent to perform anal sex. The case also revealed Coffey's prior convictions and possession of tasers and cannabis.
In a 2025 decision, the Workplace Relations Commission dismissed a complaint that a supermarket had discriminated against two Traveller children who tried to pay €68 in loose change. The father alleged the cashier refused service because of their Traveller identity. The WRC found the claim "not well founded." The cashier testified that she scanned the purchases, counted €26.80 in coins, and asked the children if they had larger coins or notes, citing a busy queue. She said she was not refusing payment but seeking a more convenient method. The supermarket owner intervened, offering the father options to count coins or use batches, but the father left. The WRC noted that no law requires a cashier to accept more than 50 coins in a single transaction and that the cashier's request was reasonable. The complaint was dismissed.
Two men previously charged with the attempted murder of Anthony Dinnegan in Mullingar have pleaded guilty to lesser offences at the Central Criminal Court. Christopher Nevin (31) and Michael Nevin (40) appeared before Mr Justice David Keane regarding incidents on August 2, 2024, at Austin Friars Street. Michael Nevin entered a guilty plea to causing serious harm, while Christopher Nevin pleaded guilty to violent disorder. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Fiona Murphy SC, indicated that nolle prosequi could be entered for the original attempted murder charges. Defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC requested governor's, educational, and counsellor reports for Michael Nevin, while Christina Burke BL asked for a probation report for Christopher Nevin. The court directed the preparation of these reports and set a sentence hearing for October 13. Both men were remanded on continuing bail to that date.
Alan Vial and Nikita Burns, convicted of murdering Robert Wilkin near Sliabh Liag in County Donegal, have been denied legal aid for a third senior barrister to represent them in their Court of Appeal bid to overturn their convictions. Mr Justice John Edwards ruled that legal aid would cover two counsel per defendant, stating he must have regard to public resources. Vial, aged 39, from Killybegs, and Burns, aged 23, from Carrick, were found guilty by Central Criminal Court jury in March of murdering the 66-year-old on 25 June 2023. Mr Wilkin's body was recovered from the sea below the cliffs eight days after he was thrown over. The judge noted that appeal hearings are shorter than trials, do not involve live evidence, and are typically presented by a single barrister. The prosecution informed the court it would not seek three counsel for its case. Burns's application to extend her appeal deadline was granted.
The Central Criminal Court heard that a series of fights ended with Joseph Lawlor (39) stabbing Michael Ryan (51) in the neck, cutting his carotid artery and killing him. The prosecution presented a 17‑second CCTV clip showing the fatal blow. Both men had been drinking heavily together before the altercations, which were the third physical encounter that night. The first fight began at about 8.30 pm and was captured on CCTV and by a neighbour's mobile phone; a witness said the younger man knocked the older man to the ground. After Garda intervention, three more men joined the pair, and a second fight broke out at about 9.30 pm, again recorded on CCTV and by neighbours. Lawlor was heard calling Ryan a "rat" and threatening to stab him, but later said he would not. Ryan was arrested for drunken driving at 9.50 pm, returned to the house after midnight, and was again captured on CCTV. Joseph Lawlor pleaded not guilty.
A 40‑year‑old man was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, after pleading guilty to threatening to kill and rape the mother of his children and assaulting her in front of their two younger children. The court heard that the couple had been together for 11 years and had three children, but the relationship ended eight years before the offences. On 1 April 2022, a dispute over money led the defendant to send a series of threatening WhatsApp voice notes, including threats to "bounce a kettle bell off her head" and to rape her. Three days later, he assaulted the woman outside her home, punching her and kicking her while she was on the ground. The judge noted that the threats were "no joke" and described them as obscene, menacing, humiliating and insulting, and imposed the custodial sentence with supervision by the Probation Service.
A heated exchange occurred during the High Court trial involving John Magnier, who is pursuing a €15 million deal he claims was agreed with a Tipperary landowner over a large tract of land. The case involves Barne Estate, Tim Gleeson, Magnier's Coolmore Stud, Coolmore Stud, and Magnier's Coolmore, all of whom are applicants. During the cross-examination of Tim Gleeson, a financial manager at Coolmore Stud, Martin Hayden SC for Barne Estate alleged that members of the gallery were nodding at the witness, potentially influencing his answers. Hayden gestured towards the Magnier side and requested that individuals stop making head gestures. Mr. Gleeson denied seeing any gestures and stated he was following documents and facing the judge when answering questions. Paul Gallagher SC for the Coolmore side refuted the claim, calling it 'outrageous' and 'not true'. The judge instructed all present to refrain from nodding upon hearing responses given by the witness. A third interruption occurred when Gallagher claimed a junior counsel from the defence was staring at the gallery. The hearing then re-commenced for Mr. Gleeson to conclude his evidence. The case continues before Mr. Justice Barrett, with the Magnier side alleging that Barne Estate reneged on the deal, preferring to sell the land to Maurice Regan at a higher price. The Barne Estate defendants deny any such agreement, stating they needed the consent of the trustees to finalise any agreement and preferred to sell to Regan. The case is ongoing.
Mary Higgins, 63, a former bursar at Mount Sackville Secondary School, was sentenced to one year in prison for stealing €500,000 from the school between 2012 and 2017 to fund a gambling addiction. She had full control over the school's cash flow, was the main signatory on bank accounts, and directed how money was allocated. Higgins sold her home and pension to repay the school and has repaid €470,949.62. She has no prior convictions and has since pursued addiction treatment, counselling studies, and voluntary work. The court noted her remorse, the lack of oversight that enabled the theft, and her long service to the school. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a custodial sentence, suspended two years on a €100 bond, and acknowledged her cooperation with Gardaí and forensic accountants. The case highlights the breach of trust and the impact of gambling on her life. Mary Higgins pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain refused to revisit the three‑year prison sentence imposed on Philip Marley, a 53‑year‑old former millionaire businessman from Rathbourne Court, Ashtown. Marley had pleaded guilty in November to procuring fraudulent entry into the Property Registration Authority's registry, deception and registering a false deed that altered ownership of two Dublin properties. The judge had previously deferred the sentence to allow Marley to arrange care for his adult son with severe neurological symptoms. During the hearing, counsel for Marley presented a forensic psychologist's report, but the judge declined to suspend any portion of the sentence, citing the report's findings and directing that it be forwarded to prison authorities. The court also heard mitigation for co‑accused Herbert Kilcline, who faces a separate sentencing on 23 June. Herbert Kilcline was convicted.
Eamon Moran, 51, a retired detective garda, had an eight‑month custodial sentence for harassment of a woman—sending unwanted texts and calls between 2021 and 2023—fully suspended for two years on appeal. The suspension required him to avoid contact with the victim and her family, stay one kilometre from her home, continue medical rehabilitation, and attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. In October 2024, Judge David McHugh reactivated the sentence after Moran emailed and called the victim in September 2024, breaching the conditions. The victim reported the breaches, citing anxiety and stress. Moran did not contest the breach. Counsel Niamh Ní Aonghusa argued that Moran misinterpreted the non‑relationship and expressed remorse, noting his deteriorating health following a 2012 attack. Judge Sinéad McMullan, considering his health, fully suspended the eight‑month sentence again for two years, reaffirming the conditions of no further contact, distance from the victim's home, ongoing medical care, and AA attendance. The unnamed woman pleaded guilty and was convicted.
A cattle farmer, Martin Murray, 59, was convicted of importing €730,000 worth of cannabis and was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. He appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal, arguing that his solicitor had not understood the significance of hearsay evidence presented to the jury. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC contended that confidential information, including details of Garda confirmation that drugs would be found in the truck and Murray's identity as the target, was improperly introduced without warning to the jury. He claimed the trial judge should have clarified that this was hearsay. State counsel Kevin White BL defended the prosecution's use of the evidence, stating that the solicitor had consented to its presentation. The court adjourned the matter to allow the Director of Public Prosecutions to address the factual issues, with a further hearing scheduled for July 14. Martin Murray pleaded not guilty.
In a case heard by the Workplace Relations Commission, bar manager Devendrasingh 'Ryan' Boodhun of the Schoolhouse Hotel was dismissed on 4 July 2023 after the hotel alleged he was adding a 10% service charge to tables that were not entitled to it. Boodhun denied the accusations, describing them as "unfounded and untrue." The hotel's policy was to apply the charge to tables of eight or more, with the option for the party to object. Evidence from former general manager Jeff Cronin suggested that Boodhun had been instructed to add the charge and distribute it to staff. The WRC found the dismissal was "procedurally unfair" but that the hotel had acted reasonably in ending his employment. An adjudicator awarded Boodhun €8,000 in redress under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The decision noted that additional matters were raised for the first time during the disciplinary meeting and that there was significant cross‑contamination between those responsible for the investigation.
A jury was sworn in to hear the Central Criminal Court trial of 39‑year‑old Joseph Lawlor, who denies murdering 51‑year‑old Michael Ryan, a father of two, in Dublin on 20 June 2024. Lawlor pleaded not guilty at arraignment. The judge, Justice Karen O'Connor, informed the jury of the victim's background, including his residence in Santry and the Ballymun or Finglas areas, and of Lawlor's employment in groundworks. The trial is set to last about three weeks, with the judge warning the jury against independent research or social‑media discussion.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, the State presented evidence that a 50‑year‑old man, Jeffrey Jackson, suffered 16 knife wounds in a Co Kildare apartment, a pattern the prosecution said could not be explained by the accused, Ryan Kearney's, claim of self‑defence. Kearney, 39, had told the first garda that men in balaclavas had attacked the scene and later said he had stabbed Jackson but not killed him. The prosecution argued that the injuries were distributed around the body, including head, face, chest and legs, and that Kearney had only a small cut on a finger. The jury was told Kearney had been arrested at 4.30pm, charged with murder, and that his statements to the garda and to the emergency call taker were inconsistent with the evidence. The trial was scheduled to continue for two weeks before Mr Justice Paul Burns. The unnamed 50-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Ainsley Stevenson, a British national from Halifax, has withdrawn his appeal against a five-and-a-half-year prison sentence imposed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in May 2024. Stevenson pleaded guilty to smuggling over 30kg of cannabis into Terminal 2 of Dublin Airport on October 17, 2023. He was apprehended alongside co-accused Dylan Shears, of Bradford, after customs officers questioned them regarding suspect suitcases arriving from Las Vegas. Gardaí discovered 64 vacuum-packed packages of cannabis valued at €690,000. The sentencing judge, Judge Martin Nolan, noted that Stevenson would have received a six-and-a-half-year term had he been an Irish citizen, while Shears received a three-year sentence due to his younger age. Neither accused had previous convictions. When the matter was called before the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy warned counsel that the court possessed the power to increase the sentence. Following this warning, counsel for Stevenson, Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC, sought time to confer with his client. Upon recall, Mr Ó Lideadha stated he had been instructed to withdraw the appeal. Mr Justice McCarthy granted permission to withdraw, noting that Stevenson had adopted a prudent course and should recognize the seriousness of the charges. The matter was adjourned with the appeal withdrawn.
At the Workplace Relations Commission, a senior NCAD administrator revealed that about 32% of the college's 1,400 students self‑declared additional needs. The testimony focused on Ellie Dunne, a 25‑year‑old artist with Down Syndrome who enrolled in September 2023 as the first student with that condition at NCAD. Dunne failed a first‑year module and the college could not "wipe the slate clean"; instead it offered her a re‑sit without penalty and increased support‑worker hours from two to five days a week. Dunne's parents, who felt the college had discriminated against her, threatened to damage the college's reputation. The college's director and head of academic affairs explained the college's accommodation policies and the procedural steps taken, and the case was adjourned to further hearings in October.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Thorpe, aged 73, pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault committed between September 1974 and September 1976 during a club trip to County Kerry. The victim, aged 12 to 14 at the time, remains anonymous but described Thorpe as "vile", "evil" and a "danger to children". Thorpe, who had previously been convicted of indecent assault on a teenage boy in the 1980s and received a two‑year suspended sentence in 1990, was found to have lived on a mobile home site in County Meath. The court noted Thorpe's history of five prior convictions, his complex medical issues, and his willingness to engage with the Probation Service. The judge adjourned the case for one week, remanded Thorpe in custody until 25 June, and directed that he receive all required medical treatment while in custody.
Trevor Bolger (48), a former garda detective, pleaded guilty to assaulting his former wife, Margaret Loftus, on October 25, 2012. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, with the validated procedural stage being sentence. Ms Loftus, who is also a garda, described the assault as a 'protracted assault' that had a significant impact on her personal and professional life. She stated that she lost everything and faced a stigma within An Garda Siochana for standing up for herself. Bolger admitted to the charges and was found to have assaulted Ms Loftus 13 years ago. The court heard that the maximum penalty for the assault, under Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, is six months imprisonment or a fine. Judge Martina Baxter described the assault as 'egregious' and said she would seek the assistance of the Probation Service before adjourning the case for sentencing in October. Bolger was remanded on continuing bail, and the matter was adjourned.
The High Court ruled that three houses linked to Kieran Keane Jr., son of the slain Limerick gangster Kieran Keane Sr., were proceeds of crime, as were three cars and €101,000 in an AIB account. The court accepted Garda evidence that Keane Jr. was a "driving force" in organised crime. Receivers were appointed to two of the three houses, the cars and the bank account. The properties and account were allegedly used by Keane Jr., believed to be in Dubai or Spain, and his girlfriend Laura Flanagan, who lived in Garryowen, Limerick. CAB forensic analysis showed trips to Lithuania, Spain, Dubai and Lapland between 2010 and 2019, and no clear source of income for Keane Jr. and Flanagan. The judge noted that the properties were acquired in cash under the table and that the AIB account lacked regular expenditure records.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, a 13‑year‑old boy from a rural area pleaded guilty to six counts of oral rape, nine counts of producing child pornography and five counts of distributing such material, all involving his six‑year‑old sister. He had accessed the internet unsupervised from a very early age and admitted first viewing pornography at six. The boy uploaded 64 images of the child to the social platform Discord, which were traced to the family's home. The sister, now eight, gave a victim impact statement expressing that she feels happier and that her foster family feels like home, but she remains scared of her brother's actions. The judge noted the long‑term impact of the images being online and adjourned the case to July 21 for further reports. The boy was placed in a residential treatment centre for minors who sexually offend. The children were taken into care the same day.
A man classified as a "high risk" sex offender, whose name cannot be disclosed, had a six‑month jail sentence for breaching Section 33(1) of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 overturned on appeal. He had pleaded guilty in the District Court to failing to attend a scheduled meeting with a supervising officer after his release in July 2021. The appeal court noted an "overall pattern of non‑compliance" and that he had missed an appointment on 4 November 2022, had a high risk of sexual reoffending, and had used drugs. He had previously been convicted of sexual assault and attempted rape in 2017 and sentenced to five years in custody. On appeal, the judge suspended the custodial sentence for 12 months, conditional on the defendant remaining drug‑free and engaging with probation services.
In Tallaght District Court, 45‑year‑old Norman Purfield pleaded guilty to simple possession of heroin under Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act after a police stop on Old Bawn Road. He was found with 6.8 g of heroin, worth about €952, and claimed it was for personal use, bought in bulk to avoid theft. Judge Patricia McNamara dismissed the original charge of possession for sale or supply, citing insufficient proof beyond reasonable doubt, and convicted him of simple possession. She imposed a three‑month sentence, suspended for 12 months, conditional on Purfield attending a drug treatment programme in Deonach, Tallaght. Purfield, who has 42 previous convictions including three drug‑related offences, was warned that failure to attend treatment could lead to the sentence being imposed. The judge noted the lack of weighing scales, paraphernalia, or evidence of supply, and accepted Purfield's explanation and willingness to engage with treatment.
A 39‑year‑old man, Ryan Kearney of Loughnamona Drive, Leixlip, Co Kildare, has been arraigned in the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Jeffrey Jackson, 50, at The Lamps, School Street, Kilcock, Co Kildare, on 8 February 2024. He pleaded not guilty. A jury of three men and nine women was sworn in by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, and the trial will commence tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul Burns, expected to last two weeks.
Lisa Deveney, a former premium spirits marketing manager at Coca Cola HBC Ireland Ltd, claimed she was bullied into accepting a demotion to a junior lead role after returning from her second maternity leave in January 2024. She said the company had denied her return to her previous position and offered a new role that she felt was a demotion, citing differences in responsibility, strategic versus operational duties, and lack of budget management. Deveney suffered an acute stress reaction and a panic attack, ultimately resigning in March 2024. The Workplace Relations Commission found Coca Cola in breach of the Employment Equality Act 1998, awarding Deveney €68,000 in compensation for gender‑based maternity discrimination. The tribunal concluded the new role was a demotion and that the employer had decided to move her without offering alternatives.
An 18-year-old defendant, previously convicted of violent disorder during the fatal assault on Tristan Sherry at Browne's Steakhouse, pleaded guilty to multiple offences at the Special Criminal Court. The charges relate to incidents at Tolka Valley Park, Blanchardstown, on May 7/8, 2024, including the possession of a side-by-side shotgun, 15 rounds of 9mm Makarov ammunition, and ten 12 Gauge shotgun cartridges. He also faced charges for possessing controlled drugs, including cannabis, diamorphine, cocaine, ketamine, and Phenacetin, allegedly for supply. Garda evidence indicated the defendant was burying these items for the Hennessy criminal gang. The court heard that the defendant is currently serving a sentence of two years and four months for the earlier violent disorder conviction, with the final year suspended. Defence counsel argued the defendant acted under the direction of others and cited his difficult background. Judge Karen O'Connor, presiding, adjourned the matter to July 7 for sentencing. The defendant was 17 at the time of the park offences but has since turned 18. The court noted the separate conviction for violent disorder arising from the Christmas Eve 2023 incident where Sherry was beaten to death.
Sean McGovern, 39, previously of Kildare Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, appeared via video link at the Special Criminal Court to change his legal representation. His solicitors, Michael Staines, applied to withdraw from the case, with the accused to be represented by Wayne Kenny solicitors. McGovern confirmed his consent to the application. The matter was adjourned for mention to July 28, when the accused is to be produced in court. McGovern, who was extradited from the United Arab Emirates, faces multiple charges. He is alleged to have murdered Noel Kirwan on December 22, 2016, at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin. He is also charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation in connection with that murder between October 20 and December 22, 2016. Additional charges allege he directed a criminal organisation in surveilling James Gately between October 17, 2015, and April 6, 2017, in preparation for an indictable offence. He further faces charges of facilitating a criminal organisation in the murder of Kirwan and in a conspiracy to murder Gately. In June, his lawyers raised concerns regarding the legality and propriety of his extradition process to Ireland. No plea was entered, and no findings or sentences were recorded at this pretrial stage.
Ines Perez, 43, of Willowpark Avenue, Glasnevin, pleaded guilty at Tallaght District Court to drink‑driving on 7 October 2023. She was driving a Volkswagen Polo on Scholarstown Road, Knocklyon, shortly after 2 am when she crashed into a light pole, causing traffic lights to topple and block the road. Garda Mark Faul, who was in the area, spoke to Perez, noted signs of intoxication, and she failed a roadside breath test. A blood sample taken at a Garda station showed 144 mg of alcohol per 100 ml, nearly three times the legal limit of 50 mg. Perez had no previous convictions and was fully cooperative. Her defence counsel noted she was a mother of two, had been going through an emotionally difficult breakup, and rarely drank. The court heard she was deeply embarrassed and anxious to be before the court.
Lucia Istokova, 36, pleaded guilty at trial to withholding information from gardai investigating the murder of Ashling Murphy. The single charge alleged that on January 14, 2022, Istokova failed without reasonable excuse to disclose to An Garda Síochána that Jozef Puska had visible injuries when he returned to their home in Tullamore, Co Offaly. The charge further alleged she failed to tell gardai that Puska admitted to killing or seriously injuring a female with a knife, or that he owned a bicycle found near Ms Murphy's body. It was alleged Istokova knew or believed this information might assist in securing Puska's apprehension or conviction for an offence involving loss of human life or serious personal injury. During a 12-day pre-trial hearing, Istokova had challenged the admissibility of her statements to gardai. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs ruled the statements could be used as evidence for a jury. Following this ruling, Istokova entered her guilty plea. Her co-accused, Jozefina Grundzova, 32, also sought to exclude evidence of two interviews she had with gardai but opted for a trial by jury after the admissibility ruling. Ms Justice Biggs ordered that Istokova's plea could not be reported until verdicts were reached in respect of the other four defendants to protect their fair trial rights. Istokova was released on continuing bail following the plea. Her co-accused were also on bail throughout the trial.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury convicted Jozef Puska's brothers, Lubomir Puska Jnr and Marek Puska, of withholding information from An Garda Síochána regarding the murder of Ashling Murphy. The brothers were found guilty of failing to disclose that Jozef Puska returned home on the night of January 12, 2022, with visible injuries and admitted to cutting a female with a knife. Their wives, Viera Gaziova and Jozefina Grundzova, were convicted of burning Jozef's bloodstained clothes to impede his prosecution. Gaziova was convicted by an 11-1 majority, while Grundzova was found guilty by a 10-2 majority. All four defendants had pleaded not guilty. Jozef Puska's wife, Lucia Istokova, had previously pleaded guilty to withholding information. Ms Justice Biggs ordered probation reports for all five defendants. The matter was adjourned to July 7 for sentencing, with the defendants remanded on continuing bail until that date. Jozef Puska is currently serving a life sentence for the murder, having been convicted in November 2023.
Maynooth University was ordered by a Workplace Relations Commission adjudication officer to issue a music tutor, Janyce Condon, a banded‑hours contract after her union alleged the college was operating a de‑facto zero‑hours contract. The decision, made under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, as amended, found that the university had failed to provide a contract setting out minimum guaranteed hours. Condon, a performance tutor since 2013, had been paid €831 per student per academic year and was expected to conduct 20 one‑to‑one tutorials of 45 minutes each, including preparation, scheduling, feedback and professional development. The university had previously issued her a contract that the union described as essentially a zero‑hours contract, which Condon rejected. The adjudication officer directed the university to place Condon on an appropriate band of hours and awarded her €2,494 in compensation for a separate breach of the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994.
Alexandru Enacke, 32, of Hazelgrove Estate, Tallaght, appeared before Tallaght District Court after a Garda stop at Killinarden on 5 December 2023. He was found driving a Mercedes with a fake AXA insurance disc and a false NCT disc, while the vehicle was uninsured, had no valid NCT, and Enacke held no valid Irish driving licence. He pleaded guilty to driving without insurance, driving without a valid licence, and using false insurance and NCT discs with intent to mislead. Enacke had eight prior convictions, including two for driving without insurance, and had been disqualified for two years in February 2024. The court, hearing his defence that a policy had lapsed due to a typo, rejected his explanation. Judge Patricia McNamara sentenced him to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, a five‑year driving disqualification, a €650 fine, and required him to sign a bond and comply with existing disqualifications.