In a Dublin park, a 17‑year‑old stabbed an 18‑year‑old, Azzam Raguragui, to death during a melee that followed a dispute over a bicycle. The accused, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, was said by counsel to have entered the confrontation armed with a knife. The incident began near Rockfield, Balally, when the deceased and other teens were involved in a confrontation with the accused's group. The accused allegedly pursued the deceased up a hill, where the victim fell and was stabbed repeatedly. Five stab wounds were found, one fatal. The accused voluntarily admitted to the stabbing at Garda Station, claiming self‑defence, but forensic evidence linked the knife to the victim. The trial, heard by a jury, continues under the State's case that the accused did not act in self‑defence. The proceedings are ongoing.
A jury of eleven men and one woman was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Mark Crawford, 43, of Quarry Road, Thomondgate, Co Limerick. Crawford, who pleaded not guilty, is charged with the murder of Patrick O'Connor at Fitzgerald's Bar, Sexton Street, Limerick City, between 7 and 8 July 2018. He is scheduled to appear before Ms Justice Tara Burns tomorrow morning, and the trial is expected to last two weeks.
A 17‑year‑old admitted to killing but denied murder in the death of 18‑year‑old Azzam Raguragai, who was stabbed at Finsbury Park, Dundrum, on 10 May 2019. The minor, whose identity is withheld, will stand trial at the Central Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder; the plea was rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Mr Justice Paul McDermott explained that the incident involved two groups of teenagers meeting at the park, with the accused allegedly stabbing the deceased. The trial is set to open tomorrow.
Aaron Brady, 29, was found guilty of capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe by an 11‑to‑1 jury at the Central Criminal Court. The judge will impose a life sentence with a minimum of 40 years. Brady denied the murder and claimed no involvement in the robbery that led to Donohoe's death. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including the theft of a Volkswagen Passat used as a getaway car and Brady's alleged statements to Gardaí. Brady's defence argued he was loading diesel waste and had no role in the robbery. The trial, the longest murder case in Irish history, involved 139 witnesses over 28 weeks. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for 14 October, where the judge will also consider Brady's robbery conviction. The maximum sentence for robbery is life, with a minimum of 40 years for capital murder.
Aaron Brady, aged 29, was found guilty of robbery in the January 25, 2013, Lordship Credit Union heist that resulted in the death of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The jury, after 12 hours and 35 minutes of deliberation, reached a unanimous verdict of robbery. Brady denied involvement in the robbery and pleaded not guilty to the capital murder charge. The trial heard that four men entered the credit union car park, and the prosecution alleged Brady fired a single fatal shot. Brady claimed he was at a diesel laundering yard on Concession Road at the time. The judge explained that for a capital murder conviction, it must be proven beyond reasonable doubt that Brady was the shooter and that he knew he was shooting a Garda or was reckless about it. If the jury is not satisfied with the capital murder evidence, they could find him guilty of murder or manslaughter.
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday to continue deliberations in the trial of Aaron Brady, accused of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe during a 2013 credit union raid. The jury, consisting of five men and seven women, has spent over six hours across three days considering their verdicts, having first heard evidence in January. Mr Justice Michael White formally suspended their deliberations, urging them not to discuss the case or consult social media, and advised them to relax. Brady, 29, pleaded not guilty to both the capital murder of Donohoe and a robbery charge involving approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques. The judge instructed the jury to first consider the robbery charge, noting that a not‑guilty verdict on robbery would logically preclude a murder conviction. He explained that if the jury finds Brady guilty of robbery, they must then consider the capital murder charge, which is "tricky" due to multiple possible verdicts.
The jury has begun deliberations in the Westmeath rape trial of a 33‑year‑old man. He pleaded not guilty to raping a woman he met at a New Year's Eve ball at a GAA clubhouse. The complainant, who was visiting a friend, said she had no choice but to stay at the accused's house after the ball. She claimed they kissed, she told him there would be no sexual activity, but he entered his home, attacked and raped her in the front sitting room. The accused maintains the encounter was consensual and that he apologized after the act, not admitting guilt. The prosecution's closing speech highlighted the complainant's account of a violent attack and medical evidence of bruising, while the defence argued inconsistencies in the complainant's statements and witnesses. The jury will return on Tuesday for further deliberations.
Brian Byrne, aged 28, was found guilty of raping a sleeping woman at a house party in County Kildare on 21 June 2015. The trial, held in Dublin's Central Criminal Court, lasted one week and concluded with a verdict of guilty. Byrne pleaded not guilty but admitted that sexual intercourse had taken place. The victim, who was fully dressed and asleep, woke to find Byrne behind her and was forced to flee to her sister's room. In her impact statement, she described the day as a turning point that shattered her life and left her feeling unsafe and trapped. Byrne's defence highlighted his otherwise unblemished character, employment, and sporting activities, but the judge noted the predatory nature of the attack. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with no mention of a suspended portion or effective custody details in the article.
Eric Shorthall, 23, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Warren Nolan, knowing or believing Nolan to be guilty of the murder of Alan O'Neill. The offence is alleged to have occurred on May 27, 2015, at Belfry Manor, Tallaght. Shorthall, of Muskerry Road, Ballyfermot, was originally charged with the murder of O'Neill, who was shot dead in front of his partner outside his home on Kiltalown Road, Tallaght, on that date. Shorthall's counsel, Keith Spencer BL, noted that Shorthall was 18 at the time of the offence and requested a probation report. Mr Justice Paul McDermott ordered the probation report and remanded Shorthall in custody until November 16. The court also noted that Warren Nolan, then 22, was found guilty by a jury in December 2018 of the murder of O'Neill and setting fire to the car used in the shooting. Nolan, who was 18 at the time of the murder, was sentenced by Mr Justice McDermott to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for murder and six years for setting the car on fire. Both sentences were backdated to September 2017.
In a nursing home in County Dublin, a 52‑year‑old health‑care assistant raped a pensioner in her room at 3 am on 3 April 2020 during the Covid‑19 lockdown. The victim was found in distress the next morning, taken to a sexual‑assault treatment unit where semen was recovered and matched to the accused. The man was arrested on 14 April, denied the allegation, and pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him to 12 years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on strict conditions. The court heard the victim's daughter's impact statement, describing the mother's ongoing fear, depression, nightmares and post‑traumatic stress, and the family's inability to comfort her due to lockdown restrictions. The case highlighted the breach of trust by a qualified healthcare worker and the severe psychological harm inflicted on the elderly victim.
Patrick Nevin, aged 38, appealed a 14‑year prison sentence for raping and sexually assaulting three women he met on Tinder in July 2014. The court had suspended the final two years of the sentence. Nevin had previously received five and a half years for a separate Tinder‑related assault on the UCD campus. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Cathleen Noctor SC, counter‑appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient and should have been higher, citing aggravating factors such as the rapid succession of attacks, premeditation, driving victims to remote locations, and prior convictions for serious harm. Nevin's counsel, Michael Bowman SC, argued the sentence was appropriate, noting the court had considered aggravating factors and that the 14‑year term was the maximum available. The Court of Appeal was set to decide the case the following day. Patrick Nevin pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 33‑year‑old Westmeath man pleaded not guilty to a rape charge stemming from an alleged incident on 1 January 2017. The complainant, who had been invited to the accused's home after a New Year's Eve ball, claimed she had told him no sexual activity would occur, yet he allegedly raped her in the front sitting room. The accused denied all allegations, asserting that any sexual activity was consensual and that he did not cause the injuries found on the complainant's body. He repeatedly stated "that is not true" when confronted with evidence of bruising, abrasions and tenderness noted by a medical examiner. The jury heard the accused's testimony that he had no violence during the encounter and that he had not caused the injuries. The case remains at the trial stage, with no verdict yet reached.
Micheal Corbett, aged 30, had the six‑year suspended portion of his nine‑year sentence for attempted murder of a 17‑year‑old at the Hellfire Club on Montpelier Hill activated by Mr Justice Michael White on 29 July 2020. The activation follows a psychiatric report indicating Corbett is at risk of future violence and a series of violent incidents while in custody, including assaulting other prisoners and attacking a nurse with a sock. Corbett had previously pleaded guilty to the attempted murder committed on 27 June 2016, which left the victim with a four‑inch stab wound to the chest and a head injury from a piece of timber. The court's decision means Corbett will serve the full nine years from the date of his initial arrest for the attempted murder. The judge noted that the risks identified in the psychiatric report made it impossible to rely on the suspended sentence to manage Corbett's psychosis.
In 2016, a 37‑year‑old Dublin man was tried at the Central Criminal Court for raping and abusing his younger sister over several years while she was a child. He pleaded not guilty to 48 counts, including rape, oral rape, rape with a screwdriver, rape with a vibrator and sexual assault at two Dublin locations between 2000 and 2005. The jury found him guilty. The victim, who is unnamed to protect her identity, described how the abuse began when she was ten, describing the experience as a "black hole of uncertainty, fear and terror." She said her family changed forever and that her parents became "shadows" of themselves after the court proceedings. Justice Isobel Kennedy sentenced him to 11 years' imprisonment. He has now appealed his conviction to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the trial judge erred by not warning the jury about the dangers of convicting on uncorroborated evidence.
In July 2020 a 26‑year‑old man, previously convicted of sexual assault, was brought before the Central Criminal Court after he had been on the run for 18 months. He had been found guilty in his absence in December 2018 of 14 counts of sexually assaulting his cousin between 2008 and 2011, and a seven‑year sentence had been imposed. In November 2019 he was arrested for robbing a 62‑year‑old woman on Fitzgibbon Street, where he punched her and stole her handbag. He pleaded guilty to the robbery. Judge Sarah Berkeley imposed a consecutive four‑year term, with the final year suspended, after hearing the victim's impact statement and noting the defendant's drug and alcohol influence. The man is due for release from Midlands Prison on 8 February 2025. The victim suffered minor head injuries and psychological distress, and now feels nervous walking to work. The unnamed 26-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Westmeath rape trial, a 33‑year‑old man pleaded not guilty to a single charge of raping a woman he met at a New Year's Eve ball. The complainant, who was visiting a friend, said she had planned to stay overnight at the friend's house after the ball. She met the accused, they kissed, and she later accepted an invitation to his home. She claimed she told him there would be no sexual activity, but he allegedly attacked her and raped her in his front sitting room. The accused testified that they had consensual sex for about 20 seconds before she said "stop," after which he stopped and she became upset. He described drinking six pints and three shots of Sambuca, kissing her, and asking her to come home, claiming he intended to have sex.
In the Central Criminal Court, Aaron Brady, 29, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and to a robbery charge. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC told the jury that Brady did not shoot Donohoe and was not involved in the robbery. He argued that if the jury believes Brady was the gunman, they should consider that a warning shot could constitute manslaughter rather than murder. O'Higgins highlighted inconsistencies in witness testimony, questioned the reliability of CCTV evidence, and criticised the Garda investigation for not following up on diesel‑laundering allegations. He urged jurors to assess whether the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, noting that a manslaughter verdict was possible but unusual. The judge acknowledged the possibility of a manslaughter verdict but left the decision to the jury. The case remains at the jury's deliberation stage.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, an 18‑year‑old teenager pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of two cousins and the anal rape of one in 2015‑2016. The judge, citing the case's difficulty and the boy's disgraceful conduct, initially considered a five‑year custodial term but ultimately imposed a three‑year suspended sentence, contingent on completion of a therapy programme. The court noted the boy's progress in therapy and probation, and ordered monitoring of his smartphone to prevent further exposure to pornography. The boy's apology, expressed in a letter, acknowledged regret and a promise to change. No victim impact statements were filed, and the court emphasised the seriousness of the offences and the need for continued supervision.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 33‑year‑old Westmeath man denies raping a woman who returned to his home on New Year's Day 2017. He claims the sexual activity was consensual, stating he stopped after she said "stop" about 20 seconds into penetration. The accused says he apologized and tried to calm her, and that she later apologized for coming back. The woman testified she felt she had no other option to stay with him, citing a dead mobile phone and lack of a friend to stay with. She alleged she was raped from behind after he pulled her clothes off, and showed scrape marks on her stomach. Gardaí interviewed the accused three days after the alleged rape, and he admitted the possibility of anal penetration. The trial continues with the jury hearing both sides' statements.
Patrick O'Driscoll, aged 22, was convicted in March 2019 by a Central Criminal Court jury in Cork of raping a sleeping woman on 10 May 2016. The sentencing judge, Mr Justice Michael White, noted O'Driscoll's denial of the charges, lack of remorse, extreme drunkenness that night, and mitigating factors of his young age and personal circumstances. The judge set a headline sentence of ten years, reduced to seven years. O'Driscoll has now appealed both his conviction and the severity of the sentence in the Court of Appeal. His barrister, Siobhan Lankford SC, argues the headline sentence was too high and that a portion should have been suspended given his age and circumstances. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Tim O'Leary SC, supports the judge's 30 % reduction. The Court of Appeal will decide in September.
In the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution argued that Aaron Brady, 29, used the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe as a badge of honour after moving to America, believing he was beyond the law. They described Brady as a skilled liar who repeatedly told false statements to Gardaí and the jury, claiming he was a victim of a Garda campaign. Brady's defence was that he was under financial pressure and that the robbery at Lordship Credit Union was a base criminal motive. The prosecution presented circumstantial evidence, including CCTV of a stolen Volkswagen Passat and alleged phone inactivity, to link Brady to the crime. They also highlighted Brady's alleged statements to witnesses and his alibi. The case centred on proving that Brady shot Donohoe knowing he was a Garda, with the prosecution presenting forensic and witness testimony to support this claim. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty.
An alleged rape victim, aged 33, testified at the Central Criminal Court that she did not seek help from the accused's mother and sister because she did not believe they would assist her. The victim, who was 33, was staying at a friend's house after a New Year's Eve party at a GAA clubhouse. She agreed to return to the accused's home to sleep, but the accused allegedly attacked and raped her minutes after arrival. She claimed she fell asleep on the couch, woke to find the accused still awake, and heard the accused's mother and sister speaking in a room. She said she repeatedly pleaded for a ride home, and the accused promised to drive her after the family left. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. The accused, a 33‑year‑old Westmeath man, denies the rape. The victim's medical evidence showed bruising consistent with a forced assault. The case remains in trial.
In July 2020, a 37‑year‑old woman named Laura Kenna, who had no fixed abode and was later diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, was convicted of attempted murder after she slit the throat of civil servant Fionnuala Bourke on Lower Drumcondra Road on 3 January 2017. Kenna, who had been suffering from a significant mental health condition for up to six years, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial revealed that Kenna attacked Bourke while she was walking home from work, stabbing her multiple times and threatening her with a handbag. Bourke required surgery and intensive care. Justice Tara Burns described the attack as vicious and random. The judge imposed a 15‑year prison term, suspending the last five years. Kenna's barrister appealed both the conviction and sentence to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the psychiatric evidence was flawed and that the sentence was excessive. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 33‑year‑old Westmeath man faces a single rape charge. The alleged victim, a 25‑year‑old woman, testified that she had set clear boundaries before returning to the defendant's home after a night out. She described drinking Prosecco, beer, and shots of Sambucca at a GAA club, then kissing the defendant. After about 25 minutes she decided to leave, but the defendant invited her to stay. She accepted, stating she only wanted to sleep there and repeated that she did not want to engage in any sexual activity. The defendant allegedly forced her to remove her clothing, then anally raped her for about two minutes. She denied any consent. The case is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
A 33‑year‑old Westmeath man is accused of anally raping a woman in his home after they met at a GAA club on New Year's Eve 2016. The alleged assault took place on 1 January 2017. The man pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Prosecutor Orla Crowe SC told the jury that the woman and a friend attended the club, met the accused, and were taken to his house where the alleged rape occurred. The woman reportedly asked him to stop, struggled, and was left on a couch. She stayed in the house that night, was taken to her friend's house the next morning, and reported the incident to Gardaí the following day. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of five women and seven men.
In a Westmeath case, a 33‑year‑old man was tried at the Central Criminal Court for raping a woman at his home on 1 January 2017, an act described as penal penetration of her anus. He pleaded not guilty. The trial, the first to open at the CCJ since the Covid‑19 lockdown, was scheduled to last seven days. Judge Paul McDermott explained that special arrangements had been made to minimise risk, including two‑metre spacing, the option for jurors to wear masks and gloves, rigorous cleaning, and protective screens. The jury panel, composed of seven men and five women, was empanelled with some jurors seated in single chairs at the back of the courtroom and others in spaced‑out seating in the jury box. The judge thanked the jurors for serving during this period and emphasised the importance of social distancing throughout the proceedings.
In the Central Criminal Court, Aaron Brady, 29, accused of capital murder and robbery, waived solicitor‑client privilege and gave a voluntary statement. His former solicitor, Daniel McNamee, testified that Brady had been advised not to testify if he had any involvement in the robbery and fatal shooting. McNamee explained that a witness statement does not carry the same legal protection as a suspect. Brady had previously told McNamee that he was loading diesel waste at a yard in Cullaville on the evening of the murder, but later claimed the forklift started and he spent 90 minutes to two hours loading diesel. Brady's statements to Gardaí on 5 and 6 February 2013 were voluntary. The trial, before Mr Justice Michael White and a 13‑person jury, continues with Brady pleading not guilty to both the capital murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe and the robbery of €7,000 in cash and cheques.
In July 2020, Mr Justice Michael White ordered that Michael Corbett, 30, be brought before the Central Criminal Court to decide whether he should remain in prison to serve the portion of his nine‑year sentence for attempted murder that was initially suspended. Corbett had been released in July 2018 after serving less than three years, on the condition that he live with his mother, with the final six years suspended because he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the 2016 attack. He had previously attacked other prisoners in Mountjoy Prison and had pleaded guilty to assaulting a nurse in 2016, for which he received a five‑year sentence with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended. The court has received a psychiatric report that raises serious concerns about his impending release, and Mr Justice White has asked the State to decide whether the remainder of his sentence should be imposed.
During his Central Criminal Court trial, Aaron Brady, aged 29, denied being able to identify the accents of the robbers from an audio recording taken at the scene of the fatal robbery that killed Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. Brady listened to the dashcam audio, which included a shout of "Give me the fucking bag, give me the fucking money," but he said he could not recognise the accents and described the recording as "very blurry." He also denied stealing a car that the prosecution alleged was used in the robbery and rejected a suggestion that a suspect's car had driven by Lordship Credit Union earlier that day as part of a "drive‑by" in advance of the robbery. Brady, who has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Donohoe and to the robbery charge, was questioned about his movements on the day of the robbery, his mobile phone activity, and his interactions with other suspects.
The 38‑year‑old father of three has appealed his rape conviction after being sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with 18 months suspended, for raping a woman on a Dublin beach. The victim, who met the defendant online, was unaware of his partner and children until the trial. He pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault on 29 October 2015; a jury found him guilty of rape but not sexual assault. Justice Tara Burns highlighted that every woman can withdraw consent at any stage and that the defendant's alleged consensual acts before the rape did not support his defence. The appeal, led by Michael Bowman SC, focuses on alleged errors in the judge's directions on consent, arguing the jury was not properly instructed on the defendant's subjective perception. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment, with a decision expected in the coming weeks.
During his second day of cross‑examination at the Central Criminal Court, Aaron Brady, aged 29, denied any involvement in the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe or the robbery of €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union. He argued that a wealthy suspect, referred to as Suspect A, who owns a house since age 18 and earns a six‑figure income in America, would have no motive to commit armed robbery. Brady denied that he, Suspect A, or a friend stole a Volkswagen Passat in 2013, and said he could not recall a conversation with former girlfriend Jessica King about a car theft. He admitted lying to Gardaí about his movements on the night of the robbery to conceal his diesel‑laundering activities, but insisted he had not provided an alibi for Suspect A. Brady pleaded not guilty to the capital murder and the robbery charge. The trial will continue before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 19‑year‑old woman was heard to have been sexually abused by her older brothers from age six to ten. One brother, now 26, was jailed for four years for six counts of sexual assault and one count of anally raping the girl over a five‑year period between 2007 and 2011. He admitted to assaulting her about three times a week while she was aged six to ten. The anal rape was a single isolated incident. Three other brothers faced charges; one case was dropped. The remaining two, aged 33 and 29, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual exploitation respectively. Sentences of three‑and‑a‑half years and two years were previously handed down but deferred to January next year. The judge noted the victim's courage and lack of parental support, and highlighted the family's dysfunctional sexual dynamics.
Six women and five men, aged 26 to 77, pleaded not guilty to 36 charges of sexual abuse, exploitation and neglect of four children in County Limerick. The indictment lists 300 charges, including rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, child cruelty and neglect under Section 246 of the Children Act 2001, and failure to report alleged crimes to Gardaí. The alleged victims are two boys and two girls, with offences alleged to have occurred between June 2014 and August 2017 at various locations in the Limerick region. All defendants are on bail and cannot be named to protect the children's identities. A provisional trial date is set for early next year in Dublin, with the court hearing that most lawyers seek separate trials. The case is scheduled for hearing on 16 November by Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
The prosecution concluded its evidence in the trial of Aaron Brady, who denies murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe during a raid on a rural credit union. The trial, which began in January, was delayed by Covid‑19 lockdowns and resumed in May with social‑distancing measures and a reduced jury of 13. Brady, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Donohoe, who was on active duty on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co. Louth, and also pleaded not guilty to a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques at the same location. On the final day of evidence, Detective Inspector Mark Phillips disclosed a report from the Yonkers Police Department concerning witness Daniel Cahill, who had testified that Brady had told him he shot a Garda on three occasions.
A 41‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting his daughter between 2009 and 2015. The victim, who was ten when the abuse began and married in 2015, testified that she was telling the truth and denied that she had fabricated the allegations to explain why she was not a virgin to her husband. The court heard that the abuse ended after the victim's marriage. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, described the offence as a serious breach of trust, suspended the final year of the sentence on the condition of obeying probation, and ordered the defendant to have no contact with the victim. The victim's impact statement described her childhood as stolen and her father as the one who hurt her. The defendant denied the allegations and claimed a blameless life. The unnamed 41-year-old was convicted.
In the Central Criminal Court, Aaron Brady, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and to the robbery of approximately €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union on 25 January 2013. Brady had earlier submitted an alibi notice claiming he was working at a diesel‑laundering yard on Concession Road, south Armagh, during the robbery. The court heard that Brady had called a known fuel launderer at 19:55 on the night of the robbery, a call that passed through a mast in Northern Ireland, and that Garda investigations found no CCTV evidence of the BMW he claimed to have used. Brady's alibi was not questioned because he is also a suspect in the robbery. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White with a jury of thirteen.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 2 July 2020, retired Detective Inspector Pat Marry testified that Aaron Brady's account of his whereabouts on the night of 25 January 2013 was false. Marry said he did not believe Brady was at a diesel‑laundering yard on Concession Road, Co. Armagh, but that he was at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co. Louth, where Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot. Brady, aged 28, had pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Donohoe and to a robbery of about €7,000 at the same location. Marry described the extensive CCTV analysis, phone‑traffic checks and witness statements that led him to conclude Brady's story was "bunkum and lies." The cross‑examination was set to continue before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
In a 2020 hearing at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul McDermott refused a request by a 53‑year‑old rape accused to change his legal representation for the sixth time. The accused, who is on bail awaiting a 2021 trial, had previously switched counsel five times. The judge noted that while defendants have a right to choose counsel, this right is not absolute and cannot be abused to disrupt proceedings. He observed a "whiff" of a calculation to disrupt the criminal process and stated that the accused had "issues with trust" toward lawyers and medical professionals. The judge remarked that the accused was fit to plead and that further changes would be the seventh. He said the matter could be revisited once medical assessments were completed, but any future application should be made in good time. The judge's decision was based on the unprecedented number of changes and the lack of a rational reason for further switches.
Michael Corbett, aged 30, was released in July 2018 after serving less than three years of a nine‑year sentence for an attempted murder of a 17‑year‑old at the Hellfire Club on Dublin's Montpelier Hill. The final six years of his sentence were suspended because he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the attack. In October 2016, while an in‑patient at the Central Mental Hospital, Corbett tried to strangle nurse Declan Curtin with a sock; he pleaded guilty to assaulting Curtin and was sentenced to five years, with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended for 15 years on strict conditions, including supervision by the Probation Service and residence at an approved address. Corbett remains in custody in relation to the Dublin Circuit Court matter and is due for release in August.
Aaron Brady, aged 28, was arrested in February 2018 on suspicion of the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was killed on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co. Louth. The Central Criminal Court heard that Brady denied any confession to the murder, even after a statement by Molly Staunton was played to him. In interviews at Dundalk Garda Station, Brady repeatedly denied involvement and any voluntary confession. He also denied a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques on the same date and location. The prosecution, led by Dean Kelly BL, is expected to finish its case this Friday, with the trial entering its final stages. The case is before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of six men and seven women.
A 47‑year‑old man, Jason Warrington, pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Tadgh O'Shea at Warrington's home on 23 December 2018. He was remanded in custody to appear for sentencing on 9 November. Warrington's counsel, Mr Ronan Munro SC, noted that the defendant was in a radically different situation at the time of the offence and has addressed his drug issues.
A 60‑year‑old Galway man was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for two counts of indecent assault and two counts of rape of his cousin, who was aged seven to nine at the time, between 1982 and 1984. The victim, who was also the man's goddaughter, was a child when the offences occurred. The judge described the conduct as a serious abuse of trust and imposed a ten‑year term, suspending the final year on conditions. The man, now married with adult children, denies the verdicts and maintains his innocence. The victim gave a dignified impact statement, describing the abuse, her fear, and the relief of revealing the truth in 2016. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court, with the judge thanking the victim for her statement and the jury for their verdicts. The man has no prior convictions and has been in custody since February. The court noted the pandemic has made prison conditions more difficult. The unnamed 60-year-old was found guilty.
Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced four individuals at the Central Criminal Court for their roles in the murder and concealment of Patricia O'Connor. Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor, who pleaded guilty to reporting his wife as missing while knowing she was dead, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. The judge described his actions as a betrayal of his wife and son. Louise O'Connor, found guilty of acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie disguising herself as the deceased to conceal the murder, received a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence. Stephanie O'Connor, found guilty of disguising herself as her grandmother, was jailed for one-and-a-half years. Keith Johnston, found guilty of assisting Kieran Greene in purchasing implements used to conceal the remains, was sentenced to three years. Mr Justice McDermott noted that Greene, who was separately sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder, had changed his account of the killing. The judge emphasized that the defendants' efforts to conceal the crime were elaborate and callous, noting that no attempt was made to seek emergency assistance. The sentences reflect the distinct culpability of each defendant, with the judge highlighting Louise O'Connor's dominant role in the household and Keith Johnston's intent to ensure the remains were never found.
Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor, 76, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for pleading guilty to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of his wife's murderer. He had reported his wife, Patricia O'Connor, as missing after learning she had been killed by Kieran Greene, 35, in their home. Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court described his conduct as "appalling" and noted that O'Connor had expressed remorse and had no prior convictions. The judge reduced the headline sentence of three years to 18 months.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Aaron Brady, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and to a robbery charge. Daniel Cahill, a bartender from New York, testified via video link that Brady repeatedly claimed he had shot a Garda during a bar fight in 2013. Cahill described three occasions where Brady, while heavily intoxicated, spoke of having killed a Garda, referencing a robbery gone wrong. Brady's statements included threats to kill others and claims of being known for having used a gun. The testimony highlighted Brady's alleged admission of shooting a Garda, but no verdict or sentencing was reported in the article. The case remains at the trial stage with a 13‑person jury hearing the evidence.
In a Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing on 22 June 2020, Kieran Greene was given a mandatory life sentence for the murder of 61‑year‑old Patricia O'Connor, who was bludgeoned to death with a hurley in her Rathfarnham home on 29 May 2017. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of her death. Four other defendants – Louise O'Connor (41), Stephanie O'Connor (22), Keith Johnston (43) and Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor (76) – were remanded on continuing bail pending their own sentencing. The court heard victim impact statements from Patricia's son Richard and sister Collette Barry, who expressed disbelief at the brutality of the murder and the alleged cover‑up by family members. The hearing also included evidence that Patricia's body was dismembered into 15 parts found at nine sites across the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Louise O'Connor pleaded guilty and was found guilty. Gus' O'Connor pleaded guilty. Kieran Greene pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.
A 38‑year‑old man was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for raping a sleeping woman in her friend's house in Co. Kildare on 12 March 2017. He pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a jury in February 2020. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, noted the offence was aggravated by the victim's sleep and the great harm caused. The sentence was suspended for 18 months on strict conditions, including keeping the peace, good behaviour for five years and no contact with the victim. The victim, who remains unnamed, gave a victim impact statement describing her life as "hell" and that she will never be able to move on. She does not accept the accused's apology. The accused has one prior assault conviction. The trial was held in the Central Criminal Court.
Padraig Tangney Junior, aged 39, received a suspended two‑year prison sentence for three counts of sexual assault of a child committed when he was 16. The offences occurred in 1995 and 1996 against his 13‑year‑old cousin at their family home in Tralee, Co. Kerry. Tangney pleaded guilty, and Justice Tara Burns noted his remorse and the fact that he was a child at the time of the offences, citing these as mitigating factors. The court accepted that the victim was extremely fragile and that Tangney's guilty pleas were valuable. He was found to be a low risk of reoffending, and the sentence was suspended on the condition he attends counselling for depression and stress management. Tangney is automatically registered as a sex offender, and the maximum sentence available is five years. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, William Dollard, a 30‑year‑old homeless man, was convicted of sexual assault and attempted anal rape of a 61‑year‑old homeless man on 30 May 2017 in County Cork. The incident, lasting 11 minutes, was captured on CCTV and involved Dollard assaulting the victim while he lay on blankets on the street. Dollard pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence. The court noted his 26 prior convictions, mainly for drink‑related offences, and his alcohol abuse. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a headline sentence of six years for the attempted rape, but, after mitigation, sentenced Dollard to five years and six months with the final 18 months suspended for two years. A concurrent two‑year sentence was imposed for the sexual assault. Conditions include not approaching or contacting the victim. The court heard the victim suffered flashbacks and expressed a desire to move on with his life.
A 60‑year‑old Galway man was found guilty by a jury of two counts of indecent assault and two counts of rape of his cousin, who was aged between seven and nine at the time. The cousin, who was also the man's godfather, was aged between 22 and 24. The man, now married with adult children, denies the verdicts and maintains his innocence. The victim, who thanked the jury for believing her, said she had lived in constant fear of the man and that the revelations of abuse had torn apart her extended family. She noted that her elderly mother remains unaware of the abuse. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court, with sentencing scheduled for 29 June. The man has been in custody since his conviction in February. The court adjourned the matter to the end of the month for sentencing.