Kieran Greene, 35, was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of murdering Patricia O'Connor, 61, at her Rathfarnham home on May 29, 2017. The jury unanimously rejected Greene's self-defence claim, accepting the prosecution's case that he inflicted catastrophic blunt force trauma to her head with a hurley. Greene had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The trial also involved three co-accused: Louise O'Connor, 41; Stephanie O'Connor, 22; and Keith Johnston, 43. All three pleaded not guilty to charges of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene, knowing or believing he had committed an arrestable offence. Specifically, Louise O'Connor was charged with acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie disguising herself as the deceased to conceal her death, while Stephanie was charged with the act of disguising herself. Johnston was charged with assisting Greene in purchasing implements for concealing the remains. The jury was directed to continue deliberations on these three defendants, meaning the matter regarding them was adjourned and not concluded. Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor, the deceased's husband, had previously pleaded guilty to reporting his wife as missing while knowing she was dead. The court will resume at 10.30am to hear verdicts on the remaining accused.
The trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that an 18‑year‑old woman was allegedly raped by three Dublin teenagers on 5 January 2016 at Dollymount Strand. The men, now in their early 20s, pleaded not guilty. The woman denied that she had said she would have no problem "doing three of them" and insisted she had said she did not want to have sex. She admitted taking cannabis and cocaine in the month before the incident but denied taking any other drugs on the day. She also denied saying she wanted to stay with the men after the alleged assault, stating she had planned to stay in a hostel or on the street. The case remains before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
In the capital murder trial of Aaron Brady, the court heard that about ten text messages were deleted from his girlfriend Jessica King's phone in the hours surrounding the fatal shooting of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe on 25 January 2013. One deleted message, sent the afternoon after the shooting, read, "Please Jess, I just want to get away til this blows over." Brady, 29, pleaded not guilty to the murder and to a robbery charge involving roughly €7,000. Sergeant Karen Coughlan presented 156 relevant pieces of evidence extracted from King's phone using Cellebrite, including exchanges with a contact named AaronX and another called Brades2. The messages revealed a heated argument the night before the shooting, Brady's attempts to contact King after the incident, and a series of deleted texts that were later recovered. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of eight men and seven women.
In a 2020 Central Criminal Court hearing, a 32‑year‑old man was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for a series of violent offences against his former partner and their three‑year‑old child. He pleaded guilty to assault, false imprisonment, threatening to kill and to burn the house, and to producing knives. A separate trial found him guilty of rape. The court described the incident as of "utmost seriousness" and noted the aggravating factors of the victim's status as the mother of his child and the continued harassment for six weeks after the assault. The judge highlighted the victim's testimony of enduring "horrific" false imprisonment and sexual assault, her ongoing trauma, and her fear of the offender's release. The sentencing reflected the severity of the violence and the victim's impact statement, with no mention of any mitigating factors beyond the offender's troubled childhood. The sentence was imposed by Mr Justice White.
During the Central Criminal Court trial of three Dublin teenagers, the complainant, aged 18 at the time of the alleged offences, testified that she was gang‑raped by the men at Dollymount Strand on 5 January 2016. She said she was left alone in a remote area after the assaults. The court heard that she had called for an ambulance to see a mental‑health doctor and that she may have asked for tablets and expressed a desire to die. She admitted that she became uncooperative and aggressive when taken to the sexual‑assault treatment unit at the Rotunda Hospital, and that she was later restrained by Gardaí. She also confirmed that she had previously alleged a gang‑rape in Dublin city centre in 2015 but did not pursue the complaint because she was scared. The defendants pleaded not guilty. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
A 70‑year‑old man was convicted of raping his 16‑year‑old niece in 1978 while she was staying with her grandparents in Co. Carlow. The trial lasted two weeks in January 2020 and the jury found him guilty on the sole count. He had no prior convictions. Mr Justice Paul Coffey noted that the offence was aggravated by the victim's age and the breach of trust, and that 42 years had passed since the crime. He also considered the man's health and the negligible risk of re‑offending. The judge sentenced him to four‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with no mention of a suspended portion or effective custody. The sentencing was delivered at the Central Criminal Court, and the man was remanded in custody following the conviction. The unnamed 70-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Kieran Greene, 35, accused of murdering 61‑year‑old Patricia O'Connor, is set to begin jury deliberations on Monday. Greene has pleaded not guilty. The case involves the dismemberment of Mrs O'Connor's body into 15 parts found across nine sites in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Evidence includes blunt‑force trauma to the head and the discovery of tools such as hacksaws and a hatchet. Greene's defence has highlighted inconsistencies in his statements to Gardaí, citing a change in his account from June to December 2017 and alleged Garda follow‑up failures. The prosecution presents circumstantial evidence linking Greene to the murder. Three other defendants—Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor and Keith Johnston—are charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene, each pleading not guilty. The jury will consider separate verdicts for the murder charge and the ancillary offences. The judge will finish charging the jury on Monday.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the father of suspect Mr Brady, aged 29, was described by retired detective inspector Pat Marry as "semi‑angry" when he arrived at a Garda station to inquire about the seizure of his car. Marry explained that the vehicle had been taken because it was seen driving at speed away from the scene after the fatal shooting of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, 41, on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. The car was seized in March 2013 by a Garda in Castlebellingham and later taken to Dundalk Garda Station. Mr Brady has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Donohoe and to a robbery charge involving approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael White, continues with a jury of eight men and seven women.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, an 18‑year‑old woman testified that she was raped by three Dublin teenagers aged 17 to 18 on 5 January 2016 at Bull Island, Dollymount. She said the men met her in an internet café, then drove her to Dollymount Strand where each man raped her in turn. She described being forced to lie in a car, having her trousers pulled down, and being penetrated by each man, one of whom she claimed was recording the act. She reported feeling horrified and disgusted, and that the men left her stranded in a remote area. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, continues with a jury that was empanelled earlier this month. The accused have pleaded not guilty. The case remains in progress.
The trial of Aaron Brady, accused of the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and robbing approximately €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013, continued before Mr Justice Michael White. Mr Brady, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to both charges. Detective Inspector Mark Phillips of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation testified regarding the investigation, noting that Mr Brady was deported from the US in 2017 after pleading guilty to criminal damage, unlawful taking of a car, and dangerous driving. The jury heard that police did not search a yard in Armagh where Mr Brady claimed to have been laundering diesel on the night of the shooting, a decision attributed to the Senior Investigating Officer. Mr Phillips stated that Mr Brady was initially a witness and that his alibi placing him at Lough Road was corroborated by three individuals. The prosecution highlighted the scale of the investigation, citing one million pages of materials, 40,000 hours of CCTV, and over 3,000 statements. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins questioned the timing of additional evidence notices. The trial is ongoing, with the matter adjourned.
In a 2020 trial, Judge Paul McDermott instructed the jury that self‑defence could be considered in the murder case of Kieran Greene, 35, accused of killing 61‑year‑old Patricia O'Connor, whose dismembered body was found across the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Greene pleaded not guilty. The jury was told to focus on facts, not emotions, and to treat each accused's statements separately. The judge explained that Greene's defence hinged on whether he used only necessary force after being attacked with a hurley, which could reduce a murder charge to manslaughter. He also clarified that the separate offence of impeding the investigation, charged against Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor and Keith Johnston, had its own possible verdicts. The judge emphasized that the jury must decide on each charge independently, based on the evidence presented.
The State's case against Keith Johnston, accused of assisting Kieran Greene in the purchase of items used in the concealment of the remains of Patricia O'Connor, has been described by defence counsel as 'clutching at straws' with no evidence of 'concealment, lies or secrecy'. The trial has heard that the body of Mrs O'Connor was dismembered into 15 parts found at nine different locations in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains between June 10 and 14, 2017. Keith Johnston has pleaded not guilty to assisting Kieran Greene in the purchase of various implements on June 9, 2017, which were to be used in the concealment of the remains of Mrs O'Connor. Louise O'Connor and Stephanie O'Connor have both pleaded not guilty to charges of disguising themselves as Mrs O'Connor and agreeing to or acquiescing in the disguise to conceal the fact that Patricia O'Connor was dead. Keith Johnston has been acquitted on some charges. The trial is ongoing with the jury to be charged by Mr Justice Paul McDermott tomorrow.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Aaron Brady, 29, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, continued before Justice White. Mr Brady has pleaded not guilty to the alleged capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe (41) and the alleged robbery of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013. Detective Inspector Mark Phillips testified regarding text messages sent by Mr Brady to his then-girlfriend, Jessica King, on the day of the incident. Mr Brady allegedly stated he was "loading the lorry" at 19:54, approximately 90 minutes before the shooting. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC highlighted discrepancies between Mr Brady's account to gardai, who claimed he was in the yard for only 10 to 15 minutes, and the texts suggesting a longer duration. Mr O'Higgins also noted that the diesel laundering yard in south Armagh, where Mr Brady claimed to be working, was not searched by the PSNI. Inspector Phillips stated he did not recall suggesting a search and could not explain why it did not occur. The court adjourned the matter, with the jury instructed to return the following day.
The trial of Kieran Greene, Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, and Keith Johnston is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Greene, 35, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Patricia O'Connor at her home in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on May 29, 2017. The other three accused have pleaded not guilty to charges of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene, specifically involving concealing the deceased's body. Louise O'Connor is accused of acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie disguising herself as the victim; Stephanie is accused of that disguise; and Keith Johnston is accused of assisting Greene in purchasing implements to conceal remains. Defence counsel Conor Devally SC argued in his closing statement that Greene, who has a developmental difficulty, was portrayed inconsistently as both a "moron" and a "Machiavelli" mastermind. He contended that Greene's initial June confession was coerced to protect his children and that his later December account, which implicated the deceased's husband Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor, contained the truth. Devally urged the jury to acquit Greene, noting that Gus O'Connor had previously pleaded guilty to falsely reporting his wife missing. The trial has heard evidence that the victim's body was dismembered and found across Dublin and Wicklow. Stephanie O'Connor's defence counsel is scheduled to deliver his closing speech tomorrow.
At the Central Criminal Court, a man accused of the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe has claimed he was engaged in diesel laundering at the time of the fatal shooting. Aaron Brady, aged 29, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, denies the murder of Det Gda Donohoe, who was shot at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth on 25 January 2013. He also denies robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques from the same location. An alibi notice submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions states that Brady was loading diesel waste at a yard on Concession Road in Cullaville, Co Armagh, for between 90 minutes and two hours around the time of the shooting. Brady told gardaí previously that he had initially provided an inaccurate account of his movements owing to concerns about incriminating himself in diesel laundering activities. The trial, before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury, continues. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty. Adrian Donohoe pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing in January 2020, a 70‑year‑old man was convicted of raping his niece in County Carlow in 1978. The victim, who was 16 at the time, described the perpetrator as a "wolf disguised as an uncle" and recounted being forced into her bedroom, raped while she pretended to be dead. She said the assault left her unable to sleep and caused her mother to "crumbled into dust" when she learned of the crime. The defendant pleaded not guilty, offered various motives for the alleged false claim, and was remanded in custody. He had no prior convictions. The case was adjourned to February 21 for sentencing. The court did not discuss any prior or subsequent legal actions.
A trial in the Central Criminal Court is ongoing regarding the murder of Patricia O'Connor (61) at her home in Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29, 2017. Kieran Greene (35), the accused, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mrs O'Connor and has changed his account of the events six months later. The prosecution has stated that there was no evidence of a single defensive wound on Mrs O'Connor's body and that Greene bore an 'ill-will' and 'a particular animus or bad feeling' against her. The trial has heard that Mrs O'Connor's dismembered remains were found scattered in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Louise O'Connor (41), Stephanie O'Connor (22), and Keith Johnston (43) have also pleaded not guilty to charges related to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Kieran Greene. The prosecution has presented evidence, including forensic findings and receipts from DIY shops, to support their case. The trial is in the closing stages, with the prosecution's case being presented by Ms Lacey, who has emphasized the lack of defensive injuries and the coherent narrative of the accused's actions. The trial is expected to continue with Ms Lacey's closing speech to the jury tomorrow.
At the Central Criminal Court, evidence emerged that Aaron Brady was subject to bail conditions and a curfew when Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fatally shot on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, County Louth. Mr Brady, aged 29 and from Crossmaglen, County Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to capital murder and to robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques from the same location on the same date. Inspector Mark Phillips told the court that Mr Brady attended Dundalk Garda Station on 5 February 2013 to provide a voluntary statement. The accused outlined his background and movements in the days preceding the detective's death. A wildlife ranger also testified that he discovered a burned-out car on Cumsons Road in south Armagh on 26 January 2013, the day after the shooting. The trial before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury continues at the Central Criminal Court.
Two men from Leitrim have been sentenced to seven years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following their conviction for the rape of a woman who was intoxicated at a house party in 2017. A jury found the first man guilty of rape in November last year, while the second man was convicted of oral rape. The second man has indicated his intention to appeal. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon imposed the sentences this morning, noting that the victim was vulnerable due to intoxication and that the men had exploited this vulnerability. The judge observed that both defendants continue to deny the offences and have demonstrated no remorse or empathy for the harm caused. The final year of each eight-year sentence was suspended on condition of engagement with sexual offending assessments and treatment programmes. The men, who are in their early twenties and knew the complainant from school, cannot be identified to protect the victim's anonymity. During sentencing, supporters of the accused made hostile remarks towards the victim outside the courtroom. The unnamed woman pleaded not guilty.
A man who disposed of the chainsaw used to dismember the body of Kenneth O'Brien and impeded the prosecution of his father, who carried out the murder and dumped the victim's body parts in the Grand Canal, has been jailed for 18 months. Paul Wells Junior (33), of Beatty Park, Celbrudge, Co Kildare, was found guilty last November of disposing of a blood-stained chainsaw used to dismember the body of Mr O'Brien. He had denied disposing of the chainsaw motor at a time unknown between January 19 and 20, 2016 in Co Kildare, and had also pleaded not guilty to disposing of a chainsaw blade and chain on January 20, 2016 in the same location. His father, Paul Wells Senior (51), of Barnamore Park, Finglas in Dublin 11, was jailed for life in 2018 having been found guilty of murdering Mr O'Brien at his home in Finglas on January 15 or 16, 2016. Wells Snr admitted to shooting Mr O'Brien in his back garden, dismembering his body, and dumping it in a suitcase in the Grand Canal. At his own trial, Wells Snr argued that he had acted in self defence when he shot Mr O'Brien. The court heard that Wells Jnr had a 'difficult history' with his father and a credible threat had been placed upon his life by his father. Wells Jnr was sentenced to three years in prison with the last 18 months suspended on condition he keep the peace for that period of time. The judge said she had given 'great consideration' to handing down a fully suspended sentence but said she did not think it would mark the gravity of the offence.
A youth convicted of manslaughter in connection with the death of a teenager in Claremorris, County Mayo, will be sentenced on 20 March following a brief hearing at the Central Criminal Court. The defendant was found guilty in July 2017 of the manslaughter of Dovydas Jenkas, aged seventeen, who died from a stab wound in the early hours of 19 December 2015. He had been charged with murder but acquitted of that charge. Justice Eileen Creedon indicated the offender should expect a custodial sentence and directed him to prepare accordingly. The sentencing hearing had been delayed pending the defendant's recovery from brain surgery. The judge noted that the victim's family requires finality in the matter.
A 57-year-old man from County Donegal has been convicted of sexually assaulting a boy in his care between 2003 and 2004. The defendant, whose identity is protected to safeguard the victim, faced trial at the Central Criminal Court on seven counts of oral rape, to which he pleaded not guilty. A jury acquitted him of these charges but convicted him of the alternative lesser offence of sexual assault involving molestation of the child's genitals when the victim was aged between 13 and 15 years. Ms Justice Carmel Stewart imposed a two-year sentence, suspending the final six months on strict conditions. The victim, now in his twenties, delivered an impact statement describing how the abuse had destroyed his childhood and caused ongoing trauma. During sentencing, the court noted the defendant had offered to plead guilty to sexual assault prior to trial, an offer rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
In the Central Criminal Court, Aaron Brady, 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, 41, and to a robbery charge. Brady admitted that the first account he gave to Gardaí after the shooting was untrue, claiming he did not think they would investigate it thoroughly. He explained that he had been with a BMW driver the day after the incident, traveling around the area, eating at a local restaurant, and staying at his girlfriend's house until 3 a.m. Brady said he was unaware of the shooting until that morning. Inspector John Moroney noted inconsistencies between Brady's statements and those of the driver, and that Brady's initial account was contradicted by the driver's version. The jury heard testimony from Garda Finbar Gurhy and Garda David Byrne about the BMW's movements, and the trial proceeded before Mr Justice Michael White and a 15‑person jury.
In a Dublin hotel room on 21 November 2013, 46‑year‑old Hoi Ping Yung raped a woman after a night of heavy drinking with a male friend. The victim, who slept alone in a single bed while Yung and the friend occupied the double bed, awoke to find Yung rubbing her arm and leg, then later being raped when her body was pulled down. She reported the assault, and Gardaí arrested Yung, who was later deemed too intoxicated for an interview. Yung denied the rape, claiming any sex was consensual, and had no prior convictions. During the trial, the victim's impact statement criticised the court's language, alleging victim‑shaming and emotional distress. Justice Tara Burns allowed the statement, noting the system's difficulty for complainants, and adjourned sentencing to 6 March, remanding Yung in custody. The Central Criminal Court had returned a guilty verdict in December. Hoi Ping Yung pleaded not guilty.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Dr Edward Connolly reported that forensic tests on numerous items from the scene of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe's fatal shooting found no DNA linking Aaron Brady, the accused, to the crime. Samples examined included swabs from cars, a hammer, cigarette butts, a handbag, car keys, chewing gum, gloves, a €2 coin, a shotgun cartridge, CDs, a plastic wallet, a Tayto crisp packet, a cable tie, a Starburst wrapper and a popcorn packet. Three unknown male DNA profiles were generated but matched no individuals in the national database; other profiles matched Garda or witnesses present. Brady, 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder and to a robbery charge at the same location and time. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of 15.
In the Central Criminal Court, a ballistics expert testified that the fatal shot that killed Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fired from a distance of six to seven feet. The expert, Detective Garda Seamus O'Donnell, demonstrated a semi‑automatic Beretta A301 12‑gauge shotgun similar to the weapon used, and compared impact patterns on targets with the wound on Donohoe's right eye. He measured a 60‑mm diameter impact at the same range, concluding the shooter was within six to seven feet of the muzzle. The cartridge found at the scene was a 12‑gauge round from a Spanish manufacturer, containing about 250 lead pellets, with 90 pellets recovered from Donohoe's body. The testimony was presented to a jury of seven women and eight men, with the trial proceeding before Mr Justice Michael White. The accused, Aaron Brady, 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder and robbery charges.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Kieran Greene, Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, and Keith Johnston continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. All four accused have pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the alleged murder of Patricia O'Connor (61) at her Rathfarnham home on May 29, 2017. Greene is charged with murdering Mrs O'Connor, while the other three face charges of impeding apprehension, including disguising the deceased and assisting in the purchase of implements to conceal remains. Evidence presented includes testimony from Dr Michael Curtis, who stated blunt force trauma to the head caused death, and Garda Roisin Rowley Burke, who detailed CCTV footage showing Mrs O'Connor's last appearance at 3.08pm on the day of the alleged murder. Irish Prison Service manager Walter Burke confirmed that Louise O'Connor visited Greene at Cloverhill Prison on June 17, 2017, where she was recorded as his girlfriend. Keith Johnston visited on September 2, 2017, and both visited together on October 14 and November 16, 2017. The court also heard that Greene initially told gardai he dismembered the body alone, but later claimed he was set up. The trial is ongoing and has not been finalised.
The trial of a 26‑year‑old Dublin man accused of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault ended with a hung jury after nearly six hours of deliberation. The accused pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The complainant, a woman in her 20s, testified that she and friends had been drinking in a city centre bar, that the accused had repeatedly asked her out and she had declined. She said she and a male friend went to the accused's home, brought drinks, and she slept in a bed. She woke to find the accused touching her buttocks and raping her. During cross‑examination, the accused claimed he was sleeping between the complainant and another man, felt the woman moving into his pelvis area, and believed the sex was consensual. The judge discharged the jury and adjourned the case for a new trial date on 24 February.
The trial of Kieran Greene, 34, and three co-accused continued at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Greene, who pleaded not guilty to murdering Patricia O'Connor, 61, at her home in Rathfarnham on May 29, 2017, is alleged to have dismembered her body, with remains found across Dublin and Wicklow. Louise O'Connor, 41, Stephanie O'Connor, 22, and Keith Johnston, 43, all pleaded not guilty to charges including impeding the apprehension of Greene, disguising themselves as the deceased, or assisting in the concealment of evidence. Evidence presented included CCTV footage of Greene dropping his children at school on May 30, where a witness described him as a "lovely parent" who showed no unusual behavior. The prosecution alleged Stephanie O'Connor disguised herself as her grandmother to create a ruse that Mrs O'Connor had left the house. Defense counsel highlighted that Greene initially confessed to the killing but later claimed he was set up. The court also heard testimony regarding items found in the residence, including a black suitcase. The trial was adjourned to Monday afternoon.
In the Central Criminal Court, the case of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe's murder was heard. Inspector Darren Kirwan testified that he discovered Donohoe had been shot at 21.45 on 25 January 2013 and immediately went to the deceased's home to inform his wife, Caroline Donohoe, who identified his body in the credit union car park at 11pm. Aaron Brady, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Donohoe and to the robbery of about €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. Dr Khalid Jaber performed a post‑mortem, finding extensive brain and skull damage and a penetrating shotgun wound to the face as the cause of death. Witnesses, including Leona White, Christina Birch, and Garda Rachel Copperthwaite, described hearing gunshots, seeing a robbery, and finding Donohoe's body. The trial continued on Monday before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
The trial of Kieran Greene, Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, and Keith Johnston continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court. Greene, 34, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Patricia O'Connor, 61, at her home in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on May 29, 2017. The other three accused have also pleaded not guilty to charges including impeding the apprehension of Greene, disguising the deceased to conceal her death, and assisting in the purchase of items to conceal her remains. The jury has examined CCTV footage showing Greene and Johnston purchasing DIY items in Tallaght on June 9, 2017, and Johnston redecorating the bathroom at the scene. Evidence presented includes testimony that the deceased's remains were dismembered and scattered across nine locations in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. The prosecution alleges Johnston assisted Greene in destroying evidence, while defense counsel highlighted inconsistencies in Greene's changing accounts to gardai. The matter is ongoing, with the trial continuing before a jury of six men and six women.
A former detective garda testified at the Central Criminal Court that he feared for his life when armed raiders confronted him and his colleague during a credit union escort at Bellurgan, County Louth on 25 January 2013. The witness described how one raider pointed a shotgun at him and made threats, while another held a handgun. He stated that Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fatally shot during the incident. Aaron Brady, aged 28 from Crossmaglen, County Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Donohoe and to robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques from Lordship Credit Union on the same date and location. The witness, who has served as a garda since 1992, detailed the sequence of events and provided descriptions of the raiders' appearance and accents. The trial, heard before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury, continues.
In 2018 a 60‑year‑old man was convicted of raping his 15‑year‑old sister‑in‑law at his home in the east of Ireland between October 1983 and July 1984. The prosecution alleged that he had shown pornographic magazines and photographs, pushed her onto the bed and raped her. The victim, who was too afraid to speak at the time, later disclosed the assault to her mother, siblings, a doctor and a family member at a charity event. After a statement to Gardaí, the man was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury and sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final three‑and‑a‑half years suspended. In February 2020 the Court of Appeal quashed the conviction and ordered a retrial, finding that the trial judge's comments about the case having "a lot of detail" had improperly influenced the jury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 32‑year‑old man was found guilty of falsely imprisoning, threatening to kill and burn the house of his ex‑partner and of assaulting her, including fracturing her jaw in May 2016. He pleaded guilty to assault, damaging her phone and producing a car‑jack handle, and to harassing her between 14 May and 30 June 2016. A separate jury verdict in December last year found him guilty of rape, a conviction he continues to deny. The court heard that on the day of the assault he had been drinking, locked all doors, threatened to burn the house, used a bread knife and a car‑jack handle to assault her, and then raped her while a three‑year‑old child slept nearby. He was sentenced on 24 February. The victim, who has not returned to work and suffers nightmares, said she no longer leaves her home unless necessary and fears his release.
The trial of Kieran Greene, Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, and Keith Johnston is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Greene, 34, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Patricia O'Connor, 61, at her home in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on May 29, 2017. The other three accused have also pleaded not guilty to charges including impeding the apprehension of Greene, disguising themselves to conceal the victim's death, and assisting in the purchase of implements to conceal remains. The jury reviewed 343 hours of CCTV footage captured by a neighbour, which showed family movements on the day of the alleged killing. Prosecution evidence suggests Stephanie O'Connor disguised herself as her grandmother to create a ruse that the victim had left the house. Former Depute State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. The trial heard that the victim's remains were dismembered and found at nine locations in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. The matter was adjourned and continues tomorrow.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 19‑year‑old named Alexander Whelan pleaded guilty to manslaughter after stabbing Bruno Rolandi, 56, to death during a domestic dispute. Whelan claimed he acted to protect his mother, Mary, who had a volatile relationship with Rolandi, a violent heroin user. Witnesses described a confrontation over a WiFi password that escalated into physical aggression, with Rolandi assaulting Whelan's brother and attempting to grab Mary. Whelan then stabbed Rolandi three times, one wound reaching 23 cm and causing fatal bleeding. He was found in shock, attempting to stop the bleeding, and cooperated fully with Gardaí. The court noted Whelan's lack of prior convictions, his young age, and his good character, and the judge was instructed to consider a custodial sentence as a last resort. The case was scheduled for sentencing on March 2.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, a 28‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to raping a woman who had been a family friend and "like a sister" to him. The offence occurred on 30 October 2016 at the man's home in County Kerry while the woman was visiting with her family. She woke in a bedroom she shared with her children to find the man having sex with her from behind. The victim's impact statement described a loss of trust, nightmares, and a life changed by the assault, noting that her children were present during the rape. The court, hearing that the man had spent part of his childhood living with the victim's family, imposed a five‑year sentence, suspending the final year on conditions. The judge described the offence as heinous and highlighted the damage to both families.
A 56‑year‑old Tipperary man was sentenced by a Central Criminal Court jury to 12 years' imprisonment for raping and sexually assaulting his special‑needs daughter. The court heard that he raped her twice in her bedroom when she was 22, after asking her whether she loved him or her mother more, and also sexually assaulted her on that same occasion. He had previously sexually assaulted her when she was 13 or 14, forcing her to perform oral sex while she slept in the same bed as a friend. He was convicted on five charges, including rape, oral rape and sexual assault, covering incidents between January 2003 and December 2004 and a separate incident in January 2011. He denied the charges. The judge registered him as a sex offender, suspended the final year of the sentence on strict conditions, and noted that he had not accepted the jury's verdict.
A 20‑year‑old man was sentenced to eight years in prison for violently raping a 15‑year‑old girl at his Co Meath home on 27 March 2018. The judge described the offence as a "violent rape" and noted the victim was "completely innocent" and not consenting. The sentence was reduced to six years with the final two years suspended, conditional on the offender completing the Better Lives programme while in custody. The court heard that the victim had been lured to the house with a friend, was isolated on the couch, and was forcibly raped, choked, and threatened with violence. The offender had 14 prior convictions, including sexual assault, assault causing harm, theft, and other offences. The victim's impact statement highlighted her fear, shame, and desire to move on, while her father expressed guilt and a sense of failure for not protecting her. The judge praised the victim's resilience and urged her to hold her head high. The unnamed 15-year-old pleaded guilty.
A 22‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to one year, with the nine months he had already spent in custody counted toward the term, so he will not serve additional time. He pleaded guilty to a single count of sexually assaulting a 16‑year‑old female friend at a Dublin address on 1 August 2014, when she was asleep after a drinks party. The assault occurred while she was in bed, fully clothed, and the man penetrated her vagina with his finger. The victim, who was in fifth year at the time, later reported depression, anxiety and panic attacks, and said the incident led to unhealthy relationships and loss of confidence. The defendant, who was also 16 at the time, claimed he had asked for consent and that the victim's mum‑like friend had been present the night before.
The trial of Kieran Greene, Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, and Keith Johnston is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Greene, 34, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Patricia O'Connor, 61, at her home in Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on May 29, 2017. Louise O'Connor, 41, has pleaded not guilty to agreeing to or acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie O'Connor, 22, disguising herself as the deceased to conceal her death. Stephanie O'Connor has pleaded not guilty to disguising herself as Mrs O'Connor. Keith Johnston, 43, has pleaded not guilty to assisting Greene in purchasing implements for the concealment of remains and to refurbishing a bathroom to destroy evidence. All defendants are charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene. Evidence presented includes testimony from Richard O'Connor, the deceased's son, who stated his sister Louise did not want to report their mother missing. He identified Stephanie O'Connor in CCTV footage closing the back door on the night of the alleged murder. The prosecution alleges Stephanie disguised herself as her grandmother to create a ruse that Mrs O'Connor had left the house. The court has heard that Mrs O'Connor's dismembered remains were found at nine locations in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains between June 10 and 14, 2017. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with no final verdict or sentence recorded.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 26‑year‑old Dublin man pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. He denied raping a woman in April 2018, claiming he was "freaked out" and that the act was consensual. The complainant, aged in her 20s, testified that she and friends had gone to the defendant's home after a night out, where she was allegedly raped while sleeping. She said she had been unconscious and that her eyes were closed during the assault. The defendant testified that he felt the woman's pelvis moving, that they had "lazy foreplay" for about 30 minutes, and that full penetration lasted only about five seconds before another man awoke. He claimed he believed the sex was mutual and that he had apologized because he was "freaked out".
The trial of Aaron Brady, 28, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Michael White. Brady has pleaded not guilty to the alleged capital murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe and the robbery of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013. Prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC opened the case, alleging that a gang of four raiders targeted the Garda escort for a "base criminal motive" driven by money. He stated that one raider allegedly shot Det Gda Donohoe in the face with a shotgun, killing him instantly, while another threatened Det Gda Joe Ryan with a handgun. The prosecution contends the operation was highly organized, with the getaway car later found burnt out in South Armagh. Grehan argued that Brady was under financial pressure and allegedly lied about his whereabouts. Evidence will include CCTV, mobile phone data showing a "telecommunications blackout" during the incident, and conversations Brady allegedly had after moving to New York. The jury of 15 is hearing the prosecution's case, which relies on circumstantial evidence to link Brady to the crime. The trial continues.
In 2011 Gerard Kane, aged 43, broke into a woman's home and raped her twice. He had been on bail for a separate burglary of a Fianna Fáil minister's office. In November 2012 he pleaded guilty to the rape and was sentenced to twelve years with three years suspended. Released in August 2018, he committed two burglaries in January 2019, for which he received a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final year suspended. The court activated one year of the suspended portion of the 2012 sentence, crediting time already served, and ordered it to run consecutively with the 2019 sentence. Kane's defence cited mental health issues, homelessness, lack of support and self‑medication as factors contributing to his reoffending. The court noted the victim's severe trauma and the defendant's chaotic background. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Three newly sworn jurors for Aaron Brady's capital murder trial have declared they cannot serve. Mr Justice Michael White instructed the jury of eight men and seven women to elect a foreman before the trial's opening. Brady, 28, from Crossmaglen, Armagh, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was on duty on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Louth, and also to a robbery charge of about €7,000 at the same place and time. The trial continues.
A 59-year-old Mayo man has been sentenced to three years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, following his guilty plea to sexually assaulting a woman with intellectual disabilities at the Central Criminal Court. The offence occurred at his home on 13 March 2015. The victim, who attended special needs school with the man's son, was found by medical assessment to lack capacity to consent due to her cognitive functioning. In her victim impact statement, the woman described significant distress and ongoing anxiety. Mr Justice Michael White identified the assault's serious nature and the victim's vulnerability as aggravating factors. The judge noted exceptional mitigating circumstances, including the man's lack of previous convictions, genuine remorse, and his role as a caring parent to his own son with special needs. The suspended portion of the sentence is conditional on the man's participation in the Better Lives programme.
A 26-year-old man from Castlebar, County Mayo has been sent forward for trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the murder of his mother. Celyn Eadon, of Derrycrieve, Islandeady, faces the charge relating to an incident on March 9, 2011. The trial is scheduled to commence on November 2, with the defence indicating proceedings are expected to conclude within a fortnight. Mr Justice Michael White approved the sending forward of the case following proceedings at court today.
A 15‑person jury was sworn in to hear the trial of Aaron Brady, charged with the capital murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co. Louth. Brady, 28, also faced a charge of robbing about €7,000 from Mr Pat Bellew at the same location and date. Mr Justice Michael White of the Central Criminal Court explained that the trial would be lengthy, expected to finish on 28 May, with a two‑week break at Easter and no sitting on St. Patrick's Day. He warned jurors against any difficulty in serving and urged them to remain impartial, avoiding social media or internet research. The jury would ultimately consist of 12 members, with 15 sworn in to allow for possible withdrawals. The trial was set to open the following day.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 26‑year‑old Dublin man pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The complainant, aged in her 20s, testified that she and friends, including the accused, were drinking in a city centre bar. After the accused had previously asked her out and she declined, they returned to his home. She claimed she fell asleep in a room with him and later awoke to find him touching her buttocks and then raping her. She said she did not move or speak because she was "frozen" in shock. During cross‑examination, the defense asked why she did not pull away or say stop; she replied she felt she could not move. She later described how she squeezed the accused's throat to stop him. The accused told Gardaí that the activity was consensual, a claim the witness denied.
In January 2020 the Court of Appeal ruled that Dan Flynn's two‑year jail sentence for raping a six‑year‑old girl in 1979 was unduly lenient. Flynn, a 76‑year‑old former farm labourer, was 36 when he assaulted the child, who later testified that he forced his penis into her mouth and spat on her. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court, where he was sentenced to six years, with four years suspended, in May 2019. The appeal was brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who argued the brutality and long‑term impact on the victim warranted a harsher penalty. Flynn's counsel contended the sentence was within normal limits, citing his medical condition and the guilty‑plea discount. The Court of Appeal will resentencing Flynn on 13 February 2020, pending a detailed medical report for prison conditions.