A 32-year-old man from Sligo has been found not guilty by reason of insanity of murdering his neighbour at Connolly Street in February 2018. Richard McLaughlin, with an address at The Laurels, Woodtown Lodge, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital following the Central Criminal Court hearing, which concluded on 26 July. The court heard that McLaughlin broke into the home of Jimmy James Loughlin and fatally assaulted him with a crowbar while experiencing delusions stemming from paranoid schizophrenia. Forensic evidence indicated the victim died from traumatic head injuries sustained during the attack. Two consultant psychiatrists testified that McLaughlin's mental illness prevented him from knowing his actions were wrong and rendered him unable to prevent himself from committing the killing. Justice Carmel Stewart ordered McLaughlin's commitment to the Central Mental Hospital for inpatient care, finding no doubt he was suffering from mental disorder.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Paula Farrell, 46, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for killing her 30‑year‑old boyfriend, Wayne McQuillan, on New Year's morning 2014. The prosecution argued that Farrell had fabricated a rape claim to justify the killing, citing her statements to Gardaí 15 months after the death and her description of the relationship as "brilliant." They highlighted forensic psychiatric evidence of post‑traumatic stress disorder from childhood abuse and noted that Farrell had been intoxicated with about six litres of cider that night. The defence countered that Farrell's PTSD and childhood sexual abuse shaped her state of mind, and that the alleged rape was a false narrative. The jury was instructed to consider whether provocation could reduce the charge to manslaughter, while the prosecution maintained that the evidence supported a murder verdict.
In the Louth woman's trial at the Central Criminal Court, Dr Sally Linehan, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, testified for the prosecution. She reported that she had produced two reports on Paula Farrell, the 46‑year‑old accused of murdering her boyfriend Wayne McQuillan. In the 2015 report, Dr Linehan noted that Farrell had not experienced flashbacks or hearing voices at the time of the alleged offence, but she did meet the criteria for post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In the 2019 report, Farrell admitted to intrusive dreams about childhood sexual abuse but did not recall memories of abuse at the time of the 2014 killing. Dr Linehan was not satisfied that Farrell had a dissociative reaction during the incident. She agreed with the defence psychiatrist that Farrell suffered from PTSD, alcohol dependence, hypersensitivity, hyper‑vigilance and emotional instability, and that she had a passive death wish but no plan to harm herself. The jury will hear closing speeches tomorrow. Paula Farrell pleaded not guilty.
In a 2019 trial at the Central Criminal Court, 46‑year‑old Paula Farrell of Drogheda pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for killing 30‑year‑old Wayne McQuillan on New Year's Day 2014. She admitted stabbing him four times and claimed he had tried to rape her, an allegation she said stemmed from childhood sexual abuse. A forensic psychiatrist testified that Farrell suffered from post‑traumatic stress disorder due to that abuse. Dr Kevin Lamb, a clinical psychologist, testified that Farrell's IQ was around 70, placing her in the lowest two percent of the population, and argued that this limited her ability to plan the killing. He also noted that Farrell's mental state, intoxication, childhood abuse and alleged sexual assault together contributed to the incident. The prosecution highlighted McQuillan's injuries and suggested he had fought back, while the defence maintained Farrell's narrative. The court heard these conflicting accounts during the trial's ninth day.
Patrick O'Driscoll, aged 21, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury in Cork of raping a sleeping woman on 10 May 2016 while her boyfriend slept beside her. The victim, who remains anonymous, stated that the assault occurred from behind and that she tried to wake her boyfriend, leading to a confrontation. O'Driscoll denied the charge, claiming he had been invited to sleep in the bed, a claim refuted by the boyfriend. He was arrested for a public order offence before the full extent of the incident was known. O'Driscoll, who has 37 prior district‑court convictions, was sentenced to ten years, reduced to seven years by the judge to account for mitigating factors such as his young age and personal circumstances. He remains in custody. The court noted no restriction on publishing his identity but advised caution in reporting the location. The victim's impact statement described lasting emotional harm, nightmares, and feelings of shame and anger.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 63‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to raping a woman who could not recall the incident the following morning. The offence occurred on 11 August 2015 in County Meath. The court sentenced him to five years' imprisonment and imposed a three‑year post‑release supervision period with strict conditions, including abstaining from alcohol. The judge noted that both the accused and the victim were alcoholics and had been drinking together that night, each consuming two bottles of wine. After the victim slept, the accused entered her room and had sex with her without consent, leaving a condom wrapper in the ensuite. The accused admitted keeping condoms in his wallet and flushing them after use. He had prior convictions for sexual assault in 2010 and 1994. The judge highlighted his limited intellectual ability, cognitive difficulties, impulsivity, and the victim's vulnerability.
In a manslaughter sentencing hearing on 22 July 2019, the lawyer for Inga Ozolina argued that her client, a 48‑year‑old mother of two, killed her boyfriend, Audrius Pukas, in self‑defence after a history of domestic violence. The barrister claimed that Pukas had attacked Ozolina with a knife and that she had used her hands and fists in response. Ozolina had previously been found guilty of manslaughter, not murder, by a jury in May. The lawyer highlighted evidence of prior injuries to Ozolina and two safety orders that had lapsed. She requested that the judge place the offence in the lower culpability range, citing the alleged deadly attack. The judge adjourned sentencing to 31 July and remanded Ozolina in custody until then. The hearing did not address any further legal outcomes. Inga Ozolina pleaded not guilty.
A 75‑year‑old man, Christopher Redmond of Finglas, had his 2018 conviction for raping his granddaughter quashed after a new medical report found he suffered from a severe form of dementia with no prospect of recovery. The Court of Appeal considered that the earlier report, which had only noted a mild cognitive impairment, did not raise any doubt about his fitness to stand trial at the time of the original trial. Redmond had pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape and five counts of sexual assault between 2002 and 2004. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment by Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, who had reduced the headline sentence because of his progressive cognitive impairments. The appeal was allowed, and no further order was made. The victim, Leanne Murphy, aged seven to nine when abused, expressed her shock and disappointment with the outcome.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Paul McDermott granted the legal teams of two 14‑year‑old boys convicted of murdering 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel access to parts of each other's probation reports that relate to the murder and sexual assault. The request was made by Gerardine Small BL for the Director of Public Prosecutions, and both defendants' counsel, Patrick Gageby SC and Damien Colgan SC, objected neither to the disclosure nor to a garda inspector's access. The judge emphasised that the documents must be handled with the strictest confidence and warned that any breach would be contempt of court. He also limited media presence to no more than five reporters at the boys' sentencing in October, citing the need for an appropriate environment. The boys, referred to as Boy A and Boy B, were convicted by unanimous jury verdicts last month for Ana's murder and aggravated sexual assault.
In the Louth murder trial, 46‑year‑old Paula Farrell pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for killing 30‑year‑old Wayne McQuillan on New Year's Day 2014. She admitted stabbing him four times after he allegedly tried to have sex with her and began strangling her. Farrell testified that she had been abused as a child between ages seven and fourteen, and that she had reported the abuse to an adult who ensured her safety. She also disclosed that she had told a Rape Crisis Centre counsellor in 2016 that she felt "helpless like a child" when McQuillan tried to rape her. A forensic psychiatrist, Dr. Brenda Wright, testified that Farrell had long‑standing alcohol dependence, post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), hypersensitivity, hyper‑vigilance and emotional instability, and that her childhood abuse had significantly increased her risk of these mental health difficulties. The trial continues with the prosecution cross‑examining the witness.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 19 July 2019, Judge Michael White ordered separate trials for Paul O'Beirne, 36, and Jeffrey Morrow, 37, who had pleaded not guilty to the murder of 25‑year‑old Vincent Ryan. Ryan was shot dead on 29 February 2016 while parked outside his partner's home on McKee Road, Finglas. The judge directed a separate trial for Morrow and announced that O'Beirne's trial would continue before a jury next Tuesday, with the case still expected to conclude on 8 August. Acting State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan had previously stated that Ryan died after being shot three times, one bullet passing through his head. Vincent's partner, Kelly Smyth, testified that she and their five‑week‑old daughter were in the car when the shooting occurred, and that Ryan was found seriously injured and bleeding in the driver's side of the vehicle before being pronounced dead later that day. The trial remains ongoing.
Tomasz Paszkiewicz, 39, was remanded in custody at the Central Criminal Court following a trial where he was found not guilty of murder but guilty of the manslaughter of Marek Swider. The jury reached a majority verdict after nearly five hours of deliberation. Paszkiewicz had pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter regarding the death of his housemate, who died of two stab wounds inflicted with a boning knife on January 1, 2018, in Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan. Prosecutors argued the case involved high culpability, citing the use of a lethal weapon, lack of provocation, and the accused's failure to assist the victim. Defence counsel urged the court to view it as a medium-culpability case, highlighting Paszkiewicz's remorse, lack of prior convictions, and cooperation with gardai. Paszkiewicz testified that he was ashamed and that human life is priceless. Ms Justice Tara Burns adjourned the matter, stating she will pass sentence on Thursday next.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Paula Farrell, 46, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the death of 30‑year‑old Wayne McQuillan on New Year's morning 2014. She admitted stabbing him four times with a large chef's knife. During cross‑examination, she acknowledged that she knew the knife would do more than merely hurt him, yet claimed she did not intend to kill him, only to scare him. She stated that McQuillan had tried to have sex with her and had begun strangling her before she went to the kitchen. Farrell also admitted that she had told investigators she was angry and that she lashes out at people she loves. The prosecution continued questioning on Friday.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Paula Farrell, 46, denied that she lied to the jury about an alleged rape attempt by her boyfriend, Wayne McQuillan, whom she stabbed to death in 2014. She had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. During cross‑examination, Farrell said she and McQuillan were likely arguing over a trivial matter and that she was not letting him dominate her when she stabbed him. She also claimed he had tried to have sex with her and had begun strangling her before she went to the kitchen for a knife. Farrell admitted she had not made these statements in earlier Garda interviews or in consultations with female doctors, and that the State first learned of the allegation in May of the following year. The prosecution, led by Gerard Clarke SC, will continue cross‑examining her tomorrow.
A 32-year-old man, Richard McLaughlin, who was found not guilty by reason of insanity of the murder of Jimmy 'James' Loughlin (20) in Sligo on February 24, 2018, has been committed to the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) following an appeal. The court heard that McLaughlin broke into Loughlin's home and beat him to death with a crowbar while suffering from delusions caused by paranoid schizophrenia. Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan confirmed that Loughlin died from traumatic head injuries. During the trial, it was revealed that McLaughlin had a history of mental health issues, including previous admissions to St Columba's Hospital in Sligo and concerns raised by psychiatrists about his risk of violence. Dr Sally Linehan, a consultant forensic psychiatrist at the CMH, testified that McLaughlin has been compliant with his treatment plan and has begun to develop insight into his illness. She recommended his commitment to the CMH for inpatient care. Dr Conor O'Neill, also a consultant forensic psychiatrist, confirmed that McLaughlin suffered from schizophrenia and did not understand that his actions were wrong at the time of the attack. The court, having heard evidence from two consultant psychiatrists, concluded that McLaughlin met the criteria for the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The matter was adjourned for the Mental Health Review Board to review his condition every six months.
In a Drogheda home, Paula Farrell, 46, stabbed her boyfriend Wayne McQuillan, 30, to death. She told Garda Yvonne Geraghty that the fight was likely over a trivial matter and that she was not letting him get the better of her when she stabbed him. Farrell described McQuillan as a lovely, good person and herself as "good craic." She admitted that they had argued and that he had knocked her, causing her to fall. She then went to her kitchen, took a knife from her block, and stabbed him four times. Farrell said she did not intend to kill him and that she had apologized to him after the incident. She is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, pleading not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The case is currently at the trial stage.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 15 July 2019, Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned sentencing for two 14‑year‑old boys convicted of murdering 14‑year‑old schoolgirl Anastasia Kriegel and of assaulting her in a violent manner. The boys, referred to as Boy A and Boy B, were found guilty on 18 June of the murder and the aggravated sexual assault. The judge explained that he would not proceed with a sentence hearing until psychiatric reports are completed. Two teams of psychiatrists, one adult forensic and one child psychiatrist, will prepare reports for each boy, with a possible psychologist involved. The reports are expected to take time and are unlikely to be ready before the end of term. Sentencing has been postponed to 29 October, with all reports required to be available to the legal teams by 21 October.
A 37‑year‑old Pakistani national was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for rape, with the final 18 months suspended on condition of complying with Probation Service directions for 18 months after release. He was found guilty of rape but not guilty of sexual assault. The victim, who met the defendant on an online dating site, was raped in the back of his car on a beach in Dublin on 29 October 2015. She described feeling worthless, dropping out of college, and refusing food after the assault. The defendant had three young children and a partner who was unaware of the offence until the trial. He had prior convictions for speeding and deception, the latter resulting in a suspended three‑year sentence. The judge noted the seriousness of the rape, the breach of trust, and the defendant's deceptive character as aggravating factors, while his father role and good work attendance were mitigating factors.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Paula Farrell, 46, who is charged with murdering her boyfriend, Wayne McQuillan, in their Drogheda home on January 1, 2014. Farrell has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that McQuillan died from a fatal stab wound to the left shoulder that severed the subclavian vein and punctured the lung. He noted that while the injury was severe, there would have been a reasonable expectation of survival had prompt medical attention been received. Curtis also identified high levels of alcohol in the deceased's system, describing it as gross intoxication. Witnesses reported seeing McQuillan covered in blood, initially mistaking it for a red Liverpool jersey, and noted that an ambulance delay resulted in him being transported to hospital in a Garda car. The trial continues before Justice Carmel Stewart.
A 70‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for raping a child, aged about six or seven, on three occasions between 1978 and 1980. He pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape and one of indecent assault. A jury at the Central Criminal Court convicted him of all rape charges; he had previously been convicted of indecent assault in a separate trial in 2018 and had been in custody since then. Justice Carmel Stewart imposed a headline sentence of 12 years for each rape offence, suspended the last three years, and ordered all sentences to run concurrently, backdated to May 2018. The judge noted the defendant's lack of prior convictions and his status as a neighbour who abused a position of trust. The defendant continues to deny the allegations and does not accept the verdict.
In an appeal-stage procedural development, the Central Criminal Court directed Dr Sally Lenihan to prepare a report on the ongoing treatment of Richard McLaughlin, with the court scheduled to hear the matter on July 16. This follows a jury verdict finding McLaughlin not guilty by reason of insanity of the murder of Jimmy Loughlin in Sligo in 2018. The court heard that McLaughlin, who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, broke into the victim's home and attacked him with a crowbar. Two forensic psychiatrists agreed that McLaughlin did not understand his actions were wrong and was unable to refrain from the act due to his mental disorder. The victim's parents, Paula and Michael Loughlin, stated it was unacceptable that a man known to mental health services lived nearby. They expressed hope that questions regarding mental health services would be addressed at a coroner's inquest. McLaughlin's mother, Mairead McLaughlin, expressed her deepest sorrow to the Loughlin family. Ms Justice Carmel Stewart noted the palpable grief of the family and extended sympathy to McLaughlin's mother. The matter is currently adjourned pending the submission of the treatment report, and no final disposal or sentence has been concluded.
Richard McLaughlin, 32, is accused of murdering Jimmy 'James' Loughlin (20) at Connolly Street, Sligo, on February 24, 2018. McLaughlin pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The Central Criminal Court heard evidence that McLaughlin admitted attacking the deceased with a crowbar, causing fatal traumatic head injuries. Gardaí testified that McLaughlin claimed he acted on delusions that Loughlin was raping someone known to him, despite no prior connection between the men. A consultant forensic psychiatrist, Dr. Anthony Kearns, testified that McLaughlin suffers from schizophrenia and was unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions or refrain from committing them at the time. Dr. Kearns stated that McLaughlin fulfils the criteria for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The court noted McLaughlin's history of mental health issues, including previous admissions to St Columba's Hospital and poor medication compliance. The trial continues before Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury.
A terminally ill woman whose sister was murdered fourteen years ago has called on the Director of Public Prosecutions to prosecute a third person in connection with the killing. Speaking outside the Central Criminal Court following the sentencing of Niall Power to life imprisonment, solicitor Kevin Winters said authorities possess sufficient evidence against the alleged mastermind. Power, with an address at Giles Quay, Riverstown, County Louth, pleaded guilty to the murder of Irene White at Ice House, Demesne Road, Dundalk, on 6 April 2005. He is the second person convicted; Anthony Lambe of Annadrumman, County Monaghan, received a life sentence in January after admitting the killing. Mr Winters stated that Anne Delcassian, the deceased's sister, was too unwell to attend court. He described the case as involving a murderous triumvirate and urged prosecutors to complete the investigation.
Ms Paula Farrell, 45, admitted killing 30‑year‑old Wayne McQuillan in her Drogheda home on New Year's Day 2014. She denied murder, pleading not guilty to that charge but guilty to manslaughter. The plea was rejected, and Mr Justice Michael White called a jury of eight women and four men to hear her trial, which will last about 12 days and begin before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart on Tuesday afternoon.
Richard McLaughlin, 32, is standing trial at the Central Criminal Court for the alleged murder of Jimmy 'James' Loughlin, 20, at Connolly Street, Sligo, on February 24, 2018. McLaughlin pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity when arraigned before a jury. The prosecution, led by Fiona Murphy SC, stated that the accused admitted to attacking the deceased with a crowbar in a "vicious manner" which resulted in his death. The sole issue for the jury is whether McLaughlin possessed the necessary mental element to commit the murder. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC admitted that McLaughlin committed the acts causing Mr Loughlin's death and that the deceased was entirely innocent. Grehan further stated that any thoughts McLaughlin had about the victim were "delusions coming from his mind" with "no truth whatsoever." The prosecution indicated that two consultant psychiatrists and a garda will provide evidence regarding the accused's mental state and the circumstances of the incident. The trial is presided over by Ms Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury of eight men and four women. The matter is ongoing, with the trial expected to last up to two days.
A 47-year-old man from Riverstown, County Louth has been sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to the murder of Irene White at the Central Criminal Court. Niall Power admitted his role in the killing of the mother-of-three at her home on Demesne Road, Dundalk on 6 April 2005. Power presented himself to gardaí following the conviction of accomplice Anthony Lambe, a historian from Castleblayney, County Monaghan, who had been sentenced to life in January 2018. During sentencing, the court heard that Power had acted as an intermediary, conveying a request from an unnamed individual to have Ms White killed. He subsequently introduced Lambe to this person and facilitated the commission of the offence. Ms White was found by her 79-year-old mother with 34 stab wounds and a cut throat. Victim impact statements were delivered by Ms White's sister, who is terminally ill, and her daughter, describing the lasting devastation caused to the family.
The rape trial of a Dublin man collapsed after the complainant left on a ferry to the UK during her cross‑examination. Ms Justice Carmel Stewart directed the jury to acquit the accused, citing a High Court judicial review that found the prosecution's delays inexcusable and blameworthy. The accused, aged 15 when the alleged rape occurred in August 2014, was charged as an adult in January 2017. He had pleaded not guilty and his lawyers had sought to restrain the prosecution on the basis of the delays. The court heard that the complainant had a troubled background and had become uncontactable after leaving on a ferry. The judge noted the complainant's father had discovered alleged admissions by the accused on her phone, which had been delayed for analysis. The judge concluded that the delays did not outweigh the public interest in proceeding to trial, but the absence of the complainant led to the acquittal.
During the murder trial of Paul O'Beirne and Jeffrey Morrow, Dr Rebecca Weld presented DNA evidence linking a bulldog to a car seat cover found at the accused's home. Dr Weld, a PhD in animal identification and former director of Weatherbys DNA laboratories, had examined DNA from a black cocker‑spaniel named Lily and an English bulldog named Bailey in 2016. She matched a partial DNA profile from a white hair on the cover to Bailey, noting the probability of a match with another dog was one in a billion. The cover, recovered from a bin in O'Beirne's garden, was similar to a canvas sheet from Joseph Cogan's stolen Volkswagen Golf GTI, which he claimed was used to protect his car from dog hairs. Cogan had provided hair samples from his fawn bulldog and black cocker‑spaniel. The prosecution argues the fatal shots were fired from the Golf. Paul O'Beirne pleaded not guilty. Jeffrey Morrow pleaded not guilty.
During a search of Paul O'Beirne's home on 16 March 2016, Gardai discovered a partially burnt mobile phone inside a barbecue in the back garden. The find was reported by Sergeant Patrick Traynor to the Central Criminal Court. O'Beirne, aged 36, and Jeffrey Morrow, aged 37, are on trial for the murder of 25‑year‑old Vincent Ryan, who was killed on 29 February 2016 at McKee Road in Finglas. The case is proceeding before Justice Michael White with a jury of eight men and four women. Paul O'Beirne pleaded not guilty. Jeffrey Morrow pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 1 July 2019, Mr Justice Paul McDermott considered whether mental health professionals could interview the parents of the two boys convicted of murdering 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel. The boys, referred to as Boy A and Boy B, were found guilty of the murder and, in Boy A's case, of aggravated sexual assault. Mr Justice McDermott had ordered probation and psychiatric reports from child forensic psychiatrists. Brendan Grehan SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, presented Professor Harry Kennedy's suggestions, which included joint assessments by consultant child and forensic psychiatrists, assessments by clinical psychologists, and interviews with the boys' parents to access prior reports. Patrick Gageby SC, for Boy A, noted uncertainty about the availability of a specialist child forensic psychiatrist in Ireland, while Damien Colgan SC, for Boy B, expressed no objection to the proposals.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that the accused man handed himself in to gardaí in Cork on 3 January 2018, three days after the fatal stabbing of his housemate in Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan. Garda Razvan Ghetau testified that when the man entered Anglesea Garda Station stating he had killed his friend, the officer initially believed it was a jest. The witness said the accused repeated his statement and appeared serious, with his hands positioned as though requesting arrest. Inspector John Callinan outlined the subsequent interviews conducted in Cavan. The accused, Tomasz Paszkiewicz (39), explained he had worked at a meat processing facility since 2009, boning cattle heads. When shown a knife recovered from the scene bearing his employee number, he identified it as his work knife, which he had brought home a year prior. Questioned about his knife proficiency, he acknowledged developing considerable skill over nine years. Mr Paszkiewicz has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in relation to the death of Marek Swider (40).
In a Central Criminal Court ruling, Mr Justice Paul McDermott fined journalist Niall O'Connor €2,500 after he inadvertently named one of the boys convicted of Ana Kriegel's murder during a live Red FM interview. The station was fined €10,000. O'Connor, who was a guest on the Neil Prendeville show the morning after the convictions, apologized unreservedly, stating the slip was a mistake and not intentional. The DPP's Brendan Grehan noted that the boys, aged 14, could not be identified, and the court had taken care to refer to them as Boy A and Boy B. The judge imposed the fine or a three‑month prison term if unpaid, and the broadcaster was ordered to pay within three months. The case highlighted the court's protection of minors and the broadcaster's subsequent implementation of a seven‑second delay to prevent future incidents.
David Cully, 28, of Kilshane Road, Finglas West, was convicted of murder for shooting his uncle, Edward O'Connor, 41, at Ballycoolin Road on 15 December 2013. Cully admitted the shooting but denied it was murder, claiming it occurred in the heat of the moment after a comment about a sexual‑abuse allegation against O'Connor. The case involved an organised 'straightener' attended by both men and two others. A jury of seven women and five men deliberated over eight hours and returned a unanimous guilty verdict. Cully received a mandatory life sentence on 29 July 2015. He has now lodged an appeal, arguing that family testimony was wrongly excluded and that the evidence of a prior threat was crucial. The Court of Appeal will consider the appeal.
In a murder case, Gardai collected DNA and hair samples from two dogs owned by Paul O'Beirne (36) and Jeffrey Morrow (37), whose car was stolen in October 2015. The defendants, who pleaded not guilty, were involved in the February 2016 shooting of Vincent Ryan (25) on McKee Road, Finglas. Joseph Cogan, the car owner, described how his silver Volkswagen Golf GTI was taken and how a grey canvas sheet in the boot, used to protect the car from dog hair, was likely covered in hair. He confirmed giving permission for DNA and hair sampling on April 14, 2016. Additional testimony included Gary Tai's observation of a burning car on Red Lane and John Shaughnessy's fire‑fighting efforts, with Garda Niall Geoghan photographing the scene. The trial proceeds before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of eight men and four women.
A man has admitted fatally stabbing his housemate following a dispute over a poker game on New Year's Eve at their home in Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan. Tomasz Paszkiewicz, aged 39, is charged with the murder of Marek Swider, aged 40, on January 1, 2018, at Dublin Street. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The Central Criminal Court heard that both men, originally from Poland, were playing cards for money when a row erupted over winnings approaching €500. Paszkiewicz subsequently invited Swider outside and stabbed him twice with a knife used at his workplace in a meat processing facility. The prosecution must prove the accused's intention to kill or cause serious injury. A witness present that evening testified the men had been good friends with no previous conflict. The trial before Ms Justice Tara Burns continues.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Acting State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that 25‑year‑old Vincent Ryan died from a gunshot wound that entered his head on the right side of the forehead, measuring 2.5 cm in diameter, and exited on the left side. A second bullet entered his right hand, and a third entered the back of his right shoulder, with an exit wound at the base of his neck. Toxicology showed no alcohol or drugs in his system. Dr Mulligan described complex skull fractures, brain swelling, and bleeding as the cause of death, with blood loss from the hand and shoulder wounds contributing. The trial also heard that Paul O'Beirne (36) and Jeffrey Morrow (37) pleaded not guilty to Ryan's murder. Detective Garda Ursula Cummins reported twelve 9mm cartridge cases and bullets at the scene, all from the same gun, though the specific firearm type could not be identified.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a contempt of court motion was authorised after journalist Niall O'Connor allegedly named one of the two boys convicted of Ana Kriegel's murder on a Cork radio show. Brendan Grehan SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, informed Mr Justice Michael White that the matter arose from an interview on the Neil Prendeville show on Red FM on the morning of June 19, the day after the jury's verdicts. The boys, aged 14, were found guilty of murdering 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel at an abandoned farmhouse in Lucan on 14 May last year, and one was also convicted of aggravated sexual assault. The identities of the boys are protected under the Children Act and a court order by Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Mr Grehan presented a redacted transcript showing the journalist naming one boy twice before being cut off.
A man convicted of manslaughter in connection with a 2013 killing has been found guilty of criminal damage and production of a weapon at the Central Criminal Court. Quentin Monaghan, aged 25 and from Tullamoy, Stradbally, County Laois, received an eight-year sentence in 2015 with two years suspended for his role in the death of Jamie Lindsay, who was fatally shot during an altercation over drugs in Athy, County Kildare. The court heard uncertainty regarding the duration of the suspension period. Prosecutors sought clarification by requesting trial transcripts from the original sentencing. Monaghan faces a potential two-year custodial term if the offences occurred within the suspended sentence period. He is scheduled for sentencing at Limerick Circuit Court later in the year. The trial judge previously accepted Monaghan did not intend death or serious injury but characterised his conduct as reckless.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Paul O'Beirne and Jeffrey Morrow, who are charged with murdering Vincent Ryan, continued before Mr Justice Michael White. Both defendants, aged 36 and 37 respectively, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 25-year-old victim at McKee Road in Finglas on February 29, 2016. Prosecution counsel Paul Burns SC called Kelly Smyth, the victim's partner, who testified that she heard five loud bangs after taking their five-week-old daughter inside her home. She discovered Mr Ryan seriously injured in his car with smashed windows. Her brother, Keith Smyth, corroborated the account, describing the sounds as gunshots and noting a grey car fleeing the scene. Dr Edmund Carton stated that Mr Ryan was pronounced dead at the Mater Hospital at 21:10. Neighbour Lorcan Buckley reported hearing approximately 12 or 13 gunshots, while Dublin Fire Brigade officer Stephen O'Reilly described finding bullet holes in the vehicle and multiple wounds on the victim. The trial is ongoing with a jury of four women and eight men, and no verdict or sentence has been recorded.
Michael Corbett, 29, pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of a 17‑year‑old camper at the Hellfire Club on 27 June 2016. He had attacked several campers with a knife and struck one teenager with a piece of timber. While awaiting sentencing, Corbett assaulted psychiatric nurse Declan Curtin at the Central Mental Hospital on 6 October 2016. During an exercise session, he tried to strangle the nurse with a sock; Curtin escaped unharmed but now suffers flashbacks and heightened anxiety. Corbett pleaded guilty to assaulting Curtin. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a five‑year sentence, suspending the final two and a half years, and ordered 15 years of supervision under strict conditions, including residence approval, pre‑release planning, medication adherence, appointment attendance, and abstinence from illicit substances. The sentence was back‑dated to September 2018. Corbett's mental health, including paranoid schizophrenia and prior non‑compliance with medication, was noted by the court.
A new jury was sworn in to hear the trial of Paul O'Beirne (36) and Jeffrey Morrow (37), two Dublin men charged with murdering Vincent Ryan, a 25‑year‑old father, on McKee Road in Finglas on 29 February 2016. The men had been arraigned before the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Their trial had begun with a jury, but Justice Michael White called the panel in again after one juror was unable to continue, necessitating a new jury. The defendants were re‑arraigned, with O'Beirne of Colepark Drive, Ballyfermot, and Morrow of Burnell Court, Coolock, both stating "Not guilty, your honour." Justice White informed the jury that the trial was expected to last five or six weeks and described the circumstances of the shooting, noting that the shots were fired from a vehicle later found burnt‑out in the Naas area.
Anthony Moynihan, 54, of Croccane, Rostellan, Midleton, was sentenced in his absence to seven years in prison for raping and sexually assaulting an 11‑year‑old boy, Dylan Higgins, over a period from September 2006 to June 2008. Moynihan pleaded guilty to two counts of anal rape and two counts of sexual assault. Higgins, who was 11 and 12 at the time of the assaults, had previously waived his anonymity and delivered a victim impact statement in court, urging other abuse victims to come forward. The court noted Higgins had attempted suicide twice and had lost his mother in 2016. Moynihan had earlier convictions for assaulting two young girls in 2008 and 2009, for which he received suspended sentences. He was brought into court after a warrant was executed and was remanded to prison by Mr Justice Michael White, who also mentioned Moynihan's throat cancer as a mitigating factor.
A 54‑year‑old Corkman, Anthony Moynihan, was sentenced in his absence to seven years' imprisonment for raping and sexually assaulting an 11‑year‑old boy, Dylan Higgins, over a two‑year period. Moynihan pleaded guilty to two counts of anal rape and two counts of sexual assault between September 2006 and June 2008. He failed to attend the sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court, prompting a bench warrant for his arrest. The court noted Moynihan's prior convictions for sexual assault of two young girls in 2008 and 2009, for which he received suspended sentences. Moynihan's counsel highlighted his throat cancer and the fact that he had made full admissions early on. The judge praised Higgins for his victim impact statement and urged other abuse victims to come forward. The sentencing hearing took place on 21 June 2019.
A 22‑year‑old Cork man was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting his cousin from the ages of five to nine. The offences, committed between 1 November 2011 and 26 June 2016, included rape, oral rape, anal rape and sexual assault. The judge described the abuse as "particularly severe and horrendous" and noted its devastating impact on the girl and her family. The man pleaded guilty to six charges and received credit for his plea, though the judge set a headline sentence of fourteen years before reducing it. He has no prior convictions. The court ordered him to participate in the Better Lives sex offenders' programme while in prison and to comply with Probation Service directions for two years after release. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
In a contempt of court hearing on 20 June 2019, Mr Justice Michael White addressed the wrongful online identification of an innocent boy as one of the convicted murderers of 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel. The judge urged Gardaí to pursue those who shared the identities of the two boys, Boy A and Boy B, who were convicted of the murder and an aggravated sexual assault. Under the Children Act, it is an offence to identify minors, and the court upheld an injunction requiring Facebook and Twitter to remove any material that identified the boys. Lawyers for the boys expressed concerns about threats and the safety of their families. The judge emphasised the importance of respecting the law and the integrity of the trial process, noting that the Central Criminal Court is not the forum for broader social media responsibility.
The Central Criminal Court heard that the family of one of the boys convicted of murdering 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel has been "forced into hiding" after photographs identifying the boy were posted online. Representatives of Twitter and Facebook answered contempt charges for publishing the pictures. Under the Children Act it is an offence to identify the 14‑year‑old boys, so Mr Justice Paul McDermott ordered that they not be identified. Affidavits were presented by Facebook's Market Manager, Twitter's representative, and the boy's solicitor, who confirmed the family's forced hiding.
A 50‑year‑old Kenyan woman, Grace Miano, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital after a Central Criminal Court judge ruled she was unfit to stand trial for the murder of 27‑year‑old Malawian national Limbani "Robert" Mzoma on 1 November 2018. Miano, who lives at Tudor Lawns in Foxrock, claimed she had been poisoned at the time of the alleged offence and that she was not responsible because she had consumed a cigarette containing intoxicants. She denied having a major mental illness, although she occasionally suffered panic attacks. A forensic psychiatrist, Dr Ronan Mullaney, examined her and concluded she had schizo‑affective disorder, was receiving antipsychotic injections, and still held entrenched religious and persecutory delusions. Under the Criminal Law Insanity Act, the judge ordered her unfit to be tried, adjourned proceedings, and committed her to the CMH, where she has remained an inpatient since November 2018.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 19 June 2019, Mr Justice Michael White warned that publishing the identities of the two boys convicted of Ana Kriegel's murder is an offence. The judge issued a contempt of court order against any person who attempts to identify the 14‑year‑old boys, stating they will be treated in the most serious fashion. He also ordered Facebook and Twitter to appear in court the following day and to remove any material that identifies the boys. Brendan Grehan SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, requested the removal of photographs and other identifying content from the platforms. The boys, referred to only as Boy A and Boy B, were convicted of murder and, in Boy A's case, aggravated sexual assault, after an eight‑week trial with unanimous jury verdicts. The court emphasised that the Children Act prohibits the identification of minors accused or convicted of a criminal offence. The unnamed 14-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 19‑year‑old man named Mohamed Morei, who has been in custody at the Central Mental Hospital since early 2018, was found fit to plead by Mr Justice Alex Owens at the Central Criminal Court on 19 June 2019. The judge was informed by Sean Gillane SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, that doctors had observed progress in Morei's mental condition and that he now understands the nature of the charge, the evidence and the pleading procedure. Psychiatrists had suggested special arrangements for his trial, which Mr Gillane said are still improving. Morei attended the hearing with an Arabic interpreter.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court found two 14‑year‑old boys guilty of murdering Ana Kriegel, a schoolgirl who was discovered naked in an abandoned farmhouse three days after she went missing. Boy A was also convicted of an aggravated sexual assault involving serious violence. The trial, lasting seven weeks, included evidence that Ana's blood was found on a "ghoulish mask" Boy A allegedly wore at the scene, and forensic analysis showed she died from blunt‑force trauma to the head or neck, with extensive bruises, abrasions and scratches on her body. The jury deliberated for 14 hours 25 minutes before delivering unanimous guilty verdicts. The boys were remanded to Oberstown Detention Centre pending further proceedings. The case was presented by prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC, with defence counsel Patrick Gageby SC for Boy A and Damien Colgan SC for Boy B. The trial concluded with the judge adjourned the case to allow additional reports to be submitted.