Graham Doyle, aged 31, was convicted in Dublin of four counts of sexual assault and one count of oral rape against a 13‑year‑old girl he met on a social networking site while claiming to be a teenager. He had previously been convicted of defilement of a child under 15 in 2011. Doyle pleaded guilty to the offences committed between 1 August 2004 and 31 March 2005. Mr Justice Michael White sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, suspending the final three and a half years on the condition of good behaviour and probation. The judge noted Doyle's prior convictions, the seriousness of the offences, the victim's age and the psychological coercion used. Doyle was 16 at the time of the offences. The victim gave a victim impact statement describing the abuse and its lasting effects. The judge emphasised that the victim was innocent and should not feel responsibility for the abuse. The sentence was imposed in 2019.
During the Central Criminal Court trial, a hard drive seized from Patrick Quirke's home yielded a recording of Mary Lowry speaking with Flor Cantillon, the man who began seeing her after Bobby Ryan vanished. The audio, played by Detective Sergeant John Keane, shows Lowry laughing while reading a newspaper article about cross‑dressing, and Cantillon asking her about a verdict. Lowry confirmed the tape was of her and Cantillon, denied making or authorising the recording, and stated she was unaware of being recorded. She also testified that she had allowed her three children to be interviewed by Gardaí in 2013 after Bobby Ryan's body was found, and that she had not been permitted to attend the interview. The court heard that Quirke had expressed disapproval of Lowry's relationship with Ryan and had reported her to Tusla for allegedly leaving her children alone. The trial continues with further testimony from Lowry's brother, Eddie Quigley. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty.
Darragh Meehan, aged 26, was sentenced to six‑and‑a‑half years in March 2018 for defiling and sexually exploiting a 13‑year‑old girl when he was 19. The victim met Meehan in December 2011, after which they communicated regularly via Skype, Facebook and text. Meehan exposed himself, masturbated on camera, and urged the girl to masturbate or penetrate herself. In March 2012 they met in a park, where Meehan asked the girl to masturbate him, kissed her, and inserted his hand into her clothes, causing her discomfort. He also requested oral sex, which she initially refused but eventually complied with briefly. The girl's mother discovered concerning messages and alerted Gardaí, leading to Meehan's identification and subsequent guilty plea to one count of defilement and three counts of sexual exploitation. He has now appealed the severity of his sentence in the Court of Appeal, arguing the headline sentence of nine years is too high.
A jury has found an alleged IRA member guilty of sexually assaulting and anally raping two teenage boys at a 'republican safe house' in Co. Louth in the early 1990s and in 2001. The defendant (45) had pleaded not guilty to the charges. The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on six counts of sexual assault and two counts of anal rape relating to the two complainants. However, the jury also returned not guilty verdicts on one count of sexual assault and one count of anal rape relating to one of the complainants, alleged to have occurred in 2001 when the complainant was in his 20s. The matter was adjourned for sentence to April 29, with the accused remanded in custody. The defendant denied the allegations, stating he had only stayed at the house a few times in the early 1990s while working a casual job and had no involvement in paramilitary organisations. The case is now adjourned for sentence.
In 2018, a 25‑year‑old man was convicted of raping a 17‑year‑old girl in Dublin. He pleaded not guilty to two counts, claiming both were consensual. A jury acquitted him of the first count but found him guilty of the second after a trial that had collapsed twice due to the victim's panic attacks. The trial was conducted via video link for the third hearing. Judge Paul Butler sentenced him to six years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, and later remarked that rape trials should provide complainants with legal advice. The defendant appealed, arguing that the judge's definition of recklessness was inadequate. The Court of Appeal noted that the judge used a 2018 Law Reform Commission definition instead of the 2016 Supreme Court definition, and the appeal was reserved for further consideration. The case remains pending.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Patrick Quirke, aged 50, denied claims that he tried to exploit Mary Lowry, a 52‑year‑old widow, for financial gain. Quirke, who is charged with the murder of DJ Bobby Ryan, explained that his financial dealings with Lowry involved tens of thousands of euros, including a €20,000 loan and a €50,000 cheque that he denied Lowry ever issued. He described a long‑running affair with Lowry from 2008 to 2010, noting that he was angry when she began a relationship with Ryan but denied jealousy. Quirke also detailed his rental of Lowry's farm, payments received from EU subsidies, and his investment in contracts for difference, claiming he managed the money responsibly. He maintained that Lowry was not vulnerable and that any financial arrangements were mutual. The case remains pending before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty.
A jury has begun deliberating in the trial of an alleged IRA member accused of raping two teenage boys at a "republican safe house" in County Louth in the early 1990s and again in 2001. The accused has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault and anally raping the boys. Mr Justice Paul McDermott instructed the jury to start deliberations and sent them home for the night, to resume tomorrow morning. Prosecutor Patrick Gageby SC told the jury that the boys lived in a large home owned by a "dedicated republican" that was used as a safe house for IRA volunteers. The first complainant, who was 13 or 14 at the time, said the accused first stayed there around 1991 or 1992 and later abused him, describing incidents of the accused masturbating and sucking his penis. He also claimed the accused groped him in 2001, an act he denies.
Laura Kenna, 35, was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury on March 5, 2019, of attempting to murder civil servant Fionnuala Burke and of assault causing serious harm on January 3, 2017. Kenna, who had no fixed abode, had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both counts, but the plea was rejected. The trial described how Kenna attacked Burke on Lower Drumcondra Road, stabbing her and slashing her neck with a deep cut that penetrated muscle and the thyroid gland, requiring intensive care surgery. Kenna had 59 prior convictions, including assault and knife possession, and had a history of mental health and substance abuse problems. She had previously been found not guilty by reason of insanity for an attempted eye gouge at a LUAS stop 16 days earlier. The hearing will resume before Ms Justice Tara Burns on April 11, 2019, when Kenna is expected to be sentenced.
In a six‑day trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 43‑year‑old man was convicted of three counts of sexual assault and nine counts of anal rape against his daughter, who was aged between seven and thirteen at the time of the offences. The abuse occurred at the man's parents' home, his own home and at a wake, and began in the summer before the girl's communion when the father first pushed his penis against her anal area. He later progressed to anal rape. The daughter, who could not recall how many times she was abused, gave evidence describing the abuse as "distraught" and "heartbreaking". Judge Tara Burns imposed a 15‑year sentence, suspending the final two years, and urged the defendant to consider expressing remorse. The case highlighted the father's alcohol dependency and the daughter's ongoing emotional distress. The defendant's defence counsel noted his past tragedies and substance use.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 25 March 2019, a 15‑year‑old male was sentenced for attempting to murder a 25‑year‑old woman he met on the Whisper social media app. The accused had lured the victim to Dun Laoghaire's water's edge, where he choked her and slashed her neck with a knife. The victim suffered a 10‑cm midline neck laceration that penetrated her trachea, along with injuries to her thumb and arm. She was taken to St Vincent's Hospital, placed in a medically‑induced coma, and underwent emergency surgery. The court heard a victim impact statement in which the woman described the assault, her injuries, and the lasting psychological effects. The judge adjourned the case to 12 April for psychiatric reports. The accused was accompanied by his parents and had previously been in therapy for depression and suicidal thoughts. The case was brought by Paul Burns SC. The court did not disclose the final sentence. The unnamed 15-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Bridget Haugh, mother of Karl Haugh, delivered a victim impact statement after her son was stabbed in the back by Robbie Walsh. Haugh, who had previously lost her daughter Stacey in a car crash, described the emotional toll of losing her children and the memory of her son's life. The court had earlier found Walsh, 23, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter of Karl Haugh, 25, on a unanimous verdict. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that Haugh died from a single stab wound puncturing his lung. The hearing also covered Walsh's prior convictions, his remorse, and the judge's decision to remand him in custody until sentencing on April 8. The judge expressed sympathy for the Haugh family and noted the profound loss they endured. Robbie Walsh was acquitted.
An alleged IRA member, 45, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for charges of sexual assaulting and anally raping two teenage boys in Co. Louth in the early 1990s and in 2001. The accused told the court he had consensual sex with one of the complainants years after the alleged incidents. He stated he had stayed at the boys' home about 'half a dozen' times in the early 1990s while working a casual job and denied sexually abusing them. The accused claimed he had a consensual sexual relationship with one of the complainants over a few months after they met by chance years later. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The accused said he noticed the complainant with whom he had a sexual relationship seemed 'distressed' during their final meeting and that the complainant had told another person he had been sexually abused by him. The accused denied anally raping either boy or sleeping in a bed with them. The trial has reached closing stages before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
Patrick Quirke, aged 50, told a social worker that Mary Lowry, aged 52, was leaving her three children unsupervised for long periods on weekends, mainly from 4 pm until early morning, for about three months. He said the children were being left alone while Lowry spent time with a new boyfriend, and that Lowry had been widowed three‑and‑a‑half years earlier. Quirke described Lowry as having "lost the run of herself" and being fixated on the relationship, failing to consider the children's needs. He also noted that Lowry's grandmother, who lived next door, was not asked to look after the children. Quirke advised the social worker to call the Gardaí if there were immediate concerns and said he would open a report. The witness also reported that Quirke had called Lowry's home unannounced on 10 February, found a man who did not identify himself, and that a colleague made a second visit. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, it was revealed that Mary Lowry's computer was used to search for Bobby Ryan's name the day before his body was recovered from a tank on her land. The computer, handed to Garda Cyber Crime Bureau detective Paul Fitzpatrick in May 2015, showed a search for "trace Ireland Bobby Ryan" at 21:45 on 29 April 2013. Mr. Ryan's body was found the following day by the accused, Patrick Quirke, who is 50 and pleaded not guilty to the murder. Mr. Ryan had gone missing on 3 June 2011 after leaving Lowry's home, and his body was discovered 22 months later in an underground run‑off tank on the farm owned by Lowry and leased by Quirke. The prosecution alleged that Quirke killed Mr. Ryan to rekindle an affair with Lowry, who is 52.
In March 2019 the Central Criminal Court heard that a computer seized from Patrick Quirke's home was used to search Google for "rate of human decomposition" in December 2012, 18 months after Bobby Ryan disappeared and four months before Ryan's body was found on land leased by Quirke. The search led to articles titled "The five stages of decomposition" and "How the human body decomposes after death," and to YouTube videos about body farms. The court also heard that Quirke, aged 50, sent emails to Vodafone.ie on 12 and 13 May 2013 requesting call and text logs for 2–5 June 2011. Quirke has pleaded not guilty to Ryan's murder, which the prosecution alleges he committed to rekindle an affair with Ryan's girlfriend, Mary Lowry, aged 52. The evidence presented was part of the ongoing trial before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve.
An alleged IRA member, 45, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for alleged sexual assault and anal rape of two teenage boys in Co Louth during the early 1990s and in 2001. The accused has pleaded not guilty to the charges. During the second day of the trial, the second complainant testified that the accused told him he would be 'found on a border road' if he informed anyone of the alleged rape. The complainant stated that he was 17 when the accused groped him and later sexually assaulted him. He claimed the accused threatened him after the incident. The complainant also mentioned that he had a conversation with the other complainant in 2002 about the alleged incidents. The first complainant rejected claims by the defence that he had a consensual relationship with the accused in 2001. He stated that the accused was a sexual predator who used alcohol to manipulate him. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard closing arguments concerning a fatal stabbing outside Longford Shopping Centre in November 2016. Rihards Lavickis, a 26-year-old with an address in Longford, is charged with murdering Akadiusz Czajkowski. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The defence argued that the accused lacked the necessary intent to kill or cause serious injury, noting he stabbed the deceased three times before stopping when the man fell to the ground. Counsel submitted that a series of incidents, including threats to the accused's family and damage to his home, constituted provocation. The prosecution contended that stabbing someone in the chest naturally risks death or serious injury, and that the accused had time to plan the attack between discovering a broken window and carrying out the killing. The jury was charged and sent to consider its verdict.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 45‑year‑old man accused of being an IRA member pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault and anal rape of two teenage boys in a republican safe house in County Louth during the early 1990s and again in 2001. The prosecution, led by Patrick Gageby SC, presented testimony that the complainants lived in a large home owned by a "dedicated republican" which was used as a safe house for IRA volunteers. One complainant, aged 13 or 14 at the time, alleged that the accused began abusing him after he joined the household around 1991 or 1992, describing repeated incidents of the accused masturbating and performing anal and oral sex on him. He claimed the accused demanded secrecy and later apologized for past actions. A second incident in 2001, when the complainant was living independently, involved the accused again performing anal and oral sex while the complainant was intoxicated.
A 43‑year‑old man was convicted by a jury after a six‑day trial of three counts of sexual assault and nine counts of anal rape against his daughter, who was aged between seven and thirteen at the time of the offences. The abuse took place at the man's parents' home, his own home and at a wake. The victim said she could not remember how many times she was abused because it happened so often. She reported that the father would push his penis against her anal area and later progressed to anal rape, telling her he "loved" her and treating her as a favourite by buying her things her siblings did not receive. She complained to Gardaí in 2015, but the father denied the allegations, claiming she was lying and blaming him for a family issue. The court adjourned sentencing to 25 March to allow the judge to consider the matter.
A man accused of murder told gardaí during interview that he stabbed another man three times outside Longford Shopping Centre in November 2016 because initial strikes with the knife proved ineffective, the Central Criminal Court heard. Rihards Lavickis, aged 26, originally from Latvia, with an address at Annaly Court in Longford, is charged with murdering Akadiusz Czajkowski, a 31-year-old Polish father-of-two. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. During his interviews with detective gardaí, the accused admitted carrying a knife that morning intending to confront the deceased over previous window damage to his apartment and alleged threats made against his family. The accused described the incident occurring in broad daylight near the shopping centre, stating the deceased ran backwards as he pursued him. The jury at the Central Criminal Court heard interview notes in which the accused acknowledged using greater force after his initial attempts proved unsuccessful. The State concluded its case, and the jury has been instructed to return Wednesday for further proceedings before Justice Michael White.
The murder trial of Rihards Lavickis, 26, continued at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Michael White. Lavickis, originally from Latvia, is charged with the murder of Akadiusz 'Arik' Czajkowski on 1st November 2016 at Rue Noyal Chatillon, Townspark, Longford. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. On the fourth day of the trial, the jury viewed CCTV footage showing the accused chasing the deceased while grasping a knife. Detective Sergeant Eric Godfrey testified that the footage depicted Lavickis running across the street with his right arm raised, holding an implement believed to be a knife. The jury also heard evidence regarding the previous convictions of both men; Lavickis had prior convictions for knife possession, dangerous driving, and drug supply, and had previously been sentenced to periods of imprisonment. Retired State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Czajkowski died from a single stab wound to the chest that penetrated his rib cage into his heart, causing fatal blood loss. She noted that both drugs and alcohol were present in the deceased's system. The trial continues.
In the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that an anonymous text message sent to Mary Lowry after her boyfriend Bobby "Mr Moonlight" Ryan went missing accused her of hiding something and threatened to watch her until she cracked. Garda Tony O'Brien detailed call logs from phones linked to Ryan and the accused, Patrick Quirke, and also from Lowry's phone, revealing the text in September 2011. The court heard that Ryan's body, found in an underground tank on Lowry's farm in 2013, had multiple fractures from at least four impacts, possibly from a road traffic accident or blunt blows. Dr Anthony Ryan's CT scan indicated severe head, facial, rib and femur injuries requiring significant force. Quirke, 50, pleaded not guilty to Ryan's murder, while the trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
A witness in a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court has testified that she feared for her family's safety following repeated attacks on their apartment in Longford. Sanita Rozkalna gave evidence on the third day of proceedings against Rihards Lavickis, aged 26, originally from Latvia and resident at Annaly Court, Longford. He is charged with murdering Akadiusz Czajkowski on 1st November 2016 at Townspark in the town. Lavickis has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Ms Rozkalna told the court that windows in the shared apartment had been smashed approximately five times before the killing. She stated she called gardaí twice on the morning of the incident as she believed someone was attempting to break in and felt her life and her child's were in danger. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White.
A man charged with murder at the Central Criminal Court has pleaded not guilty to the charge but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State has rejected. Rihards Lavickis, aged 26 and with an address at Annaly Court in Longford, is accused of the murder of Akadiusz Czajkowski on 1st November 2016 at Townspark in Longford town. During the trial's second day, the accused's partner testified that the deceased had attacked him with a knuckle duster months prior and had damaged their apartment windows multiple times following a disputed drug debt of €300. She identified a knife recovered from their bedroom as the weapon believed used in the alleged stabbing outside a shopping centre. The witness stated the accused had told her he fought the deceased with a knife and stabbed him twice. Under cross-examination, she described the accused as someone who cared for their child, despite his involvement in drug dealing. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
During a 2013 search of Patrick Quirke's home, Garda John Walsh found a handwritten note on an A‑4 sheet that mentioned Mary Lowry and the disappearance of Bobby Ryan. The note, which was underlined and read "Mary last one to see him" and "body naked, either murdered and clothes taken off or never left the house," also contained a series of questions directed at Mary Lowry about her actions on the day of Ryan's disappearance. Quirke, aged 50, has pleaded not guilty to Ryan's murder. Ryan vanished on 3 June 2011 after leaving Lowry's home and was found in an underground run‑off tank in April 2013. The prosecution alleges Quirke killed Ryan to rekindle an affair with Lowry, who is 52. The trial, before Justice Eileen Creedon and a twelve‑person jury, has also heard testimony about a hotel booking made under Quirke's name and the seizure of various electronic devices and physical evidence from Quirke's property.
A garda giving evidence at the Central Criminal Court murder trial in Dublin heard the accused man say he would "get the fella" responsible for smashing his front window, just hours before a fatal stabbing occurred in Longford town. Garda Daniel Lynch responded to a report of criminal damage at a property in Annaly Court on 1st November 2016 at 9.10am. The defendant, Rihards Lavickis, then identified the person he believed responsible for the broken window. Within two hours, Garda Lynch was called to Longford Shopping Centre, where a man was found with stab wounds. The victim, Akadiusz Czajkowski, died in hospital. Mr Lavickis, originally from Latvia, stands charged with murder but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State rejected. His trial before Mr Justice Michael White continues with a jury of twelve.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Rihards Lavickis, a 26-year-old Latvian national residing in Longford, is ongoing before Mr Justice Michael White. Lavickis is accused of the murder of Polish man Akadiusz Czajkowski on 1st November 2016 at Rue Noyal Chatillon, Townspark. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Prosecutor Patrick McGrath outlined the State's case, alleging that Lavickis told gardai he intended to "sort out" the deceased the night before the killing, despite police advice against it. According to the prosecution, Lavickis subsequently armed himself with a knife and confronted Czajkowski near Longford Shopping Centre. CCTV footage reportedly shows Lavickis emerging from a concealed position and running toward the deceased with his arm raised, though the stabbing itself was not captured. There is no dispute that Lavickis stabbed Czajkowski three times outside a nearby shop; the victim died en route to hospital. Lavickis admitted to the stabbing when questioned by gardai. The prosecution argues that the evidence supports a finding of intent to kill or cause serious harm, which would mandate a murder verdict. The trial, expected to last approximately 10 days, continues with a jury of eight men and four women.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 31‑year‑old Graham Doyle pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault and one count of rape of a 13‑year‑old girl between August 2004 and March 2005. Doyle, who had previously been convicted of defiling a child in 2011, met the victim on a social networking site while claiming to be a teenager. He convinced her to keep their relationship secret, invited her to his home, and engaged her in sexualised truth‑or‑dare games. The abuse escalated to forced oral sex and two instances of sexual intercourse. The victim, who came forward in 2013, described being psychologically coerced and expressed deep trauma. The court adjourned sentencing for March 29, 2019, and Judge White emphasized that the victim was innocent and should not be blamed for the abuse.
Gardai seized computers, documents, a Ford pick‑up and trailer from Patrick Quirke's property less than three weeks after DJ Bobby "Mr Moonlight" Ryan's body was found in an underground run‑off tank on a farm owned by Ms Lowry and leased by Quirke. Quirke, 50, of Breanshamore, Co. Tipperary, pleaded not guilty to Ryan's murder. He had asked the Garda to show the warrant, after which he told them the media were wrong about finding Ryan's clothes and wallet in the tank and asked how Ryan died, to which the Garda replied they could not tell him. The search, authorised by a warrant from Tipperary District Court, began at 9.30 am and ended at 4.45 pm, with items seized from both the house and surrounding land. The trial, heard by Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of twelve, continues.
A 26-year-old man proceeded to trial at the Central Criminal Court on charges of murdering another man in Longford in November 2016. Rihards Lavickis, with an address in Longford, is accused of the murder of a man at a location in Townspark on 1st November 2016. Mr Justice Michael White presided over jury selection, swearing in eight men and four women. The trial commenced this afternoon, with the judge indicating proceedings would likely span approximately ten days.
Ross Outram, aged 28, was found guilty of murdering 90‑year‑old retired farmer Paddy Lyons, who was discovered dead in his own home. A jury of eight men and four women rejected Outram's claim that he struck Lyons in self‑defence after the pensioner, who had osteoporosis and only one arm, allegedly attacked him with a stick. The trial heard that Lyons' body lay slumped in his armchair, with blood smeared on his face and his penis exposed through his underpants. Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Lyons suffered multiple blows to his head and neck from a blunt weapon, with fractures of his hip joint, jawbone and ribs. Outram, who has 25 previous convictions including burglary and assault, was sentenced to life imprisonment, the mandatory term for murder, with the sentence back‑dated to the date he entered custody. The court noted that the jury had taken three hours and 29 minutes to reach a unanimous verdict. The unnamed 28-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberations on the case of 28‑year‑old Ross Outram, who is accused of murdering 90‑year‑old retired farmer Paddy Lyons in his Waterford home between 23 and 26 February 2017. Outram, of Ferryland, has pleaded not guilty. The judge explained that the jury could return one of four verdicts: guilty of murder; not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter; not guilty of murder but guilty of assault causing harm; or not guilty. The jury has spent over an hour and a quarter considering the case and will report in the afternoon. Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster described Lyons' death as caused by blunt‑force trauma, a traumatic brain injury and shock from fractures of the hip, jawbone and ribs. Evidence was presented that Lyons had a stiff right shoulder and that Outram claimed he had fought back after Lyons struck him with a walking stick and shovel.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury is set to begin deliberations on the murder trial of Ross Outram, 28, accused of killing 90‑year‑old retired farmer Paddy Lyons in his Lismore home between 23 and 26 February 2017. Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster described Lyons' death as caused by blunt‑force trauma, a traumatic brain injury, and shock from fractures of his hip, jawbone and ribs. Lyons' body was found blood‑stained in his armchair. Outram claimed he fought back after Lyons struck him with a walking stick and shovel, and that he had taken up to 100 Xanax that day, though a pharmaceutical expert found no proof of this. The defence argued self‑defence, while the prosecution highlighted inconsistencies in Outram's statements. Ross Outram pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court trial of Ross Outram, a 28‑year‑old from Clonmel, the defence argued that the 90‑year‑old retired farmer Paddy Lyons was alive and mobile when Outram left his home. The defence presented evidence that Lyons suffered multiple blows to his head and neck, but that his death was caused by a second event – a fall that broke his hip. The defence claimed that the fall was likely due to a head injury or concussion, not the initial assault. They also highlighted that Outram had taken up to 100 Xanax that day, though a pharmaceutical expert found no proof of this. The defence urged the jury to consider that Outram's force may have been necessary and that he could be found not guilty of murder but possibly guilty of manslaughter. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Coffey, continued to charge the jury of eight men and four women.
In the Central Criminal Court, Dr Ivor Hanrahan testified that he prescribed anti‑depressants to Patrick Quirke, a 50‑year‑old farmer, to aid sleep after Quirke complained of stress over an affair with Mary Lowry, who was 52. Quirke, charged with the murder of part‑time DJ Bobby Ryan, was described by the doctor as "upset and quite hurt" about Lowry's relationship with Ryan. Hanrahan explained that he initially offered medication for sleep disturbance, later prescribing Mirtazapine after a counsellor's referral. He noted Quirke's ongoing distress and that Quirke had stopped taking the medication. The doctor also discussed Quirke's admission of an affair with Lowry, which he believed had ended when Lowry began a relationship with another man. The testimony was presented to prosecution counsel Michael Bowman SC. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Ross Outram, 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 90‑year‑old Paddy Lyons, who died after a violent attack at his home between 23 and 26 February 2017. The prosecution, led by John O'Kelly SC, argued that Outram inflicted multiple blows with a blunt weapon, describing the assault as vicious and sustained, and that the victim's death was caused by these injuries. They highlighted that Outram had no evidence of taking Xanax and that the victim's hip injury was unrelated to the attack. Outram's defence, represented by Michael O'Higgins SC, contended that the fatal hip fracture was a separate event, arguing that if causation was doubtful, the client could not be guilty of murder. The case remains at the trial stage, with the jury to hear further arguments tomorrow.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Ross Outram, 28, of Clonmel, Co Tipperary, has heard evidence from a defence pathologist regarding the death of Paddy Lyons. Mr Outram has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Lyons at Loughleagh, Ballysaggart, Lismore, Co Waterford, between February 23 and 26, 2017. Former Northern Ireland State Pathologist Professor Jack Crane testified that he favours the possibility that Mr Lyons' hip fracture resulted from a fall rather than a blunt weapon blow. Professor Crane noted that Mr Lyons suffered from osteoporosis, making his bones more susceptible to fracture, and stated that the scalp lacerations were not associated with underlying skull injury. He added that the brain injury was slight and that any suggestion of concussion was speculative. While the prosecution's pathologist previously attributed the death to blunt force trauma, Professor Crane agreed that the deceased could have been assaulted and subsequently fallen. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury.
The trial of Patrick Quirke, 50, of Breanshamore, Co Tipperary, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Bobby 'Mr Moonlight' Ryan, continued at the Central Criminal Court. Prosecution witness Gary Cunningham testified that in 2013, after Ryan's body was discovered in a tank on land leased by the accused, Quirke asked him if he had heard any rumours. Cunningham stated Quirke then mentioned a rumour that a 'Polish group' was involved. Under cross-examination, Cunningham acknowledged a general rumour existed but could not recall hearing it from anyone other than Quirke. Another witness, Emmett Kenny, who worked on Quirke's farm from 2009, testified that he knew of the tank where the body was found, believing it to be an old septic tank. Kenny noted that cattle walked on the concrete slabs covering it without issue. He also recalled Quirke leaving for the bank holiday weekend when Ryan went missing in June 2011. The prosecution alleges Quirke murdered Ryan to rekindle an affair with Ryan's girlfriend, Mary Lowry. The trial is ongoing before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
A 37‑year‑old woman, Laura Kenna, was found guilty of attempting to murder civil servant Fionnuala Burke on Lower Drumcondra Road on 3 January 2017. Kenna, who had no fixed abode, attacked Burke while she was walking home from work, slashing her neck with a knife. The wound penetrated muscle and the thyroid gland, requiring surgery and intensive care. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both the attempted murder and assault causing serious harm charges. During the trial, two psychiatrists presented conflicting views: the defence psychiatrist, Dr Stephen Monks, testified that Kenna suffered from schizoaffective disorder and was delusional, while the State psychiatrist, Professor Harry Kennedy, argued she was not delusional and acted out of anger. After 2 hours and 23 minutes of deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty on both counts. The case was sent to sentencing, with a victim impact statement to be considered on 25 March.
In the trial of Ross Outram, 28, of Clonmel, the prosecution has closed its case. Outram is accused of murdering 90‑year‑old retired farmer Paddy Lyons in his Lismore home between 23 and 26 February 2017. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Lyons suffered multiple blows to the head and neck from a blunt weapon, resulting in blunt force trauma, a traumatic brain injury, fractures of the hip joint, jawbone and ribs, and shock. She described haemorrhage and nerve fibre shearing, indicating significant force. While she could not definitively state whether Lyons had a concussion, she noted that brain function would likely have been altered. The trial will continue tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury of eight men and four women. Ross Outram pleaded not guilty.
In March 2019, a 65‑year‑old man from Westmeath was sentenced to eight years in prison by the Central Criminal Court for a series of sexual offences against his niece. The woman, now 40, reported that the abuse began when she was eight and continued until she was 14, including repeated indecent assault, sexual assault and a rape that she estimated occurred when she was 12. She described the uncle's behaviour as controlling and grooming, noting that he would often touch her, masturbate in her presence and force oral sex. The court heard her victim impact report, in which she spoke of lasting trauma, depression and suicidal thoughts. Mr Justice Paul McDermott highlighted the aggravating factor of her age and the abuse's dominance over her childhood. The sentence included three years of post‑release supervision and a prohibition on any contact with the woman or her family. The unnamed 12 year-old pleaded guilty.
A jury has begun deliberating the trial of 37‑year‑old Laura Kenna, who is charged with attempting to murder civil servant Fionnuala Burke and assault causing serious harm. The incident occurred on 3 January 2017 on Lower Drumcondra Road when Kenna, who has no fixed abode, approached Burke, pushed her onto grass, and stabbed her, slashing her neck. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both counts. The jury's main task is to assess Kenna's state of mind at the time of the attack. Defence psychiatrist Dr Stephen Monks testified that Kenna suffered a mental disorder, while State psychiatrist Professor Harry Kennedy disagreed, stating she was not delusional and acted out of anger and entitlement. The jury will resume deliberations tomorrow morning, with Justice Tara Burns warning them not to discuss the case with anyone in the meantime.
In the Central Criminal Court, Dr Harry Kennedy, a psychiatrist, was cross‑examined by counsel for Laura Kenna, a 37‑year‑old woman charged with attempted murder and assault causing serious harm. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Kennedy had previously stated that Kenna met the criteria for schizoaffective disorder but was not delusional at the time of the offence, acting in anger. During the hearing, counsel Mr Barry White SC questioned Kennedy about Kenna's claim that she was recording an album with a known record studio owner, asking whether this was evidence of delusion. Kennedy confirmed the studio owner was real and that Kenna's statements were true, describing them as fabrications rather than delusions. The confrontation escalated when White asked Kennedy to "take that smirk off your face," to which Kennedy replied he was not smirking. The trial continued with Justice Tara Burns presiding and a jury of twelve.
In the Central Criminal Court, Ross Outram, 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 90‑year‑old Paddy Lyons. The jury heard that Outram claimed to have suffered lumps on his head after being struck by Lyons with a walking stick and shovel, and that he had taken up to 100 Xanax tablets that day. Gardaí at Dungarvan station did not photograph the head lumps, nor did they take a urine sample, as four days had passed. The defence argued the investigation was "tunnel‑visioned" and did not examine the head injuries. The prosecution presented evidence that Lyons suffered multiple blows to the head and neck, and that his body was found slumped in his armchair. DNA from Lyons was found on the shovel, but no DNA from Outram was found in Lyons' house. The trial was set to continue the next day.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Dr Harry Kennedy, a consultant psychiatrist, testified that Laura Kenna (37), who is homeless, did not carry out a severe knife attack on Fionnuala Burke on 3 January 2017 because of delusional impulses but rather because of anger and a sense of entitlement. Kenna, charged with attempted murder and assault causing serious harm, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both counts. Dr Kennedy described Kenna as an inconsistent historian with callous, unemotional traits, noting that she fabricated stories to her advantage, such as claiming she had walked to Belfast after the attack. He argued that Kenna's actions were deliberate and not the result of a psychotic episode, though she meets criteria for schizoaffective disorder and is more stable on medication. The trial continues tomorrow before Ms Justice Tara Burns.
Patrick Quirke, 50, of Breanshamore, Co. Tipperary, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Bobby Ryan, a part‑time DJ known as Mr Moonlight, who disappeared on 3 June 2011 after leaving his girlfriend Mary Lowry's home. Quirke told Gardaí he feared Lowry, describing her as "vicious" and "verbally abusive", and claimed his only crime was an affair with her. He said he did not kill Ryan and that someone else was responsible. Quirke gave voluntary cautioned statements at Tipperary Garda Station on 16 May and 21 May 2013, detailing his movements on the day Ryan vanished and when he discovered Ryan's body in a tank on Lowry's farm. He explained he avoided Lowry because he feared her, and that he had been shocked when he saw the body. The court heard Quirke's statements and his account of his relationship with Lowry, including an affair that began in 2008 and ended after Lowry's husband died in 2007.
In a Dublin trial, 37‑year‑old Laura Kenna, who has no fixed abode, is charged with attempted murder and assault causing serious harm after attacking Fionnuala Burke on Lower Drumcondra Road on 3 January 2017. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The Central Criminal Court heard that the key issue is Kenna's mental state. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Stephen Monks testified that Kenna suffers from schizoaffective disorder, a chronic illness related to schizophrenia, and had been homeless since 2013. He described a pattern of violent assaults on homeless service users in Belfast, including two attempted eye‑gouges, and an attack on a woman at a Luas stop a few weeks before the alleged murder. Monks argued that Kenna's attack on Burke was driven by delusions of death, vampires and cannibalism, not robbery, and that she could not control her actions. The jury will consider these conflicting psychiatric opinions before deciding on the verdict.
In the trial of Ross Outram, a 28‑year‑old from Clonmel, the jury heard that he claimed to have "fought back" after a 90‑year‑old retired farmer, Paddy Lyons, was found beaten to death in his home. Outram told Gardaí that he had gone to Lyons' house looking for money, but denied any intent to murder or seriously harm Lyons. He said Lyons had struck him with a walking stick and shovel, and that he had not killed Lyons, who he claimed was still alive when he left the house. A pathologist testified that Lyons suffered multiple blows to his head and neck, and his body was found slumped in his armchair. The case was presented to the Central Criminal Court on the sixth day of the trial, with the jury hearing medical evidence and Outram's statements from several Garda interviews. The unnamed 90-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of Patrick Quirke, the Central Criminal Court heard that Gardai had found blood stains in the sitting room and bedroom of Mary Lowry's home. Retired detective John Grant testified that the stains were sent to forensic laboratories for analysis. The evidence was presented as part of the case against Quirke, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of DJ Bobby Ryan. The prosecution alleges that Quirke killed Ryan to rekindle an affair with Lowry. Grant described the layout of Lowry's house and the forensic work that identified blood on a light fitting, the ceiling, bed frame, mattress, floor and inside a wardrobe. He also noted that no positive results were found on the accused's vehicle or on eight out-buildings on the farm. The trial continues tomorrow before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve.
A 46‑year‑old man, Yusuf Ali Abdi of Charleville Road, Phibsboro, Dublin 7, has been charged with murdering his 20‑month‑old son, Nathan Baraka Andrew Ali, who was killed at The Elms, College Road, Clane, Co Kildare on 17 April 2001. Mr Justice Michael White set the trial for 27 May 2019, with the case expected to last one week.