In a murder trial in Dublin, Stephen Tynan (41) and Raymond Fitzgerald (37) pleaded not guilty to the killing of Andrew Guerrine, who was found dead with 20 stab wounds on May 23, 2015. The prosecution presented evidence that a burnt-out car in Tallaght, discovered a few days after the murder, had the same engine number as a Peugeot 307 allegedly bought by Tynan hours before the stabbing. Mechanic Thomas Menton testified that he saw the car on fire in Barley Fields, collected it, and later handed the engine to the Gardaí. Garda Ronan O'Malley confirmed the engine number matched a photograph and a registration certificate. Darren Finnegan, who sold the car to Tynan on May 22, also testified about the sale. The trial was scheduled to continue the following morning.
A 70‑year‑old man, Desmond Duffy, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his partner, Desmond Sullivan, 59, who died on 23 May 2016 at their home in Somerville Park, Rathmines. Duffy told Gardaí that he had been abused by Sullivan for many years, citing incidents of bleach, milk, a mug and a basket of sausages being thrown at him, and that Sullivan had become increasingly psychotic and paranoid. He described a night of drinking in a pub, after which Sullivan attacked him in the kitchen. Duffy tried to restrain Sullivan, who fell and stopped moving; Duffy called a relative, who later confirmed Sullivan was dead. Duffy said he did not call an ambulance because he was very drunk and did not think Sullivan was injured. The case is before the Central Criminal Court.
During a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Desmond Duffy, aged 70, pleaded not guilty to the killing of his partner Des Sullivan, aged 59, at their shared home in Somerville Park, Rathmines, on 23 May 2016. The court heard that the couple had a long history of domestic disputes. In October 2013, Garda Michael Cunningham responded to a report of a domestic argument at the Duffy–Sullivan residence. Sullivan told the officer that they had been together for 35 years and that they had been arguing, adding that he had thrown bleach at Duffy. He also said that arguments had become more frequent.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 70‑year‑old Desmond Duffy pleaded not guilty to the murder of his partner Des Sullivan, aged 59, who died at their home in Somerville Park, Rathmines, on 23 May 2016. Garda Mark Twomey reported that Duffy told him the couple had drunk about five pints in a local pub before an argument. When they returned home, Duffy said Sullivan punched, kicked and pulled his hair, and that Duffy tried to restrain him by placing his hands on Sullivan's neck, causing Sullivan to fall. Duffy claimed he was injured, noting a cut on his finger and blood on his sleeve. Duffy had no prior convictions and had previously stayed in hotels in Rathmines, as shown by his credit‑card records. The case is before Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of twelve.
During a domestic dispute on 23 May 2016, Desmond Duffy (70) of Somerville Park, Rathmines, Dublin 6, was accused of murdering his partner, Desmond Sullivan (59), at their home. Duffy pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court, claiming self‑defence. Neighbours reported hearing a distressed male voice calling for help and describing a roar, prompting them to contact the Gardaí. The trial, presided over by Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of twelve, continues to consider these testimonies.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 6 November 2018, the family of the late Kenneth O'Brien delivered victim impact statements. They described O'Brien as a devoted family man, a hardworking son who began working at 15, and a loving partner to Eimear Dunne. The statements expressed profound grief over his murder, noting the traumatic discovery that his body was found as a torso in a suitcase. The family highlighted the loss of their son and the impact on their four‑year‑old child, who had never seen his father again. The court imposed a life sentence on the accused, Paul Wells, back‑dating it to 6 February 2016, the date of Wells's arrest. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, acknowledged the family's dignity and the shocking nature of the crime. The statements were delivered by the family members and by Detective Gda Aine O'Sullivan on behalf of Dunne.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 70‑year‑old man, Desmond Duffy, pleaded not guilty to the death of his 59‑year‑old civil partner, Desmond Sullivan, who was found dead at their home in Somerville Park, Rathmines, on 23 May 2016. Duffy claimed he acted in self‑defence, saying he had been attacked and strangled Sullivan to protect himself. The prosecution described the couple as a drinking pair, known as "Little Des" and "Big Des," and due to be married in July 2017. Garda Maurice Ward, who arrived at the scene around 10:45 pm, testified that Duffy had called him to report the death and that the body had been present for some time. Ward noted that Duffy appeared shaken and that the couple had never shown aggression in his experience. The trial was set to continue before a jury the following day.
A 41‑year‑old woman who had taken a summer job looking after animals on local farms to prepare for a future as a vet was raped by John Phelan, 54, between 1992 and 1993 when she was aged 14 to 16. Phelan pleaded guilty to four sexual assault charges and two rapes at his home and other locations in Laois. He had previously served seven years for raping a girl aged nine to 11 in 1989 and 1990. At sentencing, the judge noted Phelan's false claim of no sexual preference for minors and described the abuse as calculated and exploitative. Phelan was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with 18 months suspended, and ordered to serve three years of post‑release supervision. The victim's impact statement highlighted how the abuse ended her dreams of becoming a vet and left her with lasting trauma.
Oliver Berry, aged 61, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of 104 counts of raping and sexually assaulting his daughter Jennifer Berry, aged 7 to 19, between December 1982 and December 1994. The offences included repeated rape during her pregnancy and a final rape two weeks after she gave birth, when her infant son was present. Berry pleaded not guilty but was found guilty. He received a ten‑year prison sentence. Berry maintains his innocence and intends to appeal. Jennifer Berry, who waived anonymity, gave evidence in the trial and described the abuse as ongoing, physically and psychologically damaging. The judge noted Berry's age and health in sentencing and highlighted the impact on family bonds. No further legal outcomes are reported in the article.
The Central Criminal Court jury has begun deliberating in the trial of Paul Wells Senior, 50, of Barnamore Park, Finglas. Wells is charged with murdering 33-year-old Kenneth O'Brien at his home in Barnamore Park on 15th or 16th January 2016. While Wells admitted to shooting O'Brien and dismembering his body, he pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder. The defence contends that the killing occurred during a scuffle after O'Brien allegedly asked Wells to murder his partner, Eimear Dunne, to facilitate a move to Australia. Wells claims he panicked and used a chainsaw to dispose of the body in the Grand Canal. During jury charging, Mr Justice Paul McDermott outlined seven coincidences cited by defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC to support the conspiracy theory, including a disabled CCTV system, a cancelled birthday party, and missing passports. The prosecution, conversely, argued the killing was premeditated. The jury retired to consider their verdict shortly after noon on Friday and will resume deliberations tomorrow morning.
A 70‑year‑old man, Desmond Duffy, has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of his partner, Des Sullivan, aged 59, who was killed on 23 May 2016 at their home in Somerville Park, Rathmines, Dublin 6. Duffy pleaded not guilty. The two‑week trial will be presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, who instructed a jury of six men and six women to return tomorrow and to keep the proceedings confidential.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that Paul Wells Senior (50) of Barnamore Park, Finglas, has admitted shooting dead fellow Dubliner Kenneth O'Brien and dismembering his body. However, he has pleaded not guilty to murdering the 33-year-old at his home in Barnamore Park on 15th or 16th January, 2016. Mr Wells claims that Mr O'Brien had wanted him to murder Mr O'Brien's partner so that he could take their child back to Australia. He told gardai that Mr O'Brien had brought a gun to his house for this purpose on the evening of the 15th but that he didn't want to do it. He said this resulted in a scuffle between them, that the gun fell, they both tried to get it, but that he got to it first and shot his friend in the back of the head. He said that he then panicked, 'chopped him into pieces' with a chainsaw Mr O'Brien had lent him, put the torso into Mr O'Brien's suitcase and dumped it in the Grand Canal. Mr Justice Paul McDermott told the jury that the 'horror' shouldn't determine its verdict, with the main issue to decide being how his death was brought about. He explained that the jury must consider whether Mr Wells intended to cause death or serious injury when discharging the firearm into the back of Mr O'Brien's head. The matter was adjourned and will continue on Monday.
In a Dublin court, a 52‑year‑old man was sentenced to 18 years in prison, with the final three years suspended, for a series of sexual offences against his daughter, who is now 17. He pleaded guilty to 21 charges, including rape, attempted rape, anal rape and other sexual assaults that spanned from 2006 to 2017. The court heard that the abuse began when the girl was between four and seven years old and continued through multiple moves, involving inappropriate touching, forced sexual acts and repeated rapes almost daily. The father described himself as a "partner by night" and claimed he had viewed his daughter inappropriately. He admitted to giving her alcohol and smoking cannabis during some incidents. The judge noted the profound breach of trust and the father's remorse, ordering him to undergo the Better Lives treatment programme while serving the sentence. The case highlighted the severe impact on the victim's physical and psychological well-being.
In the murder trial of Paul Wells Senior, the prosecution argued that Kenneth O'Brien was not merely killed but executed in a premeditated act. Wells, aged 50, admitted shooting O'Brien, a 33‑year‑old, and dismembering his body. He claimed O'Brien had brought a gun to his home to force him to murder O'Brien's partner so he could take their child to Australia. Wells said a scuffle over the gun led to him shooting O'Brien in the back of the head, after which he panicked and used a chainsaw to chop the body, placing the torso in a suitcase and dumping it in the Grand Canal. The prosecutor presented evidence of a contact entry wound and other forensic findings to support the claim of premeditation, urging a guilty verdict. The defence questioned the plausibility of the alleged plan and the involvement of Wells's family in the disposal of the remains.
Eoin Berkley, 25, was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment for abducting a teenage Spanish student from Dublin city centre and raping her repeatedly over a 21‑hour period. The offences, committed between 15 and 16 July 2017 at the Irish Glass Bottle Company site, involved three separate rapes, false imprisonment, threats to kill and 19 incidents of violence or intimidation. The judge, Mr Justice Michael White, imposed concurrent 14‑year sentences for each rape, back‑dated to 31 July 2017, and added a three‑year post‑release supervision period. Berkley's history of mental health difficulties and prior convictions was noted, but the court emphasised the premeditated nature of the crimes and the severe degradation inflicted on the victim. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the assaults and the threat posed to the victim's life and safety.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Paul Wells Senior, 50, of Barnamore Park, Finglas, heard evidence regarding a laptop seized from his home. Wells has admitted shooting dead Kenneth O'Brien and dismembering his body but pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of the 33-year-old at his home on 15th or 16th January 2016. Wells claims O'Brien brought a gun to his house to kill O'Brien's partner, leading to a scuffle where Wells allegedly shot O'Brien in the head before disposing of the remains in the Grand Canal. A cyber crime expert testified that the laptop, which had a user profile named 'Paul', was used to search for Irish Ferries timetables around 4pm on 15th January 2016. The searches included routes from Rosslare to Cherbourg and Dublin to Holyhead. Additionally, evidence indicated that the CCTV system in the home shared by O'Brien, his partner, and child stopped recording at 4.32am on 13th January, with only a brief recording on 14th January. The prosecution case is expected to close tomorrow morning, and the trial continues.
A 61-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his victim, pleaded guilty to one charge of rape at a family home in Co Galway on an unknown date between 1989 and 1991. The defendant is currently serving a sentence for raping the victim's older sister, for which he was sentenced in 2015 to 12 years in prison with the final two years suspended. The Central Criminal Court heard that the now 39-year-old victim, who is described as vulnerable and living in England, was abused by four men, including her uncle, grandfather, and father. The court was told the victim felt unable to attend or provide a victim impact statement due to severe depression and anxiety. The defendant, who is originally from Dublin, made full admissions when arrested in prison in March 2017. A psychological report indicated he was below average intelligence and emotionally detached. Mr Justice Michael White adjourned sentencing to November 13 to allow time to consider the case. The matter was adjourned and has not been concluded.
In a murder trial, Paul Wells Snr, aged 50, admitted shooting and dismembering Kenneth O'Brien, aged 33, at his home in Barnamore Park, Dublin, on 15 or 16 January 2016. Wells claimed a scuffle over a gun led to the shooting, after which he panicked and used a chainsaw to dismember the body. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that the dismemberment was performed with a high‑speed mechanical saw, and that a bullet entered the back of O'Brien's head, causing catastrophic brain injury and instant death. The bullet's entry wound was described as a contact entry with the muzzle pressed against the head. Witnesses from O'Brien's family described his recent return from Australia and his private nature. The trial entered the legal argument stage and will continue before the jury tomorrow.
A 64‑year‑old former soldier was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the last year suspended, for repeatedly raping his niece and grand‑nephew. He pleaded guilty to four counts of oral rape of his niece between January 1991 and September 1992, and to four counts of oral rape of his grand‑nephew between February 2002 and December 2004. The victims were as young as eight when the assaults began. The judge noted the offender's voluntary surrender to Gardaí, early guilty plea, and attempts at sex‑offending intervention, and considered his prior good military record as mitigating factors. The sentence was reduced from an initial nine‑year recommendation. The offender was ordered to continue counselling and to keep the peace for three years. The victims' impact statements described lasting emotional distress, panic attacks, PTSD, and suicidal ideation. The court did not find the offences to be in the most serious range.
Patrick Byrnes, 78, of Castletroy, Limerick, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court after being convicted by a jury last July of 58 charges of indecent assault and two counts of rape. The offences, which occurred between 1975 and 1985, involved the sexual abuse of his two daughters when they were approximately seven years old. Byrnes denied all charges and maintains his innocence. Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted the victims lived in abject fear and were left broken by the decade-long abuse, which included instances where Byrnes encouraged a family dog to participate in sexual acts. The judge acknowledged Byrnes' health conditions, including heart disease and osteoarthritis, but stated these could be managed in prison. Citing a lack of remorse and refusal to admit responsibility, the judge identified Byrnes' age as the only mitigating factor. He set a headline sentence of nine years for rape and six years for sexual assault, reducing both by one year due to age. All sentences run concurrently. The judge suspended the final two years of the sentence on the condition that Byrnes is not in the company of any woman under the age of 18 unless accompanied by another adult. The complainants waived anonymity to ensure Byrnes was named, stating they will never forgive him.
During a murder trial, witness Graham Egan testified that he saw a dark‑coloured SUV parked at a field entrance on Steelstown Lane just before the body of Andrew Guerrine was discovered. Egan, who left his home at 11.10 pm on 22 May to drive a friend to Wicklow, passed the gateway at about 12.20 am and saw the vehicle with its lights off, noting only a brief glimpse and no movement. He confirmed the car was not there when he left at 11.10 pm. The trial concerns Stephen Tynan (41) and Raymond Fitzgerald (37), both pleading not guilty to Guerrine's murder, which occurred between 22 and 23 May 2015. The body, found early on 23 May, had 20 stab wounds, including two that penetrated the skull and cervical spine.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Stephen Tynan (41) and Raymond Fitzgerald (37) continues before Mr Justice Michael White. Both defendants, from Tallaght, Dublin 24, have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Andrew Guerrine (37) at an unknown location between May 22 and May 23, 2015. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded. Witness Shane Traynor testified that he discovered Mr Guerrine's body in a gateway on Steelstown Lane, Rathcoole, in the early hours of May 23, initially mistaking the scene for a hit-and-run. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster reported that Mr Guerrine died from hemorrhage and shock caused by multiple stab wounds. She identified 20 stab wounds, including injuries to the skull, cervical spine, and a major blood vessel in the chest, indicating substantial force was used. Toxicology revealed cocaine, sedatives, diazepam, and methadone in the deceased's blood. The court heard that all wounds could have been inflicted by a single knife, though a second weapon could not be ruled out. The trial continues tomorrow.
Kieran Greene, 32, of Mountain View Park, Rathfarnham, is charged with the murder of 61‑year‑old Patricia O'Connor, whose remains were found scattered in the Wicklow mountains between 29 and 30 May 2017. The Central Criminal Court has adjourned his trial, which was scheduled for 3 December, and has applied to vacate the date. Four co‑accused have been charged with impeding the Garda investigation, and the State is seeking a joint trial. Mr Justice Michael White remanded Greene in custody until the new trial date is fixed on 28 January 2019.
Aaron Brady, 27, from New Road, Crossmaglen, is accused of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe during a shooting on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co. Louth. Brady was charged earlier this year with the murder of a Garda in the course of duty. Brendan Grehan SC, for the prosecution, estimates the trial will last six to eight weeks. Mr Justice Michael White set the trial to begin on 8 October 2019 at the Central Criminal Court, with Michael O'Higgins SC defending Brady. At a prior hearing, Donohoe was served a four‑volume book of evidence.
In the Central Criminal Court, a prosecution barrister told the court that the case against Stephen Tynan (41) and Raymond Fitzgerald (37) centred on who killed 37‑year‑old Andrew Guerrine, not whether he was murdered. The State's case relied on circumstantial evidence, including CCTV of a black Peugeot 307, DNA linking a child's jacket to the car, and the presence of a child's coat under Guerrine's foot at the discovery site. The prosecution argued the car was driven by Tynan with Fitzgerald as passenger, and that the vehicle was used to transport Guerrine to the location where his body was found on Steelstown Lane. The jury was to hear that Guerrine died from multiple stab wounds, including to the skull, cervical spine, heart and throat, and that the accused were responsible for his death. Stephen Tynan pleaded not guilty. Raymond Fitzgerald pleaded not guilty.
The murder trial of Paul Well Snr, accused of killing and dismembering Kenneth O'Brien, was adjourned after jurors received a suspected scam call from a number claiming to be the Courts Service. The 50‑year‑old, who had admitted shooting O'Brien but pleaded not guilty to the murder, had been hearing evidence of his own interviews. The call, which included a distorted voicemail mentioning the Courts Service, was investigated by Sergeant Gerard Moore and deemed a scam unrelated to the case. Judge Paul McDermott ordered the trial to resume the next day once the investigation was complete, and the jurors were sent home to await further instructions. The case continues with the next portion of interviews to be played on DVD.
Paul Well Snr, a 50‑year‑old father of five from Barnamore Park, Finglas, has admitted shooting and dismembering 33‑year‑old Kenneth O'Brien at his home on 15 or 16 January 2016. He pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. In his first Garda interviews he denied any involvement and could not explain why O'Brien had transferred more than €50,000 into his account. Well claimed that O'Brien had wanted him to murder O'Brien's partner so he could take their child back to Australia, where he had previously lived. Garda Sergeant Martin Long noted that Well had been receiving €320 a week in Jobseeker's Benefit and that the €14,500 he withdrew in January was not in his possession. He also acknowledged that €52,925 had been transferred into his account over 18 months. The trial continues this afternoon.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Eoin Berkley, 25, admitted to raping an 18‑year‑old Spanish student at the Irish Glass Bottle Company site between 15 and 16 July 2017. The victim, who had come to Ireland to improve her English, was tied up, threatened with death, and raped three times over a 21‑hour period. Berkley used a dog leash to bind her hands, threatened to cut her hands off, and gave her tablets before abusing her. He told her he would not kill her until Monday and threatened to throw a rock at her head if she tried to escape. The victim escaped when Berkley fell asleep on the beach. Medical tests found morphine, codeine and cannabis in her body; she suffered bruising and required medication for months. Berkley's prior convictions include unlawful possession of knives and firearms, threatening and abusive behaviour.
Paul Well Sr, a 50‑year‑old former butcher, was arrested for shooting and dismembering his friend Kenneth O'Brien, a 33‑year‑old truck driver. Well told Gardaí he had not seen O'Brien for several days before the victim went missing. He was charged with murder at O'Brien's home in Barnamore Park on 15 or 16 January 2016. Well pleaded not guilty, claiming O'Brien had wanted him to murder O'Brien's partner so he could take their child to Australia. Garda Declan O'Brien testified that Well had met O'Brien in 2007 and that O'Brien had been involved in an affair. O'Brien's partner had been betrayed, and O'Brien was described as reckless and devious. Well said he had worked as a butcher about 30 years earlier, leaving after cutting his finger. The trial is being heard in the Central Criminal Court.
The 65‑year‑old former Roman Catholic priest, who had been defrocked and was already serving a seven‑year sentence for sexually abusing a boy, was given an eight‑year consecutive sentence by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on 15 May 2017 for six counts of oral rape, defilement and sexual assault of a boy aged 10‑11 at his home between 2005 and 2006. The abuse began shortly after the priest's earlier offence ended in 2006. On appeal, the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, found an error in the sentencing judge's remarks that had led to a 15‑year total sentence. The court reduced the eight‑year term to six years, leaving a total of 13 years in prison. The priest had initially made inappropriate remarks about the victim's puberty, encouraged him to look up sexual subjects online, and progressed to fondling, oral rape and sexual assault in his house, the presbytery and a car. The unnamed 65-year-old was found guilty.
Michael Moloney, aged 40, was sentenced by the Central Criminal Court to ten years' imprisonment for the rape of his stepdaughter, with the final two and a half years suspended. He also received a concurrent seven‑year term for eight counts of sexual abuse, with the final three and a half years suspended. Moloney pleaded guilty to the sexual abuse charges, which covered incidents from 2009 to 2015, and admitted to more than 15 abuses between the victim's ages of 10 and 17. He had previously pleaded not guilty to the rape charge, but later accepted responsibility. The victim, who had waived anonymity, described the abuse as persistent and damaging to her trust in family and her sense of safety. Moloney's sentencing was delivered by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy, who noted his remorse and good employment history. The case concluded with Moloney's conviction and imprisonment, with no further legal actions reported in the article.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, 31‑year‑old Anthony Walsh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and theft of a bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter from Dermot Byrne on 16 July 2017. The prosecution, led by Vincent Heneghan SC, described Byrne's death as "savagery," urging a murder conviction. Defence counsel Remy Farrell SC argued that Walsh was provoked by Byrne, who had earlier attacked him and attempted to take a cigarette. Farrell presented CCTV from the Harp Bar showing a confrontation and highlighted Byrne's aggressive behaviour, including a prior incident at an Applegreen garage. He urged the jury to consider Walsh's lack of aggression and the injuries inflicted on Byrne, suggesting a manslaughter verdict. The jury was set to deliberate tomorrow.
Two men, Stephen Tynan, 41, and Raymond Fitzgerald, 37, are set to stand trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Andrew Guerrine, 37, which occurred between 22 and 23 May 2015. Both pleaded not guilty. Mr Justice Michael White has sworn in a jury of eight men and four women, and the trial is expected to last up to four weeks.
An 86-year-old man from Arva, County Cavan, has received an eight-year suspended sentence at the Central Criminal Court for the sexual abuse of two siblings spanning the period 1958 to 1963. John Joe Kiernan pleaded guilty to eleven sample counts of indecent assault and one count of rape. The offences occurred on or near the victims' family farmland where Kiernan worked as a farm labourer. Mr Justice Michael White imposed sentences totalling eight years for rape and seven years for indecent assaults, suspending all sentences entirely on condition that Kiernan keep the peace. The judge cited Kiernan's advanced age and serious ill-health as factors against imposing custody. The court heard the victims, now in their sixties, came forward in 2017. Kiernan had previously served a five-year sentence in 2005 for separate sexual offences committed between 1963 and 1973.
In 2018, a 53‑year‑old travelling salesman was jailed for five years after being convicted of raping a 24‑year‑old mother‑of‑one in County Cork on 2 August 2015. The victim had been a former employee of the salesman's business. The man had previously received a two‑year suspended sentence in 2014 for sexually assaulting a 19‑year‑old woman in 2011. At the Central Criminal Court, a jury found him guilty by majority verdict. Judge Paul McDermott set a headline sentence of six years but reduced it to five years, citing the man's lack of remorse and the hardship his imprisonment would cause to his ageing mother. The sentence was back‑dated to 19 July, the day he was taken into custody. Upon completion, he must serve two years of probation, attend counselling for alcohol and sexual offending, and may not contact the victim directly or indirectly.
During the murder trial of 31‑year‑old Anthony Walsh, Deputy State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster described the severe injuries to 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne's face. She said the bones were broken into little fragments and that his brain had "swirled around" his skull after he was punched and kicked. Glass fragments were found in his face and neck. The body lay in blood at the top of seven steps leading to Fingal Community College. Dr Bolster noted multiple fractures to the jaw, nasal bones, ribs and lacerations to the scalp. Toxicology revealed 350 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, indicating heavy intoxication. She concluded the cause of death was traumatic brain injury from blunt force trauma to the head, neck and chest, with fractured ribs and high alcohol levels complicating the condition. The jury heard this evidence before the trial proceeded to the next phase. Deputy State Pathologist Dr pleaded guilty.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Anthony Walsh, 31, admitted killing but denied murdering 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne. He told a friend via Facebook Messenger that he had killed someone and that Byrne "kept coming at me" after three warnings. Walsh also sent messages to a woman who had recently added him on Facebook, describing her as "fit" and claiming he was "too much of a bad boy for you." He sent photos of Byrne's bank card and a newspaper article about Byrne's death. Walsh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and also pleaded guilty to stealing a bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter from Byrne on the same day and location. The trial is before Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of twelve.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 35‑year‑old Laura Kenna, who has no fixed abode, faced charges of attempted murder and assault with intent to cause serious harm after stabbing civil servant Fionnuala Bourke on Lower Drumcondra Road on 3 January 2017. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Prosecutor Anthony Sammon SC presented evidence that Bourke's throat was slit and she suffered severe facial scarring, and that Kenna admitted guilt to Gardaí the following day. Defence psychiatrist Dr Stephen Monks testified that Kenna, diagnosed with schizophrenic affective disorder, did not understand her actions and was influenced by hallucinations and delusions. Professor Harry Kennedy countered, arguing Kenna knew her actions were wrong and had a motive to rob Bourke's handbag. Kenna had previously stabbed a woman at a Luas stop two weeks earlier, an incident that had led to a prior verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.
The trial of 50‑year‑old Paul Wells Senior, charged with the murder of 33‑year‑old Kenneth O'Brien, was adjourned after a juror became ill. Wells, of Barnamore Park, Finglas, admitted shooting O'Brien and dismembering his body but pleaded not guilty to the murder. The case, heard before Mr Justice Paul McDermott, had begun last week with a jury of twelve. One juror was discharged after recognizing a person mentioned in evidence, and the judge deemed it unrealistic for her to return the next day, so the court was adjourned to Monday.
Laura Kenna, aged 34 and without a fixed abode, was arrested on suspicion of slicing the throat of civil servant Fionnuala Burke on Lower Drumcondra Road on 3 January 2017. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to attempted murder and assault intending serious harm. The prosecution argued that Kenna attacked Burke, who was walking home from work, by pushing her onto a grassy area and stabbing her with a knife. Burke suffered a deep cut across her neck, penetrating muscle and the thyroid gland, and was treated in intensive care. Kenna was later arrested in Tallaght, where she was found with blood on her clothing, a knife and items belonging to Burke. She admitted to the attack, describing it as "slicing her like you would a goat." The case was opened at the Central Criminal Court, with the jury instructed to consider Kenna's state of mind. The trial was scheduled to continue before Mr Justice Robert Eagar.
In the Central Criminal Court, Marie and Hugh Walsh testified that they met their son Anthony the morning after he beat 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne to death outside a school in Swords on 16 July 2017. Anthony, 31, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and to theft of Byrne's bank card, keys and lighter. He told his mother, in tears, that he had not meant to kill Byrne. The court heard that Anthony had been in a fight, had called his father's phone, and had been arrested after a taxi ride to his mother's house. Witnesses described his physical state and the circumstances of the incident, and the trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
A Central Criminal Court jury found 51‑year‑old Paul Keating not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after he stabbed his lifelong friend, 47‑year‑old Mark Richardson, in the chest during a fight over a beer can. The single stab wound severed Richardson's main pulmonary artery, causing heavy bleeding. Keating, who lived on Harmonstown Road, had pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter on 16 March 2017. He died an hour after the stabbing. The jury, composed of six men and six women, deliberated for 3 hours 28 minutes over two days and reached a unanimous verdict. The court adjourned sentencing to 14 December, remanded Keating in custody, and exempted the jury from service for five years. The trial included testimony from Richardson's partner, children, and forensic experts who confirmed the knife's DNA match to Richardson. The case highlighted the sudden escalation of a drinking dispute into a fatal act.
During a murder trial, retired Garda Niall Jones recounted his horror upon discovering a naked, bloody body on North Street, Swords, at about 2.50 am. While searching for a taxi, he mistook a lifelike inflatable dummy for a person and, upon closer inspection, found the body of a man who had been beaten to death. Jones called 999 and attempted resuscitation, but paramedic William Howard found no pulse and declared the victim dead. The case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court, with the accused Anthony Walsh pleading not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and theft.
During the trial of Paul Wells Senior, a 50‑year‑old from Barnamore Park, the son, Gary Wells, testified that his father repeatedly told him not to return home on the night of the murder of Kenneth O'Brien, which occurred on 15 or 16 January 2016. Gary, then 21, was driving to work in Clondalkin when his father called him to warn him against going home that night. He later returned the next morning to find his father power‑washing the ground behind the house, where the body had been dismembered and found in a canal. Gary also described seeing a chainsaw in a bag his father had moved from the shed, and that his father had asked him to bring it to another man's house. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court, continues with a jury of eleven. The accused has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.
At the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Michael White commended two siblings from Arva, County Cavan for their "unbelievable courage" in reporting childhood sexual abuse to gardaí in 2017, more than five decades after the offences occurred. John Joe Kiernan, aged 86 and from Forthill, Arva, pleaded guilty to six sample counts of indecent assault against one victim between 1958 and 1963, five sample counts against his younger sister during 1959 to 1963, and rape of the girl between 1959 and 1964. The offences took place on or near the family farmland where Kiernan worked as a labourer. Both victims, now in their sixties, provided impact statements describing lasting trauma. The judge described certain threats made by Kiernan as "spine chilling" and noted the brutality of the offending. Kiernan had been previously imprisoned in 2005 for similar offences. Sentencing was adjourned pending further consideration.
Tsvetomir Velikov, a 42-year-old Bulgarian national from Navan, Co. Meath, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for defiling a female under the age of 17. He pleaded guilty on his trial date to the charge relating to an incident in Cork on February 28, 2015. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly imposed a two-year prison sentence, suspending the final six months. The sentence was backdated to June 26, the date Velikov pleaded guilty. The court noted that while there was no physical violence, Velikov had doubts about the victim's age but proceeded with the act. He was described as a "model prisoner" who completed various courses while awaiting sentence. In a related matter, Ivan Peev, also of Coolfore Road, previously received a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for defiling the victim's 15-year-old friend in a circus caravan on the same date. The prosecution highlighted that the girls had consumed significant amounts of alcohol and appeared intoxicated, with CCTV showing them holding each other up upon leaving. Velikov admitted to being reckless regarding their ages. The judge emphasized that the law protects young people regardless of alcohol consumption. Velikov has no previous convictions in Ireland or Bulgaria.
During a night in Swords on 16 July 2017, 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne was involved in a scuffle with 31‑year‑old Anthony Walsh, who later pleaded not guilty to Byrne's murder but guilty to manslaughter and theft of a bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter. Door staff at the Harp Bar intervened when Byrne and Walsh argued around 2.11 am. Byrne, who had been drinking, asked the staff, "Why did you do that? I can look after myself," before walking away. Witnesses, including Vincent McCarthy, Krystzof Laszowski, Darren Kelly and Rory Robinson, described the confrontation, the presence of alcohol, and the attempts to calm the situation. The case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve.
In the trial of Paul Wells Senior, a 50‑year‑old from Barnamore Park, Finglas, who has admitted shooting and dismembering Kenneth O'Brien, a 33‑year‑old Dublin father‑of‑one, a juror was discharged. Wells pleaded not guilty to the murder of O'Brien, who was found dismembered in a canal. The trial, scheduled to enter its fourth day of evidence, was delayed when a juror informed Judge Paul McDermott that she had known a person mentioned in court about seven years earlier. The judge considered the matter in the jury's absence, then returned the remaining 12 jurors to court and addressed the individual juror. He thanked her for bringing the information to the court's attention, explained that her dismissal was to preserve the integrity of the process, and noted it was not a reflection on her future participation. The trial resumed with an 11‑member jury comprising five women and six men.
During a murder trial, a 24‑hour shop worker, Tayyeb Hasan, testified that the deceased, 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne, told him, "I'm going to kill you," after refusing to sell him cigarettes. Hasan, who works at an Applegreen shop in Swords, said Byrne was drunk and had tried to use his bank card but could not remember his PIN. Hasan called the Gardaí after the threat but later said he did not take it personally and did not believe Byrne would act on it. Byrne was also accused of stealing a bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter from the same shop on 16 July 2017. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, continues with 31‑year‑old Anthony Walsh on trial for the murder and manslaughter of Byrne. The case is before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve. Anthony Walsh pleaded not guilty.
In the murder trial of Paul Wells Senior, the defence cross‑examined Eimear Dunne, the wife of the deceased Kenneth O'Brien, who had been found dismembered in a canal. Dunne admitted that O'Brien was a secretive man who had affairs, recorded conversations, and had a history of making pipe bombs. She testified that she had not known about his bomb‑making or his friendship with the accused, who was described as an IRA man. Dunne described how O'Brien had been working in Limerick and had been involved with a woman in Australia, and that she had received suspicious texts from an unknown number. She also recounted that O'Brien had shown her photographs of the woman and that he had suggested she provoke the woman into assaulting her. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.