Yusuf Ali Abdi, who murdered his infant son Nathan Baraka Andrew Ali in 2001, was convicted in 2003 and sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment. He appealed in 2004 but lost. In 2018 he sought a miscarriage‑of‑justice declaration, arguing that a 2013 diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, made after his conviction, proved the earlier 2003 diagnosis of non‑psychosis by Dr Damien Mohan was erroneous. Abdi's counsel cited psychiatric reviews showing a progression from depression and PTSD to paranoid schizophrenia and antisocial personality disorder. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that the 2013 diagnosis was an opinion, not a fact, and that reopening the case would set a dangerous precedent. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment, noting the case raised significant legal questions. The proceedings remain at the appeal stage. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Paul Wells Senior, 50, of Finglas, continued at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Wells is charged with murdering Kenneth O'Brien, 33, at the accused's home on January 15 or 16, 2016. While Wells admitted to shooting and dismembering the deceased, he pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Evidence presented included testimony from Patrick Holligan, a Virgin Media worker who last saw O'Brien alive in good form on January 15. CCTV footage showed Wells driving toward Ardclough, Co Kildare, hours before O'Brien's remains were found in the Grand Canal. Garda Shona Nolan and Sergeant Gerard Moore detailed the arrest of Wells, who described O'Brien as his friend. Detective Sergeant David Conway presented photographs of bloodstains at Wells' property, while Detective Sergeant Thomas Power identified a .38/.357-inch caliber bullet recovered from O'Brien's head, consistent with a semi-automatic pistol. The firearm has not been recovered. The matter was adjourned and continues tomorrow morning.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Paul Keating, aged 51, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of his life‑long friend Mark Richardson, aged 47, who died on 16 March 2017 after a single stab wound severed his main pulmonary artery. Keating admitted that the stabbing was the last thing on his mind and that he had no intention to kill. He described a drunken argument that escalated when Richardson lifted him by the neck; Keating then grabbed a knife he claimed to have taken from a kitchen counter and stabbed Richardson in the shoulder. Keating said he had lost control, was taking tablets, and that the incident was a sudden, drunken lapse. He expressed disbelief at what had happened and stated he would never understand why it occurred. The trial continued before Mr Justice Robert Eagar and a jury of twelve.
In the Central Criminal Court trial of Paul Keating, Chief State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Mark Richardson, aged 47, died from a single stab wound to his right upper chest. The wound, 6 cm below the collarbone and 8 cm from the midline, entered the ribcage between the third and fourth ribs, pierced the right lung, and severed the main pulmonary artery, causing rapid blood loss. No other significant injuries were found except a 3.5 cm incised wound on the right side of the neck and three fingernail scratches. Toxicology revealed alcohol consumption and traces of a tranquilliser. Richardson was in cardiac arrest upon arrival at the hospital; despite resuscitation attempts, he was pronounced dead at 8:50 pm, an hour after the stabbing. The trial continues before Mr Justice Robert Eagar and a jury. Paul Keating pleaded not guilty.
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow to decide the verdict in the trial of 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen, who admits stabbing but denies murdering taxi‑driver Martin Mulligan (53). Hillen pleaded not guilty to murder after a dispute over alleged illegal dumping. Justice Eileen Creedon explained the three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The jury had spent 3 hours 21 minutes deliberating and had not yet reached a verdict. They were asked to return Thursday.
Paul Wells Senior, aged 50, admitted to the Central Criminal Court that he shot and dismembered Kenneth O'Brien, a 33‑year‑old father, at his own home on 15 or 16 January 2016. Wells claimed that O'Brien had asked him to kill O'Brien's partner, Eimear Dunne, and that he had been in a dispute over a gun when he fired at O'Brien, killing him. Wells said he panicked and dismembered the body, which was later found in the Grand Canal and other locations. The prosecution presented evidence that the torso and limbs were recovered in plastic bags and that DNA matched O'Brien. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, is ongoing with a jury of twelve. The case remains at the trial stage. Paul Wells Senior pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin trial, a woman named Aisling Kenny recounted the moment her partner's lifelong friend, Paul Keating, stabbed Mark Richardson in the chest with a kitchen knife. The incident occurred in their kitchen on Harmonstown Road, Artane, after a scuffle over a can of drink that Richardson's father had given him. Kenny described the men's drinking session, the brief quarrel, and the sudden stabbing. Richardson's son, Dean Connors, testified that a 30‑second scuffle over the can had escalated, leading to Richardson's upset and a brief exit to the back garden. Kim Valentine, Richardson's partner, also gave evidence, noting a quick confrontation and the stabbing that followed. The case is being heard by Central Criminal Court, with the trial continuing tomorrow before Mr Justice Robert Eagar and a jury of twelve. Paul Keating pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen, the jury has begun deliberating a verdict for the murder of 53‑year‑old Martin Mulligan, a taxi driver killed on 28 September 2015. Hillen admits stabbing Mulligan but denies murder, claiming he acted in self‑defence after a dispute over alleged illegal dumping. Justice Eileen Creedon explained that the jury may find him guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The prosecution, led by Patrick Treacy SC, argues Hillen intended to kill or seriously injure Mulligan and that his self‑defence claim is uncredible, citing Hillen's earlier false statements to gardai. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC contends Hillen's account is the only one supported by evidence, noting the pathologist's observation that the wounds were low on the body and would have caused death quickly. The jury will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow to continue deliberations.
In a court hearing on 5 October 2018, Danny Whelan, a 30‑year‑old from Thurles, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Samantha Walsh, a 31‑year‑old mother of four. Walsh had recently returned home from an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and had no alcohol in her system when Whelan, who was high on drugs, beat her to death in an apartment in Waterford City. Whelan pleaded guilty to the murder, which occurred on or about 28 April 2017. Forensic evidence showed blunt‑force trauma to Walsh's head and face, with bloodstains indicating a swinging weapon. Whelan had a history of 73 convictions, including burglary and possession of a knife, and had previously served an eight‑year sentence with part suspended. The court imposed the mandatory life sentence, and Whelan was taken to prison to begin his custodial term.
In the Central Criminal Court, the family of the stabbed victim left before a jury saw the taxi driver's heavily blood‑stained jumper and t‑shirt. Prosecutor Patrick Treacy SC warned that the clothing could be distressing. Joseph Hillen, 24, of Forkhill, Co. Armagh, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Martin Mulligan, 53, at Carnmore, Dundalk, on 28 September 2015. Hillen admitted he inflicted the fatal knife wounds but claimed he did so to protect himself. Forensic scientist Sandra McGrath showed the jury the heavy blood staining on the jumper and t‑shirt, a 19.5 cm cut and tear at the V of the jumper's neck, and a glove with Hillen's DNA on its inside and back. She also identified 18 blood drops at the scene, two matching Hillen's DNA and the rest matching Mulligan's. Garda James Doherty reported Hillen was interviewed on 23 May 2016 after his car was seen driving erratically that night.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 2 October 2018, 36‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murders of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond. The jury had convicted him on circumstantial evidence after a trial that lasted more than seven hours. O'Driscoll, who had been arrested in June 2016, told the judge that the jury had "got it wrong" and insisted he was innocent. The judge, Michael White, imposed the mandatory life sentence on each count, back‑dated to the date of O'Driscoll's arrest. Victim impact statements were read by the prosecution, describing the loss and devastation felt by the families of Burnett and Redmond. The judge refused a certificate of leave to appeal and the court ended the hearing without further commentary. The case was closed with O'Driscoll being led away to begin his life sentence.
A 30‑year‑old man, Danny Whelan, pleaded guilty to the murder of Samantha Walsh, a 31‑year‑old mother of four, in Waterford. The offence occurred on or about 28 April 2017 at an apartment on Thomas Street. Whelan, who has no fixed abode, was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court without a jury. The judge directed a victim impact statement and remanded him in custody pending sentencing. He will receive a mandatory life sentence.
In a Cork case, Bulgarian circus worker Tsvetomir Velikov, aged 42, pleaded guilty to defiling a 16‑year‑old girl on 28 February 2015. The girl, almost 17, and a 15‑year‑old friend had arrived at the circus after drinking vodka. Velikov admitted he had been reckless about their ages. He was to be sentenced later that month. The case also involved Ivan Peev, another Bulgarian circus worker, who received a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence for a similar offence involving a 15‑year‑old on the same date. The court heard that the girls were given more alcohol, were intoxicated, and that the 16‑year‑old had vomited that night. The victim's impact statement described feelings of shame and unhappiness after the incident. The court adjourned the sentence until later that month.
Brian Rattigan, a 37‑year‑old from Cooley Road, Drimnagh, faces arraignment on 1 January 2001 murder charge. He is accused of killing 21‑year‑old Declan Gavin outside the Abrakebabra fast‑food at Crumlin Shopping Centre on 25 August 2001. The Central Criminal Court had scheduled a trial for 14 January next year, but his barrister requested an earlier arraignment. The court granted the request, setting 22 October as the arraignment date, while a governor's report from Portlaoise Prison is to be prepared. The prosecution will not present evidence on that day.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 35‑year‑old man named Jason O'Driscoll is on trial for the murders of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, who were found shot in their heads and fused together inside a stolen car in Co. Louth on 7 March 2012. O'Driscoll, who lives on Richmond Avenue, Fairview, has pleaded not guilty. The State alleges he was involved in the killings, travelling to and from the scene in a stolen silver Mercedes S Class, and that the prosecution can rely on circumstantial evidence to convict him. The jury, composed of five women and seven men, began deliberations on Monday afternoon and had deliberated for just over five hours when the judge informed them that a majority verdict of at least ten could be accepted.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 46‑year‑old man was convicted of two counts of sexual assault and one count of rape against his younger sister, aged 11‑12, between August 1987 and September 1988. The court described the family home as "a house where sexual abuse was culture". The judge sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, and noted no need for post‑release supervision. The case also referenced a separate trial in which the same man was convicted in January of four counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault against another sister between 1983 and 1990, receiving a ten‑year sentence with the last two and a half years suspended. The article reports the victim's impact statement, the judge's remarks on the family dynamics, and the defendant's continued denial of the allegations. No further legal outcomes are mentioned.
Kevin Carroll, a drama teacher aged 58, was convicted of raping a student between 1996 and 1998 when the girl was six to eight years old. He was found guilty on two counts by a jury at the Central Criminal Court and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on 26 February 2016. Carroll appealed his conviction, arguing that the trial judge should have discharged the jury when a witness gave hearsay evidence that Carroll had "looked up the skirts of girls" and that a juror's facial expression—described by the defence as a smile and wink—warranted intervention. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, rejected all grounds of appeal. The court held that the alleged comments and the juror's expression were not prejudicial or communicative enough to affect the trial's fairness, and therefore upheld the conviction and sentence. The appeal was dismissed. Kevin Carroll pleaded not guilty.
In 2018, a 41‑year‑old woman recounted how a local horse trader, John Phelan, 54, ended her aspiration to become a vet by raping her during school holidays in 1992–1993. She had taken a summer job caring for animals on farms, hoping to prepare for her future, but Phelan abused her while she was 14–16. He pleaded guilty to four sexual assault charges and two rapes, and was already serving a seven‑year sentence for earlier abuse of a girl aged nine to eleven. The court heard that Phelan began with inappropriate questions, then progressed to kissing, fondling, and digital penetration. He also forced her to wear a one‑piece swimsuit to facilitate molestation. The victim, who had not spoken out until the trial, described lasting trauma, depression, and a loss of trust in men. She thanked Garda Michael Kennelly and others for their support. Phelan was remanded in custody, with sentencing pending. John Phelan was convicted.
A 28‑year‑old man with paranoid schizophrenia was sentenced to nine years in prison for attempting to murder a 17‑year‑old camper and assaulting two of the victim's friends. The judge suspended the final six years of the sentence on the condition that the offender live with his mother upon release and comply with strict conditions, including medication, abstaining from alcohol and drugs, attending probation and welfare appointments, and engaging with recovery services. He will be released after three years, remain under probation supervision for the remaining six years, and must not leave the family home without court consent. The mother, Margaret Corbett, agreed to manage the situation and to inform authorities if the offender stops taking his medication. The judge emphasised that the offender's severe mental illness significantly diminished his responsibility at the time of the attack. The sentence was imposed by Mr Justice Michael White. The unnamed 28-year-old pleaded guilty.
A Longford man convicted of sexually abusing four of his nieces has had his 13-year prison sentence upheld by the Court of Appeal. The 50-year-old man pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to seven charges, including three counts of anal rape and one sexual assault committed between 2001 and 2010. The offences involved victims aged between seven and 16 at the time. The Central Criminal Court imposed consecutive sentences totalling 13 years in May 2017. The Court of Appeal, comprising Mr Justice John Edwards, Mr Justice George Birmingham, and Mr Justice John Hedigan, found the sentences proportionate both individually and cumulatively. The court dismissed the man's appeal against sentence severity.
Denis Nolan, a former priest aged 64, was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of six counts of oral rape, defilement and sexual assault of a boy aged 10‑11 between 2005 and 2006. The boy was paid €10‑€15 for gardening work at Nolan's home and the presbytery, a sum that rose when the abuse began. Nolan, who had previously been defrocked and was serving an eight‑year sentence for a separate sexual abuse case, denied the charges. The court heard that Nolan made inappropriate remarks about puberty, encouraged the boy to view sexual material online, and progressed to fondling, oral rape and assault in the priest's bedroom, the presbytery and a car. The final rape in the presbytery caused injury requiring surgery and ongoing health problems. Nolan's appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice John Hedigan, who upheld the conviction, noting that alleged inconsistencies in the victim's evidence were within normal limits for such cases.
A teenager has walked free from court after receiving a suspended sentence for impeding the investigation into a murder committed by his two older brothers. Ryan Bradley (18) of Liscarne Gardens, Dublin 22, admitted to impeding the investigation of a crime after his brothers, Jason Bradley (20) and Dean Bradley (24), murdered 36-year-old Neill Reilly at Esker Glebe in Lucan, Dublin on January 18, 2017. All three were charged with murder, along with their father, Paul Bradley (54), and the four men went on trial at the Central Criminal Court earlier this year. Ryan Bradley was found not guilty by direction of the trial judge and pleaded guilty to impeding the investigation of a crime. His father was acquitted by the jury, while Jason and Dean Bradley were convicted and are now serving life sentences. Ryan Bradley's sentence hearing took place earlier this month, where it was noted that he had no previous convictions and was not involved in the feud with Neil Reilly. Mr Justice Paul Coffey imposed a five-year sentence fully suspended for 10 years, with conditions including keeping the peace, being of good behaviour, and having no contact with the Reilly family or a named associate. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
A 35‑year‑old man was sentenced to eight years in prison for raping and attempting an anal rape of his former partner at their Dublin home. He pleaded guilty to the 2010 rape and 2011 attempted rape. The victim, whose identity is protected, reported panic attacks, flashbacks and nightmares, and said she could not trust people or have a sexual relationship since the offences. The judge noted the victim's vulnerability and past abusive relationships, and that the man committed the crimes under the influence of alcohol and drugs. He was given an eight‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended, conditional on probation, a sex‑offender treatment programme, addressing alcohol and addiction issues, and a three‑year post‑release supervision. The man was also ordered to stay away from the victim. The case was prosecuted by Sean Gillane SC.
In a Co Cork town, Bulgarian circus worker Ivan Peev, aged 34, pleaded guilty to defiling a 15‑year‑old girl in February 2015. The victim, who was heavily intoxicated, was taken to a tent or caravan where Peev lifted her onto a bed, undressed her and had sex with her. She described feeling "pissed" and "three quarters asleep" and later said she could not bring herself to scream about the incident. Peev had travelled with a circus for nine months a year and returned to Bulgaria with his family. He had no prior convictions. Mr Justice Michael White, hearing the case at the Central Criminal Court, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year custodial sentence, back‑dated to October 2014 when Peev first entered custody. The judge noted the offence had caused the victim great difficulty and that Peev's guilty plea had spared her the ordeal of giving evidence and cross‑examination.
In a 2018 Central Criminal Court verdict, a 49‑year‑old man from Co. Waterford was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for the persistent sexual abuse of his younger sister. The jury convicted him on 56 counts of rape and 15 of indecent assault committed between December 1983 and December 1986, when the victim was aged seven to twelve and the perpetrator was fourteen. The judge, Justice Eileen Creedon, described the abuse as "persistent" and noted that the brother threatened the girl with a shotgun, threatened to shoot their mother if she disclosed the abuse, forced her to watch pornography and re‑enact scenes, and coerced her into sexual acts. He had not been previously convicted, had integrated into society, and was married with three children. The judge acknowledged his late admission of responsibility, which vindicated the victim, and suspended the final 12 months of the sentence on strict conditions, including completion of a sex‑offender programme in custody.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 65‑year‑old Bartholomew Prendergast pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and 13 counts of indecent assault against his sister‑in‑law, Stephanie Hickey, aged 12‑15 at the time, and to one count of indecent assault against Deirdre Fahy, aged 13‑14, and two counts of indecent assault against a third woman, aged 9‑12. The offences occurred between 1979 and 1991 in County Waterford and County Tipperary. Prendergast, a former Waterford County Council worker and local musician, had recently retired and had no prior convictions. The court adjourned the case to 26 November for sentencing, after the judge remanded him in custody and revoked his bail. The hearing included victim impact statements from the three women, who described the abuse and its lasting effects. No further legal actions were announced at this stage.
In a 2018 sentencing hearing, a Laois woman whose brother‑in‑law was convicted of raping her in 1983 was heard as a survivor, not a victim. She described herself as a 15‑year‑old with no knowledge of sex when the 59‑year‑old man raped her at his home. The court found the offence a "brutal predatory rape" and sentenced him to nine years, suspending the final three and a half years because of his lack of prior convictions and failing health. The woman had disclosed the rape to family, a doctor and a charity function in 2014, after which she received a defamation threat from the accused. She testified in detail, noting the lasting impact on her confidence, self‑esteem and sleep, and the court acknowledged the offence's damage to her developing personality. The judge emphasised that true rehabilitation requires acknowledgement of the wrong done. The unnamed 15-year-old pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
The jury has begun deliberating in the trial of a 35‑year‑old man charged with murdering two fellow Dubliners, who had planned to sell him a stolen car. Jason O'Driscoll, of Richmond Avenue, Fairview, has been on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the past month. He has pleaded not guilty to murdering 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond in Co Louth on 7 March 2012. Firefighters were called to a burning car in Ravensdale Forest Park shortly before 11 o'clock that night. The bodies of the two men were discovered fused together inside the Volkswagen Golf they had stolen that morning. They had been shot in their heads. The State's case is that Mr O'Driscoll was involved in the murder, travelling to and from the scene in a stolen silver Mercedes S Class. The prosecutor told the jury that it could rely on circumstantial evidence to convict him.
In July 2018, a 35‑year‑old man, Jason O'Driscoll, stood trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murders of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, who had planned to sell him a stolen car. The prosecution alleged that the men were shot in their heads inside a Volkswagen Golf that was later set on fire in Ravensdale Forest Park on 7 March 2012. O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty. Defence counsel Vincent Heneghan SC argued that the prosecution's theory was implausible, likening it to a James Bond film, and questioned the feasibility of two shots being fired within two minutes inside a cramped car. He highlighted alleged gaps in Garda evidence, the lack of forensic links between O'Driscoll and the silver Mercedes cited by the State, and the absence of proof that the victims were shot inside the vehicle.
During a rape trial at the Central Criminal Court, a black juror requested to be excused after claiming discomfort with fellow jurors, citing remarks about his clothing and manner of walking. He submitted a note citing "personal reasons" and later explained to Judge Eileen Creedon that he felt "slagged" daily. The judge agreed and discharged him. The accused, a Pakistani national, had pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault at a Dublin beach. The trial was adjourned to the following Monday for a new date. The prosecution, led by Roisín Lacey SC, presented the complainant's testimony, describing consensual meetings, a subsequent incident where the accused attempted to undo her bra, and ultimately a forced sexual act. The complainant detailed her distress and attempts to seek help during the aftermath. The case remains pending.
Keith Murphy, aged 42, was convicted of repeatedly raping his step‑daughter over a six‑year period from May 2008 to November 2015. He pleaded not guilty to 26 counts of sexual assault, two counts of attempted rape and 64 counts of rape. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty after just under four hours of deliberation. He was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy on 29 May 2017. The offences largely occurred in the former family home in Cork while the victim, now 19, was aged nine to 15. She waived anonymity and described the abuse as having a devastating, profound and far‑reaching effect on her life. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction, dismissing Murphy's appeal. The appeal was heard by Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice John Hedigan.
Francis Rafferty, 68, of Drumcondra, was convicted at the Central Criminal Court of two counts of raping a girl aged nine to twelve and of sexually assaulting her older sister, while acquitted of two other rape charges. He had pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the younger girl. The court imposed concurrent sentences totalling ten years imprisonment. Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan noted a Probation Service report that Rafferty had no understanding of the hurt, trauma or long‑term effect of his actions, and that he could not equate his own childhood abuse with that of his victims. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence, finding it within the range available to the judge, and dismissed Rafferty's appeal. The decision was delivered by Mr Justice George Birmingham, joined by Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice John Hedigan.
Zoltan Almasi, a 46‑year‑old Hungarian national living in Harbour View, Naas, was convicted of murdering 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne with a baseball bat on 16 May 2014. The Central Criminal Court found him guilty after 11 hours of deliberation and imposed a mandatory life sentence on 16 March 2016. Almasi, who worked for a courier company, had previously lived alone and had moved to Ireland after becoming a Hungarian national in 2007. He appealed the conviction, arguing that the partial defence of provocation should have been left to the jury. His barrister, Dominic McGinn SC, claimed that drunken youths had damaged his van, provoking Almasi. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, dismissed the appeal, holding that the trial judge had not applied an overly rigorous standard and that the evidence did not conclusively show a total loss of self‑control.
In a Louth double‑murder trial, the prosecution argued that a collection of circumstantial evidence—mobile‑phone records, CCTV footage, witness statements and vehicle details—when combined, proved that Jason O'Driscoll was involved in the killings of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond on 7 March 2012. The accused, 35, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution highlighted the timing of the victims' movements, the presence of a silver Mercedes linked to O'Driscoll, and the absence of motive. O'Driscoll's defence counsel, Vincent Heneghan, counter‑argued that the case lacked motive, criticised police work as sloppy, and questioned the evidence's reliability. The trial was ongoing, with the jury instructed to consider the evidence as a jigsaw that might conclusively prove guilt if assembled together. The case remained at the closing‑speech stage before Mr Justice Michael White.
Patrick Nevin, aged 36, has had his sentencing adjourned at the Central Criminal Court. Nevin was convicted in December 2017 of sexually assaulting a Brazilian student after driving her to the UCD campus on 23 July 2014, a charge he had denied. He later pleaded guilty to raping a woman in a parked car in Bellewstown, Co. Meath on 12 July 2014, and to sexually assaulting a second woman at an unknown location in Co. Meath on 16 July 2014. The offences were linked to first dates arranged via the dating app Tinder. Nevin, a former UCD student and father of two, has been in custody since his December conviction. Justice Eileen Creedon agreed to postpone his sentencing to 19 November, when all evidence will be heard, and remanded him in continuing custody. The adjournment was requested by his defence team. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
The trial of a 35‑year‑old woman, Laura Kenna, charged with attempting to murder a woman on Drumcondra Road Lower on 3 January, was adjourned by Mr Justice Michael White after the defence barrister fell ill with a severe viral condition. Kenna, who has no fixed abode and is being held at the Central Mental Hospital, will receive a new trial date on Monday.
In a Louth double‑murder trial, the jury heard that Gardaí had confidential information that the two deceased car thieves were to meet another man in Dundalk on the night of their deaths. The case is a retrial at the Central Criminal Court after the first jury reached a verdict disagreement. The defendant, 35‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll of Richmond Avenue, Fairview, pleaded not guilty to the murders of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, who were found with gunshot wounds to the head inside a burning silver Mercedes at Ravensdale Forest Park on 7 March 2012. Detective Sergeant Michael Sheridan testified that Gardaí reconstructed traffic from CCTV and identified the car as a good match for the one seen that night. He also confirmed that the confidential information about the planned meeting was received from a man originally arrested as a suspect.
In July 2018, a 52‑year‑old man was found guilty of raping his young cousin on a weekly basis during the mid‑1980s. The victim, who was seven when the first attempted rape occurred, was abused repeatedly between mid‑1985 and mid‑1986. The man, who cannot be named, was convicted of one count of attempted rape in January 1984 and of five counts of rape for the subsequent weekly offences. He denied all charges, but a jury returned a guilty verdict after a trial last month. The court heard the victim's impact statement, describing lifelong pain, anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts, and how the conviction has improved her health and well‑being. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for Friday, with the judge indicating a custodial sentence will be imposed. The accused has been remanded in custody awaiting sentencing.
A 38-year-old Roscommon man has pleaded guilty to threatening to kill a woman and harassing her, whilst facing a separate attempted murder charge. Gerard Mooney of Castle Hill, Castlerea appeared before the Central Criminal Court on 23 July 2018, where he admitted to burglary at a residence in Cartron, Carrick-on-Shannon on 12 February 2017. He also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, possession of a shotgun, making threats to kill or cause serious harm, and criminal damage during the same incident. Additionally, Mooney admitted to harassing the woman by persistently following, watching and communicating with her between 7 and 12 February 2017. Mr Justice Michael White remanded him in custody pending trial on the attempted murder charge and outstanding counts scheduled for 27 May 2019. The court noted that the firearms offence carries a presumptive minimum sentence of five years, with sentencing to follow after trial.
In Dublin, a 25‑year‑old man named Eoin Berkley pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to three counts of raping an 18‑year‑old Spanish student who was staying with a host family. The offences occurred at the Irish Glass Bottle Company site on Pigeon House Road between 15 and 16 July 2017. Judge Michael White advised the victim of her right to submit a Victim Impact Statement and adjourned sentencing to allow her to prepare. Berkley was remanded in custody for a sentencing hearing scheduled for 22 October, with the court to finalise the matter that week.
A 19-year-old man from Ramelton, County Donegal, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment with the final three years suspended at the Central Criminal Court. Bailey Laughlin pleaded guilty to orally raping a 16-year-old woman at Fanad on 1 May 2016. The victim, who waived her right to anonymity, had followed Laughlin outside a party to ensure his welfare after observing him in a distressed and heavily intoxicated state. Mr Justice Michael White imposed strict conditions on the suspended portion, including probation supervision, alcohol abstinence, and engagement with sex offender management services. The judge acknowledged both aggravating factors, including the serious nature of the offence and its impact on the victim, and mitigating factors, including Laughlin's age at the time and difficult upbringing. He noted particular societal concerns regarding youth alcohol consumption and exposure to violent pornography.
A man from County Mayo has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment following his conviction at the Central Criminal Court for the anal rape of his wife on two occasions in a single night in December 2015. The 39-year-old was found guilty by jury of two counts of anal rape after a trial in May 2018. He was acquitted of four further rape charges relating to earlier dates in 2015. During sentencing, Mr Justice Michael White described the offences as most serious, noting aggravating factors including the nature of the assault, aggression involved, and degradation of the victim. The judge acknowledged the man's lack of previous convictions and medical conditions but noted the absence of a guilty plea. The victim provided an impact statement detailing the psychological consequences she had endured. The sentence was backdated to May 2018 when the man entered custody.
A man formerly of Foxford, County Mayo, has been sentenced to 18 years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the sexual abuse of his daughter throughout her childhood. John Murphy, aged 61, a former member of the Irish Defence Forces, pleaded guilty to rape, indecent assault and sexual assault of his eldest daughter between 1988 and 2001, with a further incident in 2010. The abuse occurred at locations in Counties Galway and Mayo when the complainant was aged between three and fifteen years. Mr Justice Michael White described the offending as characterised by "length, intensity and depravity" and noted the grave breach of trust involved. Murphy is currently serving an eight-year sentence imposed in February for sexual abuse of two younger sisters. The complainant, now aged 33, waived her right to anonymity and read a victim impact statement in court, urging others in similar situations to come forward and break silence surrounding abuse. The sentence was backdated to December 2017.
A teenager from Donegal has been found not guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a schoolmate following an incident in the early hours of March 18, 2016, in a county town. The accused, who was 16 at the time, had denied one count of rape and one of oral rape. The Central Criminal Court jury returned a unanimous not guilty verdict after approximately two hours of deliberation on the twelfth day of trial. The complainant, then also aged 16, maintained she had not consented to sexual activity that occurred behind a building following St Patrick's night celebrations. The defence argued inconsistencies in her account and emphasised the absence of verbal or physical indication of non-consent. The prosecution contended that injuries sustained were inconsistent with willing participation. Justice Deirdre Murphy directed the jury to consider whether trauma affects memory consistency. The accused left the courtroom immediately following the acquittal.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court is set to begin deliberations tomorrow in the trial of a 19-year-old from Donegal charged with raping and orally raping a schoolmate. The alleged offences occurred in the early hours of March 18th, 2016, in a Donegal town, when the complainant was 16 years old. The accused has pleaded not guilty to both counts. Justice Deirdre Murphy concluded her charge to the jury today, directing members on the burden of proof and instructing them to assess the reliability of witness testimony. The judge advised jurors to consider whether memory inconsistencies might be expected in accounts of traumatic events. During closing arguments, the prosecution contended that injuries sustained by the complainant were consistent with forced sexual assault, whilst the defence submitted that significant gaps existed in the complainant's recollection of events that night.
Two brothers, Jason Bradley (20) and Dean Bradley (24), were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Neil Reilly, a 36‑year‑old mechanic, on 18 January 2017. The murder occurred after Reilly had previously broken into the Bradley home and shot at their house. Jason inflicted seven chop wounds on Reilly with a sharp weapon before Dean drove over the deceased, causing fatal crush injuries. A third brother, Ryan Bradley, pleaded guilty to impeding the investigation and will be sentenced later. The brothers' father, Paul Bradley, was found not guilty of murder. The sentencing hearing took place in the Central Criminal Court, where Justice Paul Coffey imposed a life sentence on Jason and Dean, noting their remorse and the impact on Reilly's family. The case highlighted the violent confrontation that led to Reilly's death and the subsequent legal proceedings against the Bradley brothers.
A trial at the Central Criminal Court concerning a Donegal teenager charged with rape has entered its closing phase. The accused, aged 19, has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one count of oral rape of a schoolgirl, then 16, alleged to have occurred outside a building in a County Donegal town in March 2016. The prosecution outlined that injuries sustained by the complainant were consistent with forced sexual contact rather than consensual activity. The defence highlighted gaps in the complainant's recollection of events and referenced CCTV footage showing both teenagers together after the alleged incident, suggesting this undermined the complainant's credibility. A garda report noted the complainant did not appear visibly distressed in the recording. The case is being heard before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury of eleven members.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 15‑year‑old woman recounted being raped by a 59‑year‑old man who later threatened her with a defamation lawsuit after she disclosed the abuse to a family member. The victim described the assault as occurring while she was babysitting at the man's home, where he showed her pornographic material and then raped her. She had previously told two siblings before 2004, a doctor in 2013, and a relative at a charity event in 2014. After the last disclosure, the man sent a solicitor's letter threatening legal action. He pleaded not guilty to the rape, was convicted in May, and will be sentenced later. He was acquitted of two additional sexual assault charges. The woman's testimony highlighted long‑term psychological effects, including loss of confidence, nightmares, and claustrophobia, and she emphasized reclaiming her self‑worth and identity as a survivor.
A 28‑year‑old Dubliner, Michael Corbett, was sentenced to nine years in prison for attempting to murder a 17‑year‑old and assaulting two friends at the Hellfire Club on Dublin's Montpelier Hill on 27 June 2016. Six years of the sentence were suspended because Corbett was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The judge praised the victim's courage and the two friends' assistance, noting the victim had a four‑inch stab wound to the chest and was close to losing his life. Corbett's sentence will be finalised on 31 July after a probation report. The victims expressed disappointment at the suspended portion, describing fear, trauma and lasting psychological effects. The case remains in custody pending the probation review.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has heard closing arguments in the trial of a nineteen-year-old accused of raping and orally raping a sixteen-year-old girl in Co Donegal in March 2016. The prosecution submitted that injuries sustained by the complainant to her head and genital area were consistent with a violent and forced sexual encounter, contrary to the accused's account. Counsel for the prosecution stated the complainant had remained consistent in her assertion that she had not consented to either act in the alleyway incident. The defence challenged the reliability of the complainant's recollection, noting gaps in her memory and questioning her account given the alcohol she had consumed that night. Defence counsel also referenced CCTV footage showing the teenagers together after the alleged incident and submitted that the complainant's DNA on a condom wrapper supported evidence of digital penetration. The accused denies both charges. The trial before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury continues.