In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, Ivan Peev, a 34‑year‑old Bulgarian circus worker, pleaded guilty to defiling a 15‑year‑old girl in a town in County Cork in February 2015. Peev's work involved travelling with a circus for nine months a year and then returning to Bulgaria. The victim, who was intoxicated and "three quarters asleep," was taken by Peev to a tent or caravan where he lifted her onto a bed, undressed her and had sex with her. She described the experience as a "bad feeling" and said it still haunts her. Peev has no prior convictions and has been in custody since his return to Ireland under a European Arrest Warrant. He remains remanded until the court finalises his sentence on 30 July.
In 2018, a 51‑year‑old Limerick man pleaded guilty to seven charges of rape and sexual assault against a 12‑year‑old girl in the 1990s. The offences were alleged to have occurred in various locations around County Limerick. The trial took place at the Central Criminal Court, and the man's plea was entered on the second day of the proceedings in May. Patrick McGrath SC informed Justice Deirdre Murphy that the defence was struggling to obtain necessary reports for the sentencing hearing, and requested an adjournment. The judge agreed to postpone the hearing to 8 October next year.
Stephen Harnett, a man in his 30s from Wicklow, pleaded guilty to four attempted murder charges involving young children. On 3 June 2016, he tried to strangle two children, leaving them when he believed they were dead, and then attacked two more who fought back and escaped through a window. One child was unconscious and air‑lifted to hospital; the others had purple faces and bulging eyes. Harnett admitted guilt to each charge and was remanded in custody after a brief hearing before Mr Justice Michael White at the Central Criminal Court. His counsel, Patrick Gageby SC, noted a history of depression that might reduce responsibility but not to the extent of insanity, and requested bail to allow a psychiatrist to complete a report. The judge denied bail, citing the seriousness of the offences, and remanded Harnett in custody. Family members were present and tearfully hugged him before he was taken away by prison officers. Stephen Harnett was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
A 19-year-old man has told the Central Criminal Court that a girl gave no verbal or physical indication she did not consent to sexual activity during an alleged incident in Co Donegal in March 2016, when both were aged 16. The accused, who denies one count of rape and one of oral rape, testified on the eighth day of his trial that he and the girl were "flirting" and "in good form" when they went behind a building. He claimed she agreed to sexual contact and that the atmosphere between them afterwards was "romantic". Under cross-examination, he rejected suggestions that the girl had repeatedly told him to stop or that he had used force. He could not explain multiple bruises and abrasions documented by a forensic nurse on the girl's body three days later. The trial continues before Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury.
Two brothers, Dean Bradley (24) and Jason Bradley (20), were found guilty of murdering Neil Reilly (36) after a shooting at their home. A jury reached a unanimous verdict after more than nine hours of deliberation. Both were convicted of murder and face mandatory life sentences. Their father, Paul Bradley (54), was acquitted of the murder charge. Dean and Jason were found guilty of the murder, while their brother Ryan (18) was acquitted of murder but pleaded guilty to impeding the investigation. The trial described how Reilly, who had a debt to the family, fired shots at the Bradley home, leading to a confrontation in which Jason struck Reilly with a sharp weapon, causing fatal blows. Dean's BMW later ran over Reilly, an act he claimed was accidental. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court, with sentencing scheduled for the following Wednesday. The Bradley family was present throughout the proceedings and reacted emotionally to the verdicts.
A garda investigator has told the Central Criminal Court that he identified an inconsistency between CCTV footage and a complainant's account in an alleged rape case. Lead investigator Garda Paul Leape defended his decision not to show the teenage complainant the footage, stating it was not an investigator's role to afford witnesses a second opportunity to explain discrepancies in evidence. The accused, aged 19, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape against a then 16-year-old girl in a Donegal town on 18 March 2016. On day seven of the trial before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy and jury, Gda Leape confirmed that his report to the Director of Public Prosecutions noted the CCTV showed the girl and accused returning hand in hand and kissing, with her appearing not visibly upset. Under cross-examination, the garda acknowledged the footage did not necessarily support the complainant's account but clarified that outer appearances on video do not reflect internal emotional states. The trial continues tomorrow.
A garda leading the investigation into an alleged rape in County Donegal was cross-examined at the Central Criminal Court regarding the handling of evidence in the case. A 19-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and oral rape alleged to have occurred in March 2016. During cross-examination on day seven of the trial, defence counsel questioned Garda Paul Leape about discrepancies in the alleged victim's accounts, including conflicting details about a phone call made during the incident. The garda defended the investigative approach, stating that minor inconsistencies were natural given the traumatic circumstances and that gathering evidence was the responsibility of gardaí rather than cross-examining witnesses. Counsel also raised questions about CCTV footage showing the complainant and accused together after the alleged offences. The trial before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy continues with a jury of eight men and four women.
A 19‑year‑old woman who was raped and sexually assaulted by two 27‑year‑old cousins while en‑route to a party criticised the court process for making victims appear "untrustworthy." She said her previous sexual history was brought up during one cousin's trial, which she found confusing. The first cousin denied a rape charge at a Waterford address on 20 December 2015, but was convicted by a jury in a Central Criminal Court trial in May. Mr Justice Paul Butler sentenced him to eight years for rape, suspending the final two years, and the second cousin to five years for sexual assault, suspending the final 24 months. The woman read a victim impact statement in which she said parts of her past unrelated to the case were used to portray her as untrustworthy, and that the court process had shattered her faith in humanity. The unnamed accused pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin case, 21‑year‑old Daryl Ralph pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault of a 20‑year‑old woman during a birthday party on 16 August 2014. The court heard that Ralph and another man forced the victim to touch them sexually, held her head, ripped off her underwear, and attempted to make her touch his penis before stopping. Ralph offered €1,000 in compensation, which the judge directed to be given to the victim, and was ordered to pay an additional €1,500 within three days. Mr Justice Paul Butler imposed a two‑year sentence suspended in full, contingent on Ralph's full engagement with the Probation Service and compliance with its directions. He was also placed on the sex offenders register. The judge noted the victim's distress and the celebratory context of the incident. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
A jury will return tomorrow to the Central Criminal Court to continue considering their verdicts in the trials of two brothers and their father accused of murdering a gunman after he fired at their home. Paul Bradley (54) and his sons Jason (20), and Dean (24) of Liscarne Gardens, Dublin 22, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Neil Reilly (36) at Esker Glebe in Lucan, Dublin on January 18, 2017. A third brother, 18-year old Ryan Bradley, was acquitted of murder on Monday by direction of the judge. The six women and five men have spent more than four hours considering their verdicts today. After less than two hours, they returned to court with a number of questions.
A trial at the Central Criminal Court heard evidence yesterday concerning allegations against a 19-year-old youth charged with rape in County Donegal. The accused denies raping and orally raping a 16-year-old girl behind a building in the early hours of March 18, 2016. A witness who saw the complainant shortly after the alleged offences testified that although the girl had consumed alcohol, she remained responsive and coherent, though visibly distressed with visible injuries. The court heard testimony from another witness describing panic-stricken phone calls in which the complainant sought help. A medical examination two days later revealed multiple bruising and abrasions across the girl's body. Forensic evidence indicated the complainant's blood on the accused's clothing and her DNA on a recovered condom. The trial before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy continues.
Garrett Phillips, 46, of Galway, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for a single charge of orally raping a 20‑year‑old woman on the outskirts of Galway on 5 November 2015. The judge described the offence as "predatory" and "callous", noting that the victim was alone, vulnerable and upset in a park at night. Phillips had offered her a lift home, but did not take her to her destination. He pleaded not guilty and denied that the act was consensual. The court accepted his clean record and imposed a six‑year sentence, down from an eight‑year headline. Phillips was ordered to undergo a therapeutic programme and was described by his siblings as a devoted husband and father. The victim's impact statement highlighted the lasting psychological harm she has suffered, including depression, anxiety and a loss of confidence in walking alone. Garrett Phillips was convicted.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has viewed CCTV footage from Donegal Town showing a teenager accused of rape before and after the alleged offences on St Patrick's Day 2016. The accused, now 19, denies the charges relating to a 16-year-old girl. During cross-examination, defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC highlighted footage showing the pair walking together with their arms around each other beforehand, and later holding hands and kissing. He submitted their apparent comfort suggested consent. The complainant, now 18, testified she was in a state of shock and could not explain her actions afterwards. She acknowledged consuming significant alcohol that evening. The trial also heard evidence regarding an earlier incident at a house party and an inconsistency in her account to gardaí about a second vehicle at the scene. The complainant expressed difficulty recalling and articulating certain details. The trial before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy continues.
In 2006, Niall Healy, 42, was sentenced to 20 years for aggravated sexual assault and false imprisonment, with the final 10 years suspended. He had a prior 12‑year rape conviction in 1993, the last six years of which were suspended. After his release in January 2014, Healy was jailed for two years for robbery. He was released again in January 2018 and subsequently relapsed into drug use, attacked a woman's car at traffic lights, and broke into an unoccupied house. On 6 June 2015, six years of the suspended term were re‑activated and back‑dated, leaving four years suspended on strict conditions. Mr Justice McCarthy ordered drug treatment, anger management, and educational courses, noting that Healy had failed to fulfil the obligations imposed by the courts. The judge emphasised that the community's protection required Healy to remain under a suspended term upon release.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Jason Bradley, aged 20, was found guilty of manslaughter rather than murder for the death of Neil Reilly, aged 36, at Esker Glebe, Lucan, on 18 January 2017. Bradley's defence argued that he lost all self‑control after being threatened by Reilly, who owed him €9,000 for drugs, and that the killings were a result of a chaotic confrontation. The prosecution maintained that Bradley intentionally inflicted multiple chop injuries and that the death was premeditated. The court considered Bradley's claim of provocation and the context of the night's events, including shots fired at the Bradley home and a subsequent car chase. The jury was instructed to weigh Bradley's state of mind and the lack of intent to kill, leading to the manslaughter verdict. The case also involved the Bradley family's defence of Paul Bradley, Dean Bradley, and Ryan Bradley, each facing separate charges related to the incident. Paul Bradley pleaded not guilty.
In a case pending in October, convicted murderer Graham Dwyer, who denies killing Ms Elaine O'Hara, seeks to have provisions of Ireland's 2011 Communications (Retention of Data) Act struck down. He argues that data from his work phone, which placed him at a specific location at a specific time and linked him to another mobile phone used to contact Ms O'Hara, was unlawfully used at his 2015 trial. Dwyer claims the Act violates his rights under the EU Charter and the European Convention on Human Rights, citing the European Court of Justice's 2014 and 2016 rulings that found a 2006 EU directive on data retention invalid. The State rejects his arguments, stating the application to exclude the data was dismissed by the trial judge and that such laws are essential for serious crime detection. After submissions by counsel for both parties, Mr Justice Tony O'Connor has reserved judgment, to be delivered in October.
An 18-year-old woman testified at the Central Criminal Court regarding allegations that she was raped in Donegal Town on March 18, 2016, following St Patrick's Day celebrations. The woman, who was 16 at the time of the alleged incident, described the assault occurring in a passage-way behind a building in the town. During cross-examination on the third day of trial, she became distressed while recounting details of the alleged offence. She stated that she had attempted to mentally distance herself from the experience. The accused, aged 19, has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one count of oral rape. The defence counsel questioned aspects of her recollection, including her consumption of approximately five vodkas, two cocktails, and a shot of sambuca consumed over two and a half hours. The woman confirmed she had reported the allegations to a family member three days after the incident. The trial before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury continues.
Keith Murphy, aged 42, is awaiting the outcome of an appeal against his conviction for repeatedly raping his step‑daughter over a six‑year period. He pleaded not guilty to 26 counts of sexual assault, two counts of attempted rape and 64 counts of rape between May 2008 and November 2015. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty after just under four hours of deliberation, and he was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended by Justice Deirdre Murphy on 29 May 2017. The offences largely took place in the former family home in Cork while the victim, now 19, was aged nine to 15. She waived anonymity and reported the abuse's devastating impact. The appeal, opened today, focuses on alleged due‑process failures, including the judge's handling of DNA evidence and jury instructions. The Court of Appeal will reserve its judgment.
During a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Jason Bradley, aged 20, admitted that he inflicted chop wounds on the head, body and arms of Neil Reilly, 36, who died at Esker Glebe in Lucan on 18 January 2017. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis had previously explained that the chop injuries caused lacerations to Reilly's brain and severe damage to his back, shoulder and arms. Bradley's defence counsel, Michael Bowman SC, acknowledged Bradley's responsibility for the chop injuries. The trial also involved Paul Bradley, 54, and his sons Dean, 24, and Ryan, 18, all of whom pleaded not guilty to the murder. The prosecution, represented by Paul Murray SC, argued that the Bradleys had a joint agreement to murder Reilly, citing motives such as debt for drugs and a prior break‑in. The case remains at the trial stage, with the judge, Paul Coffey, presiding.
A trial at the Central Criminal Court concerning charges of rape and sexual assault allegedly committed in County Donegal in March 2016 has entered legal argument, with jury proceedings temporarily suspended. The accused, now aged 19, denies one count of rape and one of sexual assault involving a 16-year-old girl. The alleged incident occurred following St Patrick's Day celebrations in a Donegal town after the pair met at a takeaway. During evidence, the complainant described consuming several alcoholic drinks that evening and stated the accused suggested a walk, after which the alleged offences took place behind a nearby building. The court heard testimony regarding text messages the girl sent to a friend during the incident. The trial before Justice Deirdre Murphy is expected to resume with jury evidence tomorrow afternoon.
A trial began at the Central Criminal Court on charges arising from an alleged rape in County Donegal in March 2016. The complainant, now aged 18, gave evidence that she was assaulted by a schoolmate she had met in a town centre takeaway after St Patrick's Day celebrations when she was 16. She described being persuaded into a secluded area where she said she was sexually assaulted and subsequently raped despite repeated refusals. The court heard text messages she sent to a friend immediately after the alleged incident, including "help help please" and reports of blood on her person. The accused man, aged 19, has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. Justice Deirdre Murphy cautioned jurors against conducting independent online searches or discussing the case publicly. The trial is expected to continue until mid-week.
In the Central Criminal Court, Dean Bradley, aged 24, admitted that he was driving a BMW that struck and ran over Neil Reilly, who was already on the ground, at Esker Glebe in Lucan on 18 January 2017. His father, Paul Bradley, 54, and brothers Jason, 20, and Ryan, 18, also pleaded not guilty to Reilly's murder. Paul Bradley admitted driving a Mercedes jeep that followed Reilly's Mazda and that his jeep crashed into the Mazda. He then exited the jeep and kicked Reilly, who was involved in an altercation with Jason Bradley. Paul Bradley also admitted that Reilly's blood was on his boots and trouser leg and that Reilly's phone was found in his jeep. The prosecution alleges the Bradley men chased and murdered Reilly after he fired two shots at their home around 4 a.m. The jury heard that Reilly had multiple chop wounds and injuries consistent with being run over.
A trial has begun at the Central Criminal Court concerning allegations of rape and sexual assault following an incident in Co Donegal on St Patrick's Day 2016. The accused teenager, now aged 19, has denied one charge of rape and one of sexual assault against a 16-year-old girl. The court heard the pair met at a takeaway premises in a Co Donegal town after the complainant had socialised with friends earlier that evening. According to the prosecution opening, the alleged assault occurred behind a nearby building. The State's case will rely on CCTV footage, forensic evidence including DNA recovered from clothing and a condom, and testimony from the complainant and witnesses. The jury was cautioned against conducting independent online research or discussing the case on social media. The trial is expected to conclude mid-week.
During the Central Criminal Court trial of 35‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll, Crystal Jackson, the former partner of Joseph Redmond, testified that on 7 March 2012 she and Redmond were trying to sell a black 2011 Volkswagen Golf. She said Redmond had mentioned the car to O'Driscoll, who was then in the house. Jackson recounted that Redmond and O'Driscoll discussed the price, with O'Driscoll offering €700 and Redmond proposing €1,000. She described how Redmond and Anthony Burnett, a 31‑year‑old "small‑time criminal", agreed to take the car if O'Driscoll came. Jackson noted that the two men left the house around 8:30 pm, after Redmond had called O'Driscoll to arrange the sale. She also mentioned that the Gardaí had warned Redmond of a threat to his life 18 months earlier. The trial continues with legal arguments before Mr Justice Michael White, and the jury will reconvene on Monday. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
In a sentence hearing on 2 July 2018, Mr Justice Michael White praised a 28‑year‑old man and a young woman for preventing the death of their 17‑year‑old friend who was stabbed at the Hellfire Club on 27 June 2016. The teenager had been attacked by Michael Corbett, who had a knife and was described as "in the throws of a psychotic episode". Corbett had attempted to murder the teen, stabbing him in the chest and cutting his throat three times before the teen managed to push him away. The teen was later stabbed again in the chest, the knife breaking and a log being used to strike him. The two other teenagers intervened, one of whom was also assaulted. The judge highlighted the courage of the friends in stopping the attack and noted that the teen had survived with serious injuries. Corbett pleaded guilty to attempted murder and was remanded in custody until 16 July.
Anthony Hussey, 27, from Ardshillane, Sneem, Co Kerry, was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for twice raping a 73‑year‑old woman after breaking into her home on 20 September 2014. He pleaded guilty to two categories of rape at the Central Criminal Court. The sentence included five years of post‑release supervision. Hussey appealed against the severity of the sentence, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal. Justice John Hedigan described the offence as one of the most serious cases of rape before the court, noting that Hussey had placed the victim's hand over her mouth, struck her face, threatened her with further rape, and left her covered with a duvet. The judge highlighted the extraordinary impact on the victim and the "constellation of aggravation" that justified the severe sentence. Hussey had no prior convictions and was described as well‑adjusted and popular in his community before the offence.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 14‑year‑old teenager with a mild intellectual disability pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting his eight‑year‑old half‑brother on 4 December 2015. The court found the accused had lived in various foster families and was now in state care at a residential boys' home, having sat his Junior Cert that summer. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy noted the teenager's history of self‑harm, psychiatric treatment, and obsessive interest in pornography, and described him as a troubled youth from a dysfunctional family. He imposed a two‑year sentence suspended in full, conditioned on the teenager keeping the peace, behaving well for three years, and complying with Tulsa and Probation Service requirements. The victim, now ten, gave a brief impact statement expressing distress and anger at the assault. The accused had completed about two‑thirds of an 18‑month treatment programme for aberrant sexual behaviour.
Martin Sherlock, aged 30, was convicted of raping a woman he met on the dating app Badoo. The victim had told him they could not have sex without a condom and repeatedly said "no" during the encounter. Sherlock admitted stealing her mobile phone. He was found guilty after a four‑day trial and sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with a three‑year post‑release supervision order. The court noted that Sherlock had no prior convictions, had lost his job and cancelled wedding plans, and that the victim had a history of mental illness. The judge emphasised that the conviction was based on the victim's refusal to have sex without a condom and that the sentence was not an act of vengeance. No further legal actions or appeals are mentioned in the article. Martin Sherlock pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Denise Burnett, sister of Anthony Burnett, gave emotional testimony about her brother, who was 31 when he was murdered in March 2012. She recalled that he would have celebrated his birthday on March 15 and that he had nicknames "Freaky" and "GTI" because of his interest in cars, which she explained involved robbing them. Burnett said Anthony had received compensation for a prior incident in Oberstown and had bought an apartment in Turkey. She described a phone call from Joseph Redmond on the evening of the disappearance, during which Redmond mentioned traveling to Dundalk or Newry to sell a car for €700 or €1,000. The trial of Jason O'Driscoll, 35, accused of murdering Anthony and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, continues with a jury of five women and seven men. The case remains at the evidence stage. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
A 37‑year‑old UK businessman was convicted in Dublin Central Criminal Court of three counts of rape and eight counts of sexual assault against two girls aged 10 and 12, who were abused between December 2010 and March 2011. The victims were targeted while their mother was neglectful, and the man moved the family to Ireland to avoid detection. He was extradited from the United States in 2014 after authorities discovered he planned to travel to Florida. Mr Justice Michael White found the offences "grave" and imposed a 14‑year custodial sentence, suspending the last two years on the condition that the man remain law‑abiding and participate in the "Better Lives" treatment programme for sex offenders. The judge noted the lasting impact on the victims, who now age 17 and 19, and highlighted the role of the foster parents in their recovery.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 35‑year‑old Dublin man, Jason O'Driscoll, faced charges of murdering two fellow Dubliners, Anthony Burnett, 31, and Joseph Redmond, 25, on 7 March 2012 in County Louth. O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty to both counts. The court heard evidence from Deputy State Pathologist Dr Khalid Jaber, who examined the charred remains of the victims found in a burning car six years earlier. Dr Jaber reported that both men died from gunshot wounds to the head, with cyanide poisoning identified as a secondary cause in Redmond's case, likely resulting from the vehicle's combustion. He noted that each victim had been struck by two bullets, and that heat had fractured several bones, obscuring some features. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael White, will continue with a jury of five women and seven men, who will be instructed to rely on circumstantial evidence to determine guilt.
Yasmin Stephens, 23, of Albert College Avenue, Glasnevin, was charged with murdering her 33‑year‑old boyfriend, Kieran Farrelly, but the charge was dismissed under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act. She was then arraigned for robbing a homeless man, Hugh Gildea, on Mabbot Lane, where she stole a mobile phone, wrist watch and €520. CCTV footage showed the robbery lasted over 20 minutes. Stephens pleaded guilty. Judge Michael White sentenced her to four years in prison, but suspended the sentence for four years on a €100 bond, requiring her to keep the peace, maintain good behaviour, continue methadone treatment and provide urine analysis. The judge noted her new status as a mother as a key factor in the suspended sentence. The court considered the offence serious but weighed her parental responsibilities. The probation report was not negative. The unnamed 23-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 35‑year‑old Dublin man, Jason O'Driscoll, is charged with murdering two men, Anthony Burnett (31) and Joseph Redmond (25), on 7 March 2012 in County Louth. He pleaded not guilty. Firefighters Stephen Hoey and Vincent McGuinness testified that after extinguishing a car fire at Ravensdale Park, they found a badly cracked skull and a ribcage in the driver's seat, and a second skull in the footwell. Constable Niamh Mulholland described pursuing a silver 07 D Mercedes that night, noting two male occupants and a driver who made eye contact with police before the vehicle fled. The case is set to continue before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of five women and seven men.
A 37‑year‑old man was jailed for 18 years after breaking into his ex‑partner's home on 10 September 2016 and repeatedly raping her and her 16‑year‑old foster daughter. The judge described the case as a "night of horror" and noted the man's repeated sexual assaults, threats with a knife, and attempts to rape both victims while intoxicated with whiskey and cocaine. The ex‑partner testified that she was threatened with a knife and forced to bring the child upstairs, where the man raped both women. The court heard that the man had pleaded guilty to six counts of rape. He was found to have been in full command of his senses, but the judge imposed a severe sentence reflecting the prolonged abuse and the victims' suffering. The sentence was 18 years, with no mention of a suspended portion or effective custody beyond the imposed term.
A 35‑year‑old Waterford man was found guilty of raping his younger cousin at his home on 27 February 2013. The Central Criminal Court jury convicted him and he was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, by Mr Justice Robert Eagar on 18 April 2016. The man appealed against the severity of the sentence. The Court of Appeal, sitting with Mr Justice John Hedigan, Mr Justice Michael Peart and Mr Justice Alan Mahon, upheld the seven‑year jail term. Mr Justice Hedigan noted that the man and the victim had attended a pub gathering to mark the first anniversary of the man's mother's death, moved between pubs, and were intoxicated. The victim woke to find the man on top of her, undressed, and she told him to stop and leave. The man, a separated father of one, had seven prior convictions, including theft and drug supply. The unnamed 35-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a 2018 Central Criminal Court hearing, Detective Sergeant Shane Curran testified about discovering two adult male bodies fused together in a burnt-out car in Ravensdale Park, Louth, on the night of March 7 2012. He described the driver's seat body as slumped out the door, with the passenger's body partially fused across it. Curran and colleagues carefully separated the remains, designating them as Body A (passenger) and Body B (driver). He noted that two badly damaged bullets were recovered from each head area, each fragmented into multiple pieces. DNA analysis later identified Body A as 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and Body B as 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, using samples from their mothers. The testimony was part of the trial of 34‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll, who pleaded not guilty to the murders of the two men. The case was set to continue before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
During the murder trial of 34‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll, a witness named Ms. Reynolds testified that she saw a burning car near Ravensdale Park, Dundalk, six years earlier. She described a glow, flames, and a body slumped over the steering wheel, which she later learned was just the seat. Ms. Reynolds called the fire brigade at 10.52 pm; by the time they arrived, the flames were out and she heard explosions. The prosecution, represented by Alexander Owens SC, argued that circumstantial evidence was sufficient to convict O'Driscoll of murdering 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond on 7 March 2012. Owens claimed O'Driscoll was a knowing participant in the killings, though he did not assert that O'Driscoll fired the gun. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael White, is expected to last up to five weeks. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
Gerard Hayes, 53, of Limerick, was convicted of murdering 20‑year‑old John Robinson at John Carew Park on 22 or 23 January 2000. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty and he received a mandatory life sentence in March 2003. Fifteen years later, Hayes brought an appeal against his conviction. The Court of Criminal Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice Alan Mahon, dismissed the appeal. The court noted that Hayes had not sought leave from the trial judge to appeal, had delayed the appeal process, and had not requested a transcript of the original trial in a timely manner. The original stenographic record and tapes had been destroyed, and the court found no evidence that the trial was unsatisfactory or that the conviction was unsafe. Consequently, the appeal was rejected. The case remains at the conviction stage. Gerard Hayes pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 34‑year‑old Dublin man, Jason O'Driscoll, faces charges of murdering two fellow Dubliners, 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, on 7 March 2012 in County Louth. O'Driscoll has pleaded not guilty to both murders. Prosecutor Alexander Owens SC argued that circumstantial evidence was sufficient to prove O'Driscoll's guilt as a knowing participant in the killings, though not necessarily the shooter. The case is before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of five women and seven men.
A 37‑year‑old Limerick man was jailed for 18 years after breaking into his ex‑partner's home on 10 September 2016 and repeatedly raping her and her 16‑year‑old foster daughter. The man, who was heavily intoxicated with whiskey and cocaine, threatened the foster mother with a knife and forced both victims to submit to repeated sexual assaults. He held the ex‑partner's mouth shut, pressed a knife to her throat, and attempted to rape her before ultimately raping her while threatening to stab her. He then forced her to bring the foster daughter upstairs, threatened her with the knife, and together they were repeatedly raped. The ordeal lasted several hours, during which the man drank whiskey, struck the ex‑partner, smashed her mobile, and prevented her from using the bathroom. The unnamed 37 year old pleaded guilty.
A 65‑year‑old man from County Waterford pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to a series of sexual offences against three children. He admitted two counts of rape and 13 counts of indecent assault against one girl aged 12 to 15 between 1983 and 1987, one count of indecent assault against a second girl aged 13 to 14 between 1979 and 1981, and two counts of indecent assault against a third girl aged 9 to 12 between 1988 and 1991. The defendant was not named for legal reasons. Michael Delaney SC informed Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy that the guilty pleas were acceptable to the Director of Public Prosecutions on the condition that full facts would be presented at the sentencing hearing. Mary Rose Gearty SC, the defence counsel, requested that the defendant remain on bail to manage family and administrative matters, acknowledging that he would soon enter custody for a substantial period.
In 2018 a 25‑year‑old man's rape conviction was quashed after the Court of Appeal ruled that his lawyers had been prevented from questioning a 15‑year‑old complainant about her use of a contraceptive pill. The man had been found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury in 2016 and sentenced to eight years' imprisonment. The defence had argued that the girl's sexual activity was consensual and that she had been sexually active before the alleged rape, citing text messages and a photo of a male penis. The trial judge had ruled that these materials did not prove close sexual relations and that questioning the girl about her pill use would be degrading. The Court of Appeal agreed that the judge had wrongly excluded questions about why the girl was on the pill, an issue it deemed important for the jury's credibility assessment. The unnamed 15-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The murder trial of Paul Bradley, Dean Bradley, Jason Bradley, and Ryan Bradley is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Justice Paul Coffey and a jury. The four defendants, from Liscarne Gardens, Dublin 22, have all pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Neil Reilly (36) at Esker Glebe in Lucan, Dublin, on January 18, 2017. During testimony, witness Danielle Cusack told the jury that she observed Mr. Reilly staggering in the road before a car struck him. She reported hearing the men laughing after the initial impact. Ms. Cusack stated that two or three men then attacked the deceased. She described hearing the car screech in reverse and observed two men holding Mr. Reilly up by the arms. According to her evidence, they let him go at the last second, allowing the car to drive over him again. The prosecution, led by Paul Murray SC, presented this account to the court. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded. Ms. Cusack was scheduled to continue her evidence later in the day. The report attributes these actions to the accused based on witness testimony, and the charges remain alleged or contested.
Patrick Nevin, 36, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to rape of a woman in Bellewstown, Co. Meath on 12 July 2014 and to sexual assault of a second woman at an unknown location in Co. Meath on 16 July 2014. These charges follow a prior conviction in December 2017 for sexually assaulting a Brazilian student in July 2014. Nevin had met all three victims on the Tinder dating app and, on each first date, drove them to secluded spots where the assaults occurred. The court allowed evidence from the other two victims to be presented because the modus operandi was similar. Nevin's defence sought removal of media reports of his earlier convictions, but the judge rejected this request, finding no real risk of an unfair trial. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for 26 July 2018.
A 30‑year‑old Meath man, Martin Sherlock, was convicted of raping a woman he met on the dating app Badoo. The victim had told him they could not have sex without a condom and had repeatedly said "no" during the encounter. Sherlock admitted he had ejaculated inside her and had stolen her mobile phone. He pleaded not guilty but was found guilty after a four‑day trial. The court noted that Sherlock had lost his job and cancelled wedding plans. Gardaí arrested him following a sting operation in which they posed as buyers of a phone he was selling. He was remanded in custody until a sentencing hearing on 2 July. The case was presented as a clear instance of non‑consensual sex after the victim's explicit refusal to have sex without a condom.
A 78-year-old man has been sentenced to four years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his guilty plea to five sample charges of rape. The offences occurred between 1973 and 1974 at a family home in County Mayo, perpetrated against his daughter when she was between nine and twelve years old. The woman, now 54, reported the abuse to gardaí in 2015 after decades of silence. In her victim impact statement, she described how the repeated assaults had damaged her relationships and caused lasting trauma. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy imposed the sentence, noting it was substantially reduced from what would otherwise have been imposed due to the accused's advanced age and poor health. The judge acknowledged the depravity inherent in such offences whilst balancing mitigating factors including the man's immediate admission and remorse upon arrest. The sentence was backdated to May when he entered custody.
During a Central Criminal Court trial, Detective Garda Ronan Lawlor presented plastic fragments recovered from the road near the alleged murder site of Neil Reilly, showing a match to the broken headlight of a Mercedes jeep seized at Paul Bradley's home. Bradley (54) and his sons Jason (20), Dean (24), and Ryan (18) all pleaded not guilty to Reilly's murder. The prosecution argued that Reilly fired shots at the Bradley residence, prompting a car chase that ended with Reilly suffering severe crush injuries and multiple chop wounds. Garda Lawlor also examined a black BMW seized from the Bradley property, noting blood‑like stains and swipe marks, but found no relevant evidence. The trial focused on whether the Bradleys acted in a joint enterprise to murder Reilly, with the jury hearing forensic evidence and the prosecution's case before a judge's instructions were given.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 11 June 2018, Mr Justice Paul Butler imposed a two‑year suspended sentence on Gabriel Prunariu, aged 24, for attempting to defile a 16‑year‑old girl. Prunariu pleaded guilty to attempted defilement of a child at his Dublin home on 6 February 2016. The judge noted that the offence carried a maximum five‑year custodial term, that no violence was involved, and that Prunariu had no prior violent convictions. He had one minor conviction for burglary. The court considered that Prunariu was now on the Sex Offenders Register, which would affect his future, and that he had cooperated fully with the investigation. The judge therefore suspended the custodial sentence, leaving the non‑custodial penalty in place. The case was prosecuted by Garnet Orange SC and defended by Michael Bowman SC. The victim's impact statement described flashbacks, missed school and emotional distress.
Alan Hanley, aged 35 and without a fixed abode, was convicted at the Central Criminal Court of three counts of rape and one count of assault after attacking a woman in her Limerick home on the night of 4–5 May 2012. He pleaded not guilty but was found guilty on all counts at a retrial, and Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy sentenced him to 12 ½ years for each rape and five years for the assault. Hanley appealed on the basis that the trial judge failed to give the jury a corroboration warning, a warning that had been issued in his first trial. The Court of Appeal agreed, directed a retrial and remanded him in custody pending the next hearing on 25 June. The appeal centred on inconsistencies in the complainant's testimony, including whether Hanley ejaculated and the subsequent handling of a rug. Hanley's prior convictions include possession of a knife (2000) and threats to kill (2007, 2008).
A 39‑year‑old nurse, Greta Dudko, was convicted of murdering her 55‑year‑old mother, Anna Butautiene, on Christmas Eve 2010. Dudko admitted striking her mother's head against a wall and then hitting her with a glass bottle, causing blunt‑force trauma. The Central Criminal Court found her guilty of murder by a 11‑to‑1 jury verdict and imposed a mandatory life sentence on 22 October 2014. She had been suspended from nursing work earlier that year for intoxication at work and had an alcohol problem. Dudko's appeal, filed in December 2015, challenged the judge's handling of intoxication and the fairness of the jury charge. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, ruling the judge's conduct was not unfair and the conviction remained valid. The court also upheld the admissibility of photographs of the deceased at the crime scene. The unnamed 39-year-old pleaded not guilty.