Paul Bradley, aged 54, denies murdering Neil Reilly, 36, who was found dead at Esker Glebe after a shotgun attack on 18 January 2017. Bradley claims a masked man fired a shot that "whizzed" past his head while he slept. He says he tried to pursue the shooter but failed to locate him. Bradley and his sons Jason (20), Dean (24) and Ryan (18) have pleaded not guilty. Garda testimony notes Bradley's jeep was damaged and had blood on the driver's side panel and front wheel; Bradley attributes the damage to an earlier, unreported accident. Sgt Maeve Ward reports a broken sitting‑room window and glass on the floor at Bradley's home. Jason Bradley was found with a deep cut on his hand and dried blood on his feet; he was taken to Tallaght Hospital. The trial is before Justice Paul Coffey with a jury of twelve.
During a murder trial, Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis presented evidence that the victim, Neil Reilly, suffered more than 40 injuries. He described chop wounds to Reilly's head causing brain lacerations, multiple fractured ribs, extensive pelvic fractures, and scrapes consistent with being dragged across a rough surface. Curtis argued that the crushed pelvis and chest injuries could indicate that Reilly was run over, though the chest wounds might also result from resuscitation attempts. He noted seven blows with a chopping implement, including two to the head, and similar injuries to arms, back, and shoulder, all life‑threatening. Toxicology revealed cocaine, heroin, methadone, and codeine in Reilly's system. The trial, involving Paul Bradley and his sons, continues before Justice Paul Coffey and a jury. Paul Bradley pleaded not guilty. Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis pleaded not guilty.
When Gardaí and paramedics arrived at the alleged murder scene at Esker Glebe, Lucan, they found Neil Reilly, 36, lying face‑down on the kerb with multiple stab wounds and broken ribs. The Central Criminal Court heard that Reilly had been beaten to death after he fired shots at a house in Dublin. The paramedics attempted to revive him, puncturing his lung and inserting a tube in his throat, but he went into cardiac arrest en route to James Connolly Memorial Hospital. Garda Niall Glackin, one of the first responders, described Reilly's clothes torn and deep lacerations on his back, shoulder and arm, while Garda Conor Mallon and Garda Orlene Corrigan noted that Reilly's arm appeared almost severed. The trial, involving Paul Bradley, 54, and his sons Jason (20), Dean (24) and Ryan (18), continues before Justice Paul Coffey and a jury of twelve. The prosecution alleges the men are guilty of murder. The defence maintains their innocence. Paul Bradley pleaded not guilty.
A Cavan bus driver has been sentenced to fifteen years in prison following conviction for the sexual abuse of three children at the Central Criminal Court. Shane Costello, aged 49, from Hillview, Ballyhaise, was found guilty after trial in March of rape, oral rape and attempted oral rape of his teenage stepdaughter on dates in 2012 when she was between thirteen and fourteen years old. He had pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one of oral rape and three of attempted oral rape. Following the jury's verdicts, Costello subsequently pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting two other children on dates between 2001 and 2013. Justice Ní Raifeartaigh imposed nine years and nine months imprisonment for the offences against his stepdaughter, with consecutive sentences for the remaining charges totalling fifteen years. The court heard the stepdaughter, now nineteen, delivered a victim impact statement describing enduring trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder. Costello has previous convictions for assault causing harm from 1998.
During a murder trial, a mother of five, Sabrina Church, testified that she was shocked when Gardaí investigating the alleged murder of Neil Reilly showed her a gun left in her garden. Church, who was at home with her husband and children on the night of the incident, described the gun as appearing to be a toy and expressed that whoever had left it there had no concern for her family. The trial concerns Paul Bradley (54) and his sons Jason (20), Dean (24) and Ryan (18), who have all pleaded not guilty to Reilly's murder. The prosecution alleges that Reilly fired a shotgun at the Bradley residence, leading to a car chase and his death. The jury has reviewed CCTV footage and forensic evidence linking the gun to the crime. The trial continues before Justice Paul Coffey and a 12‑person jury.
Brendan Smith, a former director of Aston Carpets and Flooring, was given a suspended three‑month prison sentence and a €7,500 fine for his role in a price‑fixing scam that targeted large firms such as Google, PayPal and MasterCard between July 2012 and April 2013. Smith and a rival contractor, Carpet Centre (Contracts) Ltd, colluded to submit higher bids than the other, thereby inflating contract prices. The scheme was uncovered when David Radburn of Carpet Centre revealed the agreement to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. Smith was also charged with attempting to impede a prosecution after a raid on the companies' offices. The Director of Public Prosecutions has appealed the penalties, arguing they were unduly lenient, and the Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment. The case remains at the sentencing stage. Brendan Smith pleaded guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Paul Bradley (54) and his sons Jason (20), Dean (24) and Ryan (18) are on trial for the murder of Neil Reilly (36) at Esker Glebe, Lucan, on 18 January 2017. The defendants plead not guilty. The prosecution alleges that Reilly fired a shotgun at the Bradley home shortly before 4 a.m., leading to a car chase that ended with Reilly being beaten to death by the Bradleys. On the day after the alleged attack, Garda Sergeant Maeve Ward found a shotgun in the garden of a house on Rowlagh Crescent, close to an unlocked white van containing a balaclava. The weapon was identified in court and shown to the jury. The jury also watched CCTV footage of a white van arriving at Liscarne Gardens at 3.51 a.m., leaving, and a second car following. An emergency call at 3.56 a.m.
In a trial opened on 30 May 2018, Paul Bradley (54) and his sons Jason (20), Dean (24) and Ryan (18) of Liscarne Gardens, Dublin 22, denied murdering Neil Reilly (36) at Esker Glebe, Lucan, on 18 January 2017. Prosecutor Paul Murray SC presented evidence that Reilly fired a shotgun at the Bradley home around 4 a.m. The accused were present and allegedly chased Reilly in a jeep and a BMW. Gardai were alerted and later found the vehicles returning to the house. Reilly was pursued to Esker Glebe, where a Mazda crashed and he was left for dead. A pathologist's report recorded seven blows with a chopping implement, two to the head and five to the body, plus severe crush injuries to the pelvis. The prosecution argued the accused were willing, knowing participants in a joint enterprise to murder Reilly. The jury was instructed to decide solely on the evidence presented in court. Paul Bradley pleaded not guilty.
Martin Sherlock, a 30‑year‑old business analyst from Athlumney Wood, Navan, was convicted by the Central Criminal Court of raping a woman he met on the dating app Badoo. The alleged offence occurred on 14 August 2015 at the victim's Dublin home. Sherlock had pleaded not guilty. The jury, after more than five hours of deliberation, found him guilty. The court remanded him on continuing bail until 18 June. The victim, aged 27, testified that she had met another man on Badoo and had sex with him because Sherlock had not confirmed their meeting. She then agreed to meet Sherlock for a chat, but when he arrived she refused sex without a condom. She reported that he ignored her repeated "no" and "stop" requests, continued to have oral and penetrative sex, and ejaculated. She also claimed he stole her phone after the assault.
A 78-year-old man from County Mayo has pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to five sample charges of rape committed against his daughter between 1973 and 1974. The man, whose identity is protected, admitted to the offences at the family home while the child's mother was at work. The now 54-year-old woman provided a victim impact statement describing the lasting harm caused by the abuse sustained from age nine to twelve. Justice Patrick McCarthy remanded the defendant in custody and adjourned sentencing to 18 June. The woman, who first reported the matter to gardaí in 2015, detailed how the abuse had affected her family relationships and trust. The defence counsel acknowledged the man's guilty plea, expressed remorse, and referenced significant health difficulties and social isolation. The prosecution indicated the abuse occurred regularly throughout a three-year period during the 1970s.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 30‑year‑old man accused of raping a woman he met on the dating app Badoo told the jury he believed the sexual activity was consensual. He explained that they had matched on the app and that a text about bringing a condom was received, but he claimed he did not have one when he arrived. He said the woman appeared disappointed but did not give a negative response when they began sex, and that she seemed "quite into it and quite happy." He stated he stopped when she asked him not to use his fingers and that he had no intention of continuing without her consent. The accused denied any admission of non‑consensual sex, claimed he had no prior convictions, and argued that the police had misinterpreted his statements. The case remains in the closing stages before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
A man from Castlebar, County Mayo, has failed in his appeal against a murder conviction at the Court of Appeal. The 25-year-old was sentenced to life imprisonment in February 2014 for the death of his mother on March 9, 2011. He had admitted manslaughter but pleaded not guilty to murder. During his trial at the Central Criminal Court, evidence emerged concerning his long-standing substance abuse and intoxication at the time of the killing. His defence centred on arguments of diminished responsibility and an inability to form the necessary intent due to drug use. A jury unanimously rejected these submissions and returned a guilty verdict for murder. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, found the trial satisfactory and the conviction safe. The court considered the trial judge's instructions to the jury adequate despite submissions regarding the handling of intoxication evidence. The appeal was dismissed.
In a Cork case, a 70‑year‑old man was convicted of raping his step‑daughter from age 11 to 16, impregnating her twice in the 1970s. He pleaded guilty to 18 counts of rape and sexual abuse between 1974 and 1979. The victim, now 53, testified that the man forced her into sexual acts three or four times a week, often when her mother was away, and that he abused her on Sunday evenings. He was also an alcoholic who spent his mother's money. The Court of Appeal upheld a 12‑year sentence, with the final two years suspended, after the man's appeal against a 14‑year sentence was dismissed. The appeal was rejected on the basis that the judge's assessment of the offence's severity was justified and that the mitigating factors had been adequately considered. The man had already served four years for indecent assault of the victim's siblings. The appeal was dismissed by a three‑judge panel.
Walter Morrissey has lost his appeal against his 2013 conviction for aggravated sexual assault, with the Court of Appeal upholding his 13-year sentence. The 70-year-old from Co Kilkenny was found guilty of leaving a former partner with life-threatening injuries, including a severe vaginal tear described by medical experts as comparable to injuries from machete rapes. During the appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, Justice Alan Mahon, and Justice John Hedigan, the court rejected all four grounds raised by Morrissey. These included claims that the trial judge erred by refusing to appoint new solicitors after Morrissey discharged his legal team on day eight, and that the jury should have been discharged after the victim revealed his status as a registered sex offender. The appellate judges noted that the defence failed to object immediately to the prejudicial comment and that Morrissey had no objection to the discharge of two jurors earlier in the trial. The court affirmed that the trial judge acted correctly in denying a retrial, stating it is not open to an accused to up-scutter proceedings by discharging counsel to secure a new jury. Morrissey, who was previously convicted in 1977 of the double manslaughter of Francis McEnery and his son, and in 1999 of seven counts of indecent assault, was led away to continue his 13-year sentence. As he left, he shouted that the decision was a "100 per cent insult" and called the judges "heap of crooks."
A 30‑year‑old man accused of raping a woman he met on the dating app Badoo was interviewed by Gardaí after the complainant alleged he entered her Dublin home on 14 August 2015, raped her, and stole her phone. In his first interview he claimed he had stolen the phone to sell it for money, but later admitted he had taken it in a moment of panic because his contact details were on it. He denied the rape, stating the woman was aware he had no condom and that they had sex after she asked for one. He said he ejaculated quickly, told her she might become pregnant, and that he had no money for the morning‑after pill. Garda Rossa Smith presented evidence that the accused's WhatsApp contact matched the seller's number on DoneDeal.ie and that CCTV showed him entering the house at 3.15 am and leaving at 3.38 am. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
A 21-year-old man from Cavan has received a three-year suspended sentence following his guilty plea to sexually assaulting his 15-year-old cousin at the Central Criminal Court. The offence occurred on May 17, 2015, when the accused was 18 years old. The court heard that both had grown up closely together and that the man had developed a romantic interest in his cousin. He lacked sexual education and maturity for his age, with his first discussion about sexual consent occurring during garda interview after the incident. The victim, now 18, provided a victim impact statement describing the emotional distress caused but noting she did not regard her cousin as dangerous. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy suspended the sentence in full, conditional on the man's compliance with the Probation Service and completion of a community-based treatment program for sex offenders. The judge noted that psychological assessment indicated low re-offending risk and considered the probation reports favourably.
A 37‑year‑old UK man was found guilty by a Dublin jury of three counts of rape and eight counts of sexual assault against two girls aged 10 and 12 when they were neglected by their mother. The man, a family friend, moved the family into his home in an upmarket area of Dublin and later to Louth, where he sexually assaulted both girls, including in bed at night and in a hotel room. UK and Irish social services intervened, and the children were placed in foster care. The man fled to Chile in 2011, was extradited from the United States in 2014, and was released on bail before being remanded. The trial lasted 12 weeks, and the jury returned a unanimous verdict after three hours. The girls, now 17 and 19, gave victim impact statements describing the abuse and its lasting effects. The case will return to court on 20 June for a plea of mitigation.
Garrett Phillips, a former Ros na Rún actor, was convicted of orally raping a 20‑year‑old woman in Galway on the night of 5 November 2015. The victim, who had accepted a lift from Phillips after he approached her on a park bench, fell asleep in the van and woke to find Phillips thrusting his penis into her mouth. She fled, memorised the registration and sought help at a nearby house. During the four‑day trial at the Central Criminal Court, Phillips pleaded not guilty and claimed the act was consensual, describing it as "very tender" and "chemical". The court heard the victim's impact statement, detailing her pre‑incident life, the trauma she endured, and her ongoing mental health struggles. Phillips was found guilty and the case was adjourned for sentencing, with reporting restrictions lifted and a Probation Service report ordered.
Tadhg Butler, 37, of Seafield House, Tramore, Co. Waterford, faces a retrial for the murder of Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014. After a hung jury in the previous trial, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy of the Central Criminal Court scheduled the retrial for 27 May 2019.
In a Dublin rape trial, a 30‑year‑old man accused of raping a 27‑year‑old Chinese woman on 14 August 2015 pleaded not guilty. The complainant testified that she met the accused through the dating app Badoo, agreed to a chat, and later found herself kissing and touching him in her bedroom. She repeatedly said "no" and "stop" as the encounter escalated to oral and penetrative sex, but the accused continued until he ejaculated. She claimed he refused to provide a condom and later stole her phone when leaving. Garda Rossa Smith described a sting operation that linked the accused to a phone sale on DoneDeal.ie, confirming his identity via WhatsApp contact numbers. The case is ongoing before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.
In a Laois case, a 46‑year‑old man was convicted of rape after he admitted assaulting his wife by punching her in the face on 8 January 2015. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of rape and he was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended by Mr Justice Paul Butler on 20 December 2016. The conviction was upheld on appeal by Mr Justice George Birmingham, who noted the couple's long‑standing marital difficulties, the wife's fear for her life, and the husband's claims of intent to rape. The appeal was dismissed on the basis that the trial judge's directions on recklessness and resistance were not erroneous, and that the jury had considered the evidence as a continuous event. The case remains a rare instance of marital rape conviction in Ireland, the fourth since 1990. The unnamed 46-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 24‑year‑old Dublin man was found guilty by a unanimous jury of 14 counts of sexual assault against a child aged five to eight, involving touching the girl's chest, genitals and placing his head and mouth in her genital area. The trial, held over four days, heard evidence of the offences at two Dublin locations between June 2008 and October 2011. The defendant failed to appear at the Central Criminal Court for the verdict. Judge Patrick McCarthy issued a bench warrant and ordered sentencing in his absence on 25 June 2018. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
Patrick O'Brien, aged 78, pleaded guilty to 15 counts of sexual assault, including oral and anal rape of a 13‑year‑old boy, and three counts of gross indecency. The offences occurred at his home in Knocklyon Road, Templeogue, Dublin, and other city locations between April 2002 and December 2003. O'Brien, a former Church of Ireland lay worker, is serving a 13‑year jail term imposed in 2016 for raping and molesting 14 boys over 40 years. In 1989 he received a suspended sentence for assaulting a ten‑year‑old boy in 1982. The victim first complained in 2002, but the complaint was withdrawn in 2010 after a Garda advised him not to pursue charges. The Garda later advised the victim again in 2016, leading to a second file to the DPP and subsequent prosecution. The court heard that the victim had accepted gifts from O'Brien during the abuse and felt he might be held responsible.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a man was acquitted of 48 counts of sexual assault and 21 counts of anally raping his wheelchair‑bound step‑daughter between 2003 and 2013. The jury, after just over six hours of deliberation, returned a not‑guilty verdict on all 69 counts. The accused, who could not be named, had pleaded not guilty. The case centred on allegations that the victim, aged eight to 18 during the alleged offences, was sexually abused by the man, who began with touching and progressed to attempts at vaginal rape and regular anally rape from age 10 or 11. The victim, now 23, testified that the abuse occurred at the family home in Dublin, where her mother and other relatives also lived. The prosecution's case was based on the victim's testimony and limited evidence from family members. The defence argued inconsistencies in the evidence and a lack of specificity in the allegations.
The jury in the trial of an unnamed man accused of repeatedly sexually abusing his stepdaughter has retired for the night after failing to reach a verdict. He pleaded not guilty to 48 counts of sexual assault and 21 counts of anally raping the girl between 2003 and 2013, when she was aged eight to 18. The jury will resume deliberations tomorrow before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.
A wheelchair‑bound woman, aged 23, told a jury that a 44‑year‑old man, her stepfather, sexually abused her from age eight to 18. She said the abuse began with touching her private parts after her First Holy Communion, progressed to attempted vaginal rape, and then to regular anal rape from age 10 or 11. The alleged victim claimed the abuse occurred at their family home in Dublin, where her mother and other relatives lived. She said she had called the accused her father and that he threatened to kill her if she told anyone. The prosecution argued she gave a true and credible account, while the defence questioned the reliability of her testimony and urged acquittal. The case is before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
A 50‑year‑old man from Tipperary was sentenced to three years in prison for sexually assaulting a female friend in her home on 7 September 2015. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, rejected a plea for a non‑custodial sentence, stating that such a decision would send the wrong message to victims and potential offenders. The court found the man had breached the trust and confidence of the victim, who had invited him into her house and told him to sleep on the couch. He had attempted to have sex with her in bed, but did not penetrate her. The victim's impact statement described loss of confidence, isolation, depression, withdrawal from work and loss of friendships. The judge imposed a four‑year sentence with the final year suspended, and ordered the man to have no contact with the victim for five years. The unnamed 50-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 23‑year‑old woman accused a 44‑year‑old stepfather of repeated sexual abuse, including rape. She said the abuse began with touching after her First Holy Communion and progressed to attempted vaginal rape, which failed, followed by regular anal rape from age 10 or 11. She alleges 29 counts of rape and 31 counts of sexual assault between March 2004 and August 2013. The accused, unnamed for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty. The woman's mother testified that the man left the family home in 2013 and was capable of sexual activity. She denied that her daughter's allegations were "false and attention‑seeking," stating she had initially doubted the claims but later believed them after further evidence. The case is before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
A man from Castleblayney has been sentenced to five years in prison following his conviction for rape and assault at the Central Criminal Court. Aurelijus Kizelavicius pleaded guilty to attacking a woman in County Monaghan on 29 March 2015. The court heard that after offering the woman a lift home, Kizelavicius punched her repeatedly in the face before sexually assaulting her. The victim stated in her impact statement that the incident had caused her significant psychological harm, resulting in depression, anxiety, and a loss of confidence. Mr Justice Paul Butler described the offence as falling within the middle category of rape cases. In mitigation, the judge considered the accused's youth and his guilty plea, which the court noted the victim welcomed. A sentence of seven years was imposed, with the final two years suspended on condition of attendance at sex offender programmes designated by the Probation Service upon release.
Renato Gehlen, 36, of Dorset Square, Dublin 1, is charged with murdering his wife, Anne Colomines, 37, on 24 October 2017 at their home. His trial at the Central Criminal Court is set to begin on 25 March next year. In the same court, Gary Watson, 34, of Millbrook Avenue, Kilbarrick, Dublin 13, faces trial for the 2010 murder of Warren O'Connor at Hole in the Wall Road, Donaghmede. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy scheduled his trial for 20 May 2019.
A 15‑year‑old from south Dublin is charged with attempting to murder a 25‑year‑old woman at Seafront, Queen's Road, Dun Laoghaire, on 23 December last year. The minor, whose name cannot be disclosed, will stand trial at the Central Criminal Court, with proceedings scheduled to begin in January.
Paul Crosby, 22, of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, was charged with attempting to murder Gerard Boyle, 22, at Knockcommon, Beauparc, Slane, County Meath, on 10 November 2016. The Central Criminal Court granted him bail. His brother and sister provided sureties totalling €2,100. Conditions include living at his mother's Drogheda home, observing a 9 pm to 7 am curfew, being available to Gardaí at that address and by phone, abstaining from drugs and alcohol, signing in regularly at Drogheda Garda Station, and not contacting the alleged victim or witnesses. His trial is scheduled for February next year.
Brian Rattigan, aged 37, of Cooley Road, Drimnagh, Dublin, faces a retrial for the murder of Declan Gavin, aged 21, outside an Abrakebabra fast‑food shop in Crumlin Shopping Centre on 25 August 2001. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy of the Central Criminal Court set the retrial for 14 January 2019, with the trial expected to last up to six weeks.
During sentencing, Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh described the absence of sentencing guidelines for rape cases as "somewhat bizarre". She imposed a five‑year prison term on Christopher Redmond, aged 74, after a jury conviction for four rapes and five sexual assaults of his granddaughter between 2002 and 2004 at the Tolka Valley pitch and putt club. Redmond, who works at the club, denied the charges but was found guilty in February. The judge had originally set a headline sentence of 15 years, reduced to ten years due to no prior offences and his age, and further to five years because of his progressive cognitive impairment, which a forensic psychiatrist confirmed was genuine. The judge noted that the Supreme Court requires an immediate custodial sentence for rape, yet no specific sentencing figures exist, making the practice "highly unregulated". The victim, now 23, had waived anonymity and testified about the abuse, describing severe physical and psychological harm.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 41‑year‑old woman testified that she was repeatedly raped by her older brother, a 47‑year‑old man who pleaded not guilty to 56 counts of rape and 15 counts of sexual assault. She said the abuse began when she was four and continued until she was between ten and twelve. During cross‑examination, she described feeling terrified of the accused until recently and asserted that only she and the accused know the truth. She described him as a "sexual tyrant" who acted with impunity inside and outside the home. She denied that the alleged offences were fabricated, noting that the accused had denied the allegations in police interviews and threatened to kill their mother. The trial is proceeding before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of five women and six men. The unnamed 47-year-old was found guilty.
A wheelchair user, aged about ten or eleven when the abuse began, alleges that her mother's partner, a 44‑year‑old man whose name cannot be disclosed for legal reasons, sexually abused her in the family home from March 2004 to August 2013. She says the abuse started with touching her breasts and private parts after her First Holy Communion, progressed to attempted vaginal rape, and then to regular anal rape. She claims the attacks occurred weekly or daily, depending on her mother's absence, and that she tried to record the incidents with a dictaphone, which failed to capture any audio. She has given multiple statements to Gardaí, describing flashbacks and trauma that delayed her reporting. The case is being heard before Mr Justice Peter McCarthy and a jury at the Central Criminal Court, where the accused has pleaded not guilty to 29 counts of rape and 31 counts of sexual assault.
The murder charge against 23‑year‑old Yasmin Stephens, who was accused of killing her 33‑year‑old boyfriend in Dublin three and a half years earlier, was dismissed by Mr Justice Michael White under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act. The case had been scheduled for trial at the Central Criminal Court, but her legal team successfully obtained the dismissal before the jury could hear the evidence. Stephens was then arraigned on a second count for robbing a homeless man, Hugh Gildea, on Mabbot Lane. She pleaded guilty to stealing a mobile phone, a wrist watch and €520 in cash. The judge reviewed CCTV footage of the 20‑minute assault, heard Gildea's statement and that of two witnesses, and noted that Sean Ducque delivered the violence while Stephens searched the victim's pockets. She was remanded on continuing bail pending a probation report, with sentencing expected on 29 June. The unnamed 23-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Tomas Gajowniczek, 37, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and serious harm against his partner, Alicja Kalinowska, 30, after an assault on 16 June 2016. The jury, after nearly nine hours, found him not guilty by reason of insanity on both counts. Mr Gajowniczek was committed to the Central Mental Hospital for assessment. The trial recounted that he repeatedly punched Ms Kalinowska, forced her to swallow a bottle, stuffed underwear in her mouth, held her nose to stop breathing, beat her with a hammer and gouged her eyes. Ms Kalinowska testified she passed out during the assault. Defence counsel noted psychiatrists had previously assessed Mr Gajowniczek as no longer suffering a mental disorder, but the court ordered further evaluation. The case highlighted the jury's requirement to be satisfied on the balance of probabilities that a mental disorder prevented him from controlling his actions.
A 70‑year‑old Cork man, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty to 18 counts of raping and sexually abusing his step‑daughter between 1974 and 1979, impregnating her twice. The victim, now 53, testified that the man took her from her bedroom to the landing for sexual intercourse three or four times a week, and that she feared Sunday evenings when her mother was at bingo. He was an alcoholic who drank money her mother brought into the house. The Court of Appeal upheld his 12‑year sentence, originally imposed as 14 years with the final two suspended. The appeal argued the starting point of 18 years was too high, citing the 'RK' case, but the court found no error in principle. The judge noted the offender's age and medical issues justified the suspended portion and rejected rehabilitation as a relevant concept. The man had already served four years for indecent assault of the victim's siblings.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 41‑year‑old woman accused her 47‑year‑old brother of repeated rape and sexual assault from age four to about twelve. She pleaded that the abuse began in their family home and continued in fields, woodlands, school grounds, a community centre and a clubhouse. She said her brother threatened to slit her wrists and throat, and to shoot their mother with a shotgun if she reported the abuse. She claimed she was raped countless times, including at least four incidents on the grounds of an old building, one at night. She told the jury that she would not endure her "dirtiest secrets" being exposed if the abuse had never occurred, urging her brother to "stand up and admit what you've done." The trial is before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of eleven. The unnamed 47-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury is deliberating the case of Tomas Gajowniczek, 37, who denies attempting to murder his partner, Alicja Kalinowska, 30, by suffocating her with underwear and beating her with a hammer. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy explained that the jury has three possible verdicts: guilty, not guilty, or not guilty by reason of insanity. He instructed the jury to first decide whether Gajowniczek assaulted Kalinowska with intent to kill, and if so, whether he was mentally disordered at the time of the alleged offence. The defence must prove their case on the balance of probabilities. Kalinowska testified that Gajowniczek punched her, stuffed underwear in her mouth, held her nose, beat her with a hammer, and poured a drink down her throat until she passed out.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 41‑year‑old woman accused her older brother of repeatedly raping her between 1983 and 1988. She told the jury that she confronted him after the abuse stopped, writing a letter in 1995 that she later delivered to him in the family home. In the letter she declared she would never forgive him, that he had taken her virginity, robbed her of education and almost destroyed her. He did not respond to the letter. She said she had told him she would see him in court one day, and that was the last thing she said to him. She had reported the abuse to Gardaí in 2010 and again in 2015, but felt the police were unhelpful. The trial is ongoing before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury. The unnamed woman pleaded not guilty.
A man has been convicted and sentenced at the Central Criminal Court following a jury trial in February. He received 15 years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting his daughter at their home in County Mayo and at locations abroad between 2006 and 2010, when the victim was aged seven to eleven years old. Justice Deirdre Murphy described the offending as depraved. The court heard that since the conviction, an allegation has emerged that the complainant may have provided false evidence. A garda investigation into this matter is underway, though no evidence relating to the allegation was before the court during sentencing. The accused was convicted on three counts of rape, five counts of anal rape, and six counts of sexual assault. He maintains his innocence and has previous convictions for assault, including one involving the same victim. The unnamed 47-year-old pleaded not guilty.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 41‑year‑old woman testified that her older brother raped her on the day of her first Holy Communion. She said the abuse began when she was four and continued until she was between ten and twelve. The brother, whose name cannot be disclosed, pleaded not guilty to 56 counts of rape and 15 counts of sexual assault in County Waterford, covering incidents from December 1983 to June 1988. The woman described being raped in their family home, fields, woodlands, school grounds, a community centre and a clubhouse. She recounted nine or ten rapes at an estate near their home when she was about ten, and further assaults in wooded areas between ages seven and eleven. She also said the brother threatened to kill her mother if she disclosed the abuse. The trial is proceeding before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of five women and six men.
Anthony Cassidy, 34, was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment for raping and seriously assaulting a woman in her 50s in Carlow. The victim was attacked early in the morning, left unconscious on the outskirts of town, and later found with severe injuries including a multifocal brain injury. CCTV footage showed Cassidy dragging the victim to the site where she was discovered 12 hours later. Cassidy pleaded guilty to rape and assault causing serious harm on 25 June 2017. He had 34 prior convictions, including soliciting for sex in the UK and two assaults in Ireland. The judge noted the pre‑meditated nature of the attack, the victim's extreme brain injury, and her ongoing dependence on family care. Cassidy's guilty plea and expression of remorse were considered, leading to the 18‑year sentence rather than a life term. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
A 24‑year‑old Dublin woman, Yasmin Stephens of Albert College Avenue, Glasnevin, is set to go on trial tomorrow after being arraigned today at the Central Criminal Court. She faces a charge of murdering 33‑year‑old Kieran Farrelly on 26 October 2014. Stephens pleaded not guilty. An eight‑man, four‑woman jury was sworn in to hear the case.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court could not reach a verdict in the retrial of 37‑year‑old Tadhg Butler, charged with murdering Michael O'Dwyer with a butcher's knife at Butler's seaside home in Tramore on 10 January 2014. Butler had previously been sentenced to life for the murder, but that conviction was overturned on appeal. The case centred on Butler's claim that he had accidentally stabbed O'Dwyer while trying to disarm his nephew, Anthony O'Grady, who had threatened self‑harm. O'Grady, who testified but could not recall details, said he saw Butler lift a foot‑long knife and stab O'Dwyer, after which Butler returned to drinking. Butler pleaded not guilty. After six hours of deliberation, the jury failed to agree on a verdict and was discharged. The case will be re‑considered before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on 8 May.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury of twelve was deliberating the murder trial of 37‑year‑old Tadhg Butler, accused of killing 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014. O'Dwyer died in hospital after a stab wound to the chest at a party in Butler's Co Waterford home. Butler, who lives in Seafield, Tramore, pleaded not guilty. He claimed he had accidentally stabbed O'Dwyer while retrieving a knife from his nephew to prevent self‑harm. The nephew, Anthony O'Grady, testified that Butler had walked over and stabbed his friend with a butcher's knife, but later said he could not remember the event, citing personality disorders and medication. After about five hours of deliberation, the jury reported to the judge that they were "stuck in this ring" and saw no prospect of reaching a verdict.
A 31‑year‑old man was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, for raping and sexually abusing an 18‑year‑old boy who was 11 at the time of the first offence. The offences, committed between July 2011 and March 2012 at the boy's family home in South West Ireland, included four counts of oral rape and four of sexual assault. The man, who has 57 prior convictions but no previous sexual offences, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. He had gained access to the boy's home by befriending the boy's older brother, providing alcohol, cigarettes and clothing, and later moving into the house. The court noted the man's behaviour was "disgraceful" and that he had supplied the boy with alcohol. The victim's impact statement described how the abuse left him feeling confused, vulnerable and in need of help, and he expressed gratitude for the support he received from Gardaí and his mother.
A 49‑year‑old man was tried at the Central Criminal Court for serial rape and sexual assault of his younger sister over a five‑year period in the 1980s. He pleaded not guilty to 56 counts of rape and 15 counts of sexual assault, with alleged offences occurring between December 1983 and June 1988. The complainant, now 41, said the abuse began when she was four and continued until she was 10 or 12. She alleged the man abused her at their family home, in fields, woodlands, school grounds, a community centre and a clubhouse. The prosecution highlighted specific incidents, including rapes on her first Holy Communion in June 1984 and the following day. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, is set to continue for at least another week.