In a victim impact statement at the Central Criminal Court, a married mother described how she is now a "broken person" after being raped by Mohamed Okda in February 2014. She said she suffers from panic attacks and depression, feels her trust and belief in people have been shattered, and that she has lost friends and feels unable to talk about the night. Okda, 30, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts after a seven‑day trial. The case will return to court on 9 October. The mother thanked her husband for support and said she is working to repair their relationship. Okda has 16 prior convictions in Ireland, none for sexual offences, and has been in custody since his conviction.
A 33‑year‑old man accused of raping a woman in her 50s on the grounds of Pollerton Castle in Carlow was refused bail by the Central Criminal Court. He had previously been denied bail at the District Court. The State argued the seriousness of the rape and assault charge, the potential for a lengthy sentence and a flight risk. Justice Paul Coffey accepted these objections and denied bail.
A 65‑year‑old Galway man, whose identity is withheld to protect his daughter's anonymity, will be sentenced on 13 November for raping his daughter and threatening her mother with a shotgun. He denied one count of rape and six counts of sexual assault that took place between August 1991 and August 1993. A jury at the Central Criminal Court found him guilty on all charges after just under three hours of deliberation. The offences occurred in the family home where the victim lived with her parents and three siblings. The complainant, who was about nine or ten when the first incident occurred, described her father entering her room drunk, using a shotgun, removing her underwear, molesting her for a few minutes, and threatening to shoot her mother if she reported the abuse. She reported similar incidents on six to eight further occasions, including a brief rape attempt, a slap, and repeated threats.
The Court of Appeal has adjourned an application by a 43-year-old man to extend the time limit for appealing his sentence. The appellant, whose identity is protected, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the rape and sexual assault of his nephew in Limerick during the 1990s. He was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy in October 2015. His counsel, Diarmuid Collins BL, argued that the 17-month delay in lodging the appeal was not excessive and that the appellant was "overwhelmed by the enormity" of the events, lacking the emotional strength to appeal earlier. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Úna Tighe BL, opposed the extension, citing the victim's interest in finality and arguing that the appellant's claimed lack of strength indicated a prior decision not to appeal. The panel, comprising Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice Alan Mahon, and Mr Justice John Edwards, noted that while there is no statutory time limit, Superior Court rules generally allow 28 days. Mr Justice Birmingham referenced the Supreme Court's decision in the case of Nicky Kelly, who was sentenced to 12 years' penal servitude, to establish that extensions must be guided by the justice of the case and the victim's interest in finality. The court was not persuaded at this stage that the interests of justice were served by extending time based on current information. Consequently, the matter was adjourned to the next list to fix dates, with the court prepared to review the application if further information is provided.
The trial of Alan McNamara, accused of the murder of Andrew 'AOD' O'Donoghue on June 20, 2015, at the Road Tramps motorcycle clubhouse in Mountfune, Co Limerick, continued at the Central Criminal Court. McNamara, 51, has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The court heard evidence that Gardaí recovered two mobile phones from waste ground near where McNamara was arrested: a broken Samsung and a partial Nokia. Detective Sergeant Shane Ryan testified that the Nokia was linked to a number McNamara identified as his own during interviews, while the Samsung was registered to his stepson, Robert Cusack. Cusack, 28, pleaded guilty yesterday to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of his stepfather. Forensic analysis of four phones, including a 'club phone' owned by the Caballeros motorcycle club, revealed a five-minute call from Cusack to McNamara at 2:41 pm on the day of the shooting. Under cross-examination, Ryan acknowledged CCTV placed the shooting at 2:44 pm, meaning the call was likely ongoing. The trial, presided over by Justice Paul McDermott, was adjourned to Thursday.
In a 2017 case, a 56‑year‑old Tipperary man pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting his seven‑year‑old niece between December 1994 and July 1995. The victim, now 29, had kept the abuse secret for years, fearing her grandmother's retaliation after she confided. She reported being beaten with a stick and living in fear of further attacks. The court noted the victim's long‑term psychological harm, including depression, suicidal thoughts, nightmares and anxiety about her children. The judge, Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy, acknowledged the victim's admission of guilt and her desire not to see the accused jailed. She imposed a four‑year sentence, suspended in full, after the defendant's guilty plea and the victim's statement of vindication. The case ended with a non‑custodial outcome.
Shane Fitzgerald, 26, of Tullorum, Spa, Killarney, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for burglary and sexual assault committed in September 2015. He entered a flat in a Co Kerry town on a "drunken spree," barged in, pulled down his pants, exposed his penis and forced the vulnerable woman, in her fifties, to mouth it. The victim was awakened at 3.30 am, fled screaming, and was later assisted by a neighbour. Fitzgerald pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and has 56 prior convictions. The judge noted the crime's squalid nature, the victim's vulnerability, and Fitzgerald's dysfunctional background. He imposed a five‑year custodial sentence, followed by three years of post‑release supervision with the Probation Service. No other charges were brought against the accomplices. The victim remains in counselling and has not returned to her flat.
Andrew Roche, 28, pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to one count of orally raping a 12‑year‑old boy and one count of anally raping him between 25 December 2008 and 17 March 2009. The victim, who came forward in 2014, described how Roche lured him to a lane, forced himself on him, and warned him not to tell anyone. Roche, who was 20 at the time of the attack, was initially relaxed when questioned by Gardaí but denied knowledge of the events once he was told the victim was a boy. He has 41 previous convictions and has been in custody on other matters since February 2016. Mr Justice Paul Coffey imposed a sentence of five and a half years' imprisonment, back‑dated to 19 April 2016, and ordered post‑release supervision for six years. Roche has been certified as a sex offender.
In a case at the Central Criminal Court, Robert Cusack, aged 28, pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of his stepfather, Alan 'Cookie' McNamara, who is on trial for the murder of Andrew 'AOD' O'Donoghue. Cusack had previously pleaded not guilty to the impeding offence but was re‑arraigned and entered a guilty plea. McNamara, aged 51, is accused of shooting O'Donoghue on 20 June 2015 at the Road Tramps motorcycle clubhouse in Mountfune, Murroe. He is a member of the Caballeros motorcycle club and has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The trial continues, with the jury hearing evidence against McNamara tomorrow after the court's re‑organisation. Justice Paul McDermott informed the jury that Cusack's guilty plea was a matter for a later hearing and would not affect the current proceedings. The case remains in progress.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberating in a double murder trial concerning a 30-year-old man from Ballina, County Mayo. Alan Cawley has admitted causing the deaths of Thomas Blaine, aged 69, and John Blaine, aged 76, on 10th July 2013 at New Antrim Street in Castlebar. However, he pleaded not guilty to murder, with the defence raising the partial defence of diminished responsibility. Justice Paul Coffey instructed the jury that they must consider whether Mr Cawley was suffering from a mental disorder at the time that substantially diminished his responsibility for the killings. The defence psychiatrist identified three conditions, whilst the prosecution's expert disputed one diagnosis and questioned whether the personality disorders constituted mental disorders under the Criminal Law Insanity Act 2006. The jury, comprising four women and eight men, briefly deliberated before adjourning for the evening and will resume considerations the following morning.
Closing speeches were delivered at the Central Criminal Court in the trial of Alan Cawley, 30, of Ballina, Co Mayo. Cawley has admitted killing Thomas Blaine, 69, and John Blaine, 76, but pleaded not guilty to murdering them on 10th July 2013 at New Antrim Street in Castlebar. The prosecution, led by Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, alleged that Cawley made a decision to kill the two elderly brothers in acts of extreme violence. Counsel argued that Cawley's intoxication led to impulsive behavior, but his personality disorders did not constitute a mental disorder under the Criminal Law Insanity Act 2006, thus negating a diminished responsibility defense. The State requested guilty verdicts for both murders. Conversely, defense counsel Caroline Biggs SC argued that Cawley suffered from a lifelong mental disorder, describing it as a "poisoned gift" that diminished his responsibility. She contended that his history of torment and reliance on sedation supported a finding of diminished responsibility, urging the jury to return a verdict of manslaughter. The jury, comprising four women and eight men, is expected to begin deliberations on Monday after being charged by Mr Justice Paul Coffey. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no final verdict or sentence recorded.
A 49‑year‑old Kilkenny man, whose name is withheld to protect the identity of a 33‑year‑old man, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of 15 counts of rape, oral rape and one charge of sexual assault against a 14‑year‑old. He pleaded not guilty to 35 counts, of which the judge directed not‑guilty verdicts on the balance. He received a 10‑year sentence, with the final year suspended by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy on 8 February 2016. The man has now filed an appeal, arguing that new material and the trial judge's treatment of answers given to Garda questions should affect his conviction. His counsel, Aidan Doyle SC, highlighted the defence's claim of consensual conduct and the importance of the complainant's age of consent, noting that the complainant was legally incapable of consenting before his 15th birthday.
A 44‑year‑old former journalist, Mercy Peters, originally from Sierra Leone, was found unfit to stand trial for the 2014 murder of Tyrone McKenna, 42, in his South Dublin home. The Central Criminal Court, after hearing two consultant psychiatrists, determined that Peters suffers from Schizoaffective disorder. She had not taken her prescribed medication for several months before the incident and her illness involves entrenched persecutory and delusional themes. Dr Ronan Mullaney, her treating psychiatrist at the Central Mental Hospital (CMH), confirmed that Peters maintains she is not responsible for McKenna's death and believes she is the victim of an elaborate plot. He noted she has only partial insight into her illness and continues to dispute her diagnosis. Judge Tony Hunt ordered Peters to be committed to the CMH for inpatient care, with proceedings adjourned until October 2. The remand is indefinite.
A State forensic psychiatrist has told the Central Criminal Court that a Mayo man was voluntarily intoxicated when he killed two elderly brothers with special needs, causing him to behave in an extremely impulsive and violent manner. Dr Brenda Wright testified that the 30-year-old defendant, from Ballina, did not have a mental disorder in law at the time of the offences on 10th July 2013 in Castlebar. This contradicted evidence from a defence psychiatrist, who had argued the accused suffered from three mental disorders that diminished his responsibility. The defendant has admitted killing the brothers but pleaded not guilty to murder. Under cross-examination, Dr Wright acknowledged the accused had experienced significant anger and behavioural difficulties from early childhood, predating any substance use. She maintained, however, that personality disorders do not constitute mental disorders under the Criminal Law Insanity Act 2006. The trial continues at the Central Criminal Court.
Marta Herda, a 30‑year‑old Polish waitress, was convicted of murder after she drove a Volkswagen Passat into a deep harbour in Arklow on 26 March 2013, causing the drowning of 31‑year‑old Hungarian man Csaba Orsos. The Central Criminal Court found her guilty and imposed a mandatory life sentence on 28 July 2016. Herda escaped through the driver's window, but Orsos's body was recovered on a nearby beach. A post‑mortem confirmed drowning as the cause of death, not injuries from the crash. Herda's defence argued the incident was an accident, citing her lack of intent, language barriers, and the absence of evidence of deliberate action. The prosecution maintained that she deliberately drove into the water, knowing Orsos could not swim. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on her appeal, which challenges the conviction on grounds of recklessness, alleged confessions, and the judge's instructions to the jury. Marta Herda pleaded not guilty.
A forensic psychiatrist for the State has told the Central Criminal Court that a Co Mayo man accused of murder did not have mental disorders recognised in law, despite having personality disorders at the time of the alleged killings. The 30-year-old from Ballina has admitted killing two elderly brothers with special needs but pleaded not guilty to their murder on 10th July 2013 in Castlebar. Dr Brenda Wright testified that while she agreed with the defence psychiatrist's diagnosis of emotionally unstable and antisocial personality disorders, these did not qualify as mental disorders under the Criminal Law Insanity Act 2006. She stated that qualifying mental disorders must impair a person's capacity to make decisions or understand relevant information, which personality disorders do not. Dr Wright also disputed the defence evidence that the accused had ADHD at the time, saying she found no supporting behaviour in garda interview recordings. Her evidence continues before Justice Paul Coffey and jury.
Marta Herda, 30, of Arklow, appealed her murder conviction after driving a Volkswagen Passat into a harbour on 26 March 2013, causing the drowning of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsos, who could not swim. The Central Criminal Court found her guilty and imposed a mandatory life sentence on 28 July 2016. Herda's appeal argues that the driving was not deliberate, that the prosecution's case relied on alleged confessions and circumstantial evidence, and that the trial judge failed to properly charge the jury on recklessness or intent. She contends that her statements to Gardaí were misrecorded, that she did not intend to kill, and that the prosecution's theory of a pre‑meditated execution is far‑fetched. The appeal seeks a reconsideration of the conviction on these grounds. Marta Herda pleaded not guilty.
A consultant psychiatrist has testified at the Central Criminal Court that a 30-year-old man accused of killing two elderly brothers in Castlebar was suffering from three mental disorders that diminished his responsibility for the offences. Dr Pawan Rajpal told the jury that Alan Cawley, of Four Winds, Corrinbla, Ballina, had been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder, and Antisocial Personality Disorder. Mr Cawley has admitted killing Thomas Blaine, aged 69, and John Blaine, aged 76, on 10th July 2013 at New Antrim Street in Castlebar, but pleaded not guilty to murder. Dr Rajpal stated that all three conditions would have substantially diminished the accused man's ability to control impulses and learn from mistakes. Forensic evidence presented by the prosecution detailed extensive blood staining patterns at the scene, indicating both brothers were attacked whilst in vulnerable positions. The trial before Mr Justice Paul Coffey continues.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, Shane Fitzgerald, 26, pleaded guilty to burglary and sexual assault after breaking into a vulnerable woman's flat in a Kerry town in September 2016. Fitzgerald, who has 56 prior convictions, admitted to entering the flat, pulling down his pants, exposing his penis and forcing the woman to perform oral sex. He demanded money, took a sum, and fled. The victim, a woman in her fifties, was awakened at 3.30 am, was terrified, and later received assistance from a neighbour. Fitzgerald was arrested a few days later and has been in custody since October 2016. He has expressed remorse, written a letter to the court, and is undertaking anger‑management and psychological counselling. No other charges were brought against the other men involved. The case was adjourned to next Monday for finalisation.
Andrew Roche, aged 28, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to one count of orally raping a 12‑year‑old boy and one count of anally raping him between 25 December 2008 and 17 March 2009. The victim, who came forward in 2014, said Roche lured him to a lane, told him "I want to show you something", forced himself on him and warned him not to tell anyone. Roche, who was 20 at the time, was initially relaxed when questioned but denied knowledge of the events once he was told the victim was a boy. Roche has 41 previous convictions and has been in custody since February 2016. He will be sentenced next Monday, 24 July, after being remanded by Mr Justice Paul Coffey. The victim expressed relief at not having to give evidence but disappointment at not being able to describe the assault.
A man from Ballina, County Mayo, has admitted killing two disabled brothers but denies murder charges relating to their deaths in Castlebar on 10 July 2013. The 30-year-old defendant is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, charged with murdering Thomas Blaine and Jack Blaine. During proceedings, gardaí testimony revealed the accused's account of the incident, including claims he inflicted injuries because he suspected the brothers were child molesters. The State Pathologist's post-mortem examination documented extensive trauma to both victims, including skull fractures, blunt force injuries, and scalding. The pathologist characterised the assault as displaying "overkill", with violence far exceeding what was necessary to cause death. Evidence suggested the initial attack occurred while one victim lay in bed, with injuries consistent with defensive attempts. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and jury.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, May McNamara, wife of 51‑year‑old Alan McNamara, testified that she has lived in fear for the last two years following the 2015 shooting of Andrew O'Donoghue. She described how, after a night out on 19 June 2015, she found her husband on the ground with a "big man on top of his back" and a third man holding her back. She identified the men as Kevin Ryan, Jim 'Bob' McInerney and Dermot McKenna. She recounted a later encounter when a car with three men, one armed, threatened to kill her husband and burn their house. She also mentioned that her son Robert Cusack, 28, pleaded not guilty to an offence related to her husband's case. The trial, with Mr McNamara pleading not guilty to murder, continues before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
The parents of Natalie McGuinness, a 23-year-old Sligo woman who was strangled to death by her boyfriend in 2015, told the Central Criminal Court they will never recover from her loss. Oisin Conroy (34), who was previously found not guilty of murdering Natalie McGuinness by reason of insanity, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital following the trial. During the trial, it was heard that Conroy believed he was in the Matrix and strangled Natalie McGuinness to save her. He also caused serious lacerations to his own head with a knife and told a doctor he had tried to 'skin himself alive'. Conroy was charged with murdering Natalie McGuinness at The Mews, Mail Coach Road in Sligo on October 28, 2015, and pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms McGuinness by reason of insanity. On July 7, after deliberating for 24 minutes, a jury returned a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The court heard victim impact statements from Natalie's mother, Catherine McGuinness, and her sister, Jodie McGuinness, who described the profound emotional impact of Natalie's death on their family. Prosecution counsel Ms Tara Burns SC read the victim impact statement on behalf of the McGuinness family. The court also heard evidence from Dr Damien Mohan, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, who stated that Conroy suffers from chronic paranoid schizophrenia and requires ongoing treatment. Mr Justice Tony Hunt committed Conroy to the Central Mental Hospital for inpatient care, noting that he needed close supervision for the foreseeable future.
During a Garda search of a biker's clubhouse and vehicles linked to the 2015 shooting death of Andrew O'Donoghue, a cache of weapons was uncovered. The items included two shotguns, pepper spray, iron bars, axe handles, knuckle dusters and knives. The investigation was part of the murder trial of Alan McNamara, who is charged with O'Donoghue's death and has pleaded not guilty. McNamara's stepson, Robert Cusack, also pleaded not guilty to an offence of impeding the apprehension of McNamara. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, also heard testimony from Seamus Duggan, a Road Tramps member, who identified the weapons as being kept for protection at the club. Duggan's evidence, along with that of other Road Tramps members, was presented to the defence counsel, Hugh Hartnett SC, and the prosecution, Michael Delaney SC. The case continues before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
The Central Criminal Court heard a trial of a 44‑year‑old Dublin man accused of raping his wife on Christmas Day 2003. He pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one of oral rape and one of anal rape. The jury, consisting of eight women and four men, failed to reach a verdict after more than four hours of deliberation and was discharged by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy. During the trial the accused testified that he and his wife had been drinking, had consensual sex that night and that he had not had anal sex. He claimed that his wife later accused him of rape the next morning. The prosecution, led by John O'Kelly SC, argued that the accused had raped his wife and had told her "I've been waiting to do this for a long time" before anally raping her. The case ended with the jury unable to agree on a decision.
A man is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the murder of two elderly brothers found beaten to death in their Castlebar home in July 2013. The accused, aged 30 and from Ballina, Co Mayo, has admitted killing the brothers but pleaded not guilty to murder. Evidence heard during the trial revealed that hours before the deaths, the defendant claimed to be a medical student and told people in a local public house that he worked in the mortuary and would conduct post-mortems on any bodies discovered that night. He also made allegations against another man present in the establishment, suggesting he posed a threat to his wife. Witnesses testified that the brothers were known as harmless and quiet members of the Castlebar community. One barman recalled regularly delivering tea to the brothers and witnessing the defendant in their company on the night in question. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury.
In a Limerick murder trial, Alan McNamara (50) pleaded not guilty to the 2015 shooting death of Andrew O'Donoghue (51). McNamara, a former Road Tramps member who joined the Caballeros, allegedly fired a sawn‑off shotgun at O'Donoghue during a territorial dispute between the two clubs. The incident began when McNamara, wearing Caballeros colours, was confronted by Road Tramps members in Doon, a Road Tramps area. After a confrontation, McNamara allegedly shot O'Donoghue at point‑blank range. Robert Cusack (28), McNamara's stepson, was charged with impeding his apprehension and also pleaded not guilty. Both men are being tried together at the Central Criminal Court, with the trial continuing before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. The prosecution presented evidence of the clubs' territorial conflict and the sequence of events leading to the fatal shooting.
In a 2017 trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 44‑year‑old Dublin man pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one count of oral rape and one count of anal rape against his wife on Christmas Day 2003. He testified that the couple had been drinking, that they had consensual sex after the children were put to bed, and that he had not engaged in anal sex. He said his wife later accused him of rape the next morning, which shocked him. The prosecution argued that he had forced sex and used the words "I've been waiting to do this for a long time" and "You're my wife" to justify the act. The case remains in its closing stages, with a jury of eight women and four men expected to retire tomorrow morning to consider a verdict.
A carer became emotional while testifying at the Central Criminal Court as she described discovering the bloodied bodies of two elderly brothers at their Castlebar home in July 2013. Helen Maloney, who had provided care to Thomas and John Blaine for approximately nine years, told the court she found Thomas in his bedroom saturated with blood and later located John outside the rear of the property, also covered in blood. A garda witness noted that pieces of skin appeared to have been removed from John Blaine's stomach. Alan Cawley, aged 30 and of Four Winds, Corrinbla, Ballina, stands trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with their murder. He has admitted killing both men but pleads not guilty to the murder charge relating to the deaths on 10th July 2013. CCTV evidence placed him entering the brothers' home at midnight, departing approximately one hour later. The court heard Cawley had been released from prison days before the incident. The trial continues.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 12 July 2017, a 44‑year‑old woman from Sierra Leone, Mercy Peters, was declared unfit to stand trial for the 2014 murder of Tyrone McKenna, aged 42, in their shared home in Marley Court, Rathfarnham. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, considered evidence from two forensic psychiatrists. Dr Sally Linehan, who had interviewed Peters twice, reported that Peters had been admitted to the Central Mental Hospital since July 2014 and had a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, later revised to schizoaffective disorder. She described Peters' delusional beliefs, persecutory themes involving the Gardaí, MI5, and a belief that McKenna had a death wish, and noted her impaired insight and judgment. Dr Aiden Corvin, Peters' treating psychiatrist, confirmed her chronic mental disorder and the persistence of her delusional belief system.
The trial in the Central Criminal Court concerns a 44‑year‑old Dublin man who pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one count of oral rape and one count of anal rape of his then‑wife on Christmas Day 2003. The wife, who has not been named, denies that any sexual activity was consensual. She says she was on the couch after putting their children to bed, had about seven glasses of wine, fell asleep and was then forced upon her. She repeatedly told the husband "No", but he allegedly replied "It's OK" and "I've waited a long time for this" before forcing himself on her. She claims she pushed him away, went to bed, and the next morning confronted him, asking why. The defence counsel argued that there was no truth to the allegation of sexual assault, that the husband had only "consensual vaginal intercourse" and that the wife had not asked for oral sex.
Seán Ducque, 33, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Kieran Farrelly. Ducque, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted by a jury after a trial. The court imposed the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment for the murder, which occurred on 26th October 2014 at Killarney Court, Dublin. Ducque had previously pleaded guilty to robbing taxi driver David Wyer of a mobile phone, car keys, and approximately €150 in cash, and possessing a firearm with intent to commit robbery at Terrace Place on the same date. For these offences, the judge sentenced Ducque to 12 years for the robbery and seven years for the firearm possession. Additionally, Ducque admitted to robbing Hugh Gildea of a mobile phone, wristwatch, and approximately €520 in cash on 27th October 2014 at Mabbot Lane, for which he received a three-year sentence. All sentences were backdated to 5th May 2016, when Ducque entered custody for another armed robbery. The judge described the murder as cold and calculated, and noted the profound impact on the victims, including Wyer, who surrendered his PSV licence and can no longer drive a taxi.
A jury of eight men and four women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court to hear the trial of Alan McNamara, aged 50, and his stepson Robert Cusack, aged 28. McNamara pleaded not guilty to the murder of Andrew O'Donoghue, aged 51, which occurred in Murroe on 20 June 2015. Cusack pleaded not guilty to an offence of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of McNamara, believing him to have committed murder or another arrestable offence. The trial is set to begin on Wednesday and is expected to last between two and three weeks.
A 34‑year‑old Dublin man, Christopher McDonald, was found guilty of murdering 36‑year‑old Keith Walker in a car park at the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club on 12 June 2015. The jury, after a little over two hours of deliberation, returned a unanimous verdict. McDonald had pleaded not guilty. He was described as having been dressed in women's clothing, carrying a handbag, a black wig and a transparent latex glove, and had been seen by witnesses in the area. CCTV footage showed a man in a handbag entering the car park at 6.01 pm, pulling a 9 mm Makarov sub‑machine gun from the handbag and firing 18 shots before escaping. The gun, found a kilometre away, bore McDonald's DNA on the wig and glove. Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced McDonald to life imprisonment. The court heard the victim's wife and sister describe the devastating impact of the murder on their family.
Francis Rafferty, aged 68, was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of raping his young niece and sexually assaulting her older sister between 2005 and 2008. He pleaded guilty to the assault of the younger girl, aged nine to twelve, and was found guilty of two counts of rape of that victim and of assaulting the older sister. He was acquitted of two other rape charges he had denied. The court noted that Rafferty had no understanding of the hurt and trauma caused, and that he abused his family position, threatening the girls and giving their parents money to leave the house so he could attack them. He was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, ordered to undergo sex‑offender treatment, and placed under two years' post‑release supervision. The victims, now adults, gave permission for their uncle's name to be published.
A 44‑year‑old Dublin man was tried at the Central Criminal Court for raping his wife on Christmas Day 2003. He pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one of oral rape and one of anal rape. Prosecutor John O'Kelly SC told the jury that marriage does not exempt rape from criminal liability. He described the couple's typical Christmas Day, noting they had two young children and had visited family before returning home for dinner. The accused allegedly put the children to bed, and the wife fell asleep on the sofa. At about 8.30 pm she reportedly woke to find the husband forcing his penis into her mouth; she resisted and said "no," but he persisted. O'Kelly said the wife was also vaginally and anally raped and that she resisted until she could escape.
A 52-year-old man from Donegal has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the rape and sexual assault of his former partner's daughter over a five-year period. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed concurrent sentences of eight years for rape, seven years for each count of sexual assault, and seven years for producing child pornography. The man pleaded guilty on the scheduled trial date in April to one count of rape occurring in 2006 when the victim was four years old, six further counts of sexual assault between 2008 and 2011, and one count of child pornography production. A video recording discovered during a separate investigation provided evidence in the case. The now teenage victim provided a detailed account to gardaí detailing abuse that typically occurred during overnight weekend visits. The abuse came to light in 2014 following concerns raised by the victim's school principal. The man has been registered as a sex offender and is subject to five years post-release supervision with conditions prohibiting contact with the victim.
A 30-year-old man from Ballina has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the murder of two elderly brothers who died in a violent assault at their Castlebar home in July 2013. Alan Cawley has pleaded not guilty to murdering Thomas Blaine and John Blaine at New Antrim Street, Castlebar. The State's case, opened by Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, centres on whether the deaths constitute murder or manslaughter. The brothers were discovered by their home help, with one found in his bedroom and the other in a rear courtyard. The State Pathologist found both men sustained severe blunt force trauma, with Thomas Blaine suffering extensive head, chest and facial injuries, and Jack Blaine, who had speech and hearing impairments, also receiving a scalding injury. Defence counsel subsequently admitted on the accused's behalf that he caused both deaths. The trial before Mr Justice Paul Coffey continues next week.
A 34-year-old man from Boyle, County Roscommon, has been found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. The accused was charged with the death of a 23-year-old woman in Sligo on 28 October 2015. During the two-day trial, evidence was presented that he had strangled the deceased, whom he believed he needed to kill to save her from what he perceived as an alternate reality. Two consultant forensic psychiatrists testified that the accused was suffering from schizophrenia at the time and would have been unable to refrain from his actions. The jury delivered a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity after 24 minutes of deliberation. Mr Justice Tony Hunt committed the accused to the Central Mental Hospital pending a further court appearance on 17 July, when victim impact statements are scheduled to be read and a psychiatric assessment will be considered.
In February 2014, Mohamed Okda, a 30‑year‑old Egyptian national, was convicted by a jury of raping a woman who had become lost during a night out in Dublin. The woman, who was drunk and disoriented, had been staying with friends and had lost contact with them. Okda approached her, offered help, and invited her to his flat. While she was unconscious, he allegedly forced sexual acts upon her, including rape. She later testified that he had taken her glasses and phone, coerced her into oral sex, and threatened her. After the incident, she fled the flat, was found by a taxi driver, and reported the assault to Gardaí. Okda was remanded into custody for sentencing on 28 July. The trial lasted seven days, and the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all counts within just under three hours. The court rejected a bail application, citing flight risk concerns. Mohamed Okda pleaded not guilty.
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday to decide the verdict in the trial of Christopher McDonald, 34, accused of murdering 36‑year‑old Keith Walker with a sub‑machine gun while dressed in women's clothing. The trial, described by Justice Patrick McCarthy as a 'whodunnit', focuses on whether the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that McDonald was the shooter. McDonald has pleaded not guilty. The jury's deliberation will consider whether the accused intended to kill or cause serious injury, given Walker was shot 18 times.
A 30-year-old man from Ballina in County Mayo appeared before the Central Criminal Court to face trial on charges of murdering two elderly brothers. Alan Cawley of Four Winds, Corrinbla pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder in relation to deaths that occurred four years prior. The charges were brought on 10th July 2013 following an incident at New Antrim Street in Castlebar. Justice Isobel Kennedy empanelled a jury of four women and eight men to hear the case. The trial, scheduled to run for between ten and twelve working days, commenced before Mr Justice Paul Coffey.
A 34-year-old man stands charged with the murder of his girlfriend at the Central Criminal Court. The accused, with an address in Boyle, County Roscommon, is charged with strangling a 23-year-old woman at a residence in Sligo on 28 October 2015. He has pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity. The defence has admitted that the accused caused the woman's death by strangulation, with the sole issue being his mental state at the time. Detective Sergeant evidence outlined that the accused made a 999 call to emergency services, stating he had killed his girlfriend using a rear naked choke hold. Forensic psychiatrist Dr Fiona Toal testified that the accused suffered from schizophrenia and had stopped taking anti-psychotic medication months before the incident. She stated he believed he was in the Matrix and that voices instructed him to kill. Dr Toal concluded the accused was unable to refrain from the killing and did not know his actions were wrong. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
In a Dublin court, a 30‑year‑old Laois man is on trial for two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, alleged to have occurred in February 2014 at a flat in the city centre. The defendant, who was staying in a friend's flat, met a married woman who had become lost and upset during a night out. He claims the encounter was consensual, stating the woman initiated contact and that he did not do anything she did not want. The woman testified that she was drunk, exhausted, and had blacked out after lying on a sofa bed. She said the defendant forced her to perform oral sex, was aggressive, and ultimately raped her. She attempted to leave, was disoriented, and later told a taxi driver she had been raped. The unnamed 30-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin court, 34‑year‑old Robert Maguire was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for assault causing harm and false imprisonment of his 30‑year‑old ex‑girlfriend on 14 January 2012. The victim, who was asleep in bed, was spied by Maguire, who spat on her, threatened to kill her, kicked her in the genitals, and beat her into unconsciousness while her children screamed. He locked the bedroom door, prevented her from reaching her baby, and kicked her until she lost consciousness. Gardaí were called but Maguire fled before they arrived. The court imposed a four‑year sentence for each offence to run concurrently, suspended the last two years on condition of peace, and ordered no contact with the victim. The sentence was delivered by Mr Justice Paul Butler. The case was heard in March 2017. Robert Maguire pleaded guilty.
Tadgh Butler, 36, of Seafield, Tramore, was found guilty of murdering Michael O'Dwyer, 25, at Butler's home on 10 January 2014. During the trial he dismissed his legal team on day six and cross‑examined his nephew, Anthony O'Grady, presenting a new version of events that alleged Butler had accidentally stabbed O'Dwyer while trying to remove a knife from O'Grady. O'Grady denied this claim. The jury, after 2 h 26 min of deliberation, returned a unanimous guilty verdict and Butler received a mandatory life sentence on 15 May 2015. Butler appealed, arguing that the trial judge should have warned him that the new version could not be considered by the jury without sworn evidence. The Court of Appeal agreed, quashing the conviction and ordering a retrial, while noting that the trial judge had correctly instructed the jury that unsworn statements could not be treated as evidence. Butler was remanded in custody pending the retrial. Tadgh Butler pleaded not guilty.
Oisin Conroy, 34, is standing trial at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, having pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Natalie McGuinness (23) by reason of insanity. The prosecution alleges that Conroy strangled Ms McGuinness at The Mews, Mail Coach Road, Sligo, on October 28, 2015. During the opening of the case, Ms Tara Burns SC stated that the defence does not contest the prosecution evidence regarding the events of that day. The jury will hear evidence that Conroy admitted to strangling his girlfriend during a 999 call and to Gardaí at the scene. Ms McGuinness was found unresponsive and naked; she was pronounced dead at the hospital. Chief State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy attributed the death to compression of the neck and strangulation, noting no stab wounds or significant bleeding injuries. Conroy sustained a significant head injury, which he indicated he caused himself with a knife. Defence counsel Mr Brendan Grehan SC accepted that Conroy caused the death by strangulation and that the arrest and detention were lawful. The sole issue in the trial is the accused's mental state, with expert evidence from two consultant psychiatrists expected to support the insanity defence. The trial continues.
In the Central Criminal Court, the trial of Christopher McDonald, 34, accused of a machine‑gun murder while dressed as a woman, is proceeding with the jury set to hear closing speeches. McDonald, from Dublin's East Wall, pleaded not guilty to the killing of 36‑year‑old Keith Walker in the car park of the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club on 12 June 2015. The court heard limited evidence today, including testimony from Superintendent Colm Murphy, who was cross‑examined by Bernard Condon SC. Murphy confirmed that a doctor had examined McDonald after his arrest and noted the loss of his front two upper teeth, and that the arrest received significant media attention. Garda Sean Kelly testified that DNA and firearms residue samples were taken from McDonald at Blanchardstown Garda Station, though no firearms residue was found on him. DNA was found on a glove and wig that gardaí say were found next to the gun used in the attack.
Oisin Conroy, a 34-year-old man from Boyle, Co Roscommon, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Natalie McGuinness (23) at The Mews, Mail Coach Road, Sligo, on October 28, 2015. The accused was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court, where he entered a not guilty plea to the charge of murdering Ms McGuinness by reason of insanity. A jury of six men and six women was sworn in to hear the trial, which is scheduled to begin the following day and is expected to last up to two days. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy addressed the jury, noting that the case centers on the legal concept of insanity and that the factual circumstances would not be significantly in dispute. The report confirms the procedural stage as a trial, with the plea recorded as not guilty to the alleged offense of murder by reason of insanity. No findings, sentences, or final dispositions were recorded at this stage, as the matter proceeded to trial rather than being adjourned or concluded.
During a trial on 4 July 2017, forensic evidence linked Christopher McDonald, 34, to a murder weapon and items found near a sub‑machine gun used to shoot Keith Walker 18 times on 12 June 2015. Dr Edward Connolly of Forensic Science Ireland reported DNA matching McDonald on a clear plastic glove and a black wig, with a probability of less than one in a thousand million that an unrelated person had the same profile. The DNA on the gun and a brown handbag was unsuitable for interpretation, and the ear plug carried a different DNA profile. Dr Thomas Hannigan confirmed firearms residue on the glove and wig, suggesting they were worn by the shooter, but found no residue on swabs from McDonald. He offered possible explanations for the absence of residue, including that McDonald may not have been the shooter or that residue was lost in the 12 hours after the shooting. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.