Darren Goodwin, who was sentenced to life in prison at 16 for the 2003 murder of 14‑year‑old Darragh Conroy, was released last year after a psychiatric review. At a Central Criminal Court hearing on 8 May 2017, Goodwin gave an undertaking not to travel within an eight‑kilometre zone centred on Mountmellick unless he receives verbal permission from probation services. He agreed to this condition when his barrister, Patrick Gageby SC, explained that his parents live near Mountmellick and that he might wish to visit them. Goodwin's statement was "I agree to that." The court noted that the family had wanted to move out of the area but found it impractical. The hearing reaffirmed the conditions of Goodwin's release and his commitment to remain outside the specified zone unless authorised.
A 35‑year‑old man, Eric Locke, is set to go on trial for the murder of Sonia Blount, who was found dead in a room at the Plaza Hotel in Tallaght on 16 February 2014. Locke was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court, pleaded not guilty, and a jury of eight men and four women was sworn in. The case will be heard by Mr Justice Michael Moriarty and is expected to last about two weeks.
Dublin woman Hazel Waters, 46, pleaded guilty to manslaughter of her two‑year‑old son, Muhammad Hassan Khan, who was found dead with stab wounds in their home on 16 October 2014. She denied murder but admitted manslaughter. The plea was accepted by the State. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC noted psychiatric reports would be submitted and issues of diminished responsibility considered. Justice Patrick McCarthy adjourned sentencing to 23 May.
A jury could not reach a verdict in the trial of 34‑year‑old Gary Walsh, who was charged with murdering 62‑year‑old Cathal Sweeney. Walsh had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in February 2014. The case centred on an incident in a mutual friend's flat where Walsh punched Sweeney repeatedly after Sweeney denied a sexual assault allegation. The assault left Sweeney with blunt‑force trauma to the head and face, leading to his death. The pathologist attributed the fatal injuries to the punches, noting Sweeney's warfarin therapy and other health issues. The prosecution argued that the blows were intended to cause serious injury, warranting a murder conviction, while the defence contended Walsh could not have known of Sweeney's medical conditions. After five hours of deliberation over two days, the jury was unable to agree on a verdict, and the judge recorded an "Unable to agree" decision, returning the case for further consideration.
In 2012, Garrett O'Brien, 39, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment for the killing of Seamus O'Byrne, 27, in Tallaght. O'Brien's lawyers argue that his fair‑trial rights were violated because the jury never clarified whether he was found guilty as the gunman or merely a "gopher" in a joint enterprise. They claim the prosecution presented a dual case—first as a joint enterprise, then as a triggerman—creating a procedural flaw. The appeal, lodged in the Court of Appeal, contends that if the jury had reasonable doubt about O'Brien's role as the gunman, he should have been acquitted. The defense also challenges the judge's directions regarding the necessity of a search warrant and the legality of data obtained from a third‑party subcontractor. The prosecution maintains that all evidence pointed to O'Brien as the gunman and that the jury's lack of specificity should not affect the conviction. The Court of Appeal has reserved its decision. Garrett O'Brien pleaded not guilty.
During the murder trial of Dylan Hayes and Ger Hogan, witness Jodie Byrnes testified that she could not recall the events of the night Shane Murphy was stabbed because she was "stoned" on prescribed tablets and alcohol. Byrnes, who had a former relationship with Hayes, was staying at Sharon Kelly's home in Pallasgreen the weekend before Murphy's death. She described drinking and taking tablets, going to bed early, and being awakened by an unknown man who attempted to pull her pants down, prompting her to scream. She claimed the man was "out of it" and was later thrown out of the house. Byrnes said she could not remember speaking to Hayes or seeing any interaction between the accused and Murphy, and she could not recall seeing Murphy being stabbed. The judge instructed the jury to return the next day. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty. Dylan Hayes pleaded not guilty. Ger Hogan pleaded not guilty.
An unnamed 53-year-old father of five, who pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court, had his sentencing adjourned until May 24 by Mr Justice Paul Butler. The court heard that the man raped his then heavily pregnant partner twice at their home in December 2014. The jury found him guilty following a three-week trial. In a separate December 2016 conviction, the man was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault against the same victim, for which Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy sentenced him to seven and a half years, with the final six months suspended. The current proceedings concern the two rape charges. The victim, who gave birth three days after the first rape, described being left stunned and suffering a nervous breakdown. She stated she believed the accused should never be released. The defense, represented by Blaise O'Carroll SC, argued the relationship had initially been loving and that the accused was the primary carer for their child. The man has not started a sex offenders course in prison as directed by Ms Justice Murphy. The matter was adjourned and is not concluded.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Dylan Hayes (22) and Ger Hogan (33) pleaded not guilty to the murder of 26‑year‑old Shane Murphy on 30 April 2015. Witness Graham Kelly testified that Murphy had head‑butted Hogan during an argument before the fatal fight, noting Hogan's nose was bleeding. Kelly also recounted that the accused men shouted, "Give it to him, give it to him," during the attack. Ailish Flood, who had stayed at the house that night, described a chaotic scene with drinking and shouting. She said the accused men, including Hayes who had a plastic toy gun, were in a bad state and that they began attacking Murphy. Flood claimed she saw Hayes holding a knife and Hogan holding a screwdriver, and that they stabbed Murphy. The trial will continue before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
William Mannion, 49, of Clygeen, Legan, Co Longford, appeared at the Central Criminal Court for sentencing. He pleaded guilty to seven charges, including three counts of anal rape and one sexual assault of a niece aged seven between June and August 2006. He also admitted to sexually assaulting her older sister three years prior, when she was seven, and two charges each of sexually assaulting their then nine-year-old and 16-year-old cousins between October 2001 and June 2010. Prosecution counsel Gerard Clarke SC noted the victims consented to Mannion's identification but requested anonymity for themselves. Defence counsel Mary Rose Gearty SC highlighted Mannion's low intellectual functioning, unemployment, and inability to read or write. She also referenced his 1997 conviction for unlawful carnal knowledge of a 14-year-old. Although the validated stage is sentence, Mr Justice McCarthy remanded Mannion in continuing custody until May 11 for sentence. The court heard detailed allegations regarding the nature of the assaults, including instances where Mannion allegedly covered victims' mouths or threatened them. Victim impact reports were submitted but not read. The matter was adjourned to May 11 for the final sentencing hearing.
During a murder trial, a witness claimed he pulled Dylan Hayes (22) and Ger Hogan (33) away from Shane Murphy (26) at a house in Pallasgreen, Co. Limerick, on 30 April 2015. The witness, who was heavily intoxicated and had taken tablets, said he had seen Hayes with a toy gun and told him to throw it out the window. He described arriving at the house, where the accused, the victim, the victim's girlfriend Sharon Kelly, Jodie Byrnes, and another girl were present. He heard screaming, entered the sitting room, and saw a fight between the victim and the two accused. He said he broke up the fight, pulled the men apart, and struck them. After the men left, he opened the victim's top, saw he was bleeding, and attempted to resuscitate him while a woman was on a 999 call. He admitted he could not remember details due to intoxication and drugs. Dylan Hayes pleaded not guilty. Ger Hogan pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a 60‑year‑old Laois man was convicted of anal rape of a 34‑year‑old woman at her home on 10 October 2010. The jury delivered a 10‑2 majority verdict after a five‑day trial in December 2015, and Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy sentenced him to seven‑and‑a‑half years imprisonment on 29 February 2016. The defendant, who has no prior convictions, did not accept the verdict and has lodged an appeal in the Court of Appeal, where the judges have reserved judgment. His barrister, Patrick Gageby SC, argued that the defendant had spoken to a juror at a Luas stop near the courts during the trial, claiming the contact was an innocuous request for directions. Gageby urged the court to question the juror about any potential influence on the jury's impartiality, a step he says was not taken.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard closing speeches in the trial of 34‑year‑old Gary Walsh, charged with murdering 62‑year‑old Cathal Sweeney. Walsh, a father‑of‑one, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter on 8 February 2014. Prosecutor Patrick McCarthy SC argued that Walsh's intent to cause serious injury, evidenced by multiple punches that fractured Sweeney's nose and cheekbone, warranted a murder conviction. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC highlighted Sweeney's pre‑existing medical conditions, including warfarin use and liver problems, suggesting that these contributed to the fatal bleeding and that the injuries alone may not have been the natural and probable cause of death. Grehan urged the jury to find Walsh not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, noting the possibility of neglect and the lack of immediate medical intervention. Judge Michael Moriarty instructed the jury of twelve, with proceedings to continue the following morning.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 34‑year‑old Gary Walsh, of The Watercourse, Orwell Park, Templeogue, was charged with murdering 62‑year‑old former rugby captain Cathal Sweeney in Ashdale Gardens, Terenure. Walsh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter on 8 February 2014. He told Gardaí that he had punched Sweeney several times after an argument that began while they were watching a rugby match between Ireland and Wales in a friend's flat. Walsh claimed he struck Sweeney until the latter admitted he had sexually assaulted another man, a claim he said Sweeney denied. Walsh said he had no intention of killing Sweeney and called an ambulance after finding him slumped. The court heard that Sweeney died of blunt‑force trauma to the head and face. The trial continued with jury instructions given by Justice Michael Moriarty.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, evidence was presented that 62‑year‑old Cathal Sweeney died from blunt force trauma to the head and face after being repeatedly punched by his friend, 34‑year‑old Gary Walsh, while watching a rugby match on television. Dr Michael Curtis, the Deputy State Pathologist, testified that Sweeney's nose and left cheekbone were broken, with lacerations and a deep gash on his forehead. He described extensive bruising on the face, scalp, mouth, body and all four limbs, including tearing of muscle in the back. The injuries caused brain swelling, impaired breathing, and blood in the nostrils, which, combined with Sweeney's warfarin therapy, prevented clotting and increased bleeding. Sweeney also had coronary artery disease and an enlarged heart. The cause of death was stated as blunt force trauma to the head and face with profuse hemorrhage on a background of coronary artery atheroma, an enlarged heart and warfarin therapy.
A jury was discharged in the Limerick murder trial of Dylan Hayes, 22, and Ger Hogan, 33, who had pleaded not guilty to the killing of 26‑year‑old Shane Murphy on 30 April 2015. Justice Patrick McCarthy, sitting at the Central Criminal Court, thanked the five women and seven men for their service and exempted them from further jury duty for ten years. He explained that a legal issue had arisen preventing the trial from continuing. A new jury of seven men and five women will begin hearing evidence this afternoon.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Gary Walsh, 34, has heard evidence regarding the condition of the deceased, Cathal Sweeney, hours before his fatal assault. Walsh, of Templeogue, Dublin, is charged with murdering Sweeney in Ashdale Gardens, Terenure, on 8th February 2014. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Witness Michael McGuinness, a taxi driver, testified that Sweeney, a 62-year-old former rugby captain, was injured, shaking, and using a crutch when he flagged him down that morning. McGuinness noted Sweeney had difficulty entering the vehicle and appeared in bad condition, with a graze on his face. Sweeney stated he had fainted at a bus stop the previous night and been taken to James's Hospital. The driver assisted Sweeney in withdrawing €200 from a bank machine and purchasing items from a shop before driving him to the flat in Terenure between 10:30 and 11:00 am. McGuinness described Sweeney as an apologetic and conversational passenger who mentioned he was going to watch a rugby match with friends. The witness also noted Sweeney's history with alcohol and his pride in his sons' rugby achievements. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael Moriarty and a jury of six women and six men.
In the Central Criminal Court trial of Gary Walsh, the barrister Brendan Grehan SC cross‑examined witness Colm Campbell. Campbell testified that he saw Walsh punching and kicking Cathal Sweeney in his bedroom, but he could not recall the assault in the living room, even after hypnosis. He suggested he might have been in a blackout or had suppressed the memory. Grehan challenged Campbell's account, proposing that he might be a manipulative liar trying to distance himself from the events. Campbell denied this, insisting he was not conveniently forgetting or lying. The case remains before Mr Justice Michael Moriarty and a jury of twelve. The trial concerns Walsh's murder charge of Sweeney, who was killed on 8 February 2014 at Walsh's flat in Ashdale Gardens, Terenure. Walsh has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The proceedings continue.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 31‑year‑old Latvian man, Andrejs Krauze, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his 30‑year‑old brother, Juris Buls, who was strangled in July 2011 in Galway. The jury, after nearly five hours of deliberation, found Krauze guilty of murder. The prosecution argued that Krauze killed Buls after the victim refused to withdraw an assault complaint. Victim impact statements were read by the court, detailing Buls's role as a hardworking family provider who had moved to Ireland for better opportunities. The judge, Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan, imposed the mandatory life sentence, back‑dated to January 2016. The case highlighted the discovery of Buls's body in a drain and the subsequent investigation that led to Krauze's arrest and extradition. The sentencing was conducted without the presence of Buls's relatives, who were unable to attend in Ireland. Andrejs Krauze pleaded not guilty.
In a 2017 trial, Sharon Kelly testified that she tried to stop her boyfriend Shane Murphy's murder by two men, Dylan Hayes and Ger Hogan, on 30 April 2015. Kelly, who had been with Murphy for about three months, was at her home with two women and Hogan when Hayes arrived with a gun and another man. Kelly said she told the men to leave, but they entered and began stabbing Murphy. She attempted to intervene, was pushed aside, and was stabbed in the hands and back. Hayes used a screwdriver and Hogan a knife. The attack lasted about four to five minutes, leaving Murphy blood‑covered on the floor. Kelly called emergency services; by the time they arrived, Murphy was dead. She will continue to give evidence before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury. Dylan Hayes pleaded not guilty. Ger Hogan pleaded not guilty.
During a murder trial, witness Colm Campbell testified that he had attempted hypnosis to recall the start of a fatal assault on rugby captain Cathal Sweeney. Campbell, an alcoholic, described the evening of 8 February 2014 when he, Gary Walsh, and Sweeney were drinking and watching a rugby match at Walsh's flat. He recalled hearing noise from the bedroom, an argument, and slaps or thumps. He said he saw Walsh punching Sweeney, using elbows, and kicking him in the head. Sweeney was left motionless, unconscious, with a swollen, bruised face and cuts. Campbell claimed he shouted for Walsh to stop, but could not remember how the initial assault began. He has since sought hypnosis to recover any missing details, but remains uncertain of the exact trigger of the violence.
During a house party at The Grove, Pallasgreen, a 31‑year‑old man named Shane Murphy was stabbed and died from a heart wound. Dylan Hayes (22) and Ger Hogan (33) were charged with murder and pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, represented by Paul Burns SC, argued that Hayes and Hogan attacked Murphy with intent to kill or cause serious injury. The trial began with the prosecution outlining the events: a birthday celebration at the home of Murphy's girlfriend, Sharon Kelly, where a drunken man named Wayne was found beside a guest, Jodie Byrnes, who fled the bed. The next day, after a gathering at Kelly's house, Hayes was called by a partygoer and arrived shortly thereafter, leading to an altercation. The prosecution claimed that Hayes and Hogan then attacked Murphy, resulting in multiple stab wounds to his arms, abdomen and chest, with a fatal wound to the heart. Resuscitation attempts failed and Murphy died at the scene.
In a 2015 incident at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Blanchardstown, a 28‑year‑old man named Keith Hearne tied up and raped a 24‑year‑old woman who was volunteering at the ArcadeCon gaming convention. Hearne threatened her with a prop knife, bound her hands with a tie, and forced her to submit to sexual assault. He was arrested on the scene after a conference worker entered the room with a key card. Hearne pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, one count of oral rape and one count of false imprisonment. He also admitted to possessing a bag containing a prop knife, handcuffs, condoms, a mask and sadomasochistic items, which was found at the scene. The Central Criminal Court adjourned sentencing to June 19 to obtain further medical reports. The victim, who has suffered ongoing depression, PTSD, self‑harm and suicidal thoughts, has chosen to waive her anonymity.
Two men, Dylan Hayes, 22, of The Crescent, Kilteragh, Dooradoyle, and Ger Hogan, 33, of Raheen Square, Ballinacurra Weston, will stand trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 31‑year‑old Shane Murphy. The alleged killing took place at The Grove, Pallasgreen, on 30 April 2015. Both pleaded not guilty. Justice Patrick McCarthy has sworn a jury of seven men and five women to hear the case, which is expected to last three weeks.
A 33‑year‑old Wexford man was convicted of orally raping his partner's seven‑year‑old son between 1 March and 30 September 2013 after the boy's mother had gone on an errand. The offence took place at the man's rented home. He denied the charge and has no remorse. The Central Criminal Court found him guilty of one count of oral rape. Mr Justice Paul Butler sentenced him to seven and a half years, suspending the final two and a half years on conditions including no contact with the victim. The judge noted the offence was a single incident, not a pattern of abuse, and that the man had a prior burglary conviction. The victim's mother described the child's emotional and academic decline following the assault. The boy, aged eight at the time of a Garda interview, reported the man's abusive language and forced sexual act. The mother's impact statement highlighted the child's trauma and loss of safety.
Trevor Noone, aged 29 and resident of Blanchardstown, was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for his role in the brutal manslaughter of teenager Daniel McAnaspie, who was stabbed to death on 26 February 2010 at Tolka Valley Park. Noone pleaded guilty in February. Daniel's body was found in a drainage ditch in County Meath almost three months after the murder. Noone and Richard Dekker lured Daniel to a secluded area of the park under the pretense of confronting "some lads from Corduff"; instead, Daniel was stabbed multiple times with garden shears. Justice Patrick McCarthy described the offence as "quite a horrific nature" and noted that Daniel, an orphan in HSE care, had done nothing to deserve the violence. Noone's prior criminal history and psychological profile were considered, and his guilty plea and remorse led to a reduced sentence of 13 years, back‑dated for time already served.
A director of a carpet company based in Charlestown, County Mayo, admitted at the Central Criminal Court to breaching competition law through a price-fixing arrangement. Brendan Smith, aged 39 and a director of Aston Carpets and Flooring, pleaded guilty to engaging in an anti-competitive agreement with a rival firm between July 2012 and April 2013. The agreement involved the companies coordinating bids to artificially inflate prices for their products. Smith further admitted to a second charge of attempting to obstruct a prosecution investigation by instructing an individual to delete emails in April 2013. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy remanded Smith on bail pending sentencing on May 4th.
A 35‑year‑old woman, Monika Matracka, was sentenced to six years in prison for manslaughter after she stabbed her former partner, 38‑year‑old Michal Rejmer, to death. The killing occurred between 8 pm on 30 December and midnight on 31 December 2015 at their shared home in The Pines, Briarfield, Castletroy, Limerick. After the murder, Matracka hid Rejmer's body in the back garden and attempted to destroy evidence. She pleaded not guilty to murder but was found guilty of manslaughter by a majority jury. The judge noted her lack of prior convictions, her early remorse and the mitigating circumstances, and decided on a six‑year term, suspended for two years, but reduced to a straight six years due to complications with potential transfer to Poland. The sentence was back‑dated to her arrest on 8 January 2016. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court. The unnamed 35-year-old was acquitted.
Gary Walsh, 34, of The Watercourse, Orwell Park, Templeogue, admitted killing 62‑year‑old Cathal Sweeney in a flat in Ashdale Gardens, Terenure, on 8 February 2014 while they were watching an Ireland‑England rugby match. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The prosecution, led by Patrick McCarthy SC, argued that an assault began after Walsh confronted Sweeney over a previously withdrawn sexual‑assault allegation. Walsh allegedly struck Sweeney six or seven times, causing blunt‑force trauma to the head and face. Paramedics found Sweeney unresponsive with no pulse; he was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. The case is being heard by Mr Justice Michael Moriarty with a jury of twelve, and the trial is expected to last about seven days.
A jury has begun deliberating on the verdict in a cold case murder trial. The accused, John Joseph Malone, 53, of Newpark, Kilkenny City, pleaded not guilty to the strangulation and subsequent arson that killed 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on 11 September 1987 at Wolfe Tone Street. Justice Patrick McCarthy delivered a charge to the jury at the Central Criminal Court, stressing that a unanimous verdict is required and that the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that Malone caused Ms Smyth's death.
In a cold‑case murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Judge Patrick McCarthy delivered a six‑hour charge to a jury of seven men and five women. The case concerns John Joseph Malone, aged 53, who has pleaded not guilty to the 1987 strangulation and subsequent arson that killed 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on Wolfe Tone Street, Kilkenny City. The judge paused the proceedings before 5 pm and promised to resume the next morning.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Vesel Jahiri was found guilty by a unanimous jury of murdering his former partner Anna Finnegan, aged 25, and of assaulting her brother Karl Finnegan. The trial, lasting eight weeks, included testimony that Jahiri had threatened Finnegan on a phone call and that he stabbed her in her own home on 21 September 2012. Witnesses described a violent confrontation in which Jahiri forced the door, stabbed Finnegan and Karl, and fled in his car. Jahiri represented himself, was removed from court multiple times, and was escorted by riot police when the verdicts were announced. The judge set a sentencing date for 8 May, remanded Jahiri in custody, and thanked the jury for their service. The case concluded with the jury's decision and the court's adjournment for sentencing. Anna Finnegan pleaded not guilty. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.
In a 2017 murder trial, a 69‑year‑old woman was killed in a "callous and violent death" when she was strangled and her house set on fire. The prosecution, led by Sean Gillane SC, argued that the victim's injuries were consistent with strangulation and blows to the head and mouth, and that the accused, 53‑year‑old John Joseph Malone, had confessed to the crime to church members. Witnesses placed Malone at the victim's home around 12:30 am, where he allegedly argued with her and was seen acting suspiciously. Malone denied the killing and the arson. The defence, represented by Colman Cody SC, contended that the case was pursued because of later confessions, not because of forensic evidence, and that the police had focused on Malone for years. The jury was instructed to decide only whether the prosecution proved Malone's guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The judge would give his charge the following day. John Joseph Malone pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the Central Criminal Court case against Vesel Jahiri, aged 35 and originally from Kosovo, will resume deliberations tomorrow after spending four hours and 41 minutes on the verdict. Jahiri has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his former partner, Anna Finnegan, aged 25, who was killed at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla, Dublin 15 on 21 September 2012, and to assaulting Karl Finnegan on the same day. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Coffey, explained the possible verdicts: not guilty of murder if the killing was accidental or justified, guilty of manslaughter if a single knife was used accidentally, or guilty of murder if the stabbing was deliberate. Ms Joan Broe testified that she heard Finnegan screaming and saw Jahiri chase and assault her, then called emergency services.
In the Central Criminal Court trial of John Joseph Malone, a 53‑year‑old from Newpark, Kilkenny, a Garda inspector, Colin Furlong, testified that investigators did not deliberately seek witnesses to implicate Malone in the 1987 murder of 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth. Furlong said witnesses came forward of their own volition and that the Gardaí's aim was to gather any evidence relating to the crime, not to obtain confessions. He denied that the Gardaí had tried to make a charge stick or that they had coerced witnesses. Furlong acknowledged that some Gardaí had contacted witnesses but maintained that the statements were voluntary. He also confirmed that the Gardaí had investigated Barney Malone, John's brother, and found no evidence linking him to the killing. The prosecution case has now finished, with the trial set to continue tomorrow before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of seven men and five women.
During the cold‑case trial of John Joseph Malone, the accused told the Central Criminal Court that he had argued with the widowed pensioner, Ann 'Nancy' Smyth, over a pigeon hours before she was found strangled. Malone, 53, was charged with murdering the 69‑year‑old on 11 September 1987 at her Wolfe Tone Street home in Kilkenny City. He had initially denied approaching Mrs Smyth early that morning, but later interviews admitted he had met her outside her house at about 12.40 a.m., arguing about a pigeon that he claimed was in her loft. He said the dispute lasted about 30 minutes, that he did not touch her, and that he then went home. The trial continues on Monday.
In the Central Criminal Court on 7 April 2017, Vesel Jahiri, aged 35, was accused of murdering Anna Finnegan, 25, and assaulting Karl Finnegan on 21 September 2012. He pleaded not guilty to both charges and was representing himself after dismissing his legal team. During the hearing, Jahiri shouted that the judge was refusing to call witnesses and that the trial was not proceeding. He then punched prosecuting barrister Patrick Marrinan in the face, causing blood to appear from Marrinan's nose. Jahiri leapt across the benches and was wrestled to the ground by five prison officers who handcuffed him and removed him from the courtroom. The trial was adjourned for twenty minutes before resuming in the jury's absence, with Judge Paul Coffey proceeding to charge the jury on Monday. The article reports only the chaotic incident and the judge's instructions, without any outcome of the trial.
During a cold‑case murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, an 81‑year‑old woman named Eileen Kelly testified that the accused, John Joseph Malone, had confessed to her that he had killed a widowed pensioner, Ann 'Nancy' Smyth, in 1987. Kelly, who lived near Smyth, said she had known Malone and that he had called into her home a few months after the murder. According to Kelly, Malone told her that the killing was an accident and that he had gone to Smyth's house over a pigeon or pigeon trophy that her husband had won. She recounted that Malone had claimed he had shoved Smyth into a door and strangled her before setting fire to her house. Malone, 53, pleaded not guilty. The trial is ongoing.
In a murder trial, Vesel Jahiri, 35, denies stabbing his former partner Anna Finnegan, 25, at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla, Dublin 15 on 21 September 2012. He claims Anna was stabbed by her brother Karl Finnegan, whom he says attacked him with a chair and knives. Jahiri says he struck back, stabbing Karl multiple times, but did not see Anna stabbed. Prosecutor Patrick Marrinan accuses Jahiri of fabricating a story and spreading "fake news," citing a 999 call where Jahiri allegedly mentioned only one knife. Jahiri disputes the call's transcript, claims he was forced out of his cell, and alleges Gardaí fabricated evidence and forced witnesses to lie. He also denies any safety plan involving Karl. The judge, Justice Paul Coffey, rebuked Jahiri's statements and instructed him to answer questions, with the jury scheduled to return the next day. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.
During his Central Criminal Court trial, Vesel Jahiri, aged 35, denied murdering his former partner Anna Finnegan, 25, and assaulting Karl Finnegan on 21 September 2012. He claimed that Gardaí had instructed witnesses to lie and had withheld CCTV and forensic evidence supporting his account. Jahiri recounted that he had spoken to Finnegan by phone earlier that day, then entered her home where Karl shouted. He said he was struck by a chair, then a struggle ensued involving knives. Jahiri alleged that he stabbed Finnegan twice or three times after being cut, but stopped when he saw blood. He then drove Finnegan to hospital, where she later died. Jahiri also complained of inadequate medical treatment while in custody at Midlands Prison. The jury was reduced to six men and four women after one juror was discharged. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing on 4 April 2017, Ann Walsh, former sister‑in‑law of John Joseph Malone, testified that she had reported Malone's alleged confession to Gardaí about twenty years earlier. Walsh, who had been married to Malone's brother Bernard, said she had heard Malone admit to killing 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on three separate occasions. The first confession was in a pub in 1991, where Malone allegedly said he had killed Smyth; Walsh's husband told him to leave. The second confession occurred in 1996 while Malone was walking Walsh home from a pub; he threatened to burn her house and harm her children, and Walsh reported this to Sergeant Eddie Geraghty. Walsh confirmed she had told the Sergeant everything Malone said that night. The court also heard statements from two lodgers who had stayed with Smyth in 1987, but the focus of the testimony was Walsh's reports of Malone's confessions and threats. John Joseph Malone pleaded not guilty.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing on 3 April 2017, the former sister‑in‑law of John Joseph Malone, a 53‑year‑old man charged with the 1987 murder of 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth, testified that Malone had confessed to her that he had killed Smyth. Ms. Malone, who had been married to Malone's brother Bernard 'Barney' Malone, recounted that she and Barney had been walking home from Pat Carroll's pub when Malone allegedly threatened to kill her and burn her house, mirroring the earlier murder. She said he repeated the confession at her home in Newpark Close and claimed he had "gotten away with it." The prosecution asked her to detail what he had said, and she confirmed the confession. The defence will cross‑examine her tomorrow, while her ex‑husband was cross‑examined today, confirming that his brother had made a similar confession to him. The trial proceeds before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury. John Joseph Malone pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the 35‑year‑old Vesel Jahiri, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his former partner Anna Finnegan (aged 25) and the assault of her brother Karl, was found to have recorded a conversation with social worker Karen Byrne on the day of the alleged attack. The prosecution presented a transcript of the audio, noting that Jahiri had a recording device in his pocket and had captured the entire meeting, yet Byrne claimed the tape was doctored and omitted her statement that Jahiri had threatened to kill Finnegan. Byrne had been present at a meeting with Finnegan and Jahiri on 21 September 2012, after a referral from the Bray Women's Refuge, and had made a statement to the Gardaí attributing certain comments to Jahiri. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, continues with a jury of nine men and two women.
A 39‑year‑old Meath man was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for raping and sexually assaulting his fiancée's three daughters, aged 15 to 17, in their home in 2009 and 2010. The jury found him guilty of one count of rape and twelve counts of sexual assault. He denies the verdict. The judge noted the victims, now in their early twenties, suffered severe psychological harm and praised their resilience. The man, who had no prior convictions, acted as a stepfather during the abuse. The mother, who stood by him, destroyed evidence and later withdrew a police report after the man claimed a daughter had touched him first. The children were removed from the home, and the man was forced to leave. The case highlighted the lasting impact on the victims, including depression, addiction, anxiety, and self‑harm attempts.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 3 April 2017, Daniel McAnaspie's sister Nikita McAnaspie spoke on behalf of the family, expressing that the murder of their 17‑year‑old son had left their lives meaningless and that they wished the killers "rot in hell." The court had earlier convicted Richard Dekker (30) of murder and Trevor Noone (28) of manslaughter in Daniel's death. Dekker was sentenced to life imprisonment, the mandatory term for murder, with credit for time already served. Noone's guilty plea was noted, and the judge adjourned his sentencing to 24 April, allowing for consideration of his remorse. The hearing highlighted the family's grief, the brutal nature of the crime, and the defendants' prior convictions, but did not disclose any further procedural developments beyond the sentencing decisions.
The coroner, Dr Myra Cullinane, is conducting an inquest into the death of Tom O'Gorman, who was murdered by his lodger, Saverio Bellante, in January 2014. Bellante, aged 37 and originally from Palermo, was found not guilty by reason of insanity in July 2015 and has been detained indefinitely at the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin. On 3 April 2017, Paul Carroll SC, acting for the coroner, submitted an affidavit to Judge Margaret Heneghan requesting a copy of the trial transcript so the coroner could accurately assess the proceedings and determine whether to examine the state's treatment of Bellante. The judge will rule on the request on Friday. The inquest resumed in March after a previous adjournment, and the coroner's office has requested a broad scope for the inquiry. The case remains ongoing.
In the Central Criminal Court, Detective Garda James Cunningham testified that a fingermark on a blood‑stained black‑handled kitchen knife, which also carried DNA from the deceased Anna Finnegan, was made by the left forefinger of Vesel Jahiri, the accused. Cunningham explained that he had examined the knife, applied a treatment to develop the mark, and compared it with prints from Jahiri, Finnegan and Karl Finnegan. He found no other fingerprints and no evidence the knife had been wiped. Forensic scientist Dr Hilary Clarke had earlier shown that DNA from Finnegan's blood was present on the knife's tip and edge. Jahiri, 35, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Finnegan, 25, and to assaulting her brother, and was excluded from his own trial by Judge Paul Coffey for refusing to comply with procedural rules. The case remains before the judge and a jury.
Marta Herda, a 29‑year‑old woman from Arklow, drove a 31‑year‑old Hungarian man, Csaba Orsos, into a deep harbour where he drowned. The incident occurred on 26 March 2013 when Herda drove her Volkswagen Passat through the crash barriers at South Quay, Arklow, before 6 a.m. The Polish waitress, who was with Orsos, escaped through the driver's window, but Orsos's body was found on a nearby beach later that day. A post‑mortem found he died from drowning, not from injuries related to the crash. Herda pleaded not guilty, but a jury at the Central Criminal Court found her guilty of murder and she received a mandatory life sentence on 28 July 2016. She has lodged an appeal and a hearing is scheduled for 18–19 July 2024, with the expectation that the appeal will take two days of hearing. The case management hearing was held without Herda present.
Peter Jackson, aged 42, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of David Hamilton, aged 31, during a drug‑related dispute on 4 May 2012 at a house on Kerryhall Road, Fairhill, Co. Cork. The Central Criminal Court found Jackson guilty after a jury trial, and Justice Isobel Kennedy imposed the mandatory life sentence on 23 November 2015. The case involved both men being heroin users who had purchased two bags of heroin earlier that day, each worth €50, and had attempted to inject themselves. Pamela McHale, a 26‑year‑old friend of Jackson, testified that an argument erupted when Jackson struggled to find a vein for Hamilton, leading to a physical altercation in which Jackson struck Hamilton with an object from the table. Jackson has now lodged an appeal against his conviction, represented by barristers Dominic McGinn SC and James Burke BL, with the Court of Appeal reserving judgment. Peter Jackson pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Judge Paul Coffey reluctantly excluded 35‑year‑old Vesel Jahiri from his own trial after he chose to represent himself. Jahiri, originally from Kosovo, had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anna Finnegan, 25, and to assaulting Karl Finnegan on 21 September 2012 at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla. During the trial, Jahiri was accused of abusing his position while cross‑examining witnesses and of "throwing out allegations like confetti." Prosecution counsel called Garda Patricia Davey, who presented CCTV footage from the James Connolly Memorial Hospital Accident and Emergency Department. The footage showed Jahiri arriving in a white car, driving to the hospital, and moving a person from the car to the ground. The judge explained that while a defendant has a right to be present, it is not absolute and must comply with procedure. Consequently, the jury was asked to leave, and the trial will proceed without Jahiri's presence.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Vesel Jahiri, 35, representing himself, faces charges of murdering his former partner Anna Finnegan, 25, and assaulting her brother Karl on 21 September 2012. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Coffey, criticised Jahiri for making unfounded accusations against witnesses, describing his remarks as "throwing out allegations like confetti." During cross‑examination, Jahiri questioned Sergeant Patrick Traynor about wiping fingerprints from a blood‑stained knife and alleged that the knife bore Finnegan's blood, claims the sergeant denied. He also asked Detective Garda Tom Cooney about criminal records, to which Cooney replied no. Jahiri further accused the witness of IRA membership. The judge deemed these questions irrelevant and terminated the cross‑examination of Detective Garda Bernard Connaughton. Jahiri has stated he will seek a solicitor, but the judge said it was too late to change his unrepresented status. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.