Patrick Lee, 41, a Kildare resident, faces extradition to the United States for 51 alleged offences, including 29 counts of wire fraud, 6 of unlawful monetary transaction and 16 of aggravated identity theft. The High Court heard that Lee allegedly participated in a scheme that defrauded U.S. banks and mortgage lenders by purchasing properties in Boston between 2006 and 2007, converting them into apartments, and using forged appraisals to secure loans. Lee claims the allegations are false and denies any wrongdoing. He argues that some offences occurred while he was in Ireland and that Irish law should prevent extradition. The court considered evidence that 8 of the 51 alleged offences took place outside the U.S., and that 30 offences post‑dated the Criminal Justice Act 2006, potentially qualifying them as Irish offences. Lee also raised concerns about potential mistreatment and health care in U.S. prisons.
In March 2014, Garda Sergeant Hazel Delahunt, based at Roscrea Garda Barracks, had initiated a High Court action to obtain details of allegations that had led to an internal investigation against her. She sought an injunction compelling the Garda Commissioner to disclose the complaints that prompted the inquiry. The court had granted her permission to serve short notice of proceedings, and the case was scheduled for hearing before Mr Justice Michael Peart. However, Sergeant Delahunt's counsel, Jim O'Callaghan SC, informed the court that the matter had been settled and could now be struck out. No particulars of the settlement were disclosed. The action had arisen after Sergeant Delahunt was contacted in January by a Garda Inspector regarding a complaint she had made about a stolen USB clip, after which she was informed she was under investigation.
Patrick Lee, 41, of Newtown, Co Kildare, faces extradition to the United States on 51 charges, including 29 counts of wire fraud, six counts of unlawful monetary transaction and 16 counts of aggravated identity theft. He is accused of participating in a scheme that defrauded U.S. banks and mortgage lenders by securing loans for properties that were never repaid. The alleged scheme involved real‑estate lawyers, "straw buyers" and forged appraisals, with Lee allegedly receiving about €1 million for his role. U.S. authorities seek a maximum sentence of 42 years. Lee denies the allegations. Cathleen Noctor BL presented documents and affidavits to the High Court, while Lee's barrister, Kieran Kelly BL, will submit written arguments. The case is set for a hearing before Mr Justice John Edwards on Thursday, with Lee's legal team raising concerns about potential cruel treatment and the reliability of U.S. assurances regarding extradition.
Eric Eoin Marques, a 28-year-old resident of Mountjoy Square, Dublin, appeared in the High Court to apply for legal aid ahead of a judicial review of the DPP's decision not to prosecute him in Ireland. Marques is alleged to be the owner of Freedom Hosting and is wanted by US authorities for conspiring to distribute and advertise child pornography. He has been in custody since August last year after being refused bail due to flight risk concerns. During proceedings, Marques testified that he earned approximately €1.15 million between 2007 and 2012. He stated he gave €250,000 to his Romanian girlfriend and spent the remainder on daily expenses, including McDonald's, petrol, and escorts. He claimed his funds were frozen by the FBI and that his father paid his legal fees. Under cross-examination, Marques admitted he did not remember where the rest of the money went and declined to answer questions about tax returns, citing potential self-incrimination. Counsel for the Attorney General argued that Marques' account raised more questions than answers. Mr Justice John Edwards noted the lack of documentary evidence supporting Marques' assertions. The judge indicated he would rule on the legal aid application the following morning. If convicted, Marques could face the remainder of his natural life in prison, as the four charges could result in a sentence totaling 100 years.
During a High Court extradition hearing on 10 March 2014, lawyers for the Minister for Justice argued that the courts should allow the surrender of Michael Anthony Balmer, a 62‑year‑old convicted murderer from the UK. Balmer had been released on licence in March 2011, had his licence revoked in March 2012, and was arrested in Cork. His counsel, Patrick McGrath SC, claimed he had served the punitive part of his life sentence and that surrender would only expose him to preventative detention for public protection. The defence contended that the link between his 1984 murder conviction and the present deprivation of liberty was broken, as the original sentence was 30 years ago. Judge John Edwards noted that in English law the punishment had ended and that continued detention for public protection was not acceptable under the Irish constitution. The case was set to resume on 20 March 2014.
Two men, John O'Connor and Christopher McCarthy, charged with unauthorised turf cutting from Moanveanlagh Bog in Co Kerry, have filed High Court applications to halt their trial. They argue the charges are unconstitutional and lack proportionality, claiming the offence was created by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in 2011 without proper authority. The men, both from Kilbaha Moyvane, face prosecution for extracting peat that allegedly damaged the Special Area of Conservation. Their case is against the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Circuit Court Judge, the Minister, and the Attorney General. The High Court granted leave to bring the action and placed a stay on the prosecution, with the matter to be returned for a hearing in late April. Luke "Ming" Flanagan, an Independent TD and spokesperson for the Irish Turf Cutters and Contractors Association, supported the men's action. The offence could carry up to three years' imprisonment or a fine of up to €500,000.
Graham Dwyer, 41, of Foxrock, was charged with the murder of 37‑year‑old childcare worker Elaine O'Hara on 22 August 2012. He has been in custody since October and applied for bail at the High Court, but the State objected. His lawyer, Remy Farrell SC, argued that a 20‑month pre‑trial detention was unreasonable, while Seán Guerin SC for the State said the delay was not exceptional and that a trial would occur within 19 months of his arrest. Mr Justice Paul Carney refused bail.
The Dublin Airport Authority and Ryanair have each filed separate High Court applications to stop a proposed Siptu strike scheduled for Friday 14 March, the day of St Patrick's weekend. The strike would involve a four‑hour stoppage at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports, potentially grounding about 100 Ryanair flights carrying roughly 13,500 passengers. Ryanair's counsel argued the action was "opportunistic in the extreme", citing the busy weekend, the Ireland‑France rugby match and the Cheltenham horse‑racing festival as reasons the date was chosen to maximise harm. Ryanair seeks injunctions preventing Siptu members from striking at the three airports and declarations that the strike would be unlawful, interfering with the airline's economic rights. The DAA, represented by Mark Connaughton, also requested an early hearing, noting the urgency of informing airlines using Dublin Airport.
Ms Sylvia Deehan, 46, sued Loughlinstown Inn Ltd for damages after claiming she was pushed and injured ribs during an Ann Summers lingerie party held in the pub on 21 January 2011. She alleges a woman tried to grab a prize—a ring thrown by an Ann Summers representative—when she fell against a loudspeaker. Deehan says she was unable to breathe and was hospitalized for two weeks. The pub's counsel argued the claim was "ludicrous" and that Deehan failed to prove negligence. Witness testimony from a DJ and staff was deemed unreliable, and engineering evidence about risk assessment was rejected. The High Court reserved judgment, with no decision announced yet. The case remains pending in the High Court.
In a High Court case, Sean Dunne, who was declared bankrupt in Ireland and the United States last year, seeks to recover documents and other items seized from a property in Co. Kildare by Official Assignee Mr. Chris Lehane. The seized items include 100 pieces of artwork and golf memorabilia. Dunne's legal team, represented by Bill Shipsey SC, argues that Mr. Lehane should be cross‑examined on the contents of his affidavit to resolve the dispute. Mr. Lehane's counsel, Mark Sanfey SC, contends that such cross‑examination is inappropriate and impermissible. Justice Brian McGovern has asked for time to consider the motion and will rule before the full hearing scheduled for 19 March. The case also involves Mrs. Gayle Dunne, Traviata Ltd, and John Dunne, who seek the return of items belonging to them. Mr. Lehane's lawyers have stated that they are willing to return materials that do not belong to Mr. Dunne's estate.
In a High Court hearing on 4 March 2014, Irish authorities sought the surrender of Michael Anthony Balmer, 62, a convicted murderer who had entered Ireland two years earlier after conditional release from a UK prison. Balmer, last known to reside in Cornwall, England, was arrested by Gardaí in Ballydehob, Co. Cork in 2012 following his release from prison a year earlier. The Minister for Justice's counsel, Diarmaid McGuinness SC, informed the court that UK authorities were requesting Balmer's surrender for a single murder offence under common law. Balmer had been sentenced to life imprisonment in 1984 for the killing of a woman in Devon, England, on 28 July 1983. He was released on licence in March 2011, a licence that was revoked in March 2012. Counsel for Balmer, Patrick McGrath SC, argued that Balmer had served the punitive part of his sentence and that any surrender for public protection would amount to preventative detention, which Irish courts prohibit.
High Court Judge John Edwards granted bail to Adam Busby, a 64-year-old self-styled Scottish separatist, pending the outcome of his Supreme Court appeal against a High Court order for his surrender to UK authorities. Busby, who has multiple sclerosis and is wheelchair-bound, is alleged by UK authorities to have made a series of hoax threats between November 2009 and June 2010. These allegations include threatening to contaminate UK water supplies, sending packages containing poisonous substances to public figures, and claiming bombs would detonate at locations in Glasgow and Edinburgh. The bail conditions require Busby to keep the peace, be on good behaviour, and refrain from accessing the internet. He is permitted to use a basic mobile phone for routine calls, provided he informs gardaí of dialed numbers and submits the device for call record checks. The judge indicated he would approve residence at the Granby Centre, Dublin 1, and remanded Busby in custody pending confirmation of that placement. The Supreme Court appeal is listed for mention on May 1, 2014. Previously, in July 2010, a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury found Busby guilty of causing annoyance by sending emails to the British Airports Authority claiming bombs were on flights to New York, resulting in a two-year jail sentence. He was also convicted by the Special Criminal Court in 1997 and sentenced to two years for making threatening phone calls to the Press Association and the Scottish Daily Record.
The High Court heard conflicting evidence on the second day of an action brought by Sylvia Deehan against Loughlinstown Inn Ltd, trading as the Lough Inn Public House. Ms Deehan alleges she injured her ribs after being pushed by another woman while reaching for a prize thrown by an Ann Summers representative during a party at the South Dublin venue in January 2011. The defendant denies the claim, asserting Ms Deehan was ejected for rowdy behaviour and that any injuries occurred outside. Witnesses including bar staff and the Ann Summers representative stated they did not see the fall, and the pub manager noted CCTV footage did not show it, though the recordings were later erased. Conversely, DJ Dave Carraher testified he saw Ms Deehan fall against a speaker. Engineer Barry Tennyson provided technical evidence suggesting the prize-throwing activity was dangerous without a risk assessment. The matter was previously dismissed in the Circuit Court, prompting this appeal. The hearing is ongoing.
Adam Busby, 64, a self‑styled Scottish separatist with multiple sclerosis confined to a wheelchair, is awaiting a decision on his bail application while he awaits a Supreme Court appeal. He was extradited to the UK by a High Court order after being arrested in Dublin under a European Arrest Warrant. The charges allege that between November 2009 and June 2010 he telephoned and texted hoax bomb‑warnings and poison threats to Scottish newspapers, the Press Association, the Samaritans, and public figures, claiming bombs would detonate at various sites including the Argyll Arcade, Hilton Hotel, Forth Road Bridge and Erskine Bridge. In the High Court, counsel for the Minister for Justice objected to bail, citing a risk of further offences and potential delay of extradition, while counsel for Busby argued there was no evidence he would frustrate the process.
Ali Charaf Damache, a forty‑eight‑year‑old Algerian‑born Irish citizen, was denied a second application for judicial review by the High Court. The court, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, found no new grounds to justify the review and held that Damache had not met the threshold for leave. Damache is wanted in the United States on international terrorism charges, including conspiracy to provide material support for terrorists and attempted identity theft. He had previously applied for review of the Director of Public Prosecutions' decision not to prosecute him in Ireland, and the court reiterated that the DPP has the right of first refusal. The judge noted that extradition remains possible even if the DPP decides not to prosecute domestically. Damache was remanded in custody pending further proceedings on 4 March.
The High Court case brought by Waterford Mayor John Cummins against Twitter over alleged defamatory tweets has been resolved, allowing the action to be struck out. However, an order under Section 33 of the 2009 Defamation Act preventing the publication of the disputed statements remains in force for at least another week. Cummins had previously secured temporary injunctions requiring Twitter to remove the tweets and to refrain from publishing further defamatory content. The court, hearing the matter before Mr Justice Paul Gilligan, noted that the proceedings against Twitter were settled but considered whether the Section 33 order could stay. Twitter's legal representative said the platform was not at fault, only the individual posters. The judge adjourned the case to the following Friday, maintaining the publication ban while the injunctions were in place.
In a High Court hearing on 25 February 2014, the extradition case of Eric Eoin Marques, 28, was adjourned for one week. Marques, who lives at Mountjoy Square, Dublin, is alleged by the FBI to be the owner and administrator of the anonymous hosting site Freedom Hosting, and is wanted in the United States on charges of conspiring to distribute and advertise child pornography, and of advertising and distributing child pornography. The charges involve images on more than a hundred anonymous websites described as extremely violent, graphic and depicting the rape and torture of pre‑pubescent children. Marques has been in custody since his arrest in August 2013, after bail was refused on the grounds that he was a flight risk and could interfere with evidence. His counsel, Mark Lynam BL, informed the court that Marques intended to apply for legal aid before filing a judicial review.
An Irish citizen, Ali Charaf Damache, 48, faces extradition to the United States on international terrorism charges. He is wanted for conspiracy to provide material support for terrorists and attempted identity theft to facilitate an act of international terrorism. US authorities allege that Damache, who used the username "the black flag," conspired with American woman Colleen LaRose (online name "Jihad Jane") and others to create a terror cell in Europe that could target US and Western US citizens. They also claim he participated in a conspiracy to transfer a passport stolen from a US citizen to an individual in Pakistan believed to be a member of Al Qaeda. In March 2011 the Director of Public Prosecution decided not to prosecute Damache in Ireland. He applied for a second judicial review of that decision, arguing that the lack of prosecution impeded his ability to fight extradition. The High Court granted him permission to address the court.
Francis Lanigan, 47, of Pinebrook, Mulhuddart, Dublin, is awaiting an extradition hearing in the High Court on 28 April. He was arrested in January on an extradition warrant linked to the 1998 murder of John Knocker, who was shot in a Dungannon hotel car park. Lanigan was taken at a Dublin gym where he worked as a self‑employed barber. He initially gave a false name to the Garda and later claimed he had been using the name Kieran McCrory for protection for 15 years. He remains in custody until the hearing.
Patrick Lee, 51, is wanted for extradition to the United States on 51 alleged offences, including 29 counts of wire fraud, 6 counts of unlawful monetary transaction and 16 counts of aggravated identity theft. He is accused of participating in a scheme that defrauded US banks and mortgage lenders by purchasing properties in Boston between 2006 and 2007, converting them into apartments, and using "straw buyers" to obtain mortgages that were never repaid. Lee allegedly forged appraisals, was not a licensed appraiser, and received about €1 million for his role. The scheme involved real‑estate lawyers and the use of forged documents to secure loans, resulting in foreclosures and significant losses for lenders. Lee denies all allegations, claims he was arrested in 2012, and argues that extradition would expose him to cruel treatment and violate his constitutional rights. The case is before Mr Justice John Edwards.
A man described by the FBI as the 'largest facilitator of child porn in the world,' Eric Eoin Marques, is seeking a judicial review of the DPP's decision not to prosecute him in Ireland, the High Court heard. Marques, 28, of Mountjoy Square, Dublin, is alleged to have been the owner and administrator of an anonymous hosting site known as Freedom Hosting. He has been in custody since his arrest in August 2023, following concerns he represented a flight risk. The charges relate to images on over a hundred anonymous websites described as extremely violent and depicting the rape and torture of pre-pubescent children. Counsel for Marques, Mark Lynam BL, stated that his client intended to apply for legal aid prior to the judicial review. Counsel for the State, Patrick McGrath SC, noted that investigations into Marques's assets were ongoing. Mr Justice John Edwards expressed concern over the delay in providing a statement of means and ordered the matter to be resolved within days. The court heard that Marques would be available for cross-examination on any disputes regarding his statement of means. Mr Justice Edwards remanded Marques in custody until Tuesday (February 25). If convicted, he could face the remainder of his natural life in prison as the four charges could result in a sentence totalling 100 years.
In February 2014, a High Court judge declined to recuse himself from hearing a second judicial review application filed by Ali Charaf Damache, a 48‑year‑old Algerian‑born Irish citizen. Damache is facing extradition to the United States on international terrorism charges, including conspiracy to provide material support for terrorists and attempted identity theft. U.S. authorities allege that he conspired with American woman Colleen LaRose, known online as "Jihad Jane," and others to create a terror cell in Europe that could target U.S. and Western U.S. citizens. They also claim he participated in a conspiracy to transfer a stolen U.S. passport to a Pakistani individual believed to be an Al Qaeda member. Damache's lawyers requested that Justice John Edwards recuse himself from the second review, arguing potential bias due to prior findings in the extradition case.
Anthony Martin Coughlan, a Manchester resident, was extradited to the UK by the Irish High Court after a European Arrest Warrant issued in May 2013. He faces charges of robbery, assault and absconding while on bail. The court found no credible evidence that he would be tortured or subjected to inhumane treatment if surrendered. Coughlan allegedly robbed a man on 23 April 2010, stole a computer, demanded a password, and failed to appear in court on 31 October 2010. He was arrested in Ireland last year. The judge ordered extradition for robbery, punishable by up to nine years, and absconding while on bail, punishable by up to twelve months. The battery assault charge, carrying a maximum six‑month sentence, did not meet the gravity threshold for extradition. Coughlan is remanded at Cloverhill Prison pending implementation of the order.
A Sinn Féin local election candidate from County Sligo has secured a High Court order lifting his indefinite suspension from the party. Edward McCarrick, 33, with an address in Tubbercurry, was selected to contest the Ballymote electoral area in October 2013 but was suspended in early November. He claimed the suspension was imposed without disclosure of the complaint's nature, the complainant's identity, or opportunity to respond, breaching party procedures. The court heard that concerns had been raised regarding alleged threatening comments. Mr Justice Sean Ryan held that the candidate, entitled to the presumption of innocence, could not remain indefinitely suspended from the party while investigations by An Garda Síochána proceeded independently. The judge acknowledged the party had acted appropriately in referring sensitive information to gardaí but found ongoing suspension incompatible with due process. The injunction was granted and the suspension lifted accordingly.
The High Court trial of a civil damages claim brought by Joanne Quinn against retired Detective Sergeant Edward Justin Clarke is ongoing. Ms Quinn, 41, of Castlebar, Co Mayo, alleges she was stalked and sexually harassed by Mr Clarke between 2002 and 2005 while he investigated her prior abuse complaints. Mr Clarke admitted to a sexual relationship but pleaded it was consensual, denying the allegation of rape. Counsel for Ms Quinn, Martin Giblin SC, argued Mr Clarke abused his position of authority, specifically alleging rape on New Year's Eve 2002. Conversely, counsel for Mr Clarke, Roughan Banim SC, stated his client accepted the relationship was inappropriate due to his role but maintained it was not rape. Mr Banim noted Mr Clarke's 33 years of service and the severe personal impact of the allegations. Under cross-examination, Ms Quinn explained her delay in reporting was due to disbelief in her claims given Mr Clarke's status. The jury is tasked with resolving whether the sexual acts were consensual. The matter was adjourned and continues.
Ali Charaf Damache, 48, an Algerian-born Irish citizen, faces extradition to the United States on international terrorism charges. He is accused of conspiring to provide material support for terrorists and attempting identity theft to facilitate an act of international terrorism. Damache settled a legal action with the State in July over alleged inhuman and degrading conditions at Cork Prison. His lawyers applied for legal aid for a judicial review of the Director of Public Prosecution's decision not to try him in Ireland, but the High Court refused. Damache has been in custody for four years, has no assets, and had been receiving social welfare. He owes maintenance arrears to his three children, the youngest born in 1993, and his wife died in 1999. The US alleges he conspired with American woman Colleen LaRose, known online as "Jihad Jane," and others to create a terror cell in Europe.
James Anthony Tighe, 64, of Pettiswood, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, faces a High Court challenge to his extradition to the United Kingdom. He is wanted by British authorities for alleged involvement in a £100 million money‑laundering conspiracy linked to large‑scale fraud against UK public revenue. The UK seeks his surrender to face charges of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue, one charge of cheating the public revenue, and one charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering covering 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2005. Tighe was arrested in July 2012 under a European Arrest Warrant issued in September 2011. A previous High Court ruling allowing his surrender was overturned by the Supreme Court in December 2010 due to inadequacies in the warrant's description of the alleged offence. The High Court adjourned the case for three weeks, with Mr Justice John Edwards noting he had two cases to consider before delivering a judgment.
The Commercial Court has heard pre-trial proceedings brought by National Asset Loan Management Limited, a NAMA subsidiary, against businessman David Cullen, his wife Mary, Seafield Hotel Ltd, Paramount Hotel Ltd, solicitor Fintan Wallis, and Stephen Cullen. The applicants allege that David C unlawfully transferred or charged over 40 properties to his wife in 2009 and 2010 to place assets beyond the reach of creditors, including Bank of Ireland loans later assumed by NAMA. It is further alleged that Cullen leased the Turk's Head Bar and Paramount Hotel to companies in breach of security covenants. Mr Fintan Wallis is accused of unlawfully procuring the registration of land transfers to Mrs Cullen, while Stephen Cullen is alleged to have acquired a leasehold interest in Seafield Hotel Ltd as its beneficial owner. All defendants deny these claims. NAMA previously secured a €29 million High Court judgment against David Cullen for unpaid loans. Defence counsel Martin Hayden SC opposed fast-tracking the case, citing alleged culpable delay by NAMA. However, Mr Justice Peter Kelly rejected this argument, noting that NAMA required time to assimilate evidence from Mary Cullen's cross-examination and that a suspicion of fraud had been articulated. The judge transferred the litigation to the Commercial Court due to the number of properties involved and Cullen's status as a €29 million judgment debtor. The matter remains at the charge or pre-trial stage.
The Commercial Court has set a trial date of Tuesday, May 13, 2014, for a dispute between music promoter John Reynolds and Festival Republic Dublin Limited (FRD) regarding the Electric Picnic Music Festival. Counsel for Reynolds, Edward Farrelly BL, stated his client wished to proceed before the summer festival season, while FRD's counsel, Rossa Fanning, requested a May or October date due to peak business periods. Mr Justice Peter Kelly noted the case's first anniversary was approaching and allowed two weeks for discovery inspection. Reynolds, the applicant, seeks a declaration that he is entitled to manage the festival, alleging under section 205 of the Companies Acts that FRD refused to allow him to operate the event as envisaged. He claims this alleged refusal causes hardship to POD Music Ltd and that FRD's management decisions for 2012 and 2013 benefited the FRD Group at the expense of POD Music Ltd. FRD opposes these claims, alleging Reynolds engaged in deliberately obstructive behavior and sought a buyout at grossly inflated prices. The company denies excluding Reynolds from management or integrating the Picnic into its stable of events. The matter is at the pre-trial stage, with the trial scheduled for May 2014.
In a High Court hearing on 27 January 2014, Mr Justice John Edwards refused Ali Charaf Damache, 48, an Algerian-born Irish citizen, leave to seek judicial review of the Director of Public Prosecutions' decision not to prosecute him in Ireland. Damache is facing extradition to the United States on international terrorism charges, including conspiracy to provide material support for terrorists and attempted identity theft to facilitate an act of international terrorism. The U.S. alleges that Damache conspired with American woman Colleen LaRose, known online as "Jihad Jane," and others to create a terror cell in Europe capable of targeting U.S. and Western European citizens. Damache, who used the username "the black flag," is also alleged to have participated in a conspiracy to transfer a passport stolen from a U.S. citizen to an individual in Pakistan believed to be a member of Al Qaeda.
A High Court judge in Ireland has postponed delivering a judgment on a judicial review application filed by Ali Charaf Damache, an Algerian-born Irish citizen aged 48, who is facing extradition to the United States on international terrorism charges. Damache is accused of conspiring with American woman Colleen LaRose, known online as "Jihad Jane," and others to establish a terror cell in Europe that could target U.S. and Western European citizens. He is also alleged to have participated in a conspiracy to transfer a passport stolen from a U.S. citizen to a person in Pakistan believed to be an Al Qaeda member. Damache seeks judicial review to challenge the Director of Public Prosecutions' decision not to prosecute him in Ireland. The extradition case has been adjourned until after the judicial review judgment is returned.
The Court of Criminal Appeal announced that several appeals may require re-hearings due to the serious illness of Mr Justice Michael Hanna. Chief Justice Susan Denham stated that cases where judgement was reserved and no final decision determined will be reconstituted. This includes the appeal by former priest Tony Walsh (59), who is challenging separate sentences of 16 years and 15 months for rape and sexual abuse. It also affects the case of businessman Anthony Lyons (52), where the court previously found his six-month sentence for violent sexual assault "unduly lenient" but reserved reasons and the replacement sentence. Counsel for the DPP requested time to take instructions on the appropriate course. Additionally, the appeal by Brian Rattigan (32), serving a life sentence for the 2001 stabbing death of Declan Gavin, may need re-hearing as he seeks leave to appeal to the Supreme Court. The court fixed February 14 for the re-hearing of the conviction appeal by brothers Warren and Jeffrey Dumbrell, who were jailed for life for the murder of Christopher Cawley. In contrast, the case of Kevin McCardle (31), who caused three deaths in a head-on collision while over the alcohol limit, will not be reheard. Although the court found his four-year sentence (one suspended) "unduly lenient," judgement has been returned, and only the sentencing portion of his case has been adjourned.
The High Court has adjourned the extradition proceedings against Eric Eoin Marques, a 28-year-old resident of Mountjoy Square, Dublin, for one week. Marques is alleged to be the owner and administrator of Freedom Hosting, an anonymous site described by an FBI Special Agent as the largest facilitator of child pornography in the world. US authorities seek his extradition to face charges including conspiring to distribute and advertise child pornography, as well as advertising and distributing such material. The court heard allegations that the sites hosted millions of graphic images depicting the rape and torture of pre-pubescent children. Although the Director of Public Prosecutions decided not to bring proceedings in Ireland, counsel for Marques indicated he would plead guilty if prosecuted domestically. The judge noted that if convicted on the four US charges, Marques faces a potential sentence totalling 100 years, effectively the remainder of his natural life. The case was put back due to ongoing matters regarding legal representation, with the court expressing anxiety that progress be made. Marques has remained in custody since his August arrest after bail was refused due to flight risk concerns.
A High Court judge has announced that he will issue a judgement on the judicial review application of Ali Charaf Damache, an Algerian-born Irish citizen aged 48, next week. Damache is facing extradition to the United States on international terrorism charges, including conspiracy to provide material support for terrorists and attempted identity theft. The US alleges that Damache, who used the username "the black flag," conspired with American woman Colleen LaRose (online name "Jihad Jane") and others to create a terror cell in Europe that could target US and western European citizens. He is also accused of participating in a conspiracy to transfer a passport stolen from a US citizen to an individual in Pakistan believed to be a member of Al Qaeda. Damache seeks judicial review to challenge the Director of Public Prosecutions' decision not to prosecute him in Ireland for these offences. The extradition case has been adjourned until after the judicial review judgement is returned.
An Irishman, 28‑year‑old Eric Eoin Marques, is wanted in the United States for conspiring to distribute and advertise child pornography and for advertising and distributing child pornography. He is alleged to have owned and administered the anonymous hosting site Freedom Hosting, which hosted over a hundred anonymous websites containing extremely violent and graphic images of pre‑pubescent children, some infants, and had thousands of members posting millions of images. Marques was arrested in August and has remained in custody after bail was refused on flight‑risk and evidence‑interference grounds. The High Court was informed that the Director of Public Prosecutions will not bring proceedings against him in Ireland. Marques' counsel, Remy Farrell, stated that Marques would plead guilty if prosecuted in Ireland, but the DPP has decided not to proceed. The extradition case will be adjourned and listed for mention in January, with Marques remanded in custody to appear on 21 January.
A judge will decide after Christmas whether to extradite Kenneth Brunell (27) of Palmerstown and Barry McArdle (27) of Drimnagh to the Netherlands for the death of Keith Ennis (29) of Walkinstown, whose body parts were found in a suitcase in an Amsterdam canal. The men were arrested on extradition warrants issued in 2011. Philip County (31) of Lucan had already been extradited in 2011. Mr Patrick McGrath SC argued that Dutch prosecutors abused process by drafting a prosecution instead of an investigation to secure extradition, claiming no remedy protects the respondents. Ms Siobhan Stack SC for the State countered that the Dutch prosecutor had indeed decided to charge and try the men. Mr Justice John Edwards noted the lack of a decision to charge and said the case would be mentioned again on 14 January, remanding the men in custody until then.
A 23-year-old man from Dublin appeared at Dublin District Court facing three charges following an alleged assault outside the Four Courts on Sunday. The accused is charged with entering a High Court judge's vehicle contrary to road traffic legislation, and with attacking the judge under assault provisions. A third charge alleges assault causing harm to a security guard at the same location. The defendant was remanded on bail to appear again in January. The prosecution sought additional time to obtain directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. The defence was granted access to CCTV evidence from the incident. The High Court judge involved previously worked as a senior counsel at the Morris tribunal investigating Garda matters in County Donegal before his recent appointment to the bench.
A High Court judge has set aside an entire week to write the judicial review judgement in the case of a man facing extradition on terrorism charges. An Algerian-born Irish citizen sought the judicial review of an attempt to extradite him to the United States, where he is wanted on international terrorism charges. Ali Charaf Damache (48), who has been living in Ireland for a decade, is wanted in the United States to face charges relating to the conspiracy to provide material support for terrorists and attempted identity theft to facilitate an act of international terrorism. The US alleges it has evidence that Damache conspired with an American woman calling herself, 'Jihad Jane', and others to create a terror cell in Europe capable of targeting both US and western European citizens.
A 34‑year‑old Dublin man, Stephen James O'Reilly, was brought before the High Court on 26 November 2013 to consider an extradition request from the United Kingdom. The UK has issued a European Arrest Warrant for him, seeking to have him complete a nine‑year sentence for dangerous driving that caused a death, which he received in 2008. O'Reilly was not represented at the hearing; the judge advised him to obtain a lawyer and explained that he could be entitled to free legal aid if he could not afford one. He expressed that he could not return to the UK and became emotional. The court noted concerns about his safety, including a risk of self‑harm, and remanded him in custody until 10 December 2013. The hearing was conducted by Mr Justice John Edwards, with Ann Marie Lawlor BL representing the State and Detective Sergeant Mark O'Neill presenting evidence of the warrant and the revocation of his licence.
In a High Court hearing on 12 November 2013, the extradition case of Eric Eoin Marques, a 28‑year‑old Irishman, was adjourned for two weeks. Marques is wanted in the United States on four charges of conspiring to distribute and advertise child pornography, and of advertising and distributing child pornography. The alleged offences involve images posted on more than a hundred anonymous websites that the FBI describes as extremely violent and graphic, depicting the rape and torture of pre‑pubescent children, some infants. The websites reportedly have thousands of members who have posted millions of images. If convicted, Marques faces a potential sentence of up to 100 years, which could mean life imprisonment. His lawyers requested the adjournment and the court, with no objection from the State, granted it. Mr Justice John Edwards remanded Marques in custody and scheduled the next hearing for 26 November.
The High Court has adjourned the case of Ryan McKenna, a 24-year-old man wanted in Northern Ireland on terrorism charges, for three weeks. Mr. McKenna is alleged to have committed offences in Lurgan, Co Armagh, in 2007, including conspiracy to cause an explosion, possession of explosives with intent to endanger life, and possession of explosives. He was arrested at Cross, Co Mayo, on September 9 following a European Arrest Warrant endorsed in August. The court noted that his three co-accused had already pleaded guilty to the offences. Counsel for Mr. McKenna, Mr. Tom Neville BL, requested a three-week adjournment, to which the State raised no objection. Mr. Justice John Edwards granted the request and further remanded Mr. McKenna in custody. The matter will be mentioned again on December 3. The judge expressed hope of fixing a trial date, noting that he had previously refused bail last month following an application by Mr. McKenna's lawyers. The procedural stage remains at the pre-trial phase, with the case adjourned rather than concluded.
The High Court heard arguments about extraditing Dublin men Kenneth Brunell (27) and Barry McArdle (27) to the Netherlands to face charges linked to the death of Keith Ennis (29), whose body parts were found in a suitcase in an Amsterdam canal. Brunell and McArdle were arrested on extradition warrants issued in 2011. Brunell's counsel, Robert Barron SC, argued that extradition would violate his constitutional right to an independent, objective assessment because the Dutch prosecutor's decision to charge him was allegedly biased. The court noted that a third man, Philip County (31), had already been extradited in 2011. Judge John Edwards, troubled by the legal bias claim, adjourned the hearing to 18 November, remanded McArdle in custody until then, and issued a warrant for Brunell, who did not attend the hearing. Brunell's counsel said he feared for his life and had gone into hiding. The case remains pending.
Ryan McKenna, a 24-year-old man wanted in Northern Ireland on terrorism charges, was refused bail at the High Court. Mr McKenna is sought by UK authorities to face allegations of conspiracy to cause an explosion, possession of explosives with intent to endanger life, and possession of explosives in Lurgan, Co Armagh, in 2007. The court heard that he was arrested at Cross, Co Mayo, on September 9 following a European Arrest Warrant endorsed in August. It was noted that his three co-accused had already pleaded guilty to the offences. Following an application by his legal team, Mr Justice John Edwards refused bail and remanded Mr McKenna in custody. The matter was adjourned, with his extradition case scheduled to be mentioned again on November 12.
Lawyers for Eric Eoin Marques, a 28‑year‑old Irishman wanted in the United States for conspiring to distribute and advertise child pornography, are challenging his extradition in the Irish High Court. Marques, who lives in Mountjoy Square, Dublin, faces four U.S. charges that could carry a cumulative sentence of up to 100 years. He claims he wants his case heard in Ireland and has submitted a Section 15 application to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The court has previously denied bail, citing Marques' alleged flight risk, possession of a false U.S. passport, and attempts to destroy evidence. The case will be heard again before Mr Justice John Edwards in three weeks. The FBI alleges Marques owned and administered the anonymous site Freedom Hosting, which hosted extremely violent child‑pornographic images and had a U.S. bank account and a Las Vegas mailing address. The court has found the evidence against Marques strong and the charges serious.
In a High Court hearing on 13 September 2013, Mr Justice John Edwards refused bail to Eric Eoin Marques, a 28‑year‑old Irishman, for a second time. Marques is wanted in the United States on charges of conspiring to distribute and advertise child pornography and of advertising and distributing child pornography. The FBI alleges he facilitated and hosted anonymous websites containing extremely violent, graphic images of pre‑pubescent children, including infants, and that he had administrator access to one site. Evidence presented included a computer examination by Gardaí showing Marques' involvement, his use of a fraudulent U.S. passport to seek foreign hosting services, and financial records indicating $1.5 million passing through a single bank account. The court noted Marques' lack of prior convictions, his family ties in Ireland, and the freezing of his U.S. bank accounts, but concluded he posed a flight risk and a danger of evidence tampering.
In a High Court hearing on 13 September 2013, Mr Justice John Edwards refused bail to Eric Eoin Marques, a 28‑year‑old Irishman wanted in the United States on charges of conspiring to distribute and advertise child pornography. The judge cited concerns that Marques could abscond or tamper with evidence, and noted that the case against him was "strong" with potential sentences totalling 100 years. Marques had been previously denied bail by Mr Justice Paul Gilligan and had no prior convictions, but the court considered him a flight risk due to substantial financial resources, frozen U.S. bank accounts, and possession of a false U.S. passport. The judge remanded Marques in custody to appear again on 22 October, stating that a hearing before Christmas was unlikely. The case involves alleged ownership of the Freedom Hosting site, described by the FBI as a large transnational child‑pornography operation.
The High Court heard that the United States alleges Ali Charaf Damache, an Algerian‑born Irish citizen aged 48, conspired from early 2008 to July 2011 with others to devise a violent jihad organisation aimed at targeting US and Western European citizens. The FBI claims Damache, who used the online alias "the black flag," also participated in a conspiracy to transfer a stolen US passport to a Pakistani individual believed to be an Al Qaeda member. The US alleges Damache worked with American woman Colleen LaRose, known online as "Jihad Jane," and others to create a terror cell in Europe. If extradited and convicted, Damache could face a 45‑year sentence and possible incarceration in the ADX super‑maximum‑security prison in Florence, Colorado. The case is adjourned for a separate application for judicial review of the extradition proceedings, with Damache's counsel arguing that the State's decision not to prosecute him in Ireland breaches his constitutional rights.
Ryan McKenna, a 24-year-old Lurgan native, appeared before the High Court in Dublin on a charge_or_pretrial basis regarding an extradition request from the United Kingdom. He is wanted to face allegations of conspiracy to cause an explosion, possession of explosives with intent to endanger life, and possession of explosives in Lurgan, Co Armagh, in 2007. Counsel for the State, Ms Lisa Dempsey BL, informed the court that Mr McKenna's three co-accused had already pleaded guilty to the offences. Sergeant John McElroy testified that he stopped a car driven by Mr McKenna on Monday at Cross, Co Mayo, and arrested him on foot of a European Arrest Warrant endorsed in August. No application for bail was made on behalf of the applicant. Mr Justice John Edwards remanded Mr McKenna in custody to Cloverhill prison. The matter was adjourned, with the court directing that he appear again on Friday next. The report confirms the procedural stage as pretrial, noting that while co-accused admitted guilt, Mr McKenna's specific plea and finding remain unrecorded in this instance, and his status is strictly that of a remanded applicant facing alleged charges.