A security guard has given evidence to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding an alleged assault at a rural property in Roscommon on 16 December 2018. The witness, who owns a security company, described the moment a dog in his care was struck with a baseball bat during the incident. He told the court that a group of approximately 30 to 40 men arrived at the farmhouse in the early morning, some wearing balaclavas and high-visibility clothing, and that he feared for his life as the assault unfolded. Four men have pleaded not guilty to 53 charges in relation to the incident, including aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, assault causing harm, arson, violent disorder, robbery and animal cruelty. The defendants are Patrick Sweeney from Ramelton, County Donegal; Martin O'Toole from Claremorris, County Mayo; Paul Beirne from Boyle, County Roscommon; and David Lawlor from County Meath. The trial before Judge Martin Baxter continues.
Michael Scott, 58, of Gortanumera, Portumna, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 76‑year‑old aunt Chrissie Treacy, who was run over by his vehicle outside her home in Derryhiney on 27 April 2018. The Central Criminal Court heard that a witness, Robin Deasy, described Scott as having an "almost childlike" obsession with land and cattle, and that he was motivated only by land. Deasy recalled that Scott had told him he could not "handle that woman at all" and that he had been upset about the land dispute. The prosecution alleged that Scott deliberately ran over his aunt following a long‑running dispute over land. Scott's lawyers said the death was a tragic accident. The trial is before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs with a jury of seven men and eight women. The case remains at the trial stage.
Four men have gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accused of involvement in a sustained and brutal attack on security personnel at a repossessed property near Strokestown, County Roscommon in December 2018. Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne and David Lawlor each face 17 charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and arson. The prosecution alleges that approximately 20 to 30 people arrived at the rural house around 5am on 16 December 2018, armed with various weapons, and attacked four security guards who were guarding the property. The court heard that the guards were seriously assaulted, had their hands tied with cable ties and their shoes removed. A German Shepherd dog at the property was beaten and subsequently had to be put down. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty. The prosecution intends to rely on the legal principle of joint enterprise to establish liability. The trial, before Judge Martin Baxter, is scheduled to run for five weeks.
In the trial of Michael Scott for the murder of Chrissie Treacy, care workers and witnesses described a tense environment at Treacy's home in Portumna. Susan Keane, a care worker, reported that she had raised concerns about Treacy's welfare due to disputes over land with Scott, and that she had left her duties because the setting was "draining." She also noted that Treacy's beloved dog, Bradley, vanished after the house doors were locked, an event that caused Treacy great distress. Other witnesses, including Caitriona Starr, described ongoing arguments between Scott and Treacy, restrictions on access to the farm's shed, and Treacy's fear of going outside. The prosecution alleges that Scott deliberately ran over Treacy, while the defence maintains it was a tragic accident. The case is being heard by Ms Justice Caroline Biggs with a jury. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
In a 2023 High Court ruling, Mr Justice Alexander Owens held that more than €1 million in assets linked to Ross Browning, a senior member of the Kinahan cartel, were obtained from the proceeds of crime. The seized assets included cars, jewellery, designer watches, a horse‑riding arena complex in North County Dublin, a property in Garristown, lands in Rush, and a house on Deanstown Road, Finglas. Owens found that Browning's involvement in organised crime was "probable" and that the assets were acquired either directly or indirectly from criminal proceeds. He rejected most arguments from Browning's relatives about legitimate sources, noting that Browning's financial means between 2011 and 2017 were modest and could not support the purchases. The court also directed that certain relatives receive a share of the proceeds from the sale of seized properties, while confirming that the assets were indeed proceeds of crime.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, witness Ms Regina Donohue testified that she had urged 76‑year‑old Chrissie Treacy to move into a retirement home in Portumna for her safety, a suggestion she said Treacy declined. Donohue described a series of deteriorating conditions on Treacy's farm, including damaged fencing, a switched‑off oil heater, and the disappearance of her dog Bradley. She also recounted an incident where Michael Scott, Treacy's nephew, entered her home and demanded her whereabouts after she had left to celebrate her birthday. Donohue further alleged that a letter from an agricultural consultant had informed Scott that Treacy was applying for a single farm payment on land she owned but had previously leased to him, a development that upset him. The prosecution maintains that Scott deliberately ran over Treacy with a teleporter on 27 April 2018, an act he denies, claiming the death was a tragic accident. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
Michael Scott, aged 58, denies murdering his aunt Chrissie Treacy. In a Central Criminal Court hearing, he was reported to have held a gun while discussing "troubles with Chrissie" and saying, "I hope there's none of them people does cross me," allegedly referring to Regina Donohue's family. The prosecution alleges that Scott deliberately ran over Treacy after a long‑running land dispute. Scott's relationship with Donohue had been good but deteriorated over land and lease issues. Donohue, who had worked with the Treacy family, testified that Treacy's financial situation was poor and that she had been under stress, including the disappearance of her dog. The trial continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs with a jury of fifteen. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
Keith O'Reilly, 31, of County Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed in May 2022. He pleaded guilty to one count of assault, criminal damage, and production of a realistic firearm at Harold's Cross, Dublin. The court heard that O'Reilly broke into the home of his wheelchair-bound ex-girlfriend, assaulted her, and threw her dog onto the road. Gardaí discovered an imitation firearm in his rucksack upon his arrest. Judge Martin Nolan suspended a three-year term of imprisonment on full strict conditions. The judge noted that O'Reilly had no previous convictions and was remorseful, though somewhat intoxicated at the time. Crucially, the judge cited a letter from the victim, who requested he not be imprisoned due to his past good behaviour and her belief in second chances. Judge Nolan stated that it was only because of the woman's Christian views that O'Reilly avoided immediate custody. The matter was finalised with this suspended sentence.
A 30‑year‑old Dublin man was jailed for six and a half years after pleading guilty to one count of oral rape of his six‑year‑old daughter between February 2019 and February 2020. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child sex abuse material on his home on 7 December 2019. The Central Criminal Court, presided over by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, described the offence as a "fundamental breach of trust" and noted that the victim's bodily integrity and safety were violated. Gardaí seized phones during a May 2020 search of the family home, revealing videos of child sex abuse material and a scene of the man helping another person to engage in a sex act with an animal.
Bernard Nugent, 56, of Castletymon Court, Tallaght, pleaded guilty on 19 April 2008 to possession of drugs for sale or supply after transporting €200,000 worth of heroin 14 years earlier. The case was delayed due to fitness to plead issues. Garda surveillance tracked a car from Munster to Dublin, which stopped at the Red Cow Hotel car park. Nugent's van arrived, and a brown bag containing 1 kg of diamorphine was transferred between vehicles. Nugent was arrested, interviewed five times, and claimed he was instructed to move the bag to reduce a drug debt. He has 23 prior convictions, mainly traffic offences, and a drug possession conviction from 2001. One co‑accused died before the trial; the other two received suspended seven‑year sentences in 2009. The court heard that Nugent acted under instruction and feared for his life. He was a heroin addict at the time but is now drug‑free.
Michael Connors, 27, of Lambda Apartments, Monkstown Farm, Dublin, was found guilty of assaulting his wife, criminal damage, and animal cruelty. On 9 April 2020, after drinking, he brought home a 12‑week‑old puppy, forced it into a cold bath, and then threw it on the floor in front of his three small children and wife, causing the dog's death by head trauma. He later punched his wife, demanded money, and locked her and the children in the house before going to a shop. He also assaulted his wife at a relative's home, smashing her phone and throwing a scooter. Connors pleaded guilty to two counts of assault, one of criminal damage and one of animal cruelty. The judge sentenced him to 18 months for each assault and animal cruelty, 18 months for criminal damage, with the latter suspended for four years under strict conditions, and required probation supervision for two years.
In November 2019, Pamela McKeogh and her partner Kevin Ryan attempted to stay at the Kilkenny House Hotel with a guide dog. The hotel manager rejected the request, citing that his own dogs would bark all night if the guide dog stayed. After the couple was forced to find alternative accommodation, McKeogh lodged a complaint under the Equal Status Act 2000. The Workplace Relations Commission heard the case, noting the manager's refusal and the hotel's claim that no suitable rooms were available. The tribunal found that McKeogh was discriminated against on the basis of disability. Consequently, the Kilkenny House Hotel was ordered to pay her €5,000 in compensation for the discriminatory treatment she endured during the attempted stay.
Dublin City Council denied responsibility for former dog wardens after ending its contract with the Ashton Dog Pound. Kevin Bissett, John Mahon and Lee Gaskin were told by the pound's management that their employment would transfer to the council, but they were left without work from the end of June 2021. The men filed complaints with the Workplace Relations Commission under the European Communities (Protection of Employees on Transfer of Undertakings) Regulations 2003 against David Stone, trading as Ashton Dog Pound, and the local authority. The council argued no staff transfers occurred when its contract ended and that it was entitled to outsource and later take the service back in-house without TUPE applying. The council's position was that the workers had been effectively dismissed if no transfer of undertakings took place. The tribunal heard evidence that the pound continued to operate for up to two months after the contract loss, providing services for other local authorities.
Brian Kelly, aged 60 and a survivor of the Stardust fire, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to transporting €159,922 worth of cannabis in his van on 12 March 2020. He claimed he was acting to help his nephew, who owed €30,000 in drug debt, and believed the nephew was in personal danger. Gardaí had surveillance of Kelly's van at Vernon Loughran's house, where they seized a large brown box containing eight vacuum‑packed packages and two mobile phones, one a burner phone. Loughran, aged 59, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and cocaine worth €840,000 after a search of his home. He was sentenced to six years in prison, with the final twelve months suspended. Both defendants had no prior convictions and showed remorse, factors considered by Judge Melanie Greally in determining their sentences. The court noted Kelly's family circumstances, his role in animal welfare, and his recovery from drug addiction.
George Finglas, 46, of North Circular Road, Dublin, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for transporting over €2.5 million worth of cannabis. On 2 February 2021, Revenue officials and a sniffer dog discovered two pallets of cannabis herb, concealed under portable gas heaters, at Dublin Port. Gardai set up a surveillance operation and carried out a controlled delivery to an industrial estate in west Dublin. Finglas, acting as a transporter, was directed by an unidentified "Suspect B" to unload the pallets into a rented van. He later drove the van to a commercial premises in Baldongan, Lusk, where he was arrested. Mobile phones recovered from the van contained encrypted messages referencing the drugs and payments. Finglas admitted moving the drugs under direction, citing a €25 000 gambling debt and fear of creditors. He had previously pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of drugs and had earlier suspended sentences for assault and a drunk‑driving conviction.
The Workplace Relations Commission has ordered Ashton Dog Pound, trading as David Stone and Carol Stone, to pay €18,000 in compensation to applicant Conor Williamson. The adjudicating officer upheld Williamson's statutory complaint under the Protected Disclosures Act, finding that he was penalised for reporting alleged animal abuse to his employer and the gardaí. The decision characterised subsequent disciplinary actions against Williamson as an "orchestrated campaign" to intimidate him, noting that statements made by staff were "contrived" and "rehearsed." The tribunal found that Williamson's suspension constituted penalisation and that the investigation into him was flawed. While the adjudicating officer made no finding of fact on the underlying allegations of animal abuse raised by Williamson, she ruled that his complaint regarding retaliation was well-founded. Respondents argued that Williamson had been fairly disciplined for misconduct and social media breaches, but the tribunal rejected these submissions. The matter was concluded with the order for compensation, reflecting the finding that Williamson was treated to his detriment for making protected disclosures.
An 85-year-old retired Garda from Strokestown, County Roscommon has withdrawn his High Court appeal against a destruction order for his Jack Russell terrier, Kim. The dog bit a woman on the Strokestown Famine Trail on 6 March 2022 near Mr Rogers' home at Bumlin. The injured party required eight stitches and hospital treatment following the incident. Roscommon District Court issued the destruction order in late April under the Control of Dogs Act 1986, finding the dog dangerous and not properly controlled. Mr Rogers appealed to the Circuit Court, which dismissed his challenge and upheld the lower court's decision in May. When Mr Rogers sought further appeal to the High Court, he subsequently withdrew his application before the Deputy Master. The destruction order therefore remains in effect. The High Court heard the matter briefly before being struck out.
In a High Court hearing on 18 July 2022, Ethical Farming Ltd challenged the State's policy allowing the live export of unweaned calves by sea to continental Europe. The NGO argued that such journeys, which can last up to 28 hours, breach EU animal welfare regulations because calves are not fed or given liquids during the trip. They also claimed that transporters fail to keep accurate departure logs, a requirement under EU law, and that incomplete information was provided in response to freedom‑of‑information requests. An expert report cited that calves can tolerate only about eight hours without milk, leading to hunger, distress, dehydration, higher mortality and disease. Ethical Farming seeks an order that the Minister complies with EU regulations, a declaration that the policy causes injury and suffering, and a declaration that inadequate record‑keeping breaches EU law. The case was heard ex‑parte by Mr Justice Charles Meenan and will resume after the new legal year.
Two brothers, Gavin Quinn (28) and Lee Quinn (27), were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for attacking Garda Alan Murphy in Inchicore, Dublin, on 30 March 2020. Gavin pinned Murphy to the ground while Lee attempted to stab the officer in the eye with a six‑inch kitchen knife and later slashed him across the head. Both pleaded guilty to lesser charges: Gavin to assaulting a peace officer and Lee to attempting to cause serious harm. Gavin received a four‑year sentence with one year suspended, back‑dated to 5 June 2020, and Lee received seven years with one year suspended, back‑dated to 20 March 2020. The judge noted the brothers' aggressive conduct, prior convictions, and the impact on Murphy, who described the incident as a daily memory of confusion and danger. The sentences reflect the seriousness of the assault and the brothers' guilty pleas.
A farmer from County Cavan has been awarded €13,400 by the Workplace Relations Commission following a finding of unfair dismissal. Padraig Cunningham was dismissed from Pat the Baker Unlimited, based in Granard, County Longford, in May 2020 after being accused of stealing waste flour from the facility. Mr Cunningham maintained he had removed the material, which included flour and waste dough, to prevent it entering the animal feed chain and had composted it on his own land. The company contended the waste could be sold for processing and that Mr Cunningham lacked authorisation to remove it. An appeal of his dismissal was subsequently upheld by management. However, adjudicating officer Marguerite Buckley determined the disciplinary process failed to comply with fair procedures and natural justice principles. She noted the practice was widely known within the organisation, no written warning had been issued, and Mr Cunningham's 24 years of service merited consideration. The commission concluded dismissal fell outside the range of reasonable responses available to the employer.
The parents of a boy who was allegedly attacked by a Pit Bull while visiting a private residence claim that the 1986 Control of Dogs Act is unconstitutional because it does not provide the same protection for victims on private property as it does for those in public places. They have filed a High Court judicial review after local Gardaí and the council's dog warden refused to investigate the incident, stating it could not be investigated because it occurred on private property. The parents argue that the Act allows fines, penalties and destruction orders for dogs not kept under control in public places, but offers no such protection for a lawful visitor in a dwelling who is attacked by a dangerous dog owned by the property's owner.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 17 June 2022, Garda Alan Murphy recounted the night two brothers, Gavin Quinn (28) and Lee Quinn (27), attacked him in Inchicore, Dublin 8. Gavin pinned Murphy to the ground while Lee attempted to stab him in the eye with a six‑inch kitchen knife. The assault was reported to have occurred on 30 March 2020, when the brothers were already in custody. Both pleaded guilty to lesser charges: Gavin to assaulting a peace officer and Lee to attempting to cause serious harm. The court heard Murphy's victim impact statement, in which he thanked Dublin Fire Brigade for saving his life and described the lasting psychological trauma. He declined to label himself a victim, preferring to identify as a proud Garda. The hearing was adjourned to 11 July for sentencing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Christopher Lambe, 32, pleaded guilty to threatening to kill Ms Julie Piggot. On 24 January 2021, Ms Piggot was awakened at 5 am by a banging on a downstairs window. She saw a man in a woollen hat, thought it was her partner, and after checking on her children, opened the front door. Lambe grabbed her from the doorway, pressed something into her side, and forced her across the road to an unfamiliar apartment. While she knocked on the door, Lambe shouted that he would stab her and then fled. CCTV footage identified Lambe and captured him saying, "I will cut the neck of ya." Gardaí arrested him at Tallaght Garda Station. He had 86 prior convictions. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted his remorse and family background but sentenced him to 18 months in prison, citing the threat and the influence of alcohol. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 17 May 2022, Thomas Greene, aged 29, was sentenced to 80 months in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, for a violent hijacking of a pizza delivery man's car on 8 August 2020. Greene punched, kicked and dragged the driver from his vehicle, knocked him unconscious, stole the car and stole cash. He was assisted by a group of men, one of whom acted as a lookout on a horse. The delivery driver suffered two broken wrist bones and required surgery. Greene, who has 69 prior convictions and is already serving a 2½‑year sentence for affray, pleaded guilty and expressed remorse. The judge noted drug use as a major factor and considered his engagement with drug counselling and rehabilitation services when imposing the sentence.
John Kelly, 36, of Cherrywood Villas, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis at Old Farm Yard, Johnstown Kennedy, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, on 26 November 2018. He was remanded in custody pending sentence. Kelly, who has 89 prior convictions mainly for road traffic offences, had been supervising a grow‑house set up in a derelict farmyard. The landowner noticed a rise in electricity bills and flashlights near the buildings, prompting Garda Donal Donoghue to obtain a search warrant. Gardaí found three grow tents containing 140 cannabis plants and saplings. If all were mature females, the potential street value would have been €112,000; the agreed valuation for sentencing purposes was €60,000. Kelly was arrested, interviewed five times with no information emerging, and later entered a guilty plea. He is a legitimate businessman in the horse industry and owns a stud with 35 stables. The case was adjourned to 19 October, with Judge Melanie Greally remanding him in custody.
A trainee equestrian instructor, Shane Kehoe, was dismissed by the Fettercairn Youth Horse Project (FYHP) after sending a text that mentioned bringing his relatives to the workplace. The text, quoted as "We will see who has big balls when my family and [my partner's family] come to meet her on Friday," was interpreted by FYHP as a threat of violence. The project's board, after an emergency meeting, decided to close the yard to the public that day, citing safety concerns for staff, children, and other visitors. Kehoe claimed the dismissal was unfair and an attempt to avoid paying redundancy. The Workplace Relations Commission found no alternative to dismissal had been considered, and the decision was upheld as not procedurally unfair. The case concluded with the dismissal deemed justified by the commission.
A school bus operator who claimed his pay was withheld and that he was constructively dismissed successfully defended a claim of unfair dismissal. The driver, who worked 25 hours a week from August 2018 to February 2020, alleged non‑payment of wages and constructive dismissal under the Payment of Wages Act and the Unfair Dismissals Act. He said the bus company owner had left €600 in his letterbox, contrary to an agreement that cash should be left on the bus dashboard, and that the owner had previously failed to pay €1,500 in wages. The owner, who represented himself, argued the driver had objected to bank transfers, that he had been paid in cash, and that the driver had requested to return to a FÁS scheme but was told to wait 12 months.
In a High Court bail hearing, senior counsel Diarmuid Rossa Phelan, 53, accused of murdering Keith Conlon, 36, at Hazelgrove Farm, was denied bail by Justice Deirdre Murphy on grounds of flight risk. The Court of Appeal President, Justice George Birmingham, criticised the High Court judge for leaving him "totally in the dark" about Phelan's finances. Phelan's defence, represented by Karl Monahan, submitted a comprehensive financial statement and proposed a €50,000 surety from his sisters and a €50,000 cash deposit. Justice Birmingham demanded a full disclosure of assets, liabilities, income and property. The case was adjourned to the next term, with the State given time to review the financial documents before a further hearing. The hearing also noted that Phelan had shot Conlon in the back of the head after an altercation, and that he had previously fired at Conlon's dog. The court considered the seriousness of the charge and the evidence presented.
Diarmuid Rossa Phelan, a senior counsel and law lecturer aged 53, is accused of murdering Keith Conlon, a 36‑year‑old father of four, in a fatal shooting on farmland in Tallaght on 22 February. The High Court heard that Phelan allegedly shot Conlon in the back of the head after a verbal altercation, following an earlier incident in which he fired at Conlon's dog with a rifle. Phelan claims the shooting was accidental, describing it as an "arc" that left him stunned. He has stated he will not leave the jurisdiction and that his career and reputation depend on clearing the matter. Phelan's defence argues that denying bail would "utterly ruin" him, citing his assets, family ties, and professional standing. The court will decide on bail on Monday.
The Central Criminal Court will resume the trial of Feri Anghel, 42, who denies murdering fellow Romanian Ioan Artene Bob, 49, found severely beaten in Sean Walsh Memorial Park, Tallaght, on 13 April 2018. Bob was discovered by a woman walking her dog, had severe bruising and "raccoon eyes", and died that afternoon after treatment at Tallaght Hospital. The shortened sitting focused on chain‑of‑evidence witnesses and gardaí who secured the scene and photographed items. Prosecution witnesses were absent and will attend next week. Bob had won €2‑3,000 at a city‑centre casino before sending the money to Romania; he had been attacked, suffered multiple rib fractures, collapsed lungs, and global brain damage. Witness Marzana Jurzak reported Bob's attempt to communicate that four attackers had struck him. The case will be heard by Mr Justice Paul Burns with a jury of eight men and four women at Court 22. Feri Anghel pleaded not guilty.
Thomas Byrnes, a stable hand at a Tipperary racehorse training yard, was dismissed after taking the afternoon off on 16 December 2019 to attend the sudden death of a colleague. Byrnes was on his lunch break when he discovered the colleague lying outside his home, attended by Gardaí and paramedics, who confirmed the man was dead. He stayed until about 3.30 pm, then returned home and later went for a drink at 5 pm. The next morning he returned to work, completed his first job, and was confronted by the stable owner, who warned him of wage deductions and a day's holiday. Byrnes refused, left, and was later told his job was gone. He denied planning to resign with other colleagues and denied swearing at his employer. The owner claimed four staff, including Byrnes, failed to return that afternoon, compromising animal welfare.
In a 2022 case, the Red Cow Moran Hotel was ordered to pay a waiter €12,500 in compensation after the hotel's general manager repeatedly called him 'Chico' during a busy Christmas shift. Filipe Ongaro, a Latino waiter, filed two complaints under the Employment Equality Act, alleging racial discrimination and claiming he was dismissed the next day for raising the issue. He described feeling very uncomfortable and having no one to complain to, as the manager was in charge. The hotel apologized, stating the manager had no intention to offend and had used the term generally. The adjudicating officer found the term 'Chico' offensive and a derogatory term for people of Latin American descent, and concluded that the hotel had not rebutted the discrimination claim. Consequently, the hotel was ordered to pay the compensation amount.
During a remote hearing at the Court of Appeal, a barrister's dog barked repeatedly, causing a temporary pause. The case involved the lawyer appealing both the conviction and prison term of his client. While the barrister was explaining to the three judges why he believed the trial judge had erred in refusing the client's change of plea from guilty to not guilty, the barking was heard over the video link. The lawyer paused, resumed, and was stopped again when the dog barked again. The presiding judge intervened, adjourned the hearing for five minutes, and allowed the barrister to quiet the dog. After the break, the hearing continued without further incident. The court ultimately dismissed the appeal against conviction but suspended part of the appellant's sentence.
A man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter following the death of his uncle in a house fire at Derrylurgan, Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan in August 2018 appeared before the Central Criminal Court. Daniel Murray (40) admitted setting fire to sheets with a lighter, causing the blaze that killed Patrick Oliver Murray through smoke inhalation. The court heard Murray had 48 previous convictions, including multiple arson offences. When informed of his uncle's death, Murray reportedly enquired about the family dog rather than expressing concern about the fatality. Murray subsequently told gardai he had intended only to frighten his uncle and sought to take revenge over past grievances, stating the fire "went the wrong way". A victim impact statement described the deceased as a quiet, good-humoured man who had cared for their elderly mother. The defence submitted Murray had acted recklessly but unintentionally, with heavy alcohol consumption contributing to his actions. Justice Paul McDermott adjourned sentencing to January 25.
The High Court has set aside certain convictions and suspended sentences imposed on a Department of Agriculture official in relation to animal carcass disposal breaches. Bernard Kilgariff, aged 64, of Bricklieve, Castlebaldwin, County Sligo, was convicted before Sligo District Court in June 2021 of animal welfare offences spanning several years. He pleaded guilty to charges including animal neglect, welfare breaches, and failure to have animals tested for tuberculosis and bovine viral diarrhoea since 2016. The District Court imposed a four-month suspended sentence on carcass disposal charges and fines on testing matters. However, the Minister for Agriculture sought judicial review, arguing the judge erred in imposing a custodial sentence for offences that carried a maximum fine penalty only. Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted the orders quashing the convictions and sentences relating to the 2015 Disposal of Carcases Regulations breaches. The remaining orders, including a five-year disqualification from holding a herd number, remain valid.
Michael O'Donoghue, aged 43, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for raping and sexually abusing his 19‑year‑old daughter, Aimee Foley, over a six‑year period. The Central Criminal Court heard that O'Donoghue supplied Foley with alcohol and drugs, including cannabis and cocaine, before sexually assaulting her during access visits to his home. He pleaded guilty to 31 counts of sexual assault, one count of rape and one count of producing child pornography. Foley, who was aged between 12 and 17 at the time of the abuse, gave a victim impact statement in which she described the emotional and physical abuse she endured. The judge noted mitigating factors such as O'Donoghue's early admission to Gardaí and his current low risk of re‑offending. The sentence was back‑dated to his arrest in April 2019.
A senior garda has brought judicial review proceedings in the High Court challenging a decision not to backdate his promotion to inspector. Inspector Tom Quinn, stationed in Mullingar, County Westmeath, was scheduled for promotion in January 2019 but the advancement was delayed following allegations made against him in connection with a firearms incident near Granard, County Longford, in December 2018. Following investigation by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, Inspector Quinn was fully exonerated. His promotion ultimately proceeded in August 2019. The inspector seeks to have his promotion backdated to January, arguing the seven-month delay caused financial and reputational harm. The Garda Commissioner opposes the application, maintaining he exercised proper discretion by awaiting the investigation outcome before recommending promotion. Mr Justice Charles Meenan reserved judgment following the High Court hearing, with a decision expected in the new year.
David Ward, 36, of The Beeches, Clonshaugh, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and reckless discharge of a firearm after shots were fired into his cousin John Ward's home at 2 am on 17 September 2016, wounding a dog that later died. Ward pleaded not guilty. The trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the shots were fired, but Ward's defence lawyer, Keith Spencer BL, argued that Ward was not involved. Judge Elma Sheahan, after considering the defence's claim that Gardaí failed to secure CCTV footage that could corroborate Ward's alibi, directed the jury to acquit Ward of both charges. The judge noted that the Garda evidence was fair and that the prosecution had no ballistics expert, and that inconsistencies in the complainant's testimony could lead to an unfair trial. The jury was discharged and Ward was found not guilty by direction.
David Ward, 36, of The Beeches, Clonshaugh Woods, Coolock, is on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for the reckless discharge of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm. The incident occurred on 17 September 2016 at Belcamp Lane, Dublin 17, when Ward allegedly fired a shotgun into his cousin John Ward's home, fatally wounding the cousin's dog. Ward pleaded not guilty to both charges. His defence lawyer, Keith Spencer BL, argued that while shots were fired, Ward was not involved. John Ward testified that Ward had come to his house to complain about children playing "nick nacks" and that a brief altercation followed, during which Ward allegedly threatened to shoot. Witnesses reported hearing a bang, seeing sparks on the back door, and observing Ward standing on the back wall. The witness also claimed that Ward fired a fourth shot that killed a dog, describing the dog as being struck in the back of the head.
Judgment commenced at the Special Criminal Court on November 8th in the trial of four men charged with falsely imprisoning and assaulting businessman Kevin Lunney. Mr Justice Tony Hunt began delivering his ruling after a 40-day trial, reserving verdicts pending continuation following lunch. The judge described Mr Lunney, who was abducted near his Cavan home in September 2019, as a most impressive witness and confirmed the court accepts his account in full. Justice Hunt indicated satisfaction that Mr Lunney was assaulted in a blue horse box located in Drumbrade, and that the treatment he endured constituted false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm. Medical evidence clearly met the threshold for serious harm, the judge stated. Three men have pleaded not guilty: Alan O'Brien of East Wall, Dublin; Darren Redmond, also of East Wall; and Luke O'Reilly of Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, County Cavan.
Ciaran Brennan, 42, of Celtic Park Avenue, Beaumont, Dublin 9, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court by Judge Martin Nolan to a fully suspended two‑year imprisonment for possession of €6,200 worth of cannabis resin and other drugs. Brennan pleaded guilty in October to possessing half a kilo of cannabis and other drugs at his home on 4 February 2020. Gardaí found four packs of cannabis resin, weighing scales, additional cannabis, two ecstasy tablets, magic mushrooms and €505 in a Liverpool FC bag at his address, following a warrant to search the premises. Brennan admitted responsibility, cooperated with Garda Michael Byrne, and explained that €300 of the money was for rent and the rest was won on a horse. He has no prior convictions, is a father of one, and runs a carpentry business.
Patrick Duff, a 69‑year‑old pensioner, was caught selling zopiclone and alprazolam tablets while walking his dog along the Royal Canal in Dublin 3. Gardaí observed him talking to two people who fled when officers arrived, and later found Duff rummaging in bushes for his stash, which he kept in two black socks. A search of his flat revealed more tablets. The drugs seized had a street value of €5,200. Duff pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing drugs for sale or supply at the canal and at his home on 21 January 2020. He had a prior conviction for a similar offence in May 2020. In June, a judge imposed a suspended two‑year sentence for the second offence, with the value of drugs then just under €10,000. Duff has no other convictions and now stays at home, no longer walking his dog.
During a murder trial, a dog walker recounted discovering what he believed to be a body in Rahin Woods, Kildare, on 2 September 2016. He found two dogs barking near a buried object that appeared to be flesh. He later informed two men, Ivan Pollard and Pat McGrath, who called 112. Garda inspectors Aiden Hannon and Padraig Nolan examined the site, noting almost skeletal remains protruding from a shallow grave, a stab‑proof vest, a garden fork, a shovel, a knife blade, a mobile phone, a fire‑damaged glove, and a black funnel. The remains were taken to Naas mortuary. The trial heard that the accused, Stephen Penrose, 38, pleaded not guilty to murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, whose body was found decapitated in the woods. The case is ongoing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
A 19‑year‑old named Josh Henney was jailed for six months after he killed a 10‑month‑old mixed‑breed dog named Sam by kicking it twice in the underbelly while the owner was speaking with his mother on North William Street, Dublin. Henney pleaded guilty to killing a protected animal on 23 March 2020. He already had 36 convictions and was serving a two‑year sentence for violent disorder, with the final six months suspended. The court heard that Henney shouted threats, including "fucking kill your dog", before running up to the dog and delivering the fatal kicks. The dog was taken to a veterinary practice, anaesthetised, and died during treatment. Dr Alan Wolfe's autopsy found multiple fractures and liver fissures consistent with blood loss from acute trauma.
Daniel Murtagh, aged 34, was found guilty of murdering his former partner Nadine Lott, a 30‑year‑old beautician, after a brutal assault on 14 December 2019 that left her with severe head, neck and chest injuries. The jury, after five hours and forty‑six minutes over two days, rejected Murtagh's defence that intoxication negated intent, concluding that despite his consumption of alcohol, drugs and methadone, he had formed the intent to kill. Murtagh had admitted to smoking a joint, taking pills and drinking rum before the attack, and to having been on methadone for three months. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with the judge ordering a mandatory sentence and remand until the sentencing date. The case highlighted the extreme violence inflicted, with witnesses describing him as "like a wild animal" and the victim as "completely unrecognisable" after the assault. Daniel Murtagh pleaded not guilty. Nadine Lott pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, Luke O'Reilly, and a 40-year-old man identified as YZ continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty to the alleged false imprisonment and intentional serious harm of Kevin Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan, on September 17, 2019. Prosecution counsel Sean Guerin SC presented evidence from Dr Edward Connolly of Forensic Science Ireland, who testified that DNA matching Mr Lunney was found on the sliding door of a Renault Kangoo van, while DNA matching Mr Redmond was found on bars behind the driver's seat. The prosecution clarified that it does not allege Mr Lunney was in the van, but that his blood was transferred there by someone who had contact with him. Dr Connolly also confirmed that swabs from a horse trailer at a yard owned by Mr O'Reilly yielded a DNA profile matching Mr Lunney. The court heard that the van was destroyed in a fire in early 2020, limiting further testing. Defence counsel raised questions regarding prior forensic sweeps and the visibility of stains. The trial is ongoing and will continue on Monday.
In the murder trial of Daniel Murtagh, an eyewitness, Amela Kulenovic, testified that Murtagh made a "growling noise" and behaved "vicious with rage" while striking his ex‑partner Nadine Lott in her Arklow apartment. She described seeing him crouched over Lott, pressing his body weight on her and holding her neck and shoulders. Kulenovic also reported that Lott was unconscious, with blood covering the area, and that Murtagh left the building in Lott's car. The prosecution alleged that Lott suffered severe blunt‑force trauma and stab wounds, dying three days later in Dublin. Murtagh, aged 34, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury is to decide his intent and mental state at the time of the attack. The trial is before Justice Michael MacGrath.
A forensic scientist told the Special Criminal Court that she discovered blood inside a horse box at a yard in Ballinagh, Co Cavan during an examination in September 2019. Dr Yvonne O'Dowd of Forensic Science Ireland used luminol detection to identify the presence of blood to the right of the door and subsequently confirmed through laboratory testing that the blood was human. The yard at Drumbrade belonged to Luke O'Reilly, one of four men accused in connection with the abduction and assault of businessman Kevin Lunney. O'Reilly, Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, and a man referred to as YZ have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm on September 17, 2019. The trial, heard before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, continues. Lawyers for the accused are challenging the admissibility of evidence relating to the yard and associated items.
Josh Henney, 19, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to killing a protected animal at his address on March 23, 2020. The court heard that Henney allegedly kicked a 10-month-old dog, named Sam, in the underbelly twice, causing fatal injuries including liver fractures and blood loss. Henney, of North William Street, has 36 previous convictions and is currently serving a two-year sentence for violent disorder, with the final six months suspended. Judge Melanie Greally described the attack as "despicable" but accepted it was committed out of anger without intent to kill. She indicated she envisages extending Henney's prison stay. The judge ordered a report from the Probation Service and adjourned the matter for finalisation to October 26. The case remains pending this procedural step.
In a High Court case, Curzon Livestock Limited, a Cork‑registered company that exports livestock to Libya and other North African countries, challenged a government ban on all live animal exports during July and August 2021. The company argued the ban had no legal basis, was irrational, unreasonable, unlawful and beyond the Minister's powers, and that it ignored the safeguards it normally applies. It sought orders to quash the ban and declarations of its illegality. The court had earlier required the application to be made on notice to the respondents. In March, the court heard that the Minister had issued a hot‑weather notification banning all live animal exports to North Africa for the two months, a ban also confirmed in other communications. The case was adjourned to October after the parties reached a confidential compromise, with the court noting the action had been settled on confidential terms. The company's legal team was David Holland SC of Cantillon solicitors.