A 58‑year‑old married father of seven, Denis Aylmer, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexually assaulting a 21‑year‑old university student outside a nightclub on 28 April 2018. Witnesses saw Aylmer pull the victim's penis up and down while his head was close to the student's penis, and the victim was later found unconscious and unresponsive. Aylmer, who had been drinking and had taken a line of cocaine that night, claimed the victim had consented to oral sex before the assault. He had no prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, with 16 months suspended, and imposed strict conditions including probation supervision, sex‑offender interventions, and engagement with addiction services. The sentence reflected Aylmer's guilty plea, lack of previous convictions, remorse, and the impact on the victim, who was not present at sentencing.
Jason Paget, 35, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four and a half years in prison for offences committed in 2021. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a three-year sentence for the burglary of the Marble Arch Pub in Drimnagh and using a car without consent on August 12, 2021. Paget pleaded guilty to these charges. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, taking possession of a vehicle without consent, and dangerous driving on December 18, 2021, at Longs Place, Dublin 8. For these counts, the judge imposed two-year sentences on the assault and vehicle taking counts to run concurrently with each other and consecutively to the burglary sentence. The final six months of the two-year sentence were suspended on strict conditions. A mandatory two-year driving disqualification was also imposed. The court noted Paget was on bail for the pub incident when he committed the December offences, which included a high-speed chase and an assault on Garda Dara Higgins, resulting in a fractured hand. Separately, Charles Darcy, 34, pleaded guilty to the same burglary count and possession of a firearm at Longs Place. Darcy's sentencing is adjourned to next month. Conor McGregor is identified as the owner of the pub.
Darren Thompson, aged 29, had his 2017 gang‑rape conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal after his lawyers discovered that the complainant had made allegations against other men that were either unfounded or not followed up. The conviction had been based on the claim that Thompson and two others raped a woman who had been celebrating her 21st birthday in a nightclub. Thompson was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, and had already served his term by the time the appeal was heard. In November 2022 Thompson applied for a certificate declaring a miscarriage of justice, arguing that key information—specifically Tusla documents showing the complainant's other complaints—had not been disclosed to the defence. The Court of Appeal, hearing the application, noted that the omission prevented the defence from cross‑examining the complainant on those matters. The judge reserved judgment on the application. Darren Thompson pleaded not guilty.
In November 2022 the High Court heard that the remaining publicans who had brought test actions against FBD over the insurer's failure to pay business‑disruption claims caused by Covid‑19 had settled. The two test actions brought by Aberken, trading as Sinnott's Bar, and Hyper Trust Ltd, trading as The Leopardstown Inn, were resolved after extensive out‑of‑court talks. The court is now considering FBD's submissions for reliefs arising from the settlement agreement, including clarifications on legal principles that may affect other pubs and restaurants with similar policies. FBD seeks declarations from the court regarding the subsidies paid by the State to businesses forced to close during the pandemic. The hearing of FBD's bid for relief will continue next week. The other two pub owners who had taken test actions – Lemon & Duke and Sean's Bar – had already resolved most of their claims, with only legal costs remaining.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Gerard Hutch, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney, all of whom pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. Prosecutors alleged that a silver Ford Transit van containing six people, including three in tactical garda clothing, escaped the Regency Hotel using parked vehicles. Detective Garda Alan Crummey testified that Murphy, a taxi driver, admitted to purchasing his Toyota Avensis from Eddie 'Neddie' Hutch and driving into Buckingham Village on the morning of the shooting. A swipe card found in Murphy's car was identified as one of four missing from a box, with its sequence number adjacent to a card recovered at Patsy Hutch Senior's home. Murphy told gardai his vehicle could have been 'cloned' and claimed he was at the location to collect money from Eddie Hutch. The court heard that Murphy identified himself and his taxi in CCTV footage from the Maxol Garage and The Beachcomber Pub. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded.
Two of the four pub owners who had successfully challenged FBD's refusal to pay business‑disruption claims caused by Covid‑19 have settled most of their outstanding legal issues with the insurer, including the amount of damages owed. The settlements, whose details are confidential, cover the bulk of the quantum of losses. However, the other two pub owners, Hyper Trust Ltd (The Leopardstown Inn) and Aberken (Sinnott's Bar), still have disputes over the quantification of their losses pending before the High Court later this month. Mr Justice Denis McDonald, who ruled last year that FBD's policy covered losses from pandemic‑related closures, expressed disappointment that the remaining cases had not yet been resolved. The judge urged the parties to continue working toward a solution and adjourned the outstanding matters to a later date. The case remains an ongoing test action with implications for over 100 bars and restaurants.
Patrick O'Sullivan, aged 76, pleaded guilty to a vicious, unprovoked stabbing of 57‑year‑old Cormac Daly outside a Cork pub on 20 July 2020. The original ten‑year sentence imposed by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin at Cork Circuit Court in September 2021 was based on a headline of 12 years. O'Sullivan appealed, arguing the judge failed to consider his age and mitigating factors. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case on 18 October 2022, reduced the sentence by two years, from ten to eight. The three‑judge panel, led by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, found the original judge had erred in not giving sufficient weight to O'Sullivan's age. The reduction was deemed within the permissible 15‑30% range, and the court noted the guilty plea and the fact that the case was resolved in under a year.
Daniel Fitzpatrick, aged 32, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for stabbing three men outside a Dublin pub on 9 September 2015. The attacks occurred on Oscar Traynor Road, where Fitzpatrick, who had previously been convicted of manslaughter in Birmingham, had engaged in an argument with other men. The three victims approached the group to intervene; one suffered tendon damage and a large scar on the back of his head, while the other two were treated for stab wounds and have since recovered. No victim impact reports were presented. Garda Alan Roche noted that a metal bar with a pointed end was found near the scene, presumed to be the weapon. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the three and a half year term for the most serious assault and two concurrent two‑year sentences for the other two attacks, back‑dating the sentences to July 2020 when Fitzpatrick first entered custody. Daniel Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty.
Criminals Jason Paget (35) and Charles Darcy (34) were arrested by Gardaí after breaking into Conor McGregor's Marble Arch pub in Drimnagh on 12 August 2021. Both pleaded guilty to one count of burglary and to using a car without the owner's consent. Darcy, who has 43 convictions including an attempted murder sentence, was initially arrested for trespass after hiding in a bush near the pub. He later claimed he was visiting a married woman on the street. Paget, with 15 prior convictions, was found intoxicated, unsteady, and with a head cut; he was also charged with a public order offence. Gardaí found DNA linking Paget to a black hat left at the scene. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case to 3 November, ordering probation reports and urine analyses for both men.
Two semi‑professional footballers from Scotland, Liam Callaghan and Craig Johnston, both aged 27, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and obstruction in Dublin City Centre on 8 December 2019. The defendants, who are cousins and play for Montrose FC, attacked a victim after an altercation at the nightclub Xico on Baggot Street. The victim was punched in the jaw, struck with a traffic cone and a box, and suffered facial injuries, a fractured eye socket, and a broken ankle that required three surgeries. Garda Emmet Hayde testified that the defendants fled but were apprehended. The court heard the victim's impact statement, noting ruined Christmas, depression, anxiety, missed work opportunities and an economic loss of over €6,000. The defendants offered €2,000 as a gesture of remorse, which the victim accepted, but Judge Orla Crowe said this was insufficient. The sentencing was adjourned to 20 January 2023, with the court seeking a more concrete expression of remorse.
Christopher Slator, 37, of Cabra, Dublin 7, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin 1 on April 25, 2016. Slator, who pleaded not guilty, became the third man convicted of the killing. The court rejected his defence that his DNA on a mask and runners was innocent, finding it the only rational explanation for his involvement. Slator has 59 previous convictions. In November 2020, David Hunter, 43, of London, was jailed for life for the same murder. Eamon Cumberton, of Dublin 7, was also jailed for life in 2019. Martin Aylmer, 36, of Marino, Dublin 3, pleaded guilty to buying mobile phones for the gang and was sentenced to just under four years. This sentence was later increased to six years by the Court of Appeal. The court described the murder as a planned operation involving at least three people. Barr was shot seven times, five in the head, during a raffle event. The court noted Slator and Cumberton fled to Dubai the day after the shooting before returning to Ireland a month later.
The Special Criminal Court has convicted Christopher Slator of the murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin 1 on April 25, 2016. Slator, of Cabra, Dublin 7, had pleaded not guilty, but the non-jury court rejected his defence that his DNA on a mask and runners found in a car had an innocent explanation. The court found the DNA evidence sufficient to prove his guilt, noting that his flight to Dubai with Eamon Cumberton the day after the shooting was highly suspicious. Slator will be sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment later today. This conviction follows previous life sentences imposed on David Hunter in 2020 and Eamon Cumberton in 2019 for the same murder. Additionally, Martin Aylmer pleaded guilty to buying mobile phones for the gang involved in the killing; he was initially sentenced to just under four years, a term later increased to six years by the Court of Appeal. The court highlighted the chaotic nature of the shooting, where Barr was shot seven times, and the unusual circumstances of the defendants' travel arrangements as supporting evidence for the conviction.
Stephen Hearns, a former nightclub doorman, was found in possession of a video showing a girl of about 13 years old fully naked and engaging in explicit sexual behaviour. The video was sent to him in a 2015 WhatsApp group chat that also included other participants. Garda Stephen Kinneavy testified that Hearns had expressed liking the video and requested more. The footage surfaced during a global child‑abuse investigation that led to a search of a property in Swords, Co. Dublin, and the seizure of several mobile phones and computers. The operation ultimately resulted in the 2018 conviction of the primary suspect, Maddy Grant. Hearns admitted to joining the group but denied any physical contact with children. He was given a fully suspended one‑year prison sentence, and his security licence was revoked.
The Workplace Relations Commission heard that Guinness delivery workers signed a joint declaration that unscheduled keg deliveries were common and continued after 15 colleagues were dismissed. Eleven dismissed workers, including Stanislav Gradinaru, have lodged unfair dismissal claims against STL Logistics, Diageo's subcontractor. The dismissal followed covert surveillance by Diageo security at a Dublin pub, where the company alleged unscheduled, undocumented deliveries between December 2018 and February 2019. HR consultant Brendan McGrath said 20 such deliveries were observed and 70 customers interviewed, none explaining why Guinness trucks stopped at the pub. Gradinaru admitted an unscheduled drop on 15 February 2019, claiming it was at another pub's request, but denied any breach of duty. The adjudicating officer noted his evidence was clear and complete, and a decision on all 11 claims is expected later this year.
John Fitzpatrick, 39, of The Gardens, Carrickmines Manor, Dublin, pleaded guilty to driving away from a car accident involving an injury, careless driving and driving without insurance after he ran over a drunk man who had been lying in the road on September 6, 2019. The victim, intoxicated after leaving a pub on Cork Street, was walking into oncoming traffic when a bus swerved away and Fitzpatrick, driving behind the bus, did not see him and struck him. Fitzpatrick's daughter screamed after the collision. He was uninsured and had 45 prior convictions, including 11 for road traffic offences and five for lack of insurance. He voluntarily returned to the scene the next day and admitted guilt. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to two years and four months' imprisonment, suspended in full for three years, and disqualified him from driving for 12 years.
William Scully, 49, of Donabate, pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of criminal activity after admitting he received €1,000 to allow his bank account to be used for a scheme that cost a victim €5,000. He also admitted possession of nine cannabis plants at his home. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year suspended sentence for the proceeds charge, taking the cannabis charge into account, and required Scully to behave well and enter a bond to keep the peace. The court found it unlikely that Scully was the author of the scheme. The cannabis plants were ordered destroyed. No victim impact statement was made, and the court noted Scully's personal difficulties and prior convictions. The sentence was suspended on the condition of good behaviour.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Patrick Price (27) and Clive Bass (29) were sentenced to six years' imprisonment for possession of a firearm and the use of a shotgun to frighten a group outside the Buzz nightclub on 28 April 2019. CCTV showed a disagreement between Price and a group of people; Price was removed from the club and threatened the bouncer, saying he would shoot them. After leaving in an Audi A3, the car returned to the scene and four shots were fired from the backseat, striking a man 30 metres away and causing minor structural damage to the club's smoking area. Gardaí seized gunshot residue on Bass's clothing and a shotgun case in the car, which was registered to Price's mother. Both men pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm; Price had no convictions at the time, while Bass had 41 previous convictions.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a 20‑year‑old named Dean Kerrie, who lived in Portarlington, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 25‑year‑old Jack Power, a fisherman from Dunmore East, who was stabbed to death at Kerrie's house on 26 July 2018. The prosecution presented evidence that Power had left a pub intoxicated, damaged his car's wing mirror, and believed Kerrie was responsible. Power then went to Kerrie's house, where a confrontation occurred. Kerrie allegedly stabbed Power with a large kitchen knife, after which Power collapsed outside and was pronounced dead at University Hospital Waterford. A post‑mortem found a 13‑cm stab wound as the cause of death. The prosecution also highlighted two 999 calls: one from Kerrie's mother reporting broken windows, and another from Kerrie admitting to stabbing Power but claiming he did not intend to kill.
In June 2022, the Court of Appeal struck out an appeal against the conviction and sentence of Declan Byrne, a 35‑year‑old former resident of Spencer Dock, Sheriff Street, Dublin. Byrne had been jailed for eight years for his role in a series of "vicious and savage assaults" outside a nightclub in Ashbourne, Co. Meath, on 1 August 2016. He pleaded not guilty to one count of violent disorder, one count of causing serious harm, and three counts of causing harm, but a jury at Trim Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty in March 2020. He received a nine‑year sentence with 12 months suspended. Byrne, now in Midlands Prison, had previously sought appeals that were adjourned when he changed counsel. The latest appeal hearing was scheduled for that day, but his new barrister, Keith Spencer BL, requested another adjournment to review CCTV footage and notes from Byrne's former legal team.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 2 June 2022, Michael Bowman SC argued that DNA evidence presented by the State does not prove that Christopher Slator was one of the three men involved in the murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub. Bowman highlighted that Slator's DNA was found on a mask and a pair of runners in the getaway car, but also on other masks belonging to unknown individuals. He cited the forensic scientist's admission that secondary transfer could explain the DNA presence and that the DNA does not prove Slator wore the mask. Bowman also questioned the prosecution's inference that Slator's DNA indicated his presence in the car at the time of the shooting, noting that witnesses described a taller man than Slator's height. He further challenged the prosecution's reliance on a same‑day Bangkok flight booking as evidence of guilt, arguing it was an unusual but not incriminating travel pattern. Christopher Slator pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Dominic McGinn SC argued that DNA found on a mask and a runner inside a getaway car was sufficient to convict Christopher Slator of murdering Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in 2016. McGinn noted that the DNA matched Slator's profile and that the same items were linked to the car used by the three gunmen who fled the scene. He also cited evidence that Slator and an accomplice booked a flight to Bangkok the day after the shooting, with no luggage, suggesting a planned escape. McGinn emphasized that no reasonable explanation for the DNA evidence existed, and that the injuries sustained by Barr proved the act was murder. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC was scheduled to present his closing remarks the following day. The case remains at the non‑jury trial stage. Christopher Slator pleaded not guilty.
Guinness maker Diageo conducted covert surveillance and interviewed over 70 publicans as part of an investigation into keg deliveries, which led to 15 workers being dismissed by its delivery subcontractor, Shannon Transport & Warehousing Company Unlimited (STL Logistics). Eleven drivers and helpers, some with over two decades of service, are challenging their dismissals in complaints to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The fourth case, involving lorry driver Lukasz Tymicki, was heard remotely. Tymicki, who had 12 years of service, was dismissed in May 2019 after allegations of unscheduled and undocumented keg deliveries to a Dublin pub were raised. STL Logistics claimed that photographs from covert surveillance were used in the disciplinary process. Tymicki denied the accuracy of the photographs and stated that he was not presented with the attached statements during the disciplinary process. He and a colleague were questioned by STL Logistics' management, who suggested that other pubs may have been involved in a keg swap arrangement.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Nigel McEvoy, 46, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to former GAA star Paddy Keogh, 74, after Keogh asked him to leave his daughter alone. McEvoy, who has 14 prior convictions including nine public order offences, attacked Keogh at Mercantile Bar on 24 November 2018. The assault involved McEvoy grabbing Keogh from behind, punching him, and then placing his foot on Keogh's neck, causing severe injury. Keogh, who has early onset dementia and lives in a nursing home, suffered cuts, swelling, and a knocked‑out tooth. McEvoy, diagnosed with schizophrenia, was remanded on bail pending sentencing on 5 October. The judge described the attack as "shocking" and noted its extremely severe impact on Keogh.
A High Court judge, Mr Justice Charles Meenan, ruled that a challenge brought by former Stardust manager Eamon Butterly, which seeks to prevent a new inquest from potentially finding unlawful killing, is not yet ready for hearing. The judge noted that pre‑trial exchanges of legal documents and submissions have not yet taken place, and that once these are completed a hearing date will be set. Butterly, who owned the Artane nightclub that burned on 13/14 February 1981, causing 48 deaths and 128 injuries, has applied for judicial review against the coroner, Dr Myra Cullinane, and the Minister for Justice. He seeks orders to prohibit the coroner from considering an unlawful‑killing verdict, to quash the coroner's refusal to rule it out, and to declare that such a verdict is not permissible under the Coroners Acts. The coroner and the families of the deceased oppose the application, arguing it is premature.
Mícheál Ó Leidhin, 38, a journalist with RTÉ, was convicted of sexual assault for an incident that occurred on the night of 13 May 2018. The alleged assault took place at his former home in south Dublin after the victim, who was drinking with a friend, met Ó Leidhin at a pub. They travelled to his flat, where they kissed and engaged in consensual foreplay. The victim later fell asleep; Ó Leidhin allegedly attempted to continue sexual activity while she was unconscious, groping her breasts and positioning himself on top of her. She reported the assault to Gardaí in April 2019. Ó Leidhin denied the offence initially but has now accepted the jury verdict. He has no prior convictions and was suspended from RTÉ. The victim's impact statement described lasting trauma, depression, and suicidal thoughts. The court adjourned sentencing to the following Monday and remanded Ó Leidhin on continuing bail.
The Special Criminal Court heard witness testimony during the ongoing trial of Christopher Slator, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin 1 on April 25, 2016. Slator is the third defendant to face trial for this offense. Witnesses described a scene of "chaos and screaming" after two masked men entered the pub, where Barr was shot seven times. The State's case, outlined by prosecutor Dominic McGinn SC, links Slator to the crime through DNA profiles found on a mask and gloves recovered from a burning Audi on Walsh Road. The prosecution also noted that Eamon Cumberton, jailed for life in 2019, and David Hunter, jailed for life in November 2020, are connected to the case. Hunter has since appealed his conviction, placing his matter at the appeal stage. The trial, presided over by Justice Tara Burns, will resume next Tuesday.
A 27‑year‑old man, whose identity is protected, was convicted of a single count of rape on 15 November 2021 after being charged on 7 November 2018. He pleaded not guilty but accepted the jury verdict. At his sentencing hearing, he maintained he was unaware the victim had not consented. The victim, aged 21 at the time, described the man as a close friend and protector in a victim impact statement read by Eilis Brennan SC. She said the rape shattered her, turning her from a confident, outgoing person into a cautious one, and caused psychological damage, though no physical injury occurred. The incident took place in her bedroom after the man had returned from a pub and was making food. The man stopped when she said "No, I don't want that", and they both fell asleep. The victim later told a friend, and the man admitted the act in text exchanges.
Six bar staff at the Foxhound Inn in Kilbarrack, Dublin 5, have been ruled entitled to redundancy payments totaling over €76,000 by the Workplace Relations Commission. The pub, which is currently being sold after the owner placed the operating company into receivership, was the location of a scene in the 1996 film adaptation of Roddy Doyle's The Van. The employees, including Derek Hyland, Kaytlyn Hyland, Billy Hyland, Jacqueline Mulligan, Ann Fulham, and Bernadine Murphy, filed complaints under the Redundancy Payments Act against Carnoet Ltd, trading as the Foxhound Inn. Their claims were upheld in decisions published by the WRC. Derek Hyland stated that he was given a claim form for statutory redundancy by a bookkeeper in early 2021 but was told by his employer, Jim Coughlan, that he was advised not to sign it.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 38‑year‑old man was found guilty by a majority jury of sexually assaulting a woman while she slept. The defendant had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault at a south Dublin location on the early morning of 13 May 2018. The complainant, who was with a roommate, met the defendant at a city centre pub on 12 May 2018 and later at his home. After initial kissing and a conversation, they moved to his bedroom where the defendant digitally penetrated her and performed oral sex. She refused to perform oral sex on him and he demanded ejaculation inside her. She fell asleep, woke to find him on top of her and groping her breasts, and told him to stop. She stated she had not consented to any activity while asleep. The jury deliberated for just under eight and a half hours before returning a guilty verdict.
In 2019, Marian Lingurar Jnr, then 16, was sentenced to nine years for the manslaughter of publican John Kenny, 56, during a robbery in Oughterard, Co Galway. The attack, on 25 September 2011, left Kenny severely beaten, tied, and left to die in a ladies' toilet. Lingurar Jnr, who had worked as a doorman for a week, was part of a gang that robbed the pub after closing. In April 2022, he appealed the sentence, arguing the judge failed to consider his youth and the lack of evidence that he personally restrained or assaulted Kenny. The Court of Appeal noted the crime was a "common design" and that Lingurar Jnr bore responsibility, but the appeal was based on the judge's handling of his age. The appeal was still pending at the time of the hearing. The case highlighted the complexities of sentencing juveniles for violent robbery and manslaughter.
The Central Criminal Court has opened a trial for a 38‑year‑old man, who cannot be named, who has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. The alleged offences took place at an unknown residence in south Dublin on the early hours of 13 May 2018. Prosecutor Michael Delaney SC presented the case that the accused met the victim at a city‑centre pub on 12 May, where they later went to another bar, kissed and then the accused invited the victim to his home. The victim, who was sleeping, allegedly woke to find the accused on top of her, groping her breasts, and later again on top of her engaging in sexual activity. She claimed she resisted, pushed him off, and said the act amounted to rape. The accused allegedly apologized, claimed drunkenness, and said he was ashamed.
The Hole in the Wall pub in north Dublin has been ordered to pay €26,000 in redundancy compensation to a former barman, Ian O'Donovan, after a ruling that he was within his rights to refuse redeployment to part-time restaurant work during the pandemic. O'Donovan, who had over 21 years of service with the pub, was made redundant in July 2020. During a redundancy meeting, his trade union representative was ejected before the company proposed offering him two eight-hour shifts per week at €15 an hour, which he rejected. The Workplace Relations Commission upheld his complaint under the Redundancy Payments Act 1967, finding that the pub's offer did not constitute suitable alternative employment. The commission ruled that O'Donovan acted reasonably in refusing the offer and ordered the payment of statutory redundancy, calculated at two weeks' pay per year of service, capped at €600 per week, plus an additional week.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a friend of a 17‑year‑old girl alleged to have been raped by four men testified that she did not think the girl was in a bad state when they separated. The friend said she and the girl, along with two other women, had gone to a bar at about 10 pm on Stephen's Day 2016, then to a nightclub around 12 am, and that the girl left the club around 2 am when her father arrived. She reported that the girl's phone fell into a toilet but she could not recall any problem with it afterwards. The friend also described a later phone call from the girl, which she could not answer, and a text from another number saying the girl had taken a shared taxi. The friend concluded that if the girl had been drunk she would not have left alone.
A senior High Court judge has granted former Stardust manager Eamon Butterly permission to bring a judicial review challenge aimed at preventing a new inquest into the 1981 Stardust fire from considering an unlawful‑killing verdict. Butterly, who owned the nightclub with his family, claims that the new hearing could wrongly target him for such a verdict. The families of the 48 victims, who have opposed his application, argue that the challenge is premature, especially as it is launched weeks before the inquest is set to begin. The judge, who is not yet ruling on the merits, noted that time is of the essence and that the proceedings should be heard as soon as possible. The challenge seeks an order to prohibit the coroner from considering an unlawful‑killing verdict, to quash the coroner's refusal to rule it out, and to declare that such a verdict cannot be lawfully returned under the Coroners Acts.
In a High Court case involving FBD and Irish publicans, Mr Justice Denis McDonald urged parties to resolve the unresolved quantum of losses owed to pub owners who had successfully challenged FBD's refusal to pay out on business‑disruption claims caused by Covid‑19. The judge noted that last year he had found that FBD's policy covered losses incurred when pubs closed due to the pandemic, and that he had issued subsequent judgments clarifying issues between the parties. However, the amount of compensation the publicans are entitled to remains undetermined. Mr Justice McDonald suggested that experts from each side meet without solicitors or clients to agree on figures, and that forensic accountants could help settle the dispute. He said he would not impose orders on how the parties engage outside court, but he wants progress before the next court appearance next month.
In a Waterford case, the Workplace Relations Commission found that a bar worker, Claire O'Neill, was dismissed by text after she raised concerns about sexual harassment by two patrons. The commission held that the pub owners failed to protect her from overt and hostile sexual harassment and that her dismissal was linked to her complaints. The adjudicating officer, Patsy Doyle, concluded that gender discrimination played a role and ordered the owners to pay €30,000 – €25,000 for discrimination and €5,000 for discriminatory dismissal. The case highlighted the lack of robust employment policies at the pub and the owners' failure to investigate the harassment allegations. The ruling emphasized that the owners' decision to terminate O'Neill's employment was careless and callous, and that the workers' conduct was not a mitigating factor in the decision. The decision was based on the evidence presented at the hearing and the commission's assessment of the circumstances. The ruling was made on 25 May.
Sean O'Neill, a 19‑year‑old from Carton Court, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to assault after refusing a cigarette in a beer garden. On 18 October 2020, outside Lombard's pub on Pearse Street, he approached two men in the smoking area, asked for a cigarette and was refused. He then emptied his beer can, tore it up and used it to cut one man above the eye. CCTV showed O'Neill, heavily intoxicated and unsteady, lunging forward and striking the victim. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to nine months imprisonment, fully suspended under strict conditions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Damien Gray, aged 25, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after punching a 14‑year‑old boy on James Joyce Street on 28 March 2018. The incident followed a verbal exchange after Gray had attended a friend's funeral earlier that day and had been drinking in a nearby pub. The boy, who was returning to his hotel with his mother, was punched in the face, knocked to the ground and later received stitches at hospital. Judge Melanie Greally noted the assault was not "particularly lengthy" but had a significant physical and psychological impact on the victim. Gray, who has 71 prior convictions, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions: nine months of probation, compliance with the Probation Service, and payment of €1,200 to the victim or a charity if he declines to accept it.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a jury may have to consider self‑defence in the trial of Dean Kerrie, then 17, accused of murdering 25‑year‑old Jack Power in his home in Shanakiel, Dunmore East, on 26 July 2018. Kerrie pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, led by Michael Delaney SC, presented evidence that Power, intoxicated after a night out at a local pub, drove to a cul‑de‑sac near Kerrie's house, where he was allegedly agitated over damage to his car's wing mirror. Witness Christopher Lee testified that Power entered Kerrie's house, a scuffle ensued, and Kerrie stabbed Power in the chest with a knife. Power collapsed outside, was taken to hospital, and died from a 13‑cm stab wound. A post‑mortem found blunt‑force trauma to Power's head and a high alcohol level.
Anthony Casserly, aged 25, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended, after pleading guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of gangster Wayne Whelan, 42, who was shot and left in a burning car on 18 November 2019. Casserly had lured Whelan to a pub under the pretense of watching a soccer match, using their friendship to lower Whelan's guard. The Central Criminal Court heard that Whelan had survived a previous shooting attempt in September 2019 and was cautious about his movements. Casserly's admission of guilt, lack of prior serious convictions and remorse were considered mitigating factors. The judge noted that Casserly's role was an aggravating factor because he used a trusted friendship to facilitate the murder. The sentence was back‑dated to 12 December 2019. The case also involved Christopher Moran, who pleaded guilty to being the getaway driver. The court did not consider any further appeals or subsequent proceedings.
In a High Court decision, Mr Justice Denis McDonald ruled that Dublin pubs closed under the August 2020 early‑closing requirement due to Covid‑19 are entitled to indemnity under their FBD insurance policies. The judge clarified that the term "closure" covers partial shutdowns of premises, not only total closures, and that the policy applies to government‑imposed closures triggered by outbreaks within a 25‑mile radius. The ruling applies to four plaintiffs – Sinnott's Bar, The Leopardstown Inn, Lemon & Duke and Sean's Bar – and confirms that losses incurred during the relevant periods (June‑September 2020 and December 2020) may be calculated by a methodology reflecting each pub's circumstances. Staff wage claims were partially successful for three pubs, while the Leopardstown Inn's claim was dismissed. FBD is barred from pursuing under‑insurance arguments, and the case will return to court next month for further proceedings.
A 23‑year‑old Stephen Butler was jailed for four years after he killed his 48‑year‑old father John Butler during a fist‑fight that erupted moments after the pair left a pub in Portlaw, Co. Waterford. Butler told gardai he did not intend to kill his father and claimed the fight was simply a row. He pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted manslaughter. After an eight‑day trial in October 2021, the jury accepted his defence and he was remanded for sentencing. At the hearing, Mr Justice Paul Burns noted the lack of premeditation, no weapon, and Butler's remorse. The judge sentenced Butler to five years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended for five years, citing his lack of prior convictions, early guilty plea, cooperation with investigators and genuine remorse. The case highlighted the tragic impact on Butler's sister Katilyn, who lost her father and now struggles to forgive her brother.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Gheorghe Morar, aged 36, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, back‑dated to 15 May 2020, for sexual assault of an 18‑year‑old woman he met in a nightclub. Morar admitted that he and the woman were touching each other's genitals and kissing, and that he believed she was consenting, though he acknowledged it was a possibility she was not. He claimed he was not more sober than her and that she was heavily intoxicated. The court noted that the woman could not give full consent due to her drunken state. Morar had previously denied the offence but pleaded guilty on the basis of recklessness. He had no prior convictions in Ireland except a minor public order matter in Spain. The judge reduced the headline sentence to two years, citing sincere remorse and lack of prior offending.
Alan Wilson, aged 42, was sentenced to ten years in prison by Ms Justice Tara Burns of the Special Criminal Court for his role in a 2010 murder conspiracy that led to a shooting outside the Player's Lounge pub. Wilson admitted to conspiracy to murder persons unknown on 26 July 2010, and to possession of a .38 calibre Smith & Wesson revolver and a .32 calibre Zastava pistol between 24 and 26 July 2010, with the inference that he possessed them for an unlawful purpose. He had pleaded not guilty to the attempted murders of Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett and Austin Purcell, charges that were later dropped. Wilson had previously pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to murder in 2019 and had a six‑year sentence for an earlier conspiracy. He was found not guilty of the 2008 murder of teenager Marioara Rostas.
Laurence Grocott, aged 38, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for an unprovoked assault at Capel's Bar in Dublin on 12 October 2018. He pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm to a man. CCTV footage showed Grocott approaching the victim and his friend, punching the victim several times to the head and face, leaving a one‑inch scar on the victim's jaw. The victim and his friend were drinking when Grocott and his friends offered them drugs; they declined and moved seats, after which Grocott attacked without warning. The victim tried to defend himself and was taken to hospital. Judge Melanie Greally imposed the 18‑month sentence to run concurrently with Grocott's existing nine‑year term for drug offences and a machine‑gun attack, noting he is making progress in custody and is now drug‑free. Grocott has a history of various jobs and is a grandfather.
A 28‑year‑old European karate champion, Bagrat Kudzievi, was sentenced to six years in prison for two counts of sexual assault against 18‑year‑old Rachel McElroy on the night of 19 October 2019 in Cork city centre. The assaults took place outside a nightclub on a busy street. McElroy, who had consumed a small amount of alcohol, was taken by Kudzievi to a secluded location where he lifted and carried her across a bridge. CCTV footage captured the incident, and security staff intervened, arresting him. Kudzievi denied the charges and later claimed the activity was consensual. McElroy's victim impact statement described the attacks as degrading and left her feeling empty, disgusted and lacking confidence. The judge, Justice Tara Burns, noted the aggravating factors of the assault's public nature, the victim's intoxication and the degrading behaviour. Bagrat Kudzievi was convicted.
Alan Wilson, aged 42, is on trial for the attempted murder of three men outside the Player's Lounge pub in Dublin. He is alleged to be a member of the Kinahan organised crime gang. Retired Detective Superintendent William Johnson, former head of the National Surveillance Unit, testified that on 13 October 2017 he authorised the placement of an audio listening device in a Volkswagen Caddy believed to be used by Wilson and other gang members. Johnson said the device was needed to monitor conversations to prevent further crimes. The prosecution presented recordings from 2017 in which Wilson allegedly admitted to shooting the three men in 2010 and expressed amazement at one survivor's resilience. Wilson has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murders and to possession of firearms and ammunition. The trial is before the Special Criminal Court, presided by Ms Justice Tara Burns, with Judges James Faughnan and Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin.
In the Special Criminal Court, Garda National Surveillance Unit members testified that they observed Alan Wilson, 42, at several Dublin locations in September and October 2017, including in a white Nissan Primastar van. The evidence, presented by prosecution counsel John Byrne SC, includes a recording in which Wilson allegedly says, "Remember the shooting at the Player's Lounge, I done that." Wilson is charged with attempting to murder Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett and Austin Purcell at The Player's Lounge pub on 26 July 2010, and with possession of firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial is proceeding before Justice Tara Burns, with Judges James Faughnan and Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin presiding.
Bagrat Kudzievi, a 28‑year‑old Georgian national who had been living in Ireland under a false Polish identity, was convicted in October 2021 of two counts of sexual assault against Rachel McElroy. The assaults occurred on the night of 19 October 2019 in Cork city centre after the pair had gone to a nightclub together. CCTV footage showed McElroy falling inside the club and later struggling to walk outside. Kudzievi met her in the smoking area, then took her to an alcove where he sexually assaulted her. He later lifted her and carried her across a bridge to a secluded location while people recorded them on mobile phones. McElroy, who was drinking with friends, gave a victim impact statement describing her confusion, emotional distress and the effect on her studies. The court adjourned sentencing to 22 November 2021. The case was heard by the Central Criminal Court.
In a Special Criminal Court session on 10 November 2021, Judge Tara Burns welcomed a group of transition year students and cautioned them that the court would soon show "graphic" CCTV footage of a shooting involving three men. She advised the students to be prepared to leave if they felt upset. The footage, which the students viewed, depicted the attempted murders of Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett and Austin Purcell at The Player's Lounge Public House on 26 July 2010. Mr Alan Wilson, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to the attempted murders and to possession of firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life. Detective Garda David Dunne presented CCTV evidence from Mount Street, St Stephen's Lane, St Stephen's Place and the pub, showing a van and a Volkswagen Golf at the time of the shooting, the arrival of a man who discharged two firearms, and the subsequent departure of two vehicles.