An 18‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to raping his half‑brother when he was 14, in offences that took place between November 2014 and January 2015 at a family home in County Clare. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of defilement of his half‑sister, who was about eight, for attempts to engage in anal sex between March and May 2015 in a midland county. The court ordered a Probation Service assessment, continued bail until 21 October, and the preparation of victim impact reports with a guardian's assistance.
A 41‑year‑old man was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for three counts of sexual assault against a 14‑year‑old girl who was invited to his home for sleepovers in October 2016. The judge suspended the final six months on condition of probation supervision. The victim, now 16, described feeling "dirty, depressed and angry," having self‑harmled and experiencing suicidal thoughts, and said her parents had been deeply affected, with her father unable to work for three months. The man had denied the charges but was found guilty by a jury. He had no prior convictions, had represented Ireland in sport, and was described by his defence as an "aberration" in his life. He will be registered as a sex offender and subject to post‑release supervision. The sentence was back‑dated to the date he entered custody.
In 2017, Egyptian national Mohamed Okda, aged 33, was convicted of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault after a 2014 incident in Dublin. He received an 11‑year sentence with the final year suspended. The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction on 18 July 2019, ordering a retrial because the trial judge failed to instruct the jury on the presumption of innocence. Justice John Edwards noted that the omission was a fatal flaw rendering the trial unsatisfactory. Okda was remanded in custody pending the retrial. The victim, a married mother visiting Dublin with friends, was found drunk and lost, and after Okda offered help she was taken to his flat where the assault occurred. She fled the flat, was rescued by a taxi driver, and reported the incident to Gardaí. The case remains pending retrial. Mohamed Okda pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Paula Farrell, 46, denied that she lied to the jury about an alleged rape attempt by her boyfriend, Wayne McQuillan, whom she stabbed to death in 2014. She had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. During cross‑examination, Farrell said she and McQuillan were likely arguing over a trivial matter and that she was not letting him dominate her when she stabbed him. She also claimed he had tried to have sex with her and had begun strangling her before she went to the kitchen for a knife. Farrell admitted she had not made these statements in earlier Garda interviews or in consultations with female doctors, and that the State first learned of the allegation in May of the following year. The prosecution, led by Gerard Clarke SC, will continue cross‑examining her tomorrow.
In a Drogheda murder trial, 46‑year‑old Paula Farrell pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for stabbing partner Wayne McQuillan, 30, four times on New Year's morning 2014. She told the jury she did not intend to kill him, only to hurt him as he had hurt her, and expressed remorse, saying she missed him "so much". Farrell recounted a history of sexual abuse from age seven to fourteen, heavy drinking from age nineteen, and ongoing depression and anxiety. She described the night's events: an argument, McQuillan's alleged sexual advances, her strangulation attempt, and her subsequent stabbing of him twice at the kitchen door, with a fourth stab to the side. She claimed she was "numb" and "blank" when stabbing, and that she had not intended to kill him. The trial proceeded before Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury of four men and eight women.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Cormac Quinn ruled that a man, whose name is withheld for legal reasons, is unfit to stand trial for an alleged sexual assault on a child due to a mental disorder. The judge, after consulting with forensic psychiatrist Dr. Anthony Kearns, found that the defendant's social and intellectual abilities were significantly impaired, preventing him from following trial proceedings or mounting a proper defence. The court noted that the man denied wrongdoing and claimed any sexual activity was consensual. Judge Quinn highlighted the need for community disability services and ordered the local disability manager to act, citing past failures of local services. The case was adjourned to July 16 next year for a review of the defendant's fitness to plead and to stand trial. Fiona McGowan BL reported that psychiatric evidence was uncontested.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 20‑year‑old Lawrence Mubango received a partially‑suspended 10‑year prison sentence for a knife attack that left his friend Ashley Ncube eviscerated. Mubango, who had been drinking and taking cocaine with two friends, claimed he feared they would rape his partner and acted to protect her, but the judge found no basis for self‑defence. Mubango first punched the men, then armed himself with a kitchen knife, stabbing Nhlanhla Nduli in the chest and Ncube in the stomach, even as Ncube begged him to stop. The court noted the victims' injuries and the drug‑induced state of all parties. Mubango's last 18 months of the sentence were suspended on the condition of drug and alcohol rehabilitation. The sentence was back‑dated to 24 May 2018. Lawrence Mubango pleaded guilty.
James Leddy, 55, was convicted of three counts of indecent assault on 13‑year‑old Colm Bracken between May and September 1981. The sentencing hearing was adjourned to October because the judge, Pauline Codd, could not determine whether Leddy accepted his guilt. Leddy had pleaded not guilty but accepted the jury verdict, while a prior probation report stated he "adamantly denies" his guilt. Leddy, a former scout leader and father of five, had no prior convictions. Bracken, 51, gave a victim impact statement describing the abuse, his subsequent mental health struggles, and the lasting trauma. The court noted Leddy's participation in counselling and his status on the Sex Offenders' Register. No sentence was imposed at the time of the article.
A 50‑year‑old Dublin mother faced 61 charges for neglecting and abusing her two youngest children, including one sexual offence, three reckless endangerment counts and 57 neglect counts from 2002 to 2010. The children, aged seven and ten when removed from her care in December 2010, have had no contact with her since. The court found her unfit to be tried. Two psychiatrists assessed her: Dr John Hillery noted her difficulty with attention, comprehension and lack of understanding of the charges, while Dr Brenda Wright concluded her intellectual disability made her unable to instruct a legal team or challenge evidence. Judge Cormac Quinn accepted the reports, adjourned the case for 12 months to July 15, 2020, and ordered monitoring of her community support for her disability.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 15 July 2019, Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned sentencing for two 14‑year‑old boys convicted of murdering 14‑year‑old schoolgirl Anastasia Kriegel and of assaulting her in a violent manner. The boys, referred to as Boy A and Boy B, were found guilty on 18 June of the murder and the aggravated sexual assault. The judge explained that he would not proceed with a sentence hearing until psychiatric reports are completed. Two teams of psychiatrists, one adult forensic and one child psychiatrist, will prepare reports for each boy, with a possible psychologist involved. The reports are expected to take time and are unlikely to be ready before the end of term. Sentencing has been postponed to 29 October, with all reports required to be available to the legal teams by 21 October.
A 37‑year‑old Pakistani national was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for rape, with the final 18 months suspended on condition of complying with Probation Service directions for 18 months after release. He was found guilty of rape but not guilty of sexual assault. The victim, who met the defendant on an online dating site, was raped in the back of his car on a beach in Dublin on 29 October 2015. She described feeling worthless, dropping out of college, and refusing food after the assault. The defendant had three young children and a partner who was unaware of the offence until the trial. He had prior convictions for speeding and deception, the latter resulting in a suspended three‑year sentence. The judge noted the seriousness of the rape, the breach of trust, and the defendant's deceptive character as aggravating factors, while his father role and good work attendance were mitigating factors.
A 70‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for raping a child, aged about six or seven, on three occasions between 1978 and 1980. He pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape and one of indecent assault. A jury at the Central Criminal Court convicted him of all rape charges; he had previously been convicted of indecent assault in a separate trial in 2018 and had been in custody since then. Justice Carmel Stewart imposed a headline sentence of 12 years for each rape offence, suspended the last three years, and ordered all sentences to run concurrently, backdated to May 2018. The judge noted the defendant's lack of prior convictions and his status as a neighbour who abused a position of trust. The defendant continues to deny the allegations and does not accept the verdict.
A 40‑year‑old man was convicted of raping his wife's sister‑in‑law after a Christmas gathering. The victim woke in her own bedroom on Christmas night to find the accused raping her. She reported the rape to her husband, who confronted the man. He apologized, claiming he had entered the wrong bedroom and believed the victim was his wife. The Central Criminal Court sentenced him to seven years, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. The judge noted the offence's violent nature and the victim's profound impact, citing her statements about fear, nightmares, and the breakdown of her marriage and family life. The judge also acknowledged the accused's remorse, lack of prior convictions, and good character, which mitigated the sentence. The case remains at the trial stage, with no further verdicts announced. The unnamed 40-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 46‑year‑old father of three was given a three‑year suspended sentence for spray‑painting the words "rapist out" on a camper van in north Dublin on 19 April 2023. He pleaded guilty to criminal damage at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and admitted making a threat to kill a child while speaking with a social worker on 12 April 2018, saying he would "douse (the child) in petrol and set him alight." He had previously reported that his son had been raped by a 13‑year‑old in the van. The court ordered him to pay €6,000 to the van owner within 18 months, with the possibility of the court disposing of the money if the owner declined. The judge warned that no one should take the law into their own hands and noted the defendant's mental‑health issues and previous drug convictions.
The Court of Appeal has quashed the sexual assault conviction of an unnamed 25-year-old man, originally from Azerbaijan, while leaving his burglary conviction intact. The appellant had pleaded guilty to burglary but not guilty to sexually assaulting a woman in her south Dublin home on June 15, 2014. He was initially found guilty of sexual assault by a jury and sentenced to three-and-a-half years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan on June 15, 2018. The appeal succeeded on the grounds that the trial judge erred in his instructions to the jury regarding the ingredients of the offence. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, sitting with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Ms Justice Máire Whelan, determined that the judge's instructions amounted to an error in principle, specifically by erroneously indicating that the complainant's state of mind was relevant rather than the accused's. The court noted the victim was alone and sleeping when she discovered the man in her bedroom, leading to the alleged assault. The quashing of the sexual assault conviction does not affect the burglary conviction, for which the man remains in custody serving his sentence. The matter regarding whether a retrial will take place has not been concluded and will be decided at a later date.
During a brief court appearance, Brendan Grehan SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), expressed concern that the identification of the two 14‑year‑old boys convicted of murdering Anastasia Kriegel could "flare up" again at the upcoming sentencing hearing later this month. The boys, known only as Boy A and Boy B in the media, were convicted in June of the murder of Ana Kriegel at Glenwood House, Laraghcon, Clonee Road, Lucan on 14 May last year, and Boy A was also convicted of Ana's aggravated sexual assault involving serious violence. The DPP noted that it remains "real concerned" despite a recent period of stability following the removal of identifying images from Facebook and Twitter. On 20 June, Mr Justice Michael White imposed an injunction requiring Facebook and Twitter to remove any photos or other material identifying the boys.
The rape trial of a Dublin man collapsed after the complainant left on a ferry to the UK during her cross‑examination. Ms Justice Carmel Stewart directed the jury to acquit the accused, citing a High Court judicial review that found the prosecution's delays inexcusable and blameworthy. The accused, aged 15 when the alleged rape occurred in August 2014, was charged as an adult in January 2017. He had pleaded not guilty and his lawyers had sought to restrain the prosecution on the basis of the delays. The court heard that the complainant had a troubled background and had become uncontactable after leaving on a ferry. The judge noted the complainant's father had discovered alleged admissions by the accused on her phone, which had been delayed for analysis. The judge concluded that the delays did not outweigh the public interest in proceeding to trial, but the absence of the complainant led to the acquittal.
An 86‑year‑old retired doctor, whose name is protected by the Court of Appeal, lost an appeal against the severity of his sentence for abusing two teenage boys in the mid‑1970s. He had pleaded not guilty to eight charges of indecent assault on six patients between 1964 and 1991. A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty of indecent assault on two 15‑year‑old patients; one complainant was directed not guilty and the remaining counts were acquitted. Judge Cormac Quinn imposed two consecutive 10‑month sentences, totalling 20 months imprisonment, a sentence within the maximum two‑year range for the offence at the time. The Court of Appeal, in a three‑judge panel, upheld the 20‑month custodial term, noting the serious betrayal of trust inherent in the doctor's position and the deliberate nature of the acts. The appeal was dismissed with no error found in principle.
A man convicted of indecently assaulting a young teenager in 1980 has had his appeal dismissed by the Court of Appeal. Patrick Patton, aged 65, of Cashelard, Ballyshannon, County Donegal, was sentenced to fourteen months imprisonment in April 2019 following a trial at Donegal Circuit Criminal Court. A jury returned a ten-to-two majority guilty verdict on one count of indecent assault against a fourteen-year-old girl, while unanimously acquitting him on two further counts involving another young female. Patton's legal team argued the jury had been pressured into their guilty verdict due to adverse weather conditions and the late Friday timing of deliberations. They contended the jury, observed returning with coats on, had been influenced by the judge's instruction to persevere on the disputed count. President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham found little merit in these submissions, noting either party could have raised concerns about the timing or sought adjournment. The court upheld the conviction, finding the judge's instructions fair and the procedure appropriate. Patrick Patton pleaded not guilty.
In a High Court case, Judge Michael White expressed concern over the link between young offenders and exposure to pornography on smartphones. The case involved a 17‑year‑old boy who sexually exploited his younger cousins. The boy's lawyer testified that the defendant had accessed porn from a very early age. The boy and his cousin engaged in non‑penetrative sexual contact from around 2011 to 2016, beginning when the cousin was about nine or ten. He pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child in 2015 and to anal rape of the cousin in January 2016. He also admitted to consensual anal sex with a male cousin, who was four months younger, up to ten times. The court noted no coercion. The case was adjourned for sentencing, and the judge highlighted this as the fourth instance he has seen where young children's serious offences stem from early porn exposure.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 1 July 2019, Mr Justice Paul McDermott considered whether mental health professionals could interview the parents of the two boys convicted of murdering 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel. The boys, referred to as Boy A and Boy B, were found guilty of the murder and, in Boy A's case, of aggravated sexual assault. Mr Justice McDermott had ordered probation and psychiatric reports from child forensic psychiatrists. Brendan Grehan SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, presented Professor Harry Kennedy's suggestions, which included joint assessments by consultant child and forensic psychiatrists, assessments by clinical psychologists, and interviews with the boys' parents to access prior reports. Patrick Gageby SC, for Boy A, noted uncertainty about the availability of a specialist child forensic psychiatrist in Ireland, while Damien Colgan SC, for Boy B, expressed no objection to the proposals.
In a High Court case, Mr Justice Michael White announced he would issue a written judgment on July 11 regarding a rape victim's request to waive her anonymity. The case involves a 41‑year‑old Wicklow man who was convicted last month of repeated sexual attacks on a child who was about nine at the time. He pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault between 1987 and 1989. Mr Justice White had imposed a seven‑year sentence and, at the trial, ordered that the identities of both parties remain unpublished at the DPP's request. The DPP now seeks to lift that order so the victim's name can be disclosed, while the defence argues there is no legal basis to remove the anonymity. The judge noted the seriousness of the issue and the need for a written decision, though he may be delayed by a busy docket.
An IT worker, Declan Costello, 40, was arrested after organisers of a family fun day reported him filming people suspiciously. Gardaí found non‑pornographic images on his phone and later discovered 176 images and three videos of child sexual abuse in his home. The material included children as young as three or four being abused and a child performing oral sex while a knife was held to their forehead. Costello pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography for a period between January 2013 and August 2014. He had no prior convictions and did not produce or share the material. Judge Martin Nolan, after reviewing forensic reports and noting Costello's cooperation, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence suspended on conditions including two years' probation. The court highlighted that the offence was not a victimless crime and that the material was produced without aggravating circumstances. The sentence was therefore non‑custodial.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a contempt of court motion was authorised after journalist Niall O'Connor allegedly named one of the two boys convicted of Ana Kriegel's murder on a Cork radio show. Brendan Grehan SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, informed Mr Justice Michael White that the matter arose from an interview on the Neil Prendeville show on Red FM on the morning of June 19, the day after the jury's verdicts. The boys, aged 14, were found guilty of murdering 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel at an abandoned farmhouse in Lucan on 14 May last year, and one was also convicted of aggravated sexual assault. The identities of the boys are protected under the Children Act and a court order by Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Mr Grehan presented a redacted transcript showing the journalist naming one boy twice before being cut off.
The High Court heard that an 18-year-old woman, made a ward of court last year, requires ongoing supports following disclosures of alleged sexual abuse by more than 12 males before she was taken into care at age ten. Mr Justice Peter Kelly stated the court's door remains open for her to attend a review in October if her treating team deems it medically appropriate. The judge strongly recommended that a named care unit employee, in whom the woman places strong trust, remain involved in her care if feasible. He also authorised the general solicitor for wards of court to take legal action against the HSE and Child and Family Agency over alleged failures to protect her. Senior counsel Sara Moorhead's opinion described the situation as a "horror story" and an "appalling failure of duty" by State institutions. Criminal proceedings are pending against the woman's mother and maternal grandfather arising from the disclosures. The court was informed of concerns regarding an escalation in self-harming behaviour and the psychiatrist's view that her current psychiatric unit is not a suitable long-term placement. Orders were made to facilitate her gradual transition to a residential care unit providing a range of therapies.
Anthony Moynihan, 54, of Croccane, Rostellan, Midleton, was sentenced in his absence to seven years in prison for raping and sexually assaulting an 11‑year‑old boy, Dylan Higgins, over a period from September 2006 to June 2008. Moynihan pleaded guilty to two counts of anal rape and two counts of sexual assault. Higgins, who was 11 and 12 at the time of the assaults, had previously waived his anonymity and delivered a victim impact statement in court, urging other abuse victims to come forward. The court noted Higgins had attempted suicide twice and had lost his mother in 2016. Moynihan had earlier convictions for assaulting two young girls in 2008 and 2009, for which he received suspended sentences. He was brought into court after a warrant was executed and was remanded to prison by Mr Justice Michael White, who also mentioned Moynihan's throat cancer as a mitigating factor.
Patrick Nevin, 37, was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment for raping two women in Meath after meeting them on Tinder. He pleaded guilty to the July 12, 2014 rape in Bellewstown and to a second sexual assault four days later. Nevin had previously been convicted of a sexual assault on a Brazilian woman at UCD in 2014 and had a 5½‑year sentence for that offence. The judge, Ms Justice Creedon, found the attacks pre‑meditated and callous, noting Nevin's predatory conduct and hostility toward women. He received a 14‑year term with the final two years suspended, and a five‑year post‑release supervision order that includes restrictions on physical performance, internet use and contact with others. The sentence was back‑dated to June 2015. Nevin has been in custody since September 2014.
A 54‑year‑old Corkman, Anthony Moynihan, was sentenced in his absence to seven years' imprisonment for raping and sexually assaulting an 11‑year‑old boy, Dylan Higgins, over a two‑year period. Moynihan pleaded guilty to two counts of anal rape and two counts of sexual assault between September 2006 and June 2008. He failed to attend the sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court, prompting a bench warrant for his arrest. The court noted Moynihan's prior convictions for sexual assault of two young girls in 2008 and 2009, for which he received suspended sentences. Moynihan's counsel highlighted his throat cancer and the fact that he had made full admissions early on. The judge praised Higgins for his victim impact statement and urged other abuse victims to come forward. The sentencing hearing took place on 21 June 2019.
A 22‑year‑old Cork man was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting his cousin from the ages of five to nine. The offences, committed between 1 November 2011 and 26 June 2016, included rape, oral rape, anal rape and sexual assault. The judge described the abuse as "particularly severe and horrendous" and noted its devastating impact on the girl and her family. The man pleaded guilty to six charges and received credit for his plea, though the judge set a headline sentence of fourteen years before reducing it. He has no prior convictions. The court ordered him to participate in the Better Lives sex offenders' programme while in prison and to comply with Probation Service directions for two years after release. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
In a contempt of court hearing on 20 June 2019, Mr Justice Michael White addressed the wrongful online identification of an innocent boy as one of the convicted murderers of 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel. The judge urged Gardaí to pursue those who shared the identities of the two boys, Boy A and Boy B, who were convicted of the murder and an aggravated sexual assault. Under the Children Act, it is an offence to identify minors, and the court upheld an injunction requiring Facebook and Twitter to remove any material that identified the boys. Lawyers for the boys expressed concerns about threats and the safety of their families. The judge emphasised the importance of respecting the law and the integrity of the trial process, noting that the Central Criminal Court is not the forum for broader social media responsibility.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 19 June 2019, Mr Justice Michael White warned that publishing the identities of the two boys convicted of Ana Kriegel's murder is an offence. The judge issued a contempt of court order against any person who attempts to identify the 14‑year‑old boys, stating they will be treated in the most serious fashion. He also ordered Facebook and Twitter to appear in court the following day and to remove any material that identifies the boys. Brendan Grehan SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, requested the removal of photographs and other identifying content from the platforms. The boys, referred to only as Boy A and Boy B, were convicted of murder and, in Boy A's case, aggravated sexual assault, after an eight‑week trial with unanimous jury verdicts. The court emphasised that the Children Act prohibits the identification of minors accused or convicted of a criminal offence. The unnamed 14-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court found two 14‑year‑old boys guilty of murdering Ana Kriegel, a schoolgirl who was discovered naked in an abandoned farmhouse three days after she went missing. Boy A was also convicted of an aggravated sexual assault involving serious violence. The trial, lasting seven weeks, included evidence that Ana's blood was found on a "ghoulish mask" Boy A allegedly wore at the scene, and forensic analysis showed she died from blunt‑force trauma to the head or neck, with extensive bruises, abrasions and scratches on her body. The jury deliberated for 14 hours 25 minutes before delivering unanimous guilty verdicts. The boys were remanded to Oberstown Detention Centre pending further proceedings. The case was presented by prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC, with defence counsel Patrick Gageby SC for Boy A and Damien Colgan SC for Boy B. The trial concluded with the judge adjourned the case to allow additional reports to be submitted.
The jury in the trial of two 14‑year‑old boys accused of murdering 14‑year‑old Anastasia Kriegel has spent 11 hours and 24 minutes deliberating and will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow to continue. Mr Justice Paul McDermott instructed the eight men and four women to return at 10 am and reminded them not to discuss the case with anyone outside the jury. The accused, who cannot be named because they are minors, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ana Kriegel at Glenwood House, Laraghcon, Clonee Road, Lucan on 14 May last year. Boy A is also charged with Ana's aggravated sexual assault involving serious violence and has pleaded not guilty to that charge as well. Mr Justice McDermott explained that the jury must consider each count separately, with possible verdicts of guilty or not guilty for each murder charge and for the aggravated sexual assault charge.
In a trial for the murder of Ana Kriegel, Judge Paul McDermott instructed the jury that the prosecution's case hinges on the injuries inflicted on Ana, which they argue demonstrate the accused's intention to kill or cause serious injury. The jury, after more than four hours of deliberation, has been shown various exhibits, including a blood‑stained stick, gloves with Ana's blood, Tescon insulation tape found around her neck, and CCTV footage. Mr Justice McDermott explained that intent can be inferred from preparation, citing Boy A's bringing a mask and other items to the scene. He emphasized that the prosecution believes intent is established through pathology and forensic evidence, and that the natural consequence of such injuries is serious injury or death. The accused, both 14, have pleaded not guilty to murder and to an aggravated sexual assault charge. The jury will return tomorrow to continue deliberations.
The jury in the trial of two 14‑year‑old boys accused of murdering schoolgirl Anastasia Kriegel began deliberations at the Central Criminal Court on 12 June 2019. Eight men and four women were sent out at 12.35pm, returned thirty minutes later, and were instructed by Mr Justice Paul McDermott to suspend deliberations for the day and resume at 10am the next day. The judge explained that each of the three murder counts against Boy A and Boy B must be decided unanimously, with only two possible verdicts per count: guilty or not guilty. For Boy A's aggravated sexual assault charge, the jury could return a guilty or not guilty verdict. Mr Justice McDermott emphasized that each count must be considered separately, that reasonable doubt requires acquittal, and that the jury should focus on the evidence relating to the events of 14 May, the day of the murder.
In a 2019 trial at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul McDermott warned a jury that people may lie for reasons such as shame or to hide disgraceful behaviour. He explained that the jury could rely on alleged lies only if the prosecution proved there was no innocent explanation. The case involved two 14‑year‑old boys accused of murdering 14‑year‑old Anastasia Kriegel. Boy A was also charged with aggravated sexual assault; Boy B was charged with aiding and abetting the murder. The judge instructed the jury to consider each boy's case separately, to assess intent to kill or cause serious injury, and to evaluate circumstantial and forensic evidence. He emphasised that presence at a crime scene does not equal participation, and that the jury must acquit if any reasonable doubt about intent or knowledge remains. The judge concluded his charge the following morning. The unnamed 14-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a murder and aggravated sexual assault trial, the defence counsel for a 14‑year‑old accused of killing and assaulting Anastasia Kriegel argued that no witness had shown the boy intended to kill. Patrick Gageby SC asked the jury whether any evidence proved the boy's intent to kill or to kill Kriegel. He also highlighted the boy's lack of prior legal contacts and the immaturity of teenagers, urging jurors to consider the boy's age. Gageby noted that the prosecution's case relied largely on circumstantial evidence, including DNA and forensic findings, but questioned whether any evidence proved pre‑meditation. He warned against inferring intent from the boy's actions or from the presence of a bag and its contents. The defence maintained the boy's plea of not guilty and urged the jury to weigh the evidence carefully, especially given the boy's age and the seriousness of the allegations.
In the Central Criminal Court, Brendan Grehan SC presented the prosecution case against two 14‑year‑old boys accused of murdering 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel. He argued that Boy A was the principal perpetrator, citing an "overwhelming forensic case" linking him to the scene, including DNA from Ana's body and items found in his home. Grehan described Ana's violent death, detailing injuries, blood spatter, and forensic evidence that she fought for her life. He contrasted this with Boy B, for whom he said there was no forensic evidence but relied on Garda interviews that he had assisted the killer and helped conceal the crime. Grehan emphasized that both boys lied to Gardaí and that Boy B's statements were inconsistent, concluding that the evidence warranted conviction for murder and aggravated sexual assault. The case was set to proceed with Patrick Gageby representing Boy A. The unnamed 14-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In 2019 a 41‑year‑old man, Andrius Lipinskas, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for violently raping a woman in her home nine years earlier. The court heard that the attack lasted about 20 minutes, during which Lipinskas repeatedly punched the victim, threatened to kill her, and orally raped her three times. The assault ended when the victim bit his penis and pushed him back. Lipinskas had previously been convicted of murder in 1998 and was given a suspended period of two and a half years on the condition that he leave the state upon release. The victim, aged in her 30s, gave a victim impact statement describing the lasting trauma and the change in her sense of safety. The trial lasted 12 days and the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict after three hours of deliberation. Andrius Lipinskas pleaded not guilty.
In a 2019 Central Criminal Court hearing, Richard O'Mara, aged 31, was convicted of two counts of rape against a 17‑year‑old schoolgirl who attended his sister's eighteenth birthday party. The first rape occurred in a field where O'Mara forced the victim onto the ground, removed her clothing and raped her. The second rape took place in his family house, where he again forced her to lie on a couch, removed her jeans and underwear and raped her. O'Mara pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a jury after a two‑and‑a‑half‑week trial. Justice Tara Burns sentenced him to 14 years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on strict conditions. The sentence reflected the seriousness of the offences, the victim's young age, the two separate rapes and the lack of remorse shown by the accused. No prior convictions were recorded for O'Mara.
A man from Dublin, whose name is withheld to protect the child's anonymity, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for raping his daughter, who was nine when the first assault occurred. He pleaded guilty to nine counts of rape spanning from October 2011 to April 2017. The daughter, who was 14 at the time of the last assault, testified that the rapes happened twice a week and that she was too frightened to report them. She described her father as controlling and said she did not understand the wrongness of the acts until she grew older. The defendant claimed the daughter had initiated the sexual activity and denied providing pregnancy test kits. The judge reduced the headline sentence from 15 to 13 years, suspended two years on the condition of sex‑offender treatment, and imposed an 11‑year custodial term.
A man convicted of indecently assaulting a fourteen-year-old babysitter in Ballyshannon in 1980 has appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal, claiming the jury was pressurised into returning a guilty verdict. Patrick Patton, aged 65, of Cashelard, Ballyshannon, pleaded not guilty to three counts of indecent assault. A jury at Donegal Circuit Criminal Court unanimously acquitted him on two counts but returned a ten-two majority guilty verdict on the first count following a four-day trial. He was sentenced to fourteen months imprisonment in April 2019. His barrister argued the jury was pressurised to continue deliberating on a Friday evening when severe weather warnings were in place and despite jurors appearing ready to leave. The trial judge had instructed them to persevere on the disputed count after they had already acquitted on the other charges. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel contended the jury had not expressed concern and the weather argument remained speculative. Judgement has been reserved.
Bogdan Timorte, 37, was jailed for eight years after a late‑night street attack on a woman on Parnell Street. A resident recorded the assault on his phone and called Gardaí, who later used CCTV footage to identify Timorte. The victim, intoxicated, described being in fear for her life during an "extremely violent" attack, sustaining injuries to her head, neck, shoulders, knees and bottom. Timorte pleaded guilty to oral rape and sexual assault on 9 October 2017. Mr Justice Michael White set a headline sentence of 12 years, reduced to nine years, and suspended the final year on the condition of sex‑offender treatment. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of the attack, as Timorte had been in custody since then. The court heard the victim's impact statement, detailing her fear, depression and post‑traumatic stress disorder. The case highlighted the victim's loss of safety and the offender's remorse.
A 12‑year‑old girl told the court she wants her cousin, a 22‑year‑old man, to be named in the case because she believes he is in the wrong. Prosecutor Alice Fawsitt informed the judge that the DPP advised that naming him would not be in the child's best interest, citing potential complications and the small community context. The man pleaded guilty to six charges, including rape, oral rape, anal rape and sexual assault, committed between 2011 and 2016. He was remanded in custody and a substantial custodial element was anticipated. The judge acknowledged the girl's anger and courage but declined to name the accused, citing a duty to protect the injured party's identity. The mother delivered a victim impact statement describing the abuse, its effects on the family, and her daughter's ongoing trauma. The defendant's defence highlighted remorse and a willingness to engage in treatment. The case remains pending sentencing.
During sentencing at the Central Criminal Court, 23‑year‑old Dylan Higgins read a victim impact statement after Anthony Moynihan pleaded guilty to two counts of anal rape and two counts of sexual assault. Higgins, who was 11 and 12 at the time, described how Moynihan lured him to his home, offered cigarettes, and raped him twice between 2006 and 2008. He recounted the first assault, the disposal of his blood‑stained underwear, and the second assault where Moynihan pretended to apply cream before raping him. Higgins urged other abuse victims to come forward, saying it may save lives, and expressed relief that Moynihan had pleaded guilty. The judge remanded Moynihan on continuing bail and adjourned sentencing to June 21, noting his medical reports on cancer treatment for consideration before any custodial decision.
In a 2019 Court of Appeal case, prosecutors sought to overturn a High Court ruling that barred a 59‑year‑old man from trial for alleged sexual abuse of his two sisters between 1974 and 1985. The man, whose identity is withheld, faced 17 rape and sexual abuse charges. He argued he was not living in the family home during the alleged period, claiming residence with grandparents and another relative, all now deceased. Only one charge had a specific date, and neither sister was aware of the other's alleged abuse, limiting corroboration. He claimed prejudice due to the deaths of potential witnesses and alleged unfairness from prior publicity. The High Court had ruled that the deaths denied him a fair defence, citing elderly witnesses with poor recollection. The DPP appealed, arguing witnesses were peripheral and the man's parents were alive. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment, noting the alleged "threatening letter" as a catalyst for the sisters' complaints.
In a Dublin laneway on 9 October 2017, Bogdan Timorte (37) attacked an intoxicated woman, putting his arm around her and later choking her. The victim, who had been drinking, screamed for help; a nearby resident recorded the assault and alerted Gardaí. Gardaí arrived about 15 minutes after the call, found Timorte on top of the woman, and physically removed him. Timorte was arrested but too intoxicated for immediate interview. He pleaded guilty to oral rape and sexual assault. The court heard the victim's impact statement, detailing injuries, fear, and post‑traumatic stress. Timorte, a Romanian father of three, has been in custody since the offence. The judge adjourned finalisation to the following week, noting the victim's courage and the long‑term effects of the assault.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 65‑year‑old man was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment for sexually abusing his partner's granddaughter between 2009 and 2013. He pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual assault. The judge noted aggravating factors including the victim's age, the man's abuse of a position of trust, his coercion of the girl to promise not to speak, and the impact on the victim. Mitigating factors cited were the man's age, lack of prior convictions, his guilty plea, admissions, and a psychological report indicating extremely low cognitive function. The final 18 months of the sentence were suspended on the condition that he keep the peace, behave well, and comply with Probation Service directions for 18 months after release.
In a High Court hearing, lawyers for a convicted child rapist argued that rape victims could be prosecuted if they reveal their own identity. The case concerns a 41‑year‑old Wicklow man convicted in March of repeated sexual attacks on a child who was about nine at the time. He pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault between 1987 and 1989, and was sentenced to seven years by Mr Justice Micheal White, who also imposed an order preventing publication of either party's identity. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) now seeks to lift the victim's anonymity so the abuser can be named. Defence counsel argues there is no legal basis for removing anonymity, citing the 1981 (Rape) Act's provisions that protect complainants from identification. The court will issue a written judgment on June 28 after receiving submissions from both sides.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, a minor witness, referred to as Boy B, claimed that his co‑accused, Boy A, was attempting to set him up for the murder of 14‑year‑old Anastasia Kriegel. Boy B described seeing Boy A place Ana in a headlock and attempt to force her to the ground, while Ana fought back by punching and kicking Boy A's arms and legs. Another child witness recalled that Boy A was "agitated and fidgety" after Ana's disappearance, whereas Boy B appeared calm. Both accused boys, aged 14, have pleaded not guilty to the murder and to Boy A's additional charge of aggravated sexual assault. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, continues with a jury of eight men and four women. The court heard five child witnesses in total.