Lawyers for Lisa Smith, a former Irish soldier aged 40 from Dundalk, Co. Louth, are contesting evidence of Facebook messages that prosecutors claim link her to Islamic State and a convicted terrorist. Smith denies membership in the unlawful terrorist group between 28 October 2015 and 1 December 2019 and denies financing terrorism by sending €800 via Western Union to a named man on 6 May 2015. During a hearing before a three‑judge Special Criminal Court, Detective Sergeant Carrie O'Connor informed counsel that a warrant issued in December 2019 allowed access to Facebook messages dating back to 2013. The messages allegedly show contact with John Georgelas, an American convert to Islam wanted in the United States for supporting a terrorist organisation, and with Robert Edward Cerantonio, an Australian who pleaded guilty in 2016 to preparing an incursion into the Philippines. Mr. Michael O'Higgins SC will file objections to the Facebook evidence tomorrow, while Mr. Lisa Smith pleaded not guilty.
The High Court heard that Miriam O'Callaghan's action against Facebook Ireland, formerly Meta Platforms Ireland, has been settled. The broadcaster alleged that defamatory and untrue advertisements posted on Facebook and Instagram in May 2018 falsely suggested she had left her position at RTE's Prime Time to endorse skin care products. Ms. O'Callaghan claimed these malicious third-party ads caused distress, damaged her reputation, and exploited public trust. She sought damages for defamation, malicious falsehood, and unlawful appropriation of personality, along with a permanent injunction. During the proceedings, she secured an order for subscriber information, which identified 51 names in the United States and the Balkans as co-defendants, though no real persons were identified. In the settlement, Meta Platforms Ireland issued an unreserved apology, acknowledging the ads caused distress and embarrassment. The company agreed to use robust measures to tackle such advertisements and will introduce an additional scam ad reporting tool for Irish users, allowing reports to be submitted to a specialist team. Ms. O'Callaghan's legal team stated the settlement achieved their client's objectives of terminating the fake ads and vindicating her reputation. The matter was resolved by agreement, with the court noting the cessation of the fake adverts and the implementation of the new reporting mechanism.
Jason Finnegan, aged 19, was sentenced to five years in prison, with the final two and a half years suspended, for a series of stabbing offences. He and Mark Pidgeon attacked Kenneth Osbourne in a flat, with Finnegan recording the assault on Snapchat while shouting encouragement such as "lash him out of it." The recording lasted about 90 seconds and was later posted on social media. Osbourne suffered multiple stab wounds, including to his arm, requiring surgery. Finnegan had previously pleaded guilty to two other stabbings in Dublin's inner city and to threatening to kill a woman. The judge noted the aggravating factors of the violence, the encouragement of the attacker, and the use of social media, and imposed the suspended sentence to encourage rehabilitation. The victim, Osbourne, declined to give a victim impact statement and did not identify the attackers. The case highlighted the use of digital evidence in identifying the perpetrators.
During the Special Criminal Court trial, an FBI agent testified that it was "beyond suspicion" that former Irish soldier Lisa Smith had joined ISIS while in Syria. The agent, who cannot be named, was in Syria in 2019 when Smith was held in the Ain Issa camp. He confirmed that Smith had been a member of the Irish army and could have been recruited to train women in the Khatibah, an all‑female ISIS battalion. Another FBI witness, Agent C, provided admissible evidence that Smith met the ISIS propagandist John Georgelas (Abu Hassan) in 2012 via Facebook, travelled to Turkey in 2013, and crossed into Syria with him. Smith returned to Ireland in 2014, went back to the Middle East in 2015, and by June 2016 was living in Syria, married, and residing in Raqqa. She later moved to refugee camps Al‑Hawl and Ain Issa.
Lisa Smith, a 39‑year‑old former Irish soldier from Dundalk, denies membership in Islamic State. She was arrested at Dublin Airport after flying from Syria, where she had travelled to join the caliphate about four years earlier. In the Special Criminal Court she pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful terrorist group between 28 October 2015 and 1 December 2019, and to financing terrorism by sending €800 via Western Union to a named man on 6 May 2015. During the hearing, Smith admitted she had watched a video of men being drowned in a cage by ISIS and posted a WhatsApp message saying she now understood why they were drowned, though she said she did not agree with the killings. She described the killings as "barbaric" and "savage" and said the video made her feel "disgusted." The trial is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Cormac Dunne presiding in the non‑jury court.
In 2020 the Central Criminal Court convicted a 60‑year‑old man of 30 counts of sexual assault against 14 girls aged 11 to 17, after he had pleaded guilty in 2002 to ten of those offences and received a nine‑year sentence with two years suspended. The court found that he lured the children into his apartment with money, jewellery and cigarettes before assaulting them. Ms Justice Tara Burns sentenced him to seven years for the additional 20 convictions. The defendant's lawyers appealed, arguing that the announcement of the first Covid lockdown the day before deliberations began, his prior theft convictions in England, missing Facebook messages, delays in prosecution and misdirection of the jury had made the conviction unsafe. The Court of Appeal rejected all grounds, upheld the conviction and affirmed that the jury had not been pressured or misdirected. The judge described the man as a "true predator" who offered a false refuge before assaulting the children.
A Limerick man, Gerard Culhane (43) of Marian Place, Glin, Co Limerick, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to harassing Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD at unknown places within the State on dates between January 13, 2020 and March 26, 2020. The charge was admitted, and Culhane entered a plea of guilty. The court heard that the accused had indicated a guilty plea well in advance of the hearing. The defence requested a probation report, and the court agreed to order the report. The matter was adjourned for sentence on May 11, next. Culhane was remanded on continuing bail, with conditions including weekly sign-on at a local Garda station and informing gardaí of any change to his address. At a previous appearance in Dún Laoghaire District Court, Detective Sergeant Rachel Kilpatrick detailed that messages sent via Facebook included sexually explicit content and pictures of Ms Carroll MacNeill, which had already been in the public domain. The public representative and Culhane were not known to each other personally. Judge Watkin noted the incident would have been horrific and frightening for Ms Carroll MacNeill.
Ken Costello, 49, pleaded guilty to copyright infringement and dishonest computer operation for a 'dodgy box' scheme that streamed premium TV via altered set‑top boxes. He acted as a "customer service" agent on social media, offering support to users of the illegal service. The court found he provided unauthorised access to Sky Sports and Sky Cinema between March and September 2018, and that money from sales was funneled through a PayPal account belonging to his wife and then to his bank. Costello had no prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a 15‑month prison term, fully suspended on strict conditions, after noting his cooperation and the confiscation of €22,000 he had received. The case highlighted the operation's use of social media advertising and the role of a secondary player in the enterprise. The sentence was delivered in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 15‑year‑old boy was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stabbing his friend twice during an arranged fight called a "straightener" after a dispute over their girlfriends. The boy, who pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, had no prior convictions. He had lit toilet paper on fire and placed it on the victim's car to lure him outside, then used a knife in a two‑minute fight. Facebook messages showed they had agreed no weapons would be used, but the boy still stabbed the victim. He claimed he was "stoned" and that the fire was not intentional. The judge, noting his remorse, the support of his family, and his progress while remanded, set a two‑year, three‑month detention period, deferred to July 29, on strict conditions to keep the peace and comply with the Probation Service.
Noel Shannon, a 40‑year‑old electrician from Finglas, pleaded guilty to disclosing personal data from a Garda intelligence board that contained information on 108 people. He photographed the board while working on emergency lighting at Kilmainham Garda Station in March 2019, later sending the images to two other electricians. The pictures were subsequently circulated on social media. The case was the first criminal breach of the Data Protection Act 2018 prosecuted on indictment. Judge Melanie Greally found no premeditation or malice, noting the offence was committed while intoxicated. She imposed a headline sentence of three years but, considering mitigating factors such as his early guilty plea, remorse, stable family and work life, she suspended a two‑year custodial term in full for two years. The court recorded that Shannon had four prior convictions, including theft and a public order offence. The prosecution and defence agreed that Shannon had not foreseen the consequences of his actions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jonathan Glynn, 31, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at his home in Rathgar. He admitted buying over €11,000 worth of cannabis herb in bulk from an Instagram account, stating the drugs were "all over Instagram and Facebook." Garda Gary McCormack had seized the drugs after a warrant search following a strong smell of cannabis at Glynn's house. Glynn, a former fruit and veg worker who had been laid off, claimed he used the money from his previous job to purchase the drugs and had only sold a portion to a relative. Judge Pauline Codd, noting Glynn's lack of prior convictions and his guilty plea, suspended a three‑year prison term on the condition he engage with the Probation Service for one year. The case highlights the use of social media platforms for drug distribution and the court's approach to first‑time offenders.
Kieran Creaven, a former RTÉ producer, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for a range of child‑sexual‑abuse offences committed in Ireland, the UK and the Philippines between 2014 and 2017. He pleaded guilty to ten counts, including four of child exploitation, two of sexual assault of a child and four of child pornography. The offences involved children aged from under one to 16, with one victim in the Philippines never identified. Creaven travelled to the Philippines to sexually assault a girl aged 10‑12, recording the abuse for three years. He also used Facebook, Skype and PayPal to contact and exploit children in Ireland. He has expressed remorse, engaged in psychotherapy and will be on the sex‑offender register for life. The judge adjourned the case to 16 December to consider post‑release supervision. The sentence was handed down via video link from prison. The court heard no victim impact statements.
In November 2021 a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Hazel Fitzpatrick, 25, for contravening a court order that prohibited the publication of identifying material about the juveniles convicted of murdering Ana Kriégel. Fitzpatrick had posted a screenshot of a photo that identified one of the boys, Boy A, on her Facebook page the day after the convictions in June 2019. The judge noted that Fitzpatrick acted out of "pure anger", was aware of the order, and that her behaviour was a "mistake" she regretted. She pleaded guilty and was described as a person of good character who was suffering from anxiety and depression at the time. The judge imposed a headline sentence of 12 months imprisonment, reduced to eight months, which was suspended on the condition that Fitzpatrick keep the peace for that period. No other convictions or charges were mentioned.
In November 2021, WhatsApp Ireland Ltd secured permission from a High Court judge to challenge a €225 million fine imposed by the Data Protection Commission (DPC) in August 2020. The fine followed a DPC investigation that found the messaging service had not complied with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in several respects, including the processing of user data and the sharing of personal data with Facebook. WhatsApp's legal team, led by Declan McGrath SC, argued that the DPC's decision was unconstitutional, that the 2018 Data Protection Act under which the DPC operates is invalid, and that the fine constituted an unlawful criminal sanction. The High Court, presided over by Mr Justice Anthony Barr, granted WhatsApp permission to pursue a judicial review and adjourned the case to a date in the following month. WhatsApp also filed a statutory appeal against the DPC's decision in the Irish courts.
Kieran Creaven, a 59-year-old former RTÉ producer, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to 10 counts of offences committed in Ireland, the UK, and the Philippines between 2014 and 2017. The charges included four counts of child exploitation, two counts of sexually assaulting a child, and four counts of possessing child pornography. The court heard that Creaven videoed himself sexually abusing a girl aged 10 to 12 in the Philippines in 2014, while also engaging in sexual conversations with children on Facebook and Skype in 2017. He had previously been arrested in the UK in 2017 following a sting operation and served a sentence there. In mitigation, his counsel highlighted his remorse, therapy, and the loss of his career and marriage. Creaven submitted a letter of apology, stating his arrest pulled him back from a "dark and disturbing spiral." The judge noted he has been in custody since October 2020. This report reflects the final sentencing stage, where the court imposed the 18-month prison term for the admitted offences.
Hazel Fitzpatrick (25) of Easton Green, Easton Road, Leixlip, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty to posting a picture on her Facebook account which includes a picture of Boy A in contravention of the Children's Act 2001 within the State on or about June 19, 2019. Fitzpatrick admitted to the charge and stated she had heard about the judge's order and that people could be brought to court and fined. She described the offence as 'the biggest mistake she has ever made in her life'. The court heard that Fitzpatrick posted the image out of 'pure anger' and that she had become 'almost reliant and addicted to social media'. The matter was adjourned for finalisation to November 18, next, with Fitzpatrick remanded on continuing bail. The court heard that Fitzpatrick had no previous convictions and that she had taken the image down shortly after posting it. The case was initially directed for summary disposal in the District Court, but jurisdiction was later refused by another judge. The defence submitted that Fitzpatrick was not part of a greater conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and that her actions were spontaneous and misguided. The court was informed that Fitzpatrick was suffering from post-natal depression and anxiety at the time of the offence and that she was at a low-risk of reoffending. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Ye Lin Aung, a 48‑year‑old father of one, received an 18‑month suspended sentence for possession of and knowingly distributing child pornography between 1 January and 30 August 2020. Gardaí seized two phones and a USB key from his shared bedroom; one phone contained four images and four videos depicting children aged three to ten in sexually explicit activities, including a 12‑year‑old girl undressing. Aung admitted he had joined Facebook and WhatsApp groups to view adult pornography but had also shared child‑pornographic material, claiming he did not seek it out or derive sexual gratification. He had no prior convictions and cooperated fully, providing PIN codes and login details. Judge Melanie Greally noted the case's recklessness and the very young ages involved, but considered his cooperation, employment record and lack of previous offences before suspending the sentence on strict conditions. Ye Lin Aung pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Noel Shannon, a 40‑year‑old electrician from Finglas, admitted to taking photographs of a Garda intelligence board that listed personal details of 108 individuals involved in ongoing investigations. The board, located at Kilmainham Garda Station, was accessed by Shannon on 13 March 2019 while he was contracted to check emergency lighting. He later sent the images to two other electricians, and the pictures were subsequently shared on social media under the caption "never let an electrician into a garda station." The case is noted as the first criminal breach of the Data Protection Act 2018 to be prosecuted on indictment. Shannon, who has four prior convictions including theft and a public order offence, pleaded guilty to disclosing personal data without authorisation. He was remanded on bail, with the matter scheduled for finalisation on 17 December.
In a Dublin murder trial, prosecution counsel Shane Costelloe SC argued that Renato Gehlen, a 39‑year‑old Brazilian, stabbed his 37‑year‑old French wife Anne Colomines to death on 25 October 2017 to end their marriage. Costelloe described the act as "the ultimate in toxic masculinity," claiming Gehlen lost control and could not handle the marriage's end. He cited evidence of four stab wounds, a 22‑centimetre throat wound, and six defensive injuries, concluding it was highly unlikely the wounds were self‑inflicted. Costelloe also highlighted Gehlen's Facebook activity, including a message expressing a desire to stab, as evidence of intent. He urged the jury to find Gehlen guilty of murder, emphasizing that a man cannot kill his wife simply because she is unfaithful. The defense maintained that the wounds could have been self‑inflicted and called for an acquittal. The jury was instructed to deliberate on the case. Renato Gehlen pleaded not guilty.
During a murder trial, the Central Criminal Court heard that Renato Gehlen, a 39‑year‑old Brazilian, told his 37‑year‑old French wife, Anne Colomines, that "when someone loves so much, it is the worst thing in the world" two days before she was killed by knife wounds at their Dublin apartment. Detective Garda Niamh Coates presented Facebook messages from Gehlen's phone in which he repeatedly expressed love and said, "A marriage is two imperfect people who do not give up on each other." Two days before her death he wished her a "happy wedding anniversary" and urged her not to give up on him. The court also heard that on the night of her death she exchanged 296 messages with a new French boyfriend, ending at 23:06, and that emergency responders found her lifeless body in her bedroom less than 30 minutes later. Renato Gehlen pleaded not guilty.
A man has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his conviction for a four-day assault on a teenager in County Cavan in October 2019. The 27-year-old pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault, false imprisonment, assault causing serious harm, making threats to kill, assault causing harm and robbery. He subjected the victim, then aged 19, to violence based on an unfounded belief that the victim had informed on him. Two co-accused, twin siblings aged 23, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault causing harm. The male twin received five years imprisonment with the final two-and-a-half years suspended, while the female twin, previously sentenced in May, received four years with the final three years and three months suspended. The assault came to an end after material posted to social media alerted the victim's family, who located him using a phone tracking device. Mr Justice Michael White imposed strict conditions including probation service supervision and therapeutic intervention on the suspended sentences.
In the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard that Daniel Murtagh, aged 34, had communicated with his former partner Nadine Lott via WhatsApp from July 15 to December 14, 2019. The messages show Murtagh asking Lott about seeing someone from Dublin and expressing concern, to which Lott replied that she was not seeing anyone and told him not to threaten her. Lott also stated that nothing would happen between them again. Murtagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Lott, who was 30, at her Arklow apartment on 17 December 2019. The jury was presented with evidence that Lott suffered severe blunt‑force trauma and stab injuries, never regained consciousness, and died three days later in St Vincent's Hospital. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury of twelve.
A High Court dispute concerning the use of the name 'Limerick Whiskey' has been resolved. The action was brought by Mr Nicholas Ryan and Limerick Spirits Company Ltd against Mssrs Anthony Foote, Liam McInerney, and Michael Fitzgerald, along with Limerick Distillery Company Ltd. The plaintiffs sought injunctions to prevent the defendants from using the 'Limerick Whiskey' name, restraining them from using allegedly confidential information, and prohibiting them from representing that their products were approved by the plaintiffs. Additionally, the plaintiffs sought orders to delete or surrender social media channels, web domains, and trademarks referring to the brand. The defendants denied any wrongdoing, arguing the claims were baseless and that no sensitive information was disclosed during 2019 discussions. Mr Justice Senan Allen had previously granted permission for the proceedings. On Tuesday, the matter returned before the judge, where counsel for the defendants, Paul Coughlan BL, informed the court that the dispute had been resolved and the proceedings could be struck out. No details of the settlement arrangement were disclosed in open court. The court accepted the resolution, effectively concluding the litigation without a final judgment on the merits.
A 66‑year‑old man was jailed for three years after a jury found him guilty of sexually assaulting a 6‑year‑old girl and her 7‑year‑old sister between 2004 and 2009, and of exposing himself in August 2018. The man, whose identity is withheld to protect the victims, had pleaded not guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He claimed a mistaken phone call when the girls' parents confronted him after the elder sister saw him masturbating on a video call via Facebook Messenger in 2018. The court noted the children's ages, the man's lack of prior convictions, and his cooperation, but imposed a custodial sentence for the sexual assaults. The prosecution highlighted the victims' reports of profound impact, while the defence argued the offences were not at the highest level and that the man had no intention of repeating the behaviour. The judge placed the assaults at the middle to lower end of the sentencing range.
In a case heard at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, a 30‑year‑old man was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with the final three years suspended, for defiling a 14‑year‑old girl and a 16‑year‑old girl at his apartment between 2017 and 2018. He pleaded guilty to the defilements and to two counts of meeting a child for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Evidence showed he used Snapchat and Instagram to lure the girls with offers of free drugs, including cannabis, ecstasy and cocaine, before defiling them. The older victim reportedly consented to sexual activity. The man's counsel argued the 14‑year headline sentence was too high, citing lack of authority and isolation, while the DPP's counsel maintained the sentence was justified by aggravating factors such as drug use, age disparity, and premeditated social‑media contact. The Court of Appeal will rule on the appeal on Friday.
A 25‑year‑old Dublin man, formerly known as Ben Mooney and now Ben McCarthy, was sentenced to a three‑year suspended term after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography. He admitted to using the alias "Nicole Heffernon" to contact up to 15 teenage boys via Facebook, sending them explicit images and videos of themselves in underwear or naked, and also videos of the boys masturbating. The court found he had 4,000 images and 300 videos on a Samsung phone at his home. He had no prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally noted his behaviour was exploitative and that he had been under a two‑year probation bond since 2019, during which he completed the "Safer Lives" programme and other treatment courses. The suspended sentence will be enforced if he fails to comply with probation conditions.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) expressed concern that a campaign supporting Aaron Brady, who murdered Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, had posted trial transcripts and other materials on social media, accompanied by commentary that could amount to contempt of court. At a brief hearing in the Court of Appeal, Brendan Grehan SC for the DPP requested an order that the transcripts released for Brady's upcoming appeal be used only for that purpose and not distributed further. Grehan noted that the campaign had promised in January that transcripts would be made available to anyone, which the DPP feared could undermine the appeal process. Michael O'Higgins SC for Brady argued that neither Brady nor the defence lawyers would provide the transcripts to anyone. Aaron Brady was found guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Hazel Fitzpatrick, 25, pleaded guilty to posting a photo of Boy A, one of the boys convicted of Ana Kriégel's murder, on her Facebook account in contravention of the Children's Act 2001. The court noted she had no prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally ordered a Probation Service report and, uncertain about victim impact implications, directed a victim impact statement on a non‑prejudice basis. Fitzpatrick was remanded on continuing bail, with sentencing scheduled for November 4.
In a trial before the Central Criminal Court, an eight‑year‑old boy testified that he was raped by three men, including his father, and that his mother and other relatives had also abused him. The boy, who was taken into care in April 2016, gave evidence in specialist Garda interviews conducted in August 2017. He described being touched by his father, his mother, a 48‑year‑old man who used a teaspoon, and a 27‑year‑old man, and that all three had anally raped him. He also recounted being forced to place his privates in another child's body while a man watched, and that photos of him naked were posted on Facebook. The trial continues with the accused, who range in age from 27 to 57, pleading not guilty to multiple counts of rape, sexual assault, exploitation and wilfully neglecting children. The court heard that the parents were also accused of wilfully neglecting two younger children.
In a trial of seven people accused of sexually abusing three children between 2014 and 2016, a nine‑year‑old girl testified that her father, who is 56, had sent her a message warning her not to tell anyone about the touching or she would be in trouble. She also said he sent her a photo of himself and her mother naked and having sex, and asked her to send him a photo of her "bum", which she did. The girl, who was in foster care at the time, used a tablet to send messages on Facebook to her brother and father. The court heard that the father and mother, aged 56 and 33 respectively, pleaded not guilty to multiple counts including rape, sexual assault and wilfully neglecting children. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury has heard evidence of exchanges between Natalia and Rafal Karaczyn in the months before her death. Text messages and Facebook communications were presented showing Ms Karaczyn repeatedly rejecting her husband's attempts at reconciliation, telling him to leave her life and forbidding him from entering their Crozon Park home in Ballymote, Sligo. Two days before her death, she stated he could "never set foot" in the house again. Detective Sergeant Oliver McHale testified about these communications. Rafal Karaczyn, aged 35, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He admits unlawfully killing his wife by strangling her at their family home between 29 April and 1 May 2018. During garda interview at Ballymote station, he denied causing her death and described an alleged threat from unknown individuals. The trial before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon continues.
During a sentencing hearing in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan warned that young people who allow criminal proceeds to be laundered through their bank accounts could face jail. He spoke about Arina Jersova, who was 18 when €11,000 of illicit money was transferred into her account. Jersova was allegedly recruited by criminals via social media, taken to three locations to withdraw the money, and her bank card was later found by Gardaí. She pleaded guilty to laundering €11,098 at Bank of Ireland Main Street, Blanchardstown, on 9 April 2018. Jersova, now 21, had no prior convictions, cooperated fully, and had saved €8,000 to repay the defrauded company. Judge Nolan said he would consider custodial sentences for such offences and imposed a two‑year suspended sentence on Jersova, warning that future cases could lead to prison.
In March 2021, a 30‑year‑old man named Mark Byrne was sentenced to a suspended four‑year term for child exploitation. Byrne used fake Facebook accounts impersonating actors Killian Scott and Robert Sheehan to lure a 14‑year‑old girl into sending him nude photographs over eight months. He threatened to post the images on her Facebook if she did not comply. The victim, obsessed with the TV series, initially sent a clothed photo and later a nude one after Byrne claimed he was depressed and would kill himself otherwise. Byrne also sent a generic image of an erect penis, claiming it was his. The case was uncovered when the girl's mother saw the messages and reported them to Gardaí. Byrne pleaded guilty to one count of child exploitation and admitted the offence. The judge highlighted the role of social media in facilitating such crimes and noted Byrne's lack of maturity and prior lack of convictions.
A High Court action brought by Sylvia O'Mahoney, a South Dublin resident, against Facebook Ireland Ltd has been resolved. Ms O'Mahoney, from Foxrock, Co Dublin, alleged that a hacker took over her account in mid-December 2020, locking her out and sending unauthorized messages to her contacts. She claimed breaches of her constitutional right to privacy and GDPR rights, seeking injunctions to retrieve data and account activity records. Facebook opposed the action, denying culpability while accepting the account was hacked. The company argued it acted quickly to restore control and provided all requested information. Ms O'Mahoney's counsel, Jack Fitzgerald SC, informed Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds that the matter had been resolved and requested the court be struck out. Facebook's counsel, Rossa Fanning SC, consented to the strike out. No details of the confidential settlement terms were disclosed to the court. The proceedings, launched in January, were mentioned on several occasions before this final hearing. The court accepted the resolution, effectively concluding the litigation without a judgment on the merits.
The High Court granted former Fianna Fail TD Frank O'Rourke permission to add 'persons unknown' to defamation proceedings concerning social media posts made during the 2020 General Election. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds issued the order, allowing O'Rourke to formally join unidentified individuals before the statutory 12-month limitation period expires. O'Rourke has previously obtained Norwich Pharmacal orders against Twitter International Company and Facebook Ireland Ltd to identify the posters. His counsel, Declan Doyle SC, argued that despite efforts to identify the Facebook poster, the individual remains unknown, and joining them as 'persons unknown' was necessary to preserve his right to sue. Facebook, represented by Rossa Fanning SC, raised no objections. O'Rourke alleges that wholly untrue statements posted in February 2020 were designed to cause professional damage during his campaign and a personal marriage breakdown. He claims these posts, which included defamatory remarks about his family and finances, negatively impacted his supporters in North Kildare. A tweet calling for voters not to support him was also cited. O'Rourke, who lost his North Kildare seat in the February election after finishing fifth, seeks to amend the proceedings' title once the alleged defamer's identity is established. The court noted the unusual nature of the application but found the justice of the matter favoured joining the unknown party.
Sylvia O'Mahoney, a South Dublin resident, brought High Court proceedings against Facebook Ireland Ltd, alleging that a hacker accessed her account and breached her constitutional privacy and GDPR rights. Ms O'Mahoney claimed she was locked out after discovering unauthorized messages, including invitations to a decking company, and that her profile name had been changed to 'Luo Yihan'. She reported the issue via Facebook's automated system but received only automated responses in Chinese. In her sworn statement, she sought mandatory injunctions to prevent the unknown user from accessing her account, the return of stolen data, and full activity logs from January 1st. Facebook accepted the account was hacked but denied culpability, stating it restored access within two business days and provided all requested information. Counsel for Facebook, Rossa Fanning SC, argued there was no evidence of Facebook's fault, while Ms O'Mahoney's counsel, Jack Fitzgerald, noted the matter had become more urgent due to the account being linked to unrelated entities. Ms Justice Reynolds adjourned the matter to a date in early February to allow the parties to exchange documents.
During the capital murder trial of Aaron Brady, a video of a witness telling Gardaí that he heard Brady admit to shooting a cop was circulated on social media. The judge, Mr Justice Michael White, described the dissemination as "the most outrageous contempt of court" he had ever seen and noted he was powerless to prevent it. The video was posted on WhatsApp, YouTube and Facebook, with the latter two platforms deleting it after it was shared. The case was marked by intimidation and interference: witnesses and their families received threats, including a death threat to Molly Staunton via Snapchat after her testimony. Five witnesses who had given Gardaí statements failed to appear in court or claimed their statements were inaccurate. The prosecution counsel, Brendan Grehan SC, warned that the WhatsApp message was part of a campaign to disrupt the trial and prevent witnesses from testifying.
In a High Court hearing, Facebook Ireland Ltd argued it would face difficulties complying with a Norwich Pharmacal order sought by former Fianna Fail TD Frank O'Rourke. O'Rourke's application, following a successful order against Twitter, seeks details of an account he claims posted defamatory content about him, including the holder's name, email and IP address. Facebook's counsel, Rossa Fanning, explained that the company lacks a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for the alleged defamatory post, which is necessary to identify the poster. The company also cited concerns about handing over information on a common name that could lead to the wrong account being disclosed. Justice Leonie Reynolds directed Facebook to submit a sworn statement detailing the steps it has taken to locate the account. The case was adjourned to January, with O'Rourke alleging that the posts were intended to damage his political career during the 2020 General Election. The court noted that O'Rourke had lost his seat in February's election.
Three men remain in custody at Mountjoy Prison following a High Court ruling that they must stay detained indefinitely until they comply with orders to vacate a farm in Falsk, Strokestown, County Roscommon. Michael Anthony McGann, Kevin Taylor and Colm Granahan were jailed for contempt of court after refusing to give undertakings to stay away from the property, which was subject to a repossession order by KBC bank and subsequent vacant possession orders. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds found their actions constituted a flagrant, deliberate and contrived breach of existing court orders. The judge noted evidence that all three were present on the farm despite having no entitlement to be there, and referenced an orchestrated social media campaign that undermined court authority and encouraged others to attend the property. The men have been offered opportunities to purge their contempt but have demonstrated unwillingness to do so. Mr Granahan is from Ballina, County Mayo, Mr Taylor is a retired Garda from Longford, and Mr McGann is from Strokestown.
Former TD Frank O'Rourke has filed separate High Court applications against Facebook and Twitter seeking to identify the posters of what he alleges are untrue and defamatory posts about his personal life that appeared on social media shortly before the February 2020 general election. He claims the posts were designed to cause maximum professional damage to him during the election, at a time when he was experiencing a difficult marriage breakdown. O'Rourke says the posts, made on Facebook pages linked to the Celbridge area in early February, alleged false matters about his family and finances and were intended to show him as unfit to serve in Dáil Éireann. He also alleges a tweet was sent shortly before the election urging people not to vote for him and repeating the same untrue statements. O'Rourke, represented by Declan Doyle SC, seeks Norwich Pharmacal orders to obtain the account holders' names, addresses and IP addresses so he can sue them for defamation.
Two men have been remanded in custody following their failure to comply with High Court orders to vacate a farm at Falsk, Strokestown, County Roscommon. Michael Anthony McGann, who owns the property, and retired Garda Kevin Taylor of Dublin Road, Longford were arrested on Wednesday morning and brought before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds at the High Court. The judge heard that both men were in contempt of court orders requiring them to leave the premises. KBC Bank, which holds an injunction granting it vacant possession of the farm, told the court that Mr McGann had breached an undertaking given last month to vacate the property and had made statements on social media indicating he would not leave. Mr Taylor was said to have been present at the farm and part of a coordinated attempt to frustrate the court's orders. Both men were remanded to Mountjoy Prison pending a further hearing on Thursday to address the contempt proceedings.
An appeal has been heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding the case of Aaron Flanagan, Jordan Ennis, and Lucy Ennis, who admitted to charges of violent disorder and assault causing harm at Edenmore Park, Raheny on September 19, 2015. The three appellants pleaded guilty to the charges. During the hearing, Judge Martin Nolan remanded the three in continuing custody for sentence tomorrow. The incident involved a 15-year-old victim who was repeatedly stabbed, punched, and kicked by a group of teenagers after he intervened to protect a friend. The victim, now an adult, cannot be identified due to a recent Court of Appeal decision on the identification of juvenile victims of crime. The court heard that the victim was in the park when he saw a group of four teenage girls shouting at another girl, accusing her of making comments on Facebook. The victim attempted to assist the girl, leading to an altercation. The court also heard that Lucy Ennis was the instigator, and her brother Jordan Ennis was involved in the attack. The victim was later assaulted again by Jordan Ennis and others. The court heard that Jordan Ennis had a previous record of being a law-abiding young man and that the attack was out of character for him. The matter was adjourned for sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Conor Freeman, aged 21, pleaded guilty to knowingly possessing proceeds of crime, amounting to 142.75682712 Bitcoin, and to stealing cryptocurrency from three victims in May 2018. He admitted to stealing $100,000 from Darran Marble, $1,921,335 from Seth Sharpiro, and $167,622.22 from Micheal Templeman. Freeman also pleaded guilty to three counts of dishonestly operating a computer to make a gain between 15 and 18 May 2018. The court noted that Freeman was identified by U.S. Homeland Security as the person behind certain internet handles linked to the offences. He had been part of an online group that targeted individuals with cryptocurrency, using social media to obtain email addresses and phone numbers, and then exploiting password‑reset protocols to access accounts. Freeman's co‑conspirators transferred phone numbers to SIM cards and initiated protocols to gain access.
A High Court judge has warned that any person occupying a farm at Falsk, Strokestown, Co Roscommon after 6pm on Sunday is likely to face imprisonment for contempt of court. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds made the remarks after being informed that whilst the three McGann siblings have complied with orders to vacate the property, which is subject to a repossession order by KBC bank, other individuals are preventing the bank from taking possession. The court heard that a retired garda and possibly others remain on the farm. Counsel for KBC stated that the retired garda has acted in a threatening manner towards the bank's agents and that social media posts have encouraged defiance of court orders. Ms Justice Reynolds expressed concern at what she described as a deliberate breach of the court's order and indicated she would hear applications for committal if the property was not vacated by the deadline. The case will return to court the following week.
In October 2020, privacy activist Max Schrems filed a High Court challenge to stop the Data Protection Commissioner's (DPC) investigation into Facebook Ireland's transfer of data to its U.S. parent. Schrems argued that the DPC's own‑volition inquiry, launched after a July EU Court of Justice ruling, would exclude him from a process he had been involved in since 2013 and 2015, when he first complained about the data transfers. He claimed the inquiry breached his right to be heard and that the DPC had failed to provide adequate reasons for opening an inquiry instead of a complaint‑based one. Schrems, represented by Eoin McCullough SC and James Doherty SC, sought an order quashing the DPC's decision, directing the DPC to complete his complaint with diligence, and to conduct any inquiry as part of a complaint‑based process. The court granted permission ex‑parte, stayed the DPC's investigation, and adjourned the case to December.
In a High Court hearing on 14 September 2020, Facebook Ireland, the EU headquarters of Facebook and Instagram, argued that the Data Protection Commissioner's (DPC) preliminary decision to prohibit the transfer of personal data to its US parent, Facebook Inc., was unlawful. The DPC had issued the decision after an inquiry triggered by a 2020 Court of Justice of the European Union ruling that a key data‑transfer arrangement was invalid. Facebook contended that the DPC failed to conduct a proper inquiry, prejudged the matter, and used irrelevant factors, thereby denying the company fair procedures. It also claimed that the decision would have "extremely significant adverse effects" on its business and users. Facebook sought to quash the DPC's draft decision, declare the commissioner's actions unlawful and disproportionate, and obtain a stay on the inquiry.
A High Court action against eBay Europe Services Ltd and eBay Marketplaces GMBH regarding the alleged commercial use of a young Irish child's image has been resolved. The applicant, a minor suing through her mother, previously secured a temporary injunction in April restraining the defendants from processing or using the image, which was taken down. The case returned before the courts on several occasions and was adjourned, with the injunction remaining in place, to allow discussions to take place. On Thursday, counsel John Temple BL informed Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds that the parties had reached an agreement following out-of-court talks. Under the settlement, eBay will promptly remove any detected instances of the child's data images on its platform. For 12 months, further instances may be reported directly to eBay's legal representatives, who will ensure prompt removal. A payment to the minor will be made by eBay, subject to a later High Court ruling. The defendants, represented by Matheson solicitors, consented to the settlement. The court adjourned the case generally and granted liberty to apply should the need arise. The mother had originally claimed she did not consent to the use of photos posted to Instagram in 2018, which were later found on commercial websites. While Amazon removed the images and took action against sellers, the mother alleged the image remained accessible on eBay, prompting the proceedings.
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday to continue deliberations in the trial of Aaron Brady, accused of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe during a 2013 credit union raid. The jury, consisting of five men and seven women, has spent over six hours across three days considering their verdicts, having first heard evidence in January. Mr Justice Michael White formally suspended their deliberations, urging them not to discuss the case or consult social media, and advised them to relax. Brady, 29, pleaded not guilty to both the capital murder of Donohoe and a robbery charge involving approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques. The judge instructed the jury to first consider the robbery charge, noting that a not‑guilty verdict on robbery would logically preclude a murder conviction. He explained that if the jury finds Brady guilty of robbery, they must then consider the capital murder charge, which is "tricky" due to multiple possible verdicts.
In July 2020, the not‑for‑profit NOYB – European Centre for Digital Rights, based in Vienna, filed a High Court challenge against the Data Protection Commissioner of Ireland. NOYB alleges that the Commissioner has breached its GDPR and Data Protection Act duties by failing to investigate complaints lodged in 2018 about the unlawful processing of personal data by the social media platforms WhatsApp and Instagram. The complaints, made by German and Belgian authorities, claim that the platforms rely on user consent in a way that violates GDPR. NOYB argues that the investigation has only progressed through the first two of eight stages and that the Commissioner has not completed it within a reasonable period. The court granted permission for the action on an ex‑parte basis and set a return date for September.
A man from Castlebar, County Mayo, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexually exploiting children online. Mark Keogh pleaded guilty to 14 charges of child sexual exploitation and possession of child pornography. Between November 2013 and May 2014, he created a fake Facebook profile posing as a teenage girl named Nicole Doyle and contacted 14 boys aged 13 to 16, requesting naked photographs. Gardaí discovered over 700 sexually explicit images of children on his laptop during a search in February 2016, approximately 400 of which depicted the 12 victims. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a five-year sentence but suspended the final three and a half years. The judge noted Keogh's severe autism, psychiatric difficulties, and genuine need for specialist care, whilst acknowledging the seriousness of the offending and impact on the victims. Keogh has no previous convictions.