A garda whistleblower was subjected to hostility and bullying within the Cavan-Monaghan division, the Charleton tribunal heard. Sergeant Maurice McCabe's barrister told the inquiry that whilst some garda witnesses claimed never to have discussed the sergeant, evidence indicated he faced considerable animosity from certain quarters, including being called a "rat" on social media. Retired Chief Superintendent James Sheridan acknowledged awareness of the bullying but denied any personal involvement in undermining Sergeant McCabe or conspiring to damage his reputation. The tribunal examined an erroneous HSE notification containing incorrect sexual abuse allegations against Sergeant McCabe, which Mr Sheridan characterised as a catastrophic error attributable to the HSE rather than gardaí. He stated that follow-up actions agreed at a July 2014 meeting were not pursued, though rejected suggestions this was deliberate. The original 2006 complaint against Sergeant McCabe resulted in the Director of Public Prosecutions directing no prosecution.
CCC Nuacht, a court‑reporting agency, announced a settlement with Leo Sherlock, trading as The Liberal.ie, over four copyright infringements between June 2015 and November 2016. The infringements involved the publication of CCC Nuacht's reports on a Romanian fraud case, a babysitter's sexual abuse conviction, and a former Church of Ireland worker's rape and molestation conviction. Sherlock repeatedly ignored attempts to resolve the breaches. The settlement requires Sherlock to publish a full apology on The Liberal.ie's website by 13 July, keep it on the main page for at least 48 hours, and post a link to the apology on the site's Facebook and Twitter accounts for 24 hours. The apology will remain permanently online. Sherlock also agreed to pay damages. CCC Nuacht thanked solicitor Rossa McMahon for representing the agency and highlighted the importance of licensed court reporting for accurate journalism and justice administration.
In a 2017 case, Gilbert Hategekimana, an agency nurse at Dublin's Mater hospital, was found guilty of professional misconduct after contacting a 24‑year‑old female patient, Patient A, via WhatsApp and Facebook. He had taken her mobile number and address from her patient file and sent her messages, called her, and sent a friend request. Patient A, a primary school teacher with Type 1 diabetes, reported feeling frightened and violated, fearing the nurse might visit her home. She testified that he had spoken to her briefly on the night of 3 October 2015 while she was receiving care. Hategekimana admitted to the misconduct and to non‑compliance with the nursing code of conduct. Sanctions were to be decided later. The nurse's lawyer expressed remorse on his behalf, stating he recognised his mistake and pledged it would not recur.
In a Family Law case in Dublin, a judge warned a woman that if she again identified her husband on Facebook she would be in contempt of court. The woman had posted a picture of her husband online with the caption "Now everybody sees your face and you don't hit me anymore." Her husband, who was seeking a safety order, claimed she had threatened to kill him and had posted an "urgent notice" on Facebook labeling him as violent. The judge, Gerard Furlong, reminded the woman that Family Law proceedings are governed by an "in camera" rule, meaning no one may be identified outside court, and that violating this rule can lead to imprisonment. He instructed her to refrain from threatening or posting anything about her husband on the internet.
A 36‑year‑old man from Louth pleaded not guilty to rape at Kilmashogue Lane on 11 September 2014. The alleged victim, a 31‑year‑old university student, said she met the accused on Tinder, exchanged WhatsApp messages, and arranged a date. She claimed the man drove her to a rural road, forced her into his car, and after a brief kissing session, forced her to lie down, removed her clothes, and raped her. She said she resisted, but the accused allegedly stopped her resistance and raped her. After the incident, he sent her a WhatsApp with a smiley face, which she deleted. During cross‑examination, the defence argued the encounter was consensual, but the victim rejected this. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury.
The family of Sonia Blount urged social media users to exercise caution after the man who murdered her was sentenced to life imprisonment. The warning followed the sentencing of Eric Locke, who had used a fake Facebook profile to lure Blount to a Dublin hotel room where she was killed. Family friend Liz Gaffney spoke outside court, thanking the legal team, Gardaí, and Blount's friends and colleagues at Henkel Locktite for their support. She warned that false profiles are easy to set up and that Blount's "error of judgment" cost her life. Gaffney thanked Justice Michael Moriarty and the jury for their unanimous decision and for identifying Locke as a "lying, manipulative person." She noted that the verdict would never bring Blount back, describing her as an innocent, beautiful, kind, caring mother who is deeply missed.
In a Dublin court, Eric Locke was sentenced to a mandatory life term for the murder of 31‑year‑old Sonia Blount, who was killed in a hotel in Tallaght on 16 February 2014. Locke had lured Blount to the hotel using a fake Facebook profile after she had cut contact with him. He strangled her with his hands and a phone‑charger cable, then suffocated her by forcing her t‑shirt into her mouth, dislodging her teeth. He pleaded not guilty but admitted causing her death. A jury found him guilty of murder after 1 hour 33 minutes of deliberation. The judge pronounced a life sentence, noting the tragedy for Blount's three‑year‑old son, Jake, and the impact on her family. The sentencing hearing was attended by Blount's relatives, who delivered victim impact statements. The court concluded with Locke being led away to begin his life sentence.
In a Dublin murder case, Eric Locke, aged 35, was found guilty of strangling his ex‑girlfriend Sonia Blount, aged 31, at the Plaza Hotel in Tallaght on 16 February 2014. Locke lured Blount to the hotel using a fake Facebook profile and, after a confrontation, strangled her with his hands and the cable of her phone charger, forcing her t‑shirt into her mouth and breaking her teeth. He had previously pleaded not guilty but admitted causing her death. The Central Criminal Court jury deliberated for 1 hour 33 minutes before delivering a unanimous guilty verdict. Locke was remanded in custody for sentencing, where a mandatory life sentence will be imposed.
During the Central Criminal Court trial of Eric Locke, Dr Seán Ó Domhnaill testified that it was "entirely possible" that Locke had intentionally killed Sonia Blount, a 31‑year‑old mother‑of‑one who was found strangled and suffocated in a Plaza Hotel room in Tallaght on 16 February 2014. The psychiatrist, who had diagnosed Locke with Pervasive Developmental Disorder, ADHD, autism and Asperger's Syndrome, argued that Locke's mental state gave him "diminished responsibility" for the killing. He also described Locke as a compulsive liar and noted that Locke had used a fake Facebook profile to arrange a meeting with Blount. Dr Ó Domhnaill agreed that Locke's messages to Blount about leaving a keycard at reception showed an element of planning, but he maintained that Locke had not intended to kill her, only to silence her. The prosecution cross‑examined him on these points, and the trial continues before a jury. The unnamed 35-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court trial of Eric Locke, Dr Seán Ó Domhnaill, a psychiatrist, confirmed that Locke had used a fake Facebook profile to arrange a meeting with his ex‑girlfriend, Sonia Blount, at the Plaza Hotel in Tallaght. He agreed that Locke sent several messages to Blount asking her to leave a keycard for the room at reception, an action he said was intended to prevent her from seeing through the peephole. Dr Ó Domhnaill testified that this constituted an element of planning. He also diagnosed Locke with Pervasive Developmental Disorder, noting signs of ADHD, autism and Asperger's Syndrome, and argued that Locke's mental state gave him diminished responsibility for the killing. Locke, 35, is charged with Blount's murder, which occurred on 16 February 2014, and has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution's cross‑examination focused on the significance of the keycard messages and the planning they implied.
In a 2017 trial, Dr Seán Ó Domhnaill testified that Eric Locke, a 35‑year‑old from Clondalkin, had a chronic pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified, including ADHD, autism and Asperger's syndrome. He described Locke's early autistic behaviours, his many short‑lived jobs, and his tendency to attribute human qualities to action figures. Dr Ó Domhnaill also noted a childhood urethral condition that had been surgically attempted but left a deformity, which had led to female taunts and a mistrust of women. He concluded that Locke's mental state meant he had diminished responsibility for the killing of 31‑year‑old Sonia Blount, whom he strangled and suffocated in a hotel room in Tallaght on 16 February 2014 after meeting her via a fake Facebook profile. The psychiatrist said Locke had not intended to kill her, only to tie her to a chair and force her to listen to his suffering, and that he had panicked when she screamed.
In the Central Criminal Court, the trial of 35‑year‑old Eric Locke, charged with the murder of 31‑year‑old Sonia Blount, has revealed that Locke had a history of ADHD, autism and Asperger's Syndrome. He also suffered a birth defect involving his urethra, which had been unsuccessfully corrected surgically and led to scarring. According to psychiatrist Dr Sean O'Domhnaill, Locke's early life was marked by autistic behaviours such as hand‑flapping and high‑pitched shrieks, and he had held more than 20 jobs in a decade, a pattern typical of ADHD. O'Domhnaill also noted that Locke had developed a mistrust of women after being taunted by several females about his birth defect. The prosecution's case was closed, while Locke pleaded not guilty and admitted to strangling Blount after meeting her via a fake Facebook profile at the Plaza Hotel in Tallaght on 16 February 2014.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, 35‑year‑old Eric Locke is charged with murdering 31‑year‑old Sonia Blount, who was found strangled and suffocated in a room at the Plaza Hotel in Tallaght on 16 February 2014. Locke, who lives in Clondalkin, pleaded not guilty but admitted causing Blount's death. He told Gardaí that he had set up a fake Facebook account to meet her, purchased a pellet gun, a Stanley knife and cable ties, and used a keycard left at reception to enter the room. Locke claimed he only intended to frighten her, not kill her, and that he had used his hands and briefly a phone charger cable during the strangulation. He denied rape, said he had attempted suicide before surrendering, and expressed remorse for the impact on Blount's three‑year‑old son. The case is before Mr Justice Michael Moriarty and a jury of twelve.
In a Dublin murder trial, 35‑year‑old Eric Locke is charged with killing 31‑year‑old Sonia Blount in a Plaza Hotel room on 16 February 2014. The court heard that Locke had tried to hack Blount's Facebook and email accounts a week before the murder, and that she had described him as a "whack job" to a friend. Locke pleaded not guilty but admitted causing Blount's death, which was found strangled and suffocated. He had threatened suicide when their relationship ended in January 2014 and exchanged messages with Blount about his health. The jury heard that Locke had created a fake identity to meet Blount, arranged a meeting for sex, and that he left the hotel around 5.40 am before her body was discovered. The trial is before Mr Justice Michael Moriarty with a jury of eight men and four women.
Former Tanaiste Joan Burton denied being relaxed in the car where she was allegedly falsely imprisoned during a water‑charges protest on 15 November 2014. She told the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that she suffered nightmares after the event and that she tried to keep her composure to avoid aggravating the protesters. Video clips shown to the jury showed her reading a newspaper article about Michael Collins and speaking to adviser Karen O'Connell about posting a message on social media about children "roaming" the area. Burton said she did not hear political slogans, only "peaceful protest" and "shame on you", and that she had been in a "fear‑filled atmosphere". She also described the protest slogans shouted outside the car, including "Enda Kenny in your ivory tower" and "Stick your water meters up your arse". The trial, presided over by Judge Melanie Greally, continues with a jury of seven men and five women.
A 53‑year‑old man was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for sexually abusing and orally raping his 10‑year‑old daughter on three separate occasions between February 1994 and September 1996. He denied the charges but later admitted the abuse in court and on social media, apologising to his daughter. The judge noted that the man had expressed sorrow and shame but still lacked full insight into the impact of his actions. He was found to pose a low risk of re‑offending and was ordered to have no contact with his daughter indefinitely unless she agreed. The court heard that the man had taken his daughter to his bed, forced her to perform oral sex, and left a £50 note after each incident. The daughter, now 32, had only come forward in 2014, after learning her father had a new partner with young daughters. The unnamed man was convicted.
Michael Murray, 46, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping a woman, assaulting her, abducting her four‑year‑old son, threatening to kill them, and committing theft and false imprisonment in a Dublin apartment on 12–13 February 2010. He lured the victim by claiming an elderly woman inside needed help, bound and drugged her, and then took the child to a city centre square at night. Murray denied all charges, but a jury found him guilty on every count. He appealed the conviction on grounds including alleged inadmissible interviews, failure to disclose evidence, and lack of warning about social media influence. The Court of Appeal, hearing the appeal on 3 March 2017, dismissed all of Murray's arguments, upheld the conviction, and noted that the trial was not unsatisfactory or unsafe. The Director of Public Prosecutions will seek a review of his sentence for being "unduly lenient.".
During a murder trial, a witness testified that Facebook messages sent to the deceased, Michal Rejmer, were delivered and opened days after his last sighting. The witness, Leszek Pajak, who had known Rejmer from McDonald's, maintained contact via text and Facebook Messenger while in Poland. He received a message from Rejmer at 1.43 am on 31 December stating he would work until 8 pm that night, and all subsequent messages were confirmed as delivered and opened until 6 January. Pajak also sent New Year's greetings and later messages questioning Rejmer's existence. On 6 January, Monika Matracka, the accused, sent a message asking if Rejmer had been in contact. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, continues with a jury of twelve. The case centers on whether self‑defence applies to the alleged murder of Rejmer at Matracka's Limerick home. Monika Matracka pleaded not guilty.
The State withdrew a charge against Geraldine Delahunty, a disabled woman, who had been accused of harassing 98FM presenter Jeremy Dixon between 4 August 2014 and 16 January 2015. The alleged harassment involved social media communications and was charged under section 10 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the prosecution entered a nolle prosequi, meaning the case would not proceed. A prior hearing had heard a psychologist's report stating Ms Delahunty was incapable of standing trial and that her condition was unlikely to improve with time or medication. The defence argued that her disability, rather than a psychiatric issue, was the main concern, noting she lived under constant supervision of her parents. The Director of Public Prosecutions had requested an independent expert to examine Ms Delahunty, and the prosecution acknowledged a delay in responding to the defence report. The case was adjourned to the day the charge was withdrawn.
Darren Weldon, a 45‑year‑old from Kilbarrack, Dublin, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to four years' imprisonment for membership of a dissident terrorist organisation, the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The conviction followed DNA evidence linking him to a number plate recovered from the wreckage of a car bomb that detonated outside Newry courthouse on 22 February 2010. The court heard that the plate was found by PSNI officers and that DNA swabs taken from Weldon while in custody matched the profile on the plate. Weldon had previously been arrested in September 2012 on suspicion of IRA membership after attending the funeral of Alan Ryan, a former "Real IRA" member. The court also considered a WhatsApp message on Weldon's phone praising those who act "regardless of the consequences." Mr Justice Tony Hunt sentenced Weldon to five years, suspending the final year, and the effective custodial term was four years.
Muna Ali, a 23‑year‑old Norwegian national, was stopped at Dublin Airport after a flight from Nairobi. X‑ray scans of her suitcases revealed a green, herb‑like substance identified as khat, a controlled drug. The estimated street value of the drugs was €7,200. Ali pleaded guilty to unlawful importation of a controlled drug on 9 July 2016. She was originally from Somalia, moved to Norway with her mother, and was attending university when she travelled to Kenya. While there, she met a man via Facebook who offered her €2,000 to transport two suitcases from Nairobi to Glasgow. Ali claimed she did not know the contents of the suitcases. The court, noting her early guilty plea, lack of prior convictions and absence of family ties in Ireland, imposed a ten‑month sentence back‑dated to the day she entered custody.
A 23‑year‑old Norwegian national, Muna Ali, was stopped at Dublin Airport after a flight from Nairobi. X‑ray scans of her suitcases revealed a green, herb‑like substance identified as khat, a controlled drug. The estimated street value of the khat was €7,200. Ali pleaded guilty to unlawful importation of a controlled drug on 9 July 2016. She was originally from Somalia, moved to Norway with her mother, and was attending university when she travelled to Kenya. While there, she met a man via Facebook and agreed to transport two suitcases from Nairobi to Glasgow for €2,000. She claimed she did not know the contents of the suitcases. The court noted her early guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, and absence of family ties in Ireland. Judge Terence O'Sullivan announced a partially suspended sentence and adjourned sentencing to 21 December to allow her flight to Norway.
A 45‑year‑old Meath man, Darren Weldon, was found guilty of IRA membership by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. The conviction was based on DNA evidence linking Weldon to a car registration plate recovered from the debris of a car bomb that exploded outside Newry courthouse on 22 February 2010. Garda DNA swabs taken from Weldon matched the DNA profile on the plate. Weldon had previously denied membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA) when he was charged on 14 October 2014. He had been arrested in September 2012 for suspected IRA membership after attending the funeral of Alan Ryan, a former "Real IRA" member who was killed in 2012. During the trial, a WhatsApp message on Weldon's phone praising Alan Ryan was presented, and Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan testified that confidential information indicated Weldon's IRA membership. Weldon was remanded in custody until 16 January, when sentencing will occur.
In September 2015, Neven Vukovic, a 40‑year‑old Croatian man, attacked his ex‑partner Fionnuala Ní Mhartín at her Dublin home. After the couple had split two days earlier, Vukovic entered the house, attempted to hug her, and when she refused, he slapped her on the head and then repeatedly punched and kicked her. The assault left her with a fractured eye socket and other injuries. Vukovic later sent harassing text and Facebook messages, including threats, for weeks. Gardaí arrested him and he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He was charged with assault and harassment, placed on bail with strict conditions, and a sentencing hearing was adjourned to April. He has since attended anger‑management and counselling courses.
The jury for the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick, charged with misleading auditors about millions of euros in loans, was sent away for almost two weeks. A specially enlarged panel of 15 jurors was sworn in at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the trial expected to last three months. Judge John Aylmer reminded the jurors to remain impartial, to avoid seeking information online or on social media, and not to discuss the case with family or friends. FitzPatrick, aged 68, pleaded not guilty to 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act, including 22 charges of misleading statements to auditors and five charges of furnishing false information between 2002 and 2007. The judge told the jury that the case would resume before counsel for the State, Dominic McGinn SC, who would explain the lengthy indictment.
Three new jurors were sworn in for the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick, who faces 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act for allegedly misleading the bank's auditor Ernst and Young about director's loans received between November 2002 and February 2008. The trial, held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, is expected to last three months. Judge John Aylmer instructed the jury, now nine women and six men, to remain impartial, avoid internet or social media research, and not discuss the case with family or friends. He emphasized that the jury must base their verdict solely on the evidence presented in court and will return a decision tomorrow afternoon before being dismissed for about two weeks. FitzPatrick, aged 68, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Sean Carraher, aged 55, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for harassing Sergeant Conor Gilmartin between March 2009 and May 2011. Carraher posted 58 messages on Rate‑Your‑Solicitor and Victims of the Legal Profession, alleging that Gilmartin had withheld evidence in a prior case and was corrupt. He also made up to 12 harassing phone calls. He pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was convicted after nearly six hours of jury deliberation. Carraher had a prior 2011 conviction for harassing his wife. Judge Patrick McCartan imposed the sentence to deter others from spreading grossly defamatory information, noting Carraher's lack of remorse and use of internet anonymity. No findings of wrongdoing were made against Gilmartin. The case highlighted the impact of the harassment on Gilmartin and his family, who deleted social media accounts and a charity webpage to protect themselves.
A harassment charge against a garda from Bundoran, County Donegal has been withdrawn at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Garda Donal Maguire, aged 40, had previously been found not guilty by reason of insanity on two counts of harassment following a trial last month. The jury returned that verdict after hearing evidence that he had sent a Valentine's card, emails and a social media friend request to a married female sergeant despite being instructed by superiors to cease contact. Mr Maguire, who suffers from early onset dementia, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital following the trial. The Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi on the additional harassment charge, relating to conduct between February and March 2014, resulting in its withdrawal.
DigitalEurope, representing the digital technology industry in Europe, has applied to join a High Court action initiated by Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon over EU‑US data transfers via Facebook. The Commissioner seeks the High Court to refer key legal questions about the validity of standard contractual clauses (SCCs) used for data transfers to the Court of Justice of the EU. The case stems from Austrian lawyer Max Schrems' objections that Facebook Ireland's transfers to its US parent breach his EU data‑privacy rights. Judge Brian McGovern has fast‑tracked the case in the Commercial Court and granted leave for DigitalEurope to apply to join, with the application to be decided later. The judge set a hearing for 27 June. Similar applications have been filed by other bodies, including the US government, the Business Software Alliance, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
A garda from Bundoran, County Donegal, has been found not guilty by reason of insanity of harassing a married female sergeant at a Dublin garda station between February 2012 and February 2013. The 40-year-old man had sent a Valentine's card, numerous emails via the garda Pulse system, and a Facebook friend request to the woman despite repeated warnings from superiors and an oral undertaking to cease contact. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard the behaviour caused the complainant significant stress and affected her work and family life. Two forensic psychiatrists gave evidence that the accused was suffering from frontotemporal dementia, an early-onset condition causing erotomania and an inability to understand the impact of his actions or control his behaviour. The jury returned a not guilty verdict after deliberating for one hour. Judge Elma Sheahan committed the man to the Central Mental Hospital pending a report for 27 June to determine appropriate steps.
A garda stationed in Bundoran, County Donegal, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to two counts of harassment against a female sergeant at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The accused is alleged to have sent a Valentine's card, multiple emails and a Facebook friend request to the woman between February 2012 and February 2013, despite repeated warnings from senior officers to cease contact. The prosecution does not dispute that harassment occurred but contends the central issue for the jury is whether the accused was suffering from a mental disorder at the time. The court heard that the woman, who is married with children, had made clear her lack of romantic interest and that the unwanted contact caused her significant distress, affecting her work and family life. A consultant psychiatrist is expected to give evidence that the accused was unable to understand his actions were wrong. The trial continues before Judge Elma Sheahan and jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Christopher Dunne, aged 22, was given a three‑year suspended sentence for assaulting Scott Chapman at a house party on 24 January 2013. Dunne threw a wooden chair at Chapman and then chased him with a kitchen knife, demanding his car keys. Chapman was struck on the face, suffered a cut on his forehead that required six stitches, incurred €300 in medical costs, lost three weeks of wages and bears a permanent scar. Dunne later contacted Chapman via Facebook, apologising and claiming he could not recall the attack due to alcohol and tablets. He offered €1,000 to Chapman as a token of remorse. Judge Melanie Greally accepted Dunne's remorse and insight, suspended the sentence on the condition of 18 months probation and 180 hours community service within 12 months. Dunne has ten prior convictions, including possession of knives and an imitation firearm. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
The High Court granted an injunction to stop any interference with the auction of 1,000 cattle belonging to Peter and Tracey Kingston, winners of RTE's 'Ireland's Fittest Family'. The auction, scheduled for Tuesday morning at the Kingston farm in Cradenhill, Nohoval, Co. Cork, was threatened by the Land League and the New Land League, whose spokesman Mr Jerry Beades had posted on Facebook indicating an intention to disrupt the sale. The Sheriff of County Cork, Sinead McNamara, sought the injunction after attempts to secure an undertaking from Mr Beades failed. Mr Justice Paul Gilligan ordered that members of the two groups and Mr Beades could not interfere with or attend the auction from midnight on Monday for several days. The injunction, made ex‑parte, is returnable next week and may be applied for on 24‑hour notice. The order also applies to anyone with knowledge of it.
In a 2016 High Court decision, Justice Peter Kelly denied the Reinstate 48 Initiative (R48) an injunction, allowing Dublin City Council to remove six posters it had placed around the city. The judge found the posters, which promoted a constitutional amendment to restore Article 48 and enable referendums with 75,000 signatures, did not violate electoral law because they did not mention the election, candidates, or constituencies, nor did they exhort voters to support any party. R48's chairman, Stephen Mulcahy, argued the posters were exempt and relevant to the upcoming general election, seeking declarations that the removal was unlawful and breached the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. The court ruled the posters were not election‑related, permitting their removal, and adjourned the full hearing to allow the council to prepare its defence. The case involved €30,000 spent on the posters and a social media campaign, with over 30 candidates pledging support for R48.
In February 2016 the Reinstate 48 Initiative, led by Stephen Mulcahy, filed a High Court action against Dublin City Council (DCC) after the council removed posters that promoted the group's campaign to restore Article 48 of the Irish Free State Constitution. The initiative seeks to re‑introduce a clause that would allow a constitutional referendum to be triggered by 50,000 voter signatures, a mechanism that existed in the 1922 constitution but was removed in 1929. The group has spent about €30,000 on six posters and a social media campaign, and claims it is entitled to display them during the election campaign. Mulcahy's lawyers requested declarations that the posters are lawful, that their removal was unlawful, and that the removal breaches the Irish Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. They also sought an injunction to prevent further removal of the posters.
In a 2011 case, gardaí utilized an accused's Facebook friends list to demonstrate closer links with alleged kidnappers than he initially admitted. The unnamed accused, who faced charges related to this activity, was later jailed for sourcing a vehicle for the alleged kidnappers. This instance highlights the increasing reliance on social media evidence in criminal proceedings. While the article primarily discusses the broader use of digital forensics and social media posts in trials, including cross-examination tactics and the analysis of search histories, the specific validated procedural stage for the named subject is sentencing. The court report notes that prosecutors are increasingly comfortable using social media as a tool, citing this 2011 conviction as an example where digital connections helped establish the accused's involvement. The matter was not adjourned; rather, the accused received a custodial sentence for the offense of sourcing a vehicle for the alleged kidnappers. No other specific pleas, findings, or suspended portions are detailed for this individual in the provided text, which focuses more on the general utility of Facebook evidence in legal contexts.
In January 2016, Conor O'Keefe, aged 26, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended for two years, for having sex with a 15‑year‑old girl he had groomed through a fake social media profile. O'Keefe created a profile as a teenage girl named "Julie" on Tagged.com, then claimed to be her older brother "Adam" and persuaded the victim to travel to his house where they had sex. The judge noted no threat or force was used and that the girl was a willing participant, but that O'Keefe had pressured her by expressing disappointment when she was reluctant. O'Keefe had previously pleaded guilty to a similar offence in July 2011 and had no prior convictions. He is now on the sex offenders register and is taking part in therapy and the Safer Lives programme. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Conor O'Keefe was found guilty.
A 29‑year‑old father‑of‑two who had sex with a 16‑year‑old girl he met on Facebook was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, by Judge Desmond Hogan on 27 March 2015. He pleaded guilty to two counts of defilement of a child at two Dublin locations on 22 January and 4 February 2013. The man appealed and the Court of Appeal set aside the original sentence. Judge Alan Mahon imposed a new 12‑month custodial sentence, suspending the unserved portion for two years. The man was required to post a €100 bond and keep the peace for that period. The girl was 16 years and nine months old at the time of the offences, and the man was 27. No aggravating factors were identified, and the judge noted the absence of violence, pregnancy or STDs. The appeal was heard by Judges Mahon, Birmingham and Edwards.
Conor O'Keefe, 26, will be sentenced next year for sex with a 15‑year‑old girl he met online using a fake profile on Tagged.com. He created a teenage girl's account called "Julie" and later claimed to be her older brother "Adam," persuading the girl to travel by taxi to his house where they had sex. O'Keefe pleaded guilty to sex with a child in July 2011 and was found guilty of a further count of sexual exploitation of a child by a jury after a three‑day trial. He had no prior convictions and is now on the sex offenders register. Defence counsel submitted a probation report and a psychological report, asking the court to consider non‑custodial options. Judge Sarah Berkeley adjourned sentencing to 12 January to allow consideration of the case. O'Keefe faces a maximum possible sentence of 14 years imprisonment on these charges.
David Ward (30) and Lynsey Ivory (27) staged a car crash to claim insurance. They pretended to be strangers, but FBD Insurance discovered they appeared in each other's Facebook profile pictures. Both pleaded guilty to attempting to defraud FBD between July 2013 and January 2014. Ward was the front‑seat passenger in an Opel Corsa that rear‑ended Ivory's Volkswagen Passat. They claimed injuries but denied knowing each other to Gardaí. Ward had seven prior convictions; Ivory had none. Judge Martin Nolan suspended one year of Ward's two‑year sentence, citing deterrence, and fully suspended Ivory's two‑year sentence because she had no prior convictions. Ward was jailed for one year, with the suspended portion not counted as custodial time. Both were married and have two children. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
David Ward (30) and Volkswagen Passat Lynsey Ivory (27), both of The Beeches, Clonshaugh, Priorswood, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempting to dishonestly by deception cause a loss to FBD Insurance on dates between July 22, 2013 and January 1, 2014. Both admitted to the charges and pleaded guilty. The case is at the sentence stage. Ward and Ivory were involved in a staged car crash where they pretended to be strangers. They were discovered when an FBD Insurance claims handler noted their appearance in each other's Facebook profile pictures. Both submitted personal injury claims to FBD Insurance, denying knowledge of each other during the investigation. Garda Neill Plunkett stated that inconsistencies in their accounts and the lack of airbag deployment raised suspicions. Ward has seven previous convictions for offences including criminal damage and theft, while Ivory has no convictions. The couple have two children and have since married. The matter will be sentenced tomorrow.
A 22‑year‑old man from Meath was sentenced to three years in prison for defilement after using Facebook to contact a 14‑year‑old girl and her 12‑year‑old sister. He met the older girl three times, performed sexual acts, and tried to persuade her to bring her sister for a threesome, claiming they could "train her." The girl's mother testified that the abuse ruined her daughter's childhood and caused her to suffer panic attacks. The court found the abuse premeditated and imposed a five‑year sentence with the final two years suspended. The man was ordered to register as a sex offender and undergo 18 months of probation supervision upon release. He pleaded guilty to defilement and soliciting a child in November 2012. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Mark Sheridan, 25, of Railway Road, Clongriffin, Dublin, was convicted of threatening to kill Mark Jones, an acquaintance, on 20 October 2013. He pleaded not guilty to the threat and to charges of firearm possession and harassment between 1 July and 19 October 2013, but was acquitted of the latter offences. The jury found him guilty of the threat after a four‑day trial. At sentencing, Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a three‑year suspended sentence and ordered Sheridan to raise €5,000 for a charity nominated by Jones by September. Sheridan must have no contact with Jones, including via social media. The judge noted that Sheridan had not attracted Garda attention since the offence and that the seriousness of the crime could not be overlooked. Jones had previously stated he did not wish to receive compensation.
During the murder trial of Wayne Kennedy, a 33‑year‑old from Rathsallagh Park, Shankill, a witness, Mark McGovern, testified that Kennedy had sent him a text message on the morning of December 26, 2013, saying, "I think I murdered someone last night." McGovern said he received the message at 5:34 am and, being drunk, ignored it, later turning his phone off and sleeping. He recalled additional messages the next morning, including pleas for help. McGovern also described learning of a dispute between Kennedy and Sean Turner, the 24‑year‑old victim, through his wife's Facebook page. The prosecution also called Ian Messitt, who claimed to have heard shouting from the estate and seen Turner's blood, and Garda Neil Dunne, who found a knife handle in a grassy verge. Kennedy pleaded not guilty to murder and serious harm charges, and the trial continues.
In a High Court settlement on 6 May 2015, a mother and her young son, who had been in foster care more than three years earlier, agreed to receive €40,000 from the Health Services Executive (HSE) to resolve defamation and privacy claims. The mother alleged that foster parents had posted false, highly defamatory remarks about her on Facebook in early 2012, including pictures of the child, and that the HSE had breached privacy, confidence and statutory duties by allowing such posts. She claimed the posts caused ridicule, contempt and damage to her character, and that her constitutional and European Convention rights to privacy were violated. The son also alleged a breach of privacy. The HSE was accused of negligence for failing to train foster parents on social media use or provide a policy.
A 29‑year‑old man was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for having sex with a 16‑year‑old girl he met on Facebook. He pleaded guilty to two counts of defilement of a child in January and February 2013 at two Dublin locations. The judge, after hearing evidence and a probation report, noted the man had no insight into the impact on the victim and that the girl was underage. The sentence included a 12‑month suspended period, conditional on cooperation with the Probation Service and victim‑awareness work. The court also ordered the man to undergo sexual‑offending and alcohol‑awareness programmes and to be registered as a sex offender. The man had nine prior convictions, all for road‑traffic offences, and a low risk of reoffending was assessed. The victim's parents had not been in contact with her and she had "gone off the radar.".
In the murder trial of William Moran, a 20‑year‑old Waterford man charged with the 2012 killing of Martin Brophy, the jury was instructed that if they are satisfied that Moran assaulted Brophy in the manner described by Facebook messages, he is guilty of murder. Moran pleaded not guilty and is on trial at the Central Criminal Court. Prosecutor Michael Delaney highlighted Moran's admission of being at the scene and his alleged attempts to conceal evidence, noting swollen knuckles and Facebook messages sent on May 20 that could constitute admissions to murder. He also mentioned Gavin Walsh, who was present at the scene but is not on trial. Defence counsel Colman Cody argued that Facebook is a vulnerable medium, that evidence could be accessed by others, and urged a not‑guilty verdict. The judge began his charge to the jury.
In the 2015 trial of William Moran, a 20‑year‑old Waterford man charged with the 2012 murder of Martin Brophy, the jury heard that Garda investigators were given a clip from the film "American History X". The clip shows a character forcing an intruder to bite a kerb and then striking him in the head, leading to death. Detective Garda Kevin Nolan confirmed that he received a disk titled "American History X" in the weeks after May 2012. Witness Davina Wrafter, 18, testified that she learned of Brophy's death from Gavin Walsh, who claimed Moran had struck Brophy with a brick and delivered three kicks to the head, stating he thought Brophy was already dead. Wrafter, then 15, was terrified and eventually reported the incident to Gardaí after seeing Walsh's Facebook post. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, continued under Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of four women and seven men. William Moran pleaded not guilty.
In the Waterford murder trial, a jury heard that a Facebook account linked to William Moran, a 20‑year‑old accused of killing 22‑year‑old Martin Brophy, sent messages to a friend. The account replied "I didn't do nothing" and later "I didn't do it kid" when asked by Darren Walsh. In another conversation, Moran's account said "I dunno his proper name – I don't even know where he lives" about Skip, and "I gave him some hiding" when asked what he did to him. The court also learned that a black Samsung Galaxy phone, seized from Gavin Walsh, had been used by Moran in a phone swap. No IP address linking the account to email activity was obtained for May. The trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of four women and seven men. William Moran pleaded not guilty.
In a Waterford murder trial, a jury heard that a Facebook message allegedly from William Moran (20) claimed he beat Martin Brophy (22) to death with a cinder block and gave him the "American History X job." The prosecution presented testimony from Stephen Dundon, who said he had chatted with Moran on May 20, 2012, about playing PlayStation and an assault. Dundon recalled a message from Moran's Facebook page stating, "I gave that fella an old bad one. Serious he got it haha," and a reply claiming, "I beat him to death a cinder block around 10 times off the head and gave him the American History X job." Dundon also admitted his own Facebook account had been hacked. William Moran pleaded not guilty.