Aaron Connolly, 23, of Willistown, Drumcar, was found guilty by a unanimous jury at the Central Criminal Court of the murder of Cameron Reilly, 18, at Shamrock Hill, Dunleer, on May 26, 2018. Connolly had pleaded not guilty to the charge. The jury, comprising seven women and five men, reached their verdict after 10 hours and 39 minutes of deliberation. Mr Justice Tony Hunt thanked the jury and exempted them from jury duty for 15 years. The court heard that Mr Reilly's cause of death was asphyxia due to external pressure on the neck. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC made a formal admission that sexual contact occurred between the two men, with Connolly performing oral sex on Reilly, and that Reilly was alive when Connolly left. Prosecution counsel Dean Kelly SC argued that Connolly's inconsistent statements and DNA evidence linked him to the crime. Mr Justice Hunt remanded Connolly on continuing bail with strict conditions until December 20, when he will be sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Gerard Hutch, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney for the murder of David Byrne continues before Justice Tara Burns. Hutch, 59, and co-accused Murphy, 61, and Bonney, 50, have pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. State's witness Jonathan Dowdall, a former Dublin city councillor, testified that he did not know of the "Hutch criminal organisation" and was reckless in helping book a Regency Hotel room for a raider. Dowdall previously pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder by making the room available on February 4, 2016, and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment. A nolle prosequi was entered on his murder charge following that sentence. His father, Patrick Dowdall, 65, was jailed for two years for the same facilitation offence. Dowdall admitted he was reckless for not asking who the room was for, despite driving his father to the hotel. The trial heard that Kevin Murray used the room the night before the attack. The court is currently hearing cross-examination regarding Dowdall's knowledge and the booking process.
In the Special Criminal Court, Jonathan Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor and key witness in the Regency Hotel murder trial, testified that he is 'not a rat' and is not involved with Sinn Fein. He denied lying under oath about his relationship with Pearse McAuley, who was jailed for the manslaughter of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe. Dowdall admitted to visiting McAuley in Castlerea Prison multiple times, though he initially claimed only two or three visits. Under cross-examination, it was revealed that he had visited McAuley 14 times between February 2015 and January 2016. Dowdall also testified that he was 'set up' for the murder of David Byrne by being connected to a room at the Regency Hotel used by one of the raiders. Gerard Hutch, who has pleaded guilty to facilitating Mr Byrne's murder, stated that a 'massive amount of pressure' was put on Dowdall after he was granted bail. Patrick Dowdall was jailed for two years before the Regency trial started after he admitted his part in booking the hotel room for the raiders. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney have pleaded not guilty to charges of participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. The matter was adjourned.
Brandon Carroll, aged 19, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for robbing seven mobile phones and an electric scooter from boys at several south Dublin DART stations between 8 and 15 January. The judge suspended the final two years of the sentence. Carroll pleaded guilty to seven counts of robbery and one of attempted robbery. He was accompanied by a juvenile companion who threatened to stab victims and chased a 15‑year‑old boy down a railway track. The court noted Carroll's remorse, shame, difficult background, and vulnerability, including a history of 33 convictions and a borderline intellectual level. The judge ordered Carroll to engage with probation, addiction, and anger‑management services for two years upon release. Victims reported fear and anxiety about using public transport after the incidents.
An 18‑year‑old who received a suspended five‑year prison sentence for orally raping a minor in 2018 is now under investigation for sexual assault of a teenage girl in a West of Ireland town. The court heard that since moving there three months ago he has had 12 interactions with gardai, including incidents involving vulnerable teenage girls. He was found with two girls who had been reported missing – a 16‑year‑old in September and a 13‑year‑old in October – and was again found with a 16‑year‑old who later alleged physical assault. He has also been arrested for public order offences, theft of alcohol and breach of the Sex Offenders Act for failing to notify gardai of a change of address. The judge adjourned the case to 31 January, stating he would require evidence of genuine engagement with probation and therapeutic services before considering the suspended sentence again. The unnamed 18-year-old pleaded guilty.
The Regency Hotel murder trial continues before the Special Criminal Court, with Gerard Hutch, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney pleading not guilty to the murder of David Byrne. Jonathan Dowdall, a State's witness who pleaded guilty to facilitating the offence by making a hotel room available, testified under cross-examination. He alleged he was "set up" and claimed Gerard Hutch pressured him after his release from Wheatfield Prison. Dowdall stated he contacted gardai in November 2021 to clear his name, asserting he was not involved in the killing. The defence contended Dowdall's testimony was motivated by a quid pro quo arrangement to drop his murder charge. Patrick Dowdall, Jonathan's father, was previously jailed for two years for the same facilitation offence. Jonathan Dowdall was sentenced to four years for facilitating the criminal organisation. A nolle prosequi was entered on his murder charge following his sentence. His Witness Protection Programme application remains pending, with a decision expected in January. The trial is ongoing, with the prosecution alleging Kevin Murray used the room and cooperated with the raiders.
Michael Leonard, aged 63, was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering 72‑year‑old Mary O'Keeffe by burning her alive in a car fire at Doneraile, Co Cork, on 4 February last year. Leonard had met O'Keeffe at a wooded area, poured two gallons of petrol into her car and set it on fire shortly after she arrived. A post‑mortem confirmed she was alive when the fire started and that her death was caused by extreme third‑degree burns and inhalation of carbon monoxide. O'Keeffe, a widow and cook, had known Leonard since 2016 and had ended their relationship in 2019. Leonard, who had no prior convictions, was found in the River Awbeg the day after the murder and was arrested the following day. The court described the attack as the most horrific fire‑related murder and expressed condolences to O'Keeffe's family. The sentencing judge imposed the mandatory life term for murder.
Ian O'Heaire, 36, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of criminal damage for breaking the front door of his former partner's home in Cabra on 3 October 2021. The damage, estimated at €150, included the door, lock and frame. O'Heaire had previously sent abusive text messages to the victim, who had left her home for a party and received a photo of the stairs from him at 2.45 am. He had 30 prior convictions, mainly traffic offences, and one earlier criminal‑damage conviction. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a four‑year prison sentence, suspended in full, with strict conditions: O'Heaire must be under Probation Services supervision for two years. He has shown remorse, sent money to cover repair costs, and has no further contact with the victim. He has also sought treatment for addiction and expressed a desire to work in addiction services.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, William O'Riordan, a 48‑year‑old farm labourer from Derry, Banteer, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual abuse of his niece between September 2001 and March 2006. The judge noted O'Riordan's reduced cognitive function but also that he understood his actions were wrong and showed no remorse. He was sentenced to a three‑year term, with the final two years suspended on conditions of good behaviour and peacekeeping for three years. The sentence will be deferred until early next year to allow his elderly mother, who has postponed surgery, to recover. O'Riordan was remanded on bail until February 7, when he must report to begin serving his sentence. The victim, who was nine to ten at the time, described the abuse as deeply traumatic and expressed fear for her children. The case was brought to court after a formal complaint in July 2018.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Gheorghe Gherge, aged 35, pleaded guilty to two counts of using a false instrument and two counts of money laundering for an organised crime group. Between June 2016 and April 2019, he opened 17 bank accounts under eight different names using fake IDs. The accounts received about €570,000 from criminal activity, including proceeds from a fraudulent farm‑equipment website that sold a tractor for €11,700 that was never delivered. In total, €670,000 was laundered through these accounts, with evidence of multiple withdrawals. Gherge had two prior UK convictions for similar offences and was extradited in 2021 after serving a sentence. He claims he was not personally enriched and was merely following instructions. The judge adjourned the case for finalisation on 19 December.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 20‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to distributing intimate images of his ex‑girlfriend without her consent. The offence occurred in September 2021, just months after the law criminalised such conduct. The man, who was 19 at the time, posted a collage of four intimate photos on Snapchat, where he had 1,100 followers, after the couple had broken up. The images were taken during their relationship, some when she was 17 and she was 18 at the time of the offence. Gardaí were alerted, and he was arrested in October 2021. He admitted the offence and made full admissions to the police. The victim did not attend the sentencing hearing, and a victim impact statement was submitted but not read. The judge, citing the immaturity and lack of foresight of the defendant, ordered a Probation Services report and adjourned the case for finalisation on 27 March next year.
Enoch Burke, a history and German teacher at Wilson's Hospital School in Co. Westmeath, remains in Mountjoy Prison for the Christmas period after refusing to comply with a High Court injunction that ordered him to stay away from the school and not teach. He argued that the injunction violated his religious beliefs against transgendarism and that complying would mean accepting transgendarism, which he said would breach his Christian faith. Burke pleaded for release, citing his religious convictions and the holiday season, and criticized the court for not allowing him to appear in person. Judge Conor Dignam refused to release him, stating Burke had not purged his contempt and had not complied with the court's valid order. Burke's parents protested the decision, claiming his release was justified by his religious rights. The case remains pending before the High Court, with further hearings scheduled for February.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence from Jonathan Dowdall, a State's witness in the trial of Gerard Hutch, who denies the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to facilitating the offence by providing a hotel room, testified that neither the Kinahan family nor Hutch initiated the shooting. He stated he believed innocent people were targeted and that Hutch lied to him during a covertly recorded conversation regarding the identities of the assailants. The court examined audio recordings where Hutch allegedly referred to disposing of three AK-47 rifles to republicans in Northern Ireland. Dowdall also identified a reference to Buckingham Village, where a van used in the attack was allegedly stored. His father, Patrick Dowdall (65), was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for the same facilitation charge. Co-accused Paul Murphy (61) and Jason Bonney (50) have pleaded not guilty to charges of participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles. The trial continues before Justice Tara Burns and two other judges.
Kathleen McDonagh, 21, received a suspended three‑year prison sentence for money laundering. She owned €23,715 of luxury goods – two Chanel handbags, Louis Vuitton bags, belts, shoes, Christian Louboutin shoes and two diamond rings – and a high‑end car bought with €25,750 cash in July 2019. Gardaí seized the vehicle and the goods when they searched her home in January 2020. Between March 2018 and December 2019, deposits totalling €98,828.88 were made into her AIB, post office and credit union accounts. McDonagh pleaded guilty to three counts of money laundering between March 2019 and January 2020, with two further charges considered. She had no prior convictions and was aged 17 to 19 during the period covered by the charges. The court noted that the money and goods were most likely proceeds of burglaries and thefts committed by a former partner, who is now in Scotland under a European Arrest Warrant.
Milad Khalili Ghanbari, 35, a former movie‑set caterer who had worked on the Star Wars franchise, was arrested after robbing phones from five people on St Patrick's Day 2021. He had recently split with his girlfriend and was described by counsel as having a "mental breakdown." Ghanbari gave Gardaí a false name and his neighbour's apartment number as his address. When officers entered that apartment they detected a strong cannabis smell and found 11 cannabis plants with a full grow‑out system. He pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and one count of cultivating cannabis in Dublin city centre. He has eight prior convictions, including a failure to stop after an accident. He has been in custody since the offence. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to six years' imprisonment, suspending the final year and back‑dating the term to the date he entered custody. The court noted his remorse and guilty pleas as mitigating factors.
Thomas Stokes, 41, a man with no fixed abode and 221 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to producing a hammer during a dispute on Henry Street, Dublin 1, on 25 May 2021. Gardaí were called after reports of a hammer being brandished; they found Stokes shouting at a woman, attempting to discard the hammer when they arrived, and later trying to push past officers to reach another man. Stokes was highly intoxicated, having drunk two bottles of vodka and taken methadone, and was initially deemed unfit for interview before making full admissions. He was arrested, later placed on bail for separate matters, and is currently in custody on other charges. Judge Dara Hayes imposed a two‑year sentence, with the final 12 months suspended, citing the serious nature of the offence, Stokes' aggressive display, and his extensive criminal record. The suspended portion is subject to strict conditions, including supervision by the Probation Services.
Two 17‑year‑old boys were sentenced to three years' detention suspended on strict conditions for attempting to force a 14‑year‑old girl to perform oral sex, stealing her phone and assaulting her. Both pleaded guilty to attempted oral rape, four counts of sexual assault and, for the first boy, an additional count of assault causing harm. The judge, Mr Justice McDermott, described the offences as very serious, noting the boys' attempts to trap the victim, threaten her phone and use violence when her refusal was not accepted. He highlighted the boys' guilty pleas, expressions of remorse and young age as mitigating factors. The suspended sentence requires each boy to engage with the Probation Service, cooperate with suitable programmes and have no contact with the victim. The court emphasised that custody is a last resort and that the boys must comply with the conditions to avoid future custodial sentences.
Michael John Cummins, 22, of Dreenane, Carbury, was sentenced to five years in prison for the anal rape of a teenage friend who was asleep after a house party in County Kildare on 25 November 2018. Cummins pleaded guilty in June 2022. The victim, who chose to remain unnamed, gave permission for Cummins to be named and provided a victim impact statement in which she questioned why he had not pleaded guilty earlier and expressed relief at his eventual admission. The judge noted the profound effect on her life, her fear, and her resilience. Cummins was found to have genuine remorse, and the court imposed a custodial sentence of six years and three months, with the final 15 months suspended on strict conditions, including no contact with the victim and engagement with the Probation Service. The case highlighted the victim's struggle to regain safety and confidence after the assault.
Dominik Biber, 25, was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment with the last two years suspended for four years for attempting to murder Tomasz Grosser, 60, during a prolonged knife attack in Limerick. Biber, who claimed to be Jesus Christ after taking large amounts of drugs, stabbed Grosser repeatedly, causing multiple stab wounds and a puncture to the skull. Grosser survived with serious injuries and long‑term pain. Biber also pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and burglary at a neighbouring apartment. The judge, Mr Justice McDermott, noted Biber's early guilty plea, admissions to Gardaí, remorse, and a moderate risk of reoffending. Grosser's victim impact statement highlighted his inability to work for eight months and ongoing pain. Biber's defence counsel described his delusional state as a result of voluntary intoxication. The sentencing reflected the ferocious and spontaneous nature of the violence.
At the Regency trial, Jonathan Dowdall testified that Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch claimed he and another man, 'Mago' Gately, shot David Byrne during the 2016 incident at the Regency Hotel. Dowdall also stated that Hutch expressed regret over the killing. The trial involves the murder of David Byrne, who was killed during a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016. Patrick Dowdall (65) was previously jailed for two years before the trial started after admitting his role in booking the hotel room for the incident. Paul Murphy, Jason Bonney, Jonathan Dowdall, and Patrick Hutch Junior are currently on trial, with all pleading not guilty. The case is in the sentence stage, with no finalisation yet. The trial has heard evidence about the feud between the Hutch and Kinahan families, including the involvement of the New IRA and the discovery of assault rifles linked to the murder scene. The matter remains ongoing with no conclusion reached.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 9 December 2022, a 22‑year‑old rape victim recounted that after her rapist, a 40‑year‑old Meath man, was arrested, his defence solicitor began following her on social media. She described the assault that occurred on 11 February 2007 while she slept in a friend's house, the years of anxiety and depression that followed, and her eventual decision to seek counselling and report the crime in 2017. The victim said the trial process intensified her distress, noting that defence counsel had suggested she was seeking money after the man's inheritance. She asked for an acknowledgement, explanation and apology from the accused, who denied the allegations and claimed she was lying. The judge adjourned the case for a further sentence hearing on 17 February, where mitigation will be considered. The unnamed woman was found guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Mohamed Morsy Ahmed, aged 54, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for facilitating the entry of 13 economic migrants into Ireland. The court found that Ahmed had collected genuine refugee travel documents—seven from Greece and five from Germany—believed to have been issued in those countries, and had handed them to the migrants who arrived at Dublin Airport on a flight from Lisbon on 19 February 2021. The migrants, who had no valid travel documents, applied for international protection at the airport. Ahmed pleaded guilty to six counts of facilitating entry of people who may be illegal immigrants. He was back‑dated to February 2021, when he was taken into custody. The judge described him as a "vital cog" in the operation. The case did not address any subsequent movement of the migrants to the United Kingdom.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch until Monday, when Jonathan Dowdall will give evidence. Dowdall, a former co-accused who pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016, was sentenced to four years. He is currently a sentenced prisoner in the State. The court heard that Dowdall's Witness Protection Programme (WPP) assessment is ongoing, with a decision expected by mid-January. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC stated that Dowdall's WPP status is separate from his testimony and that no difficulties were created by Dowdall. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC expressed anxiety over the timetable but agreed to proceed on Monday, provided a Detective Superintendent testifies that Dowdall's WPP admission is distinct from his performance in the witness box. Hutch, who denies the murder, and co-defendants Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who also pleaded not guilty to facilitating the murder, remain in the trial. The court ruled Dowdall's evidence admissible despite defence objections. The matter was adjourned to allow Dowdall to take the stand on Monday.
Sean Doherty, 29, of Rory O'Connor House, Dublin, pleaded guilty to robbery on 7 July 2017 after claiming he was in the IRA. He had 25 prior convictions, including burglary, aggravated burglary, assault, and drug offences. The victim had gone out for drinks, and after a night of drinking, Doherty entered the victim's apartment, threatened him with a knife, and said "I'm in the IRA." He struck the victim twice on the head with an empty vodka bottle, stole his mobile phone, and the victim fled to the balcony. The victim was taken to St James Hospital and received stitches. Doherty was on bail at the time of the offence and was already serving a five‑year sentence. Judge James McCourt, after considering Doherty's guilty plea, mental health issues, apology, remorse, drug dependency and troubled background, sentenced him to four years in prison to run consecutively to his existing sentence.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, accused of the murder of David Byrne, has been adjourned until tomorrow for further information regarding Jonathan Dowdall's witness protection status. Presiding judge Ms Justice Tara Burns ruled that Dowdall's evidence is admissible, rejecting defence objections that his guilty plea to the lesser charge of facilitating the murder constituted an unfair incentive. Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to facilitating the Hutch gang in the 2016 Regency Hotel attack, was sentenced to four years in prison. The court noted that the prosecution had not yet confirmed whether Dowdall had been accepted into the Witness Protection Programme, a matter Ms Justice Burns described as "astonishing" given the ongoing trial. She directed the prosecution to resolve this issue promptly, expressing dissatisfaction with the delay. Meanwhile, co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who are alleged to have participated in or contributed to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles, have pleaded not guilty. The trial will resume tomorrow to address the witness protection query before Dowdall is expected to give evidence.
A 45-year-old Cork woman with extremely low intellectual ability was sentenced by Ms Justice Karen O'Connor after being found guilty by a jury of wilful neglect, sexual assault, and sexual exploitation of her child between 2010 and 2015. The defendant, who does not accept the verdicts, was convicted last June. The court heard she has high intervention needs, including heroin addiction now managed with methadone, and significant childhood trauma. The victim, now in State care, provided a statement detailing ongoing nightmares and fear. The child's father, who was charged with more serious offences, died in custody before trial, retaining his presumption of innocence. Defence counsel Ronan Munro SC highlighted the defendant's post-natal depression and lack of prior loving relationships. Forensic psychologist Dr Patrick Randall assessed her risk of sexual reoffending as low. Justice O'Connor noted the devastating impact on the victim but determined that further incarceration would not benefit society given the defendant's cognitive limitations. The court backdated a three-year prison sentence and suspended the remainder. Conditions require the woman to engage with Tusla regarding child safeguarding measures and to participate in drug and alcohol interventions as advised.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the son of a man whose sexual‑assault trial collapsed was punched in the face in the Criminal Courts of Justice round hall. The incident occurred after the son allegedly made a gun‑gesture toward a female complainant as she left the courthouse. The complainant's boyfriend, who was with her, struck the son, who fell and sustained head injuries. The court noted the son's psychological damage, including loss of smell and taste and a six‑month course of anti‑seizure medication. The judge, Pauline Codd, accepted that the son's gesture could be seen as threatening but found no excuse for the violence. She considered the son's role as sole breadwinner, his apology letter, and his non‑violent conviction history. The son was sentenced to a suspended three‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term, conditional on maintaining peace and good behaviour. The unnamed accused pleaded guilty.
Kevin Cradden, 33, of Kilkenny, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault at a Dublin house on 31 May 2021. He was described as "dumb drunk" after consuming a large amount of alcohol at a barbecue. The victim, a tenant, woke to find Cradden in her bed, kissing her and touching her vagina. She recognised him as "Kevin" and was confused. Her housemate confronted him, and he left the house naked from the waist down. Cradden has no prior convictions and has not been in contact with Gardaí since the assault. He has expressed remorse, has no memory of the night, and has engaged in counselling. The case was adjourned for a probation report to assess his risk to society, with sentencing scheduled for 23 May next year. The victim's impact statement was read in silence by Judge Orla Crowe.
Craig Hanney, aged 26, pleaded guilty to robbery, production of an article and assault at Sillogue Garden and Sillogue Green, Ballymun, on 10 and 11 November 2021. He was found in custody after throwing a plant pot at a woman, causing serious facial injuries, including a fractured cheekbone and permanent scar. Hanney had previously produced a broken bottle while robbing a taxi, where he was intoxicated and abusive. The court, presided over by Judge Martina Baxter, imposed a four-and-a-half‑year sentence for the robbery, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions, a four‑year sentence for the assault, and a two‑year term for producing a broken bottle. All sentences run concurrently. The victim suffered anxiety, panic attacks and breathing difficulties, and her children were frightened by her injuries. Hanney's mother's letter highlighted his childhood mental health issues and his desire for treatment.
The trial of Gerard Hutch, Jonathan Dowdall, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney in relation to the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016 has reached the sentence stage. Jonathan Dowdall has been jailed by the Special Criminal Court for four years for facilitating the Hutch gang in the murder of Mr Byrne. Gerard Hutch has pleaded guilty to charges of Mr Byrne's murder and participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney have both pleaded not guilty to the charge of participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles on the same date. The matter is ongoing, with no finalisation of the cases for Murphy and Bonney. The court is currently considering the admissibility of evidence provided by Dowdall, who has turned State's witness and is expected to give evidence implicating Hutch in the murder. The trial is part of a voir dire to determine the admissibility of this evidence. The case is being heard by three judges, with the defence challenging the admissibility of Dowdall's evidence due to concerns over the circumstances surrounding the dropping of the murder charge against him and the potential quid pro quo arrangement with the DPP.
A teenage boy, charged with sexually assaulting a schoolgirl, has filed a High Court judicial review to halt his prosecution because of an alleged three‑year delay. The boy, who cannot be named, argues that the delay has deprived him of the protections of the 2001 Children Act and that he will be tried as an adult if the case proceeds. The alleged offence occurred in a public park in June 2019 when the girl was prevented from leaving by eight teenage boys, all of whom attended the same secondary school. She claims that one boy forced her to perform a sexual act, that she was physically restrained, and that she eventually left only after friends arrived. A Garda complaint was made in early 2020, and the boy was charged in May 2022. He seeks an order to restrain further prosecution, declarations of prosecutorial delay and breaches of constitutional and ECHR rights, and damages.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Paul O'Carroll (47) was convicted of unlawful killing after he punched Vincent Kelly (45) once outside the Royal Hotel in Bray on 9 June 2018. Kelly, who had taken a drink from the hotel bar, followed O'Carroll to retrieve it after the defendant moved it outside. O'Carroll struck Kelly in the face, causing him to fall and suffer catastrophic head injuries. Kelly was taken to St Vincent's Hospital, then Beaumont Hospital, where he later died from a heart attack. O'Carroll claimed he acted in self‑defence, but the jury rejected this. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions, citing O'Carroll's high moral culpability and his previous convictions. The sentence was imposed on the basis of the facts presented in the trial, without reference to any later developments.
Brendan Cummins, aged 27, was convicted of multiple violent offences. In April and May 2019 he stabbed two men in Dundalk with a Stanley knife, leaving serious wounds and threatening them with death. On June 5, 2019, while being arrested by the Garda Armed Support Unit, he attacked a garda with a samurai sword, denting the garda's ballistics shield. In August 2020 he threw boiling water at a prison officer at Midlands Prison, and in January 2021 he assaulted two more officers, threatening to kill one. Cummins pleaded guilty to all counts. He has 19 prior convictions, including eight for assault. He has spent three and a half years in solitary confinement at the National Violence Reduction Unit, a period described by his defence counsel as "not appropriate treatment." The case was adjourned for finalisation.
Aaron Clancy, 33, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography after Gardaí seized a Samsung laptop during a search of his home on 15 September 2015. Forensic examination revealed 182 images and six videos of child sex abuse material. Clancy was arrested on 9 March 2019 but gave little evidence in interview. The court heard that the material did not include the most serious category and that Clancy had no history of distributing it. He had no prior convictions and had cooperated with Gardaí, providing the laptop password and access to the 'AC' profile. Family and friends testified in his support, and a letter of apology was presented. The judge, citing the unusual circumstances and Clancy's early guilty plea, imposed a headline sentence of two years and six months, fully suspended on strict conditions. The sentence was set to be recorded on the sex offenders' register.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced Jonathan Dowdall to four years' imprisonment for facilitating the murder of David Byrne. Dowdall pleaded guilty to this lesser offence, having previously been charged with the murder itself. The court report details cross-examination of Detective Sergeant Patrick O'Toole and Detective Garda Cathal Connolly regarding Dowdall's evidence. Defence counsel for co-accused Gerard Hutch argued that the decision to accept Dowdall's plea was a "quid pro quo" for his statement implicating Hutch. However, Detective Superintendent Joseph McLoughlin testified that the Director of Public Prosecutions made the decision to accept the plea in isolation from any potential statement. The defence contended that gardai had no evidence to support Dowdall's allegation that Hutch "effectively confessed" to the murder other than Dowdall's "say so." Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC stated the State's case was that Hutch contacted Dowdall days after the 2016 shooting and told him he was "one of the team" involved in the murder. Other defendants Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney pleaded not guilty. The matter regarding Dowdall was finalised with the sentence, while the trial for the other accused continued.
Evan Harborne, 27, of Rathfarnham, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of €79,526 worth of cannabis for sale or supply at his rented home on 6 January 2021. He held the drugs to pay a €650 debt. Garda Stephen Burke secured a warrant, searched the upstairs bedroom, and Harborne cooperated, stating he would find "weed in the wardrobe." He denied selling drugs, claiming he only wanted to clear the debt. Harborne had no prior convictions and had previously been a cocaine addict, now using €50 of cannabis weekly. The prosecution argued he was at the very lower end of a drug network. Judge Elma Sheahan accepted his cooperation, rehabilitation, and a low‑risk probation report. She imposed a headline sentence of four years, then reduced it to a suspended two‑and‑a‑half‑year term, conditional on good behaviour and abstaining from illicit drugs for that period.
Patrick McLoughlin, aged 35, of Torboy, Moydow, County Longford, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment, with the final eighteen months suspended, following his conviction for sexual assault at the Central Criminal Court in Castlebar, County Mayo. A jury found him guilty in March 2022 of sexually assaulting a woman in Galway city centre in August 2017. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring imposed strict conditions on the suspension, including engagement with the Probation Service. The judge remarked during sentencing that young men must understand that refusal of consent is unambiguous, criticising what she described as a widespread lack of understanding of the word "no" in sexual offence cases. McLoughlin maintains his innocence despite the jury verdict. His associate, Karl Reilly, was separately convicted of rape and sentenced to seven years with eighteen months suspended. The victim provided a statement describing ongoing trauma from the incident. Patrick McLoughlin pleaded not guilty.
Craig Corcoran, 29, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, trespass and obstruction of a peace officer after punching his former partner in front of their child. The incident occurred on 17 February 2022 at Empress Place, Dublin 1, when Corcoran followed the victim, struck her twice, and fled after a confrontation with Gardaí. He was later arrested after climbing a wall and entering a building via its roof. Corcoran has 66 prior convictions, mainly for assault and drug offences. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to 27 months, with the final six months suspended for two years on strict conditions, including Probation Service supervision. The court noted the presence of the child and the aggravating nature of the assault, but also considered mitigating factors such as Corcoran's guilty plea, apology, and efforts to address his drug addiction while in custody. The couple, now engaged, had reconciled after the incident.
In a High Court hearing on 5 December 2022, jailed teacher Enoch Burke, incarcerated in Mountjoy Prison since September for breaching a court order to stay away from Wilson's Hospital School, sought a swift determination of his defamation claim. Burke, who was suspended in August, alleged that a Sunday Independent article published in October contained false statements about his conduct in prison. He had applied for a Section 33 order to remove the article, but the application was adjourned after Mediahuis Ireland Ltd agreed to take the article down from its website and pledged not to republish it without 72‑hour notice. Burke, representing himself via video link, requested that the court ensure the defendant's defence be filed within eight weeks, fearing the defamation action could prejudice his ongoing proceedings against his employer. The judge noted the possibility of a default judgment if no defence is filed and considered granting a priority hearing.
In December 2022, a 50‑year‑old man was sentenced to 11½ years in prison for a series of violent assaults and two counts of rape against his former partner. The Central Criminal Court heard that between August and September 2016 he subjected her to repeated physical abuse, including kicking, dragging by the hair, strangulation attempts, urination, bleach burns, and forced sexual acts. He also threatened to brand her with an iron. He pleaded guilty to 32 assault‑related charges and was convicted of 15 additional assault counts, two rapes and a threat to kill. The judge set a headline sentence of 14 years, reduced to 12 years due to the absence of prior convictions, and noted limited remorse. The victim, who fled with her children to a women's refuge, described severe fear and psychological trauma. The case involved three prior convictions, one in the UK and one for breaching a barring order. The unnamed 50-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Paul Mooney (35), of Ring Street, Inchicore, Dublin 8, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for his role in the aftermath of an attempted murder. Mooney pleaded guilty to possessing a G9A Grand Power semi-automatic handgun and Luger Barnaul ammunition at Bernard Curtis House, Bluebell, Dublin 12, on March 6, 2021. Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted that while Mooney was not directly involved in the shooting of Sinead Connolly, he disposed of the firearm openly and without hesitation. The court heard that Connolly was left paralysed after being shot by Dean McCarthy (33), who was jailed for 15 years for attempted murder. Co-accused Joseph Byrne (33) was jailed for nine-and-a-half years for possessing the handgun with intent to endanger life. Mooney, who had nine previous convictions, received a headline sentence of eight years. Considering mitigating factors including remorse and assistance to gardaí, the judge imposed a prison term of six years. The final 12 months of the sentence were suspended for two years, conditional on Mooney keeping the peace, engaging with victim impact and alcohol/drug awareness programmes, and following probation service directions. The sentence was backdated to October 6, 2022.
A 42‑year‑old man who sent his former partner more than 300 threatening and abusive messages over a two‑week period was given a suspended sentence of 22 months. Judge Elma Sheahan ordered him not to contact the woman, the mother of his children, in any way for two years, except through a nominated third party for Family Court matters. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of harassing the woman between 14 and 29 January 2021 and to two counts of breaching a safety order in January and February 2021. The court considered his seven previous convictions and the fact that he had accessed the woman's email via their son's tablet, finding sexual images and an image of another man. He threatened to send the images to her close family and, after being blocked on WhatsApp, used another messenger app to continue the harassment.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in a voir dire regarding the admissibility of statements made by former Sinn Fein Councillor Jonathan Dowdall. Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to facilitating the 2016 murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, is now a State's witness. He faces co-accused Gerard Hutch, who denies the murder, alongside defendants Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, both of whom have pleaded not guilty. Retired Detective Superintendent Paul Scott testified that Dowdall's solicitor proposed conditions for his cooperation, including immunity from prosecution, which An Garda Síochána did not accept. Detective Sergeant Patrick O'Toole, who interviewed Dowdall and his wife Patricia in May 2022, denied soft-pedalling evidence. He stated that Dowdall expressed fear for his family's safety and alleged threats from the Hutch and Kinahan groups. O'Toole confirmed no discussion occurred regarding dropping the murder charge. The court is currently determining whether Dowdall's unrecorded statements, taken without a caution, are admissible. The matter remains at the procedural stage of a trial within a trial to resolve evidentiary issues before the main proceedings continue.
Defrocked priest Denis Nolan, aged 70, had his 13‑year prison term extended by 18 months after the Central Criminal Court found he had repeatedly raped two boys between 2001 and 2005. Nolan pleaded guilty to three counts of anal rape, one of oral rape and five counts of sexual assault of a third boy. The court noted the abuse was described as violent, aggressive and prolonged, and that Nolan had groomed the victim by offering money for gardening work, alcohol and sexual acts. He had previously been jailed for seven years in 2014 and for six years in 2017 for similar offences. Justice Karen O'Connor imposed a nine‑year sentence, suspended seven and a half years, and ordered Nolan to remain under probation supervision for five years after release. The victim reported severe physical and mental harm, and Nolan has engaged in a sex‑offender treatment programme while in custody. The court emphasised the massive breach of trust involved.
Daniel Goulding, 39, of County Dublin, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the attempted murder of two detective gardaí at his family home in Clonsilla on May 25, 2021. Goulding pleaded guilty to the charges. Mr Justice Paul McDermott set a headline sentence of 27 years for each attempted murder. The judge imposed a total prison sentence of 20 years, with the final two years suspended for a period of six years. The suspended portion is subject to conditions requiring close monitoring and compliance with recommended treatment upon release. The judge noted that Goulding suffered from a significant mental disorder, specifically paranoid schizophrenia, and was experiencing a psychotic episode at the time of the offence. He also credited Goulding's guilty plea and expressed regret. The court heard that Goulding opened fire from a bedroom window using a semi-automatic pistol and a sub-machine gun, injuring both officers in their legs and one in the hand. The judge described the attack as potentially lethal and highlighted the terrifying impact on the victims, who suffered long-term physical and psychological effects. The judge stated that while a life sentence was considered, the mitigating factors of Goulding's mental health and plea warranted the imposed term.
Scott Knight, 48, was sentenced to a fully suspended three‑year prison term for forging documents to obtain a fake passport to visit his UK girlfriend. The court noted his earlier 1996 murder conviction, later reduced to accessory to murder, and his five‑year sentence. Knight also has convictions for weapons smuggling in France, narcotics possession linked to a Belgian illegal organisation, drug dealing, and possession of drugs. He admitted to providing false documents for a passport application in 2015, using a stolen identity and false birth certificate and student ID. The offence was discovered when Knight applied to renew his own passport in 2019, where facial recognition matched his photo to the fraudulent application. Judge Pauline Codd imposed the suspended sentence, ordered two years of probation supervision, and required attendance at all appointments. Knight has cooperated with Gardaí and has engaged in drug‑free treatment for 16 months. The unnamed accused pleaded guilty.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled that ten hours of bugged conversations between murder accused Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch and ex-Sinn Fein Councillor Jonathan Dowdall, captured by a garda bugging device, are admissible in the trial, despite being gathered unlawfully while Dowdall's jeep was outside the State. The court found that the National Surveillance Unit (NSU) officers had no power to gather evidence in Northern Ireland and that the breach was of significance. However, the court was satisfied that the NSU officers acted in good faith and that the conversations should be admitted in the interests of justice. The ruling followed legal arguments by both sides, with the court rejecting the defence's challenge to the authorisation of the audio bugging device but accepting their argument that the operation of the surveillance device was illegal. The court also ruled that gardai have no power to investigate or gather evidence in another State. Jonathan Dowdall has been jailed by the Special Criminal Court for four years for facilitating the Hutch gang in the murder of David Byrne. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney have pleaded not guilty to charges of participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. Gerard Hutch has pleaded not guilty to charges of Mr Byrne's murder and participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. The matter was adjourned for further proceedings.
Michael Murray, a convicted rapist and child abductor, lost a High Court challenge to a disciplinary sanction imposed by the Governor of the Midlands Prison after he threw a bible at Judge Karen O'Connor during a sentencing hearing in July 2021. The sanction, which removes ordinary privileges for 40 days, was applied following a complaint by prison officers who had attended the court. Murray had been sentenced to 16 years for threatening barristers and harassing others involved in his trial, and had previously been convicted of rape and child abduction. In his appeal, Murray argued that the Governor had no authority to impose the sanction while he was in court custody, but Mr Justice Charles Meenan ruled that the Governor was lawfully entitled to discipline him under the 2007 Prison Rules Act. The case will return for final orders later this month.
Pierce McComiskey, aged 44, was jailed for three years and three months for an armed robbery at Rocks Jewellers on Grafton Street on 16 February 2022. He entered the shop with a knife, demanded diamonds from a female employee, and instead took envelopes of jewellery from a deposit drawer. He returned to his hostel in Dublin City Centre, where Gardaí found an orange backpack, a knife and the jewellery, including 31 rings that he had hidden internally. All the items were recovered and returned to their owners. McComiskey, who has 26 previous convictions and was already serving a sentence for another offence, admitted the robbery and stated he was addicted to crack cocaine. He was taken to hospital after the arrest and is now receiving drug counselling and methadone treatment. Judge Orla Crowe noted the robbery was pre‑planned, involved a knife, and caused fear for the shop employees.
Rosemarie Quinlan, secretary at Spencer Family Holdings Limited from 2010 to November 2020, was dismissed after her relationship with a director's son ended in June 2019. Quinlan claimed she was told to "go home" and was placed on Covid‑19 leave in March 2020. She was not paid wages for October 2020, nor her accrued annual leave or notice pay, and received no clear resignation notice. The firm claimed she had resigned voluntarily and was absent for 10 months. The Workplace Relations Commission found the dismissal substantively and procedurally unfair, citing a sharp deficit in the duty of care. Quinlan was awarded €21,980, covering pay in lieu of notice, unpaid salary and holiday entitlements, equivalent to 14 months' salary. The decision was published on 1 December 2022.