The jury in the trial of Sebastian Barczuk, aged 32, who denies murdering his homeless friend Michal Kurek, aged 33, has been informed that a majority verdict is permissible. The case involves Kurek's death by 62 stab wounds, including 25 to the back, found on August 4, 2017, in Ballyboughal. Barczuk is charged with murder and has pleaded not guilty. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, offered the jury of seven men and five women the option of a majority verdict, noting that at least ten members would need to agree. He also urged them to aim for unanimity but left the majority option open. The jury has spent nine hours and 24 minutes over three days deliberating and will resume at 11 am tomorrow. The verdict options remain guilty or not guilty of murder.
The Central Criminal Court will hear the verdict of a jury that has spent over five hours across two days considering the murder trial of Sebastian Barczuk, 32, who is accused of stabbing his former flatmate, Michal Kurek, 33, 62 times before dumping the body in a country lane in north County Dublin. Barczuk has pleaded not guilty. The jury, composed of seven men and five women, has not yet reached a verdict. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, had earlier presented the case, including evidence from former Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis, who described the victim's death as caused by multiple stab wounds and contributory blunt‑force trauma to the head and chest. The jury is instructed to deliver a unanimous verdict, either guilty or not guilty of murder. The case remains at the deliberation stage.
In 2015, a 56‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to 165 counts of rape and sexual assault of his wife's two sons, aged under ten, over a decade. Mr Justice Tony Hunt sentenced him to 21 years' imprisonment, suspending the final five years. The victims, who had waived statutory anonymity in 2015, sought to have the man named publicly, but the judge stayed the waiver because related Wicklow Circuit trials involving the same victims and other defendants were pending. The judge assured that anonymity would be lifted after those trials. In July, the DPP applied to lift the order; the man had dismissed his former counsel and was seeking new representation, claiming the delay was a tactic to avoid disclosure. Mr Justice Hunt warned that if the man resisted, the court could grant the prosecution's request on the next hearing, set for 20 October.
In the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Tony Hunt charged a jury on 5 October 2020 to decide the verdict in the murder trial of Sebastian Barczuk, aged 32, who is accused of stabbing his former flatmate, Michal Kurek, aged 33, 62 times and dumping the body in a country lane in north County Dublin between 3 and 4 August 2017. The jury, consisting of seven men and five women, had spent 1 hour 45 minutes deliberating before retiring for the evening. Mr Hunt outlined the principles of criminal law—presumption of innocence, burden of proof, and proof beyond a reasonable doubt—emphasising that the prosecution must eliminate all reasonable possibilities of innocence. He noted that no direct eyewitness evidence existed and that the case relied on circumstantial evidence, including DNA from a mixed profile on Kurek's Nokia phone that matched Barczuk's DNA, cell‑site data from both phones, and CCTV footage of a Fiat Punto linked to Barczuk. Sebastian Barczuk pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of Sebastian Barczuk, 32, accused of murdering his homeless friend Michal Kurek, 33, the defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC argued that the prosecution had presented "less than half a story." He highlighted that the state could not establish when, where, why or how Kurek was killed, nor could it prove a motive between the two men who were described as "like brothers." McGinn pointed out gaps in the evidence, such as the lack of analysis of the angles of the 62 stab wounds, the absence of a clear sequence of events, and the uncertainty over whether one or more attackers were involved. He questioned the reliability of the DNA and CCTV evidence linking Barczuk's car and phone to the scene, noting that the data could have been used by others. McGinn concluded that the prosecution's case relied on speculation and that a not‑guilty verdict was the correct outcome given the reasonable doubt. Sebastian Barczuk pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, marketing manager Paul Nugent, aged 58, was acquitted of a dangerous driving charge after striking 80‑year‑old Thomas Clinton on Harbour Road, Howth, on 8 January 2018. Nugent was driving back into town after a business meeting when his car hit Clinton, who fell, lost consciousness, and sustained life‑threatening injuries including head trauma and a broken leg. Nugent pleaded not guilty. The jury, after just under two hours of deliberation, returned a unanimous not‑guilty verdict. The State argued Clinton was visible 2.88 seconds before impact and that Nugent's reaction time was insufficient, while the defence contended the available time was overestimated and Nugent's reaction was within acceptable limits. Nugent has no prior convictions and was not speeding at the time of the incident. The judge thanked the jury for their civic duty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Paul Nugent, 58, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm after his car struck 80‑year‑old Thomas Clinton on Harbour Road, Howth, on 8 January 2018. Clinton suffered life‑threatening injuries and was in intensive care for weeks. Nugent's defence, led by Martin Dully BL, argued that the prosecution's evidence was fundamentally flawed, citing a 2.88‑second observation window that the state claimed was sufficient for a reaction. Dully contended the actual visible time was only 2.3 seconds, giving a reaction time of 2.08 seconds, which he said was within acceptable norms. He also highlighted that Nugent was not speeding, had no prior convictions, and had checked his phone before the collision. The prosecution, represented by Derek Cooney BL, maintained that Nugent failed to react in time, noting the presence of a telegraph pole and the defendant's conflicting statements to Gardaí.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Sebastian Barczuk, aged 32, stands accused of murdering his former flatmate Michal Kurek, aged 33, by stabbing him 62 times in August 2017. The State's counsel, Lorcan Staines SC, described Barczuk as a "proven and admitted liar" and urged the jury to scrutinise his statements, noting inconsistencies in his accounts of the time and place of Kurek's death and his ownership of a Fiat Punto. Evidence presented included the discovery of Kurek's body with 62 stab wounds, a Nokia 105 phone still powered on, and DNA linking Barczuk to the victim's phone. The prosecution highlighted circumstantial evidence such as cell‑site data, limited phone activity, and Barczuk's repeated false statements to Gardaí. The case focuses solely on the murder charge, with no discussion of subsequent outcomes or appeals. The defence will present its closing argument the following day. Sebastian Barczuk pleaded not guilty.
In a dangerous driving trial, Garda John Culleton accepted that the accused, Paul Nugent, faced no criticism of his driving beyond a "failure to react speedily" when Thomas Clinton, 80, walked onto Harbour Road in Howth on 8 January 2018. Nugent, 58, was driving a BMW at just over 50 km/h. CCTV showed Clinton stepping out between parked cars and the BMW's brake lights activating 0.24 s before impact. The garda report estimated Clinton visible for 2.88 s; the defence report estimated 2.28–2.32 s. Culleton concluded Nugent's reaction time fell within acceptable limits, noting that a 1.5‑second reaction would have stopped the car 3.65 m before the collision, while a 2‑second reaction would have stopped it 3.5 m after. The trial proceeds before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury. Paul Nugent pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, the prosecution concluded its evidence against Sebastian Barczuk, 32, who denies murdering his former flatmate Michal Kurek, 33, a homeless man with addiction difficulties. Kurek was found on 4 August 2017 in Ballyboughal, face down in a country lane, with 62 stab wounds, including 25 to his back, and evidence of blunt‑force trauma to head and chest. A Nokia 105 phone, still powered on, was recovered from Kurek's jeans and connected to a cell site near Ballybuddal at 00.52, while Barczuk's phone connected at 00.53. DNA from the phone and from a blood‑stained hoodie showed a minor contributor that could not be definitively linked to Barczuk. The jury was instructed to consider circumstantial evidence to determine who committed the murder. The trial resumed the following day with Mr Justice Hunt presiding. Sebastian Barczuk pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Pauline Codd acquitted 60‑year‑old truck driver Joseph Coughlan of a charge of careless driving causing serious harm to a five‑year‑old schoolboy. The judge found the prosecution case to be speculative and lacking evidence of careless driving. Coughlan had pleaded not guilty to one count of driving without due care or attention and causing serious bodily harm. The incident occurred on 16 February 2016 when Coughlan was turning into a delivery bay at Sweeney Mews, Ongar, and a child was briefly trapped under the front wheel of his truck. The boy spent 23 days in intensive care and has made an excellent recovery, though he has permanent abdominal scarring. The judge thanked the jury and formally acquitted Coughlan.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Paul Nugent, a marketing manager aged 58, pleaded not guilty to a charge of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm after his BMW struck Thomas Clinton, an 80‑year‑old pedestrian, on Harbour Road, Howth, on 8 January 2018. Nugent claimed he had no time to react when Clinton stepped onto the road from behind a parked car. Clinton suffered life‑threatening injuries, including head trauma, a broken leg, a dislocated shoulder and significant chest fractures, and was hospitalized in intensive care for several weeks. Prosecutor Derek Cooney described Clinton's habit of walking from Raheny to Howth and noted the high mortality risk for his age group with such injuries. Nugent's defence maintained that he was driving safely and that the collision was unavoidable. The case remains before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Coughlan, 60, was tried for careless driving that caused serious harm to a five‑year‑old boy who was trapped under a truck's front wheel while walking to school with his family. The incident occurred on 16 February 2016 near Sweeney Mews, Ongar, when Coughlan was turning into a delivery bay. Witnesses described the boy lying between the truck's wheels and the mother's shock. Coughlan pleaded not guilty to one count of driving without due care or attention. He was breath‑tested and found negative for alcohol, and the truck was in good condition. The boy spent 23 days in intensive care, required ventilation, surgery and skin grafting, and has permanent abdominal scarring. The trial is ongoing before Judge Pauline Codd and a jury.
In the Central Criminal Court, Sebastian Barczuk, aged 32, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his homeless friend Michael Kurek, aged 33, who was found with 62 stab wounds in Ballyboughal on 4 August 2017. The jury heard that Barczuk's phone connected to a Ballyboughal cell site at 00:53, one minute after Kurek's phone did so at 00:52. DNA from a Nokia 105 phone recovered from Kurek's jeans matched Barczuk's profile in a mixed sample, with a lower amount of DNA belonging to Barczuk. Barczuk denied travelling to Ballyboughal, stabbing Kurek, or being present at the scene, stating "I haven't been there" and "I'm innocent." Gardaí presented CCTV of a blue Fiat Punto, allegedly owned by Barczuk, moving through the area, and testimony that the vehicle was sold to him by Ms Ewa Raczka two days before the body was found. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues with a jury of twelve.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 32‑year‑old Sebastian Barczuk pleaded not guilty to the murder of his former flatmate, 33‑year‑old Michal Kurek, who was found dead with 62 stab wounds in Ballyboughal on 4 August 2017. Barczuk, who described Kurek as a close friend and "like a brother," claimed he was shocked by the death and denied any involvement. He said he had known Kurek since 2010, that they lived together for two years, and that Kurek was homeless at the time of his death. Barczuk was arrested on 4 April 2018 after Gardaí interviewed him in Duleek and Balbriggan. The trial is ongoing, with the jury hearing evidence of Barczuk's statements, phone activity, and a possible connection to a Fiat Punto sold to him on 2 August 2017. The case remains at the investigative stage, with no verdict yet reached.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, a witness testified that Philip Dunbar, aged 20, had always felt a desire to kill. The witness, who cannot be named, said that after stabbing Adam 'Floater' Muldoon, a 23‑year‑old homeless man, Dunbar called to his house and declared, "Now I know what it's like to be a murderer." The witness had given two statements to the Gardaí in 2018, one recorded on DVD, in which he described Dunbar's admission and his own observation that Dunbar had "always had the feeling to kill someone." The witness confirmed these statements to prosecution counsel Pauline Whalley SC. Dunbar has pleaded not guilty to the murder, which occurred in Butler Park, Jobstown Park, Tallaght, Dublin 24 on 22 or 23 June 2018, when Muldoon's body was found stabbed 183 times.
In the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard mobile‑phone cell‑site analysis linking the accused, Sebastian Barczuk, and the deceased, Michal Kurek, on the days surrounding the murder. The accused's phone connected to a cell site near Ballyboughal at 00.53 on 4 August 2017, the same time the deceased's phone used a Ballyboughal site at 00.52. Barczuk's phone made a data connection at a Ballyboughal site at 00.55, and the last activity on his phone was at 1.53 am in Dunboyne. The jury also viewed CCTV footage of a blue Fiat Punto travelling from Clonsilla Inn on 3 August to Ballyboughal on 4 August, and heard testimony that the vehicle was sold to Barczuk on 2 August. The prosecution presented the phone‑call timeline, showing multiple calls and texts between the two men on 3 August, and the defence argued that cell‑site analysis is not an exact science. Sebastian Barczuk pleaded not guilty.
During a murder trial, a witness—whose name is protected by court order—described the accused, Philip Dunbar, as a "scummy bastard" and insisted he had not lied in his testimony to the jury. The witness claimed that Dunbar told him he had "put the deceased out of his misery" and "slaughtered him" after stabbing 23‑year‑old Adam Muldoon, a homeless man with cerebral palsy, on 22 or 23 June 2018. He said Dunbar visited his home shortly after the stabbing with a bloody knife and boasted about the act. The witness also stated that Dunbar was at Sean Walsh Park the next morning when the knife was disposed of. Dunbar, represented by barrister Giollaiosa O'Lideadha SC, has pleaded not guilty and admits he must have stabbed Muldoon but claims no memory of it.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 20‑year‑old accused, Philip Dunbar, was said to have boasted about stabbing Adam 'Floater' Muldoon, a homeless man with cerebral palsy, to death. The accused allegedly told a drug‑dealer witness that he had "put him out of his misery" and that he "knew what it's like to be a killer." The witness, who could not be named, described seeing Dunbar with a blood‑stained Swiss army knife and hearing him claim he had cut Muldoon's throat while the victim begged for his life. Dunbar's barrister admitted the accused must have carried out the stabbing but said he had no memory of the act. The accused has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Muldoon, which occurred in Jobstown Park, Tallaght, on 22 or 23 June 2018. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, continues tomorrow before a jury of six men and six women.
In a murder case, 32‑year‑old Sebastian Barczuk pleaded not guilty to the stabbing death of 33‑year‑old Polish national Michal Kurek. Kurek was found in a country lane in Ballyboughal with 62 stab wounds and blunt‑force trauma to the head and chest. Barczuk, who had lived with Kurek in the past, told Gardaí that he did not know who killed Kurek and suggested it was "probably some psychopath". He described their friendship, Kurek's drug use and the last time he saw him in August 2017. Gardaí collected call data and cell‑site analysis of the two men's phones on the night of the murder. The trial, heard by a jury, remains ongoing with no verdict yet.
The trial of Philip Dunbar, 20, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Adam Muldoon, 23, at Butler Park in Jobstown Park, Tallaght, on June 22 or 23, 2018, continued before the Central Criminal Court. Witness Paul Duggan testified that he never observed any conflict between the accused and the deceased, describing Mr Muldoon as a well-liked, homeless man with cerebral palsy who was treated with respect by the local community. Mr Duggan stated that on the evening in question, he left the accused and the deceased together on a wall, later finding only the deceased's Zimmer frame remaining. He described the accused as friendly and caring towards Mr Muldoon, comparable to how he treated a disabled family member. Another witness, Sinead Duggan, reported that the accused appeared unusually quiet and shocked when the community gathered the following day. A statement from Deborah Fitzgerald was read, indicating she saw the two walking together near a football field shortly after midnight, with the deceased appearing uninjured and willing. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of six men and six women.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 49‑year‑old Mark Morgan was found not guilty of slitting the throat of 22‑year‑old Dean Purdue on 20 January 2017. The alleged assault took place outside Purdue's family home on Belcamp Lane, Priorswood, where Purdue was seated in his girlfriend's parked car. Purdue described a sudden attack, a jagged four‑centimetre cut, and a subsequent run‑off by the assailant. He identified Morgan as the attacker, but no independent witnesses, CCTV or forensic evidence were presented. Morgan denied the charge, claiming he did not know Purdue personally. After a two‑hour, ten‑minute deliberation, the jury returned a not‑guilty verdict. Judge Pauline Codd thanked the jury for their duty during this difficult time.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 49‑year‑old Mark Morgan pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm after allegedly cutting the throat of 22‑year‑old Dean Purdue outside Purdue's family home on 20 January 2017. The jury deliberated after a two‑day hearing before Judge Pauline Codd. Purdue testified that he was seated in his girlfriend's parked car, watching a video, when he felt a nudge and a sudden coldness, then a heat along his neck. He claimed a man, whom he identified as Morgan, shouted at him and fled. Purdue described a four‑centimetre jagged laceration, blood spurt, and subsequent surgery. Morgan denied the attack, stating he did not know Purdue personally and refused to disclose his whereabouts. The prosecution argued the case hinged on Purdue's recognition of Morgan, while the defence highlighted the absence of independent witnesses, CCTV, or forensic evidence. The jury was instructed to consider these points before returning a verdict.
In a Dublin murder trial, the prosecution presented evidence that Philip Dunbar, aged 20, stabbed Adam 'Floater' Muldoon, a 23‑year‑old homeless man with cerebral palsy, 183 times in Butler Park, Jobstown Park, Tallaght, on 22 or 23 June 2018. The prosecution argued that the wounds, though many were superficial, severed three major neck vessels, penetrated the liver and lungs, and caused immediate death. After the stabbing, Dunbar allegedly admitted the act to a friend's house. The jury was instructed to remain impartial and consider the facts without sympathy. The case is being heard by Mr Justice Paul McDermott before a jury of twelve. The trial continues. Philip Dunbar pleaded not guilty.
A jury in Dublin acquitted a 62‑year‑old man of seven charges of abusing his two nieces in the 1970s. The defendant denied molesting an older niece from age eight to twelve and a younger niece from five to seven. He had pleaded not guilty to ten counts of indecent assault on the older niece at his former address and other Dublin locations between 4 January 1972 and 3 January 1979, and to two counts of indecent assault on the younger niece at his former address and in a car between 6 November 1975 and 5 November 1977. After deliberating for five hours and 32 minutes, the jury returned not‑guilty verdicts on the seven counts. They could not reach verdicts on three counts relating to alleged assaults on the older niece; Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin had directed a not‑guilty verdict on two of those.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 62‑year‑old man accused of abusing his two nieces appeared at the stand and denied the allegations. He denied molesting the older niece from age eight to twelve and the younger niece from five to seven, and denied any sexual assault in a hay barn, car, motorbike or woodland area. He pleaded not guilty to ten counts of indecent assault against the older niece at his former address and other Dublin locations between 4 January 1972 and 3 January 1979, and to two counts against the younger niece at his former address and in a car between 6 November 1975 and 5 November 1977. He said he first learned of the allegations when Gardaí contacted him in 2016, and denied saying "it is time to put this to bed." The trial continues before Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and a jury.
In a Central Criminal Court murder trial, a homeless man, Michal Kurek, aged 33, died in August 2017 after suffering 62 stab injuries, including 25 to his back, and blunt‑force trauma to his head and chest. Dr Michael Curtis, the Deputy State Pathologist, testified that the overwhelming cause of death was the stab wounds and blunt‑force injuries. Kurek's body was found on a grass verge in Ballyboughal, wearing a black hooded top and jeans pulled down to the upper thigh, clutching blades of grass. The wounds were consistent with a single‑blade knife, with 25 on the back and multiple on the chest, arms and legs. Toxicology showed cannabis and amphetamine metabolites, neither contributory to death. Sebastian Barczuk, 32, a Polish national and former housemate, pleaded not guilty to Kurek's murder. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, is a technical case relying on forensic evidence and is expected to last up to four weeks.
A 20‑year‑old from Tallaght, Philip Dunbar, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 23‑year‑old Adam Muldoon, who was killed in Butler Park, Jobstown, on 22 or 23 June 2018. He will be tried at the Central Criminal Court. A jury of twelve has been sworn in and the trial, expected to last six weeks, will open tomorrow under Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 62‑year‑old man accused of abusing his two nieces denied molesting either sister. He pleaded not guilty to ten counts of indecent assault against the older niece and two counts against the younger. The younger sister testified that, when she was five or six, the accused had taken her to a wooded area under the pretense of showing her kittens, after which she was forced to lie on the ground with her underwear pulled down. She claimed the man was above her with an erection and told her she could touch it, but she refused. She later told her mother that no kittens were present. The sister also recounted an incident in a car where the accused allegedly wiped her legs with a tissue, claiming it was bird spit but later realizing it was sperm.
A 62‑year‑old Dublin man has gone on trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for alleged indecent assault of his two nieces during the 1970s. He denies molesting the older niece when she was eight to twelve years old and the younger niece when she was about five. The prosecution, led by Philip Rahn BL, claims the abuse began in 1972 when the accused was a teenager and living with his mother at a Dublin address. He faces ten counts of indecent assault of the older niece at that address and other Dublin locations between 4 January 1972 and 3 January 1979, and two counts of indecent assault of the younger niece at the same address and in a car between 6 November 1975 and 5 November 1977. The unnamed 62-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul McDermott instructed a jury of six men and six women to decide whether a 17‑year‑old accused of killing 18‑year‑old Azzam Raguragui in a Dublin park on 10 May 2019 was guilty of murder or manslaughter. The accused, who has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, claims he acted in self‑defence during a melee that erupted over a stolen bike. The judge explained that the key question is whether the accused honestly believed the force he used was necessary. If he truly believed he was defending himself but used more force than a reasonable person would consider necessary, the verdict should be manslaughter. If the prosecution can exclude that belief, the verdict should be murder. The jury will return tomorrow to continue deliberations.
In a murder trial, the State presented a circumstantial case against Sebastian Barczuk, 32, for the death of Polish national Michal Kurek, 33, found on 4 August 2017 in Ballyboughal, north County Dublin. Kurek's body lay face‑down in a country lane with over 60 stab wounds and blunt‑force trauma to the head. The prosecution argued that the victim was murdered and that Barczuk was the perpetrator, citing their long‑standing friendship and shared addresses. Evidence included mobile‑phone records showing limited contact between the men on the day of the murder, a Nokia phone found in Kurek's pocket, and witness testimony from a cyclist who first spotted the body. The case relied on technical and circumstantial evidence, with no CCTV footage or recovered weapon, and the trial was set to continue before a jury and Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Sebastian Barczuk pleaded not guilty.
A jury has failed to reach a verdict in the trial of two brothers accused of sexually abusing their younger brothers over 40 years ago. The trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard allegations that the defendants repeatedly abused the two children between 1979 and 1988. The eldest brother, now aged 55, pleaded not guilty to 35 sample counts of indecently assaulting his two younger brothers on dates between 1979 and 1985. The second oldest brother, now aged 50, pleaded not guilty to 16 sample counts of indecently assaulting his younger brother between 1985 and 1988. On day six of the trial, the jury of seven women and five men deliberated for just under five hours before the foreperson told Judge James McCourt that they were unable to reach a verdict, stating they were 'deadlocked'. Judge McCourt had earlier directed jurors that the court could accept a majority verdict on which at least ten of them agreed. He thanked the jurors for their service and had been addressing the jury via video-link from his home where he is social isolating because of a close contact with somebody who has Covid 19. After discharging the jury, Judge McCourt remanded the defendants on continuing bail to appear at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on October 12th.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 17‑year‑old accused of murdering 18‑year‑old Azzam Raguragui was defended by Michael Bowman SC, who argued the boy acted in fear during a chaotic brawl. Bowman claimed the accused believed he was in self‑defence and should be found guilty of manslaughter, not murder. He described the fight as spiralling out of control due to youthful posturing, fear, adrenaline, immaturity and lack of judgement, with the accused armed with a knife and assembling a group to confront Raguragui and his friends. James Dwyer SC for the prosecution maintained that the accused had a clear intent to kill or cause serious harm, citing the stabbing of Raguragui's chest and back and the accused's prior statements to Gardaí. The prosecution argued that intent to kill or cause serious injury is required for murder, and that the natural and probable consequences of the stabbing were serious harm.
A 32‑year‑old Polish national, Sebastian Barczuk, will go on trial for the murder of 33‑year‑old Polish national Michal Kurek, a homeless man, who was found dead in Ballyboughal, north County Dublin, on 4 August 2017. Barczuk pleaded not guilty at his arraignment before the Central Criminal Court. Prosecutor Lorcan Staines told the jury that the victim was a homeless Polish national and that Barczuk was also a Polish national living in Ireland at the time. The trial, to be heard by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, is expected to last three to four weeks.
Judge James McCourt, who had close contact with a Covid‑19 case, directed a jury from his home via video link to the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin. He informed the jury that he was socially isolating after the contact tested positive, and that he himself had tested negative. The trial concerns two brothers accused of repeatedly indecently assaulting their younger brothers between 1979 and 1988. One complainant testified that he was raped up to 1,200 times over several years. The trial began last week; the jury started deliberations on Thursday but were sent home on Friday because Judge McCourt was absent. The brothers, aged 55 and 50, have pleaded not guilty to 35 and 16 sample counts respectively. The jury, composed of seven women and five men, resumed deliberations this morning. The defendants are not named to protect the complainants' anonymity. The alleged abuse took place at the family home in Dublin. The trial is ongoing.
Four men were served with a Book of Evidence at the Special Criminal Court on 14 September 2020. The case concerns the attempted murder of James 'Mago' Gately, who was shot multiple times in his car at a filling station on Clonshaugh Road, Dublin 17, on 10 May 2017. Peter 'Peadar' Keating (39) of Rowlagh Green, Clondalkin, and Stephen Fowler (61) of Blakestown Cottages, Clonsilla, appeared at the non‑jury court charged under Section 72(1A) of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The charge alleges that between 7 December 2016 and 6 April 2017, they, knowing of a criminal organisation, acted to enhance that organisation's ability to commit the murder of Gately. David Duffy (33) of Greenfort Lawns, Clondalkin, and Douglas Glynn (35) of Fitzgibbon Court, Dublin 1, were also charged with the same offence under Section 72(1).
A 40-year-old man from Longford has pleaded guilty to two counts of resisting arrest at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Brian Farrell initially faced charges of assaulting gardaí and possessing a claw hammer and knuckle duster following an incident at Sallynoggin Road on October 16th, 2016. The prosecution withdrew those charges following his guilty pleas on the second day of trial. Garda evidence during the proceedings indicated that when officers attended Farrell's home, he emerged holding a Pit bull terrier and a claw hammer, and allegedly directed the dog to attack gardaí. Farrell's defence disputed this account, stating he was recording activity outside his home when he was tackled by gardaí. The trial revealed significant disagreement between prosecution and defence regarding the presence of the dog and the nature of the arrest. Judge Martin Nolan remanded Farrell on continuing bail and adjourned sentencing to October 16th. Brian Farrell pleaded not guilty.
During a trial in the Central Criminal Court, a 17‑year‑old accused of murder explained to the Gardaí that he was panicking and attempting to break up a fight when he stabbed 18‑year‑old Azzam Raguragui in a Dublin park. He claimed he had no intention of using a knife, which he had carried for no reason, and that he struck Raguragui only to scare him off after the victim ran at him. The accused said he had never used a knife before and that he was terrified of being beaten. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, continues with a jury of twelve. The case is still at the trial stage.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Dubliner Brian Farrell, who has pleaded not guilty to possession of a claw-hammer and knuckleduster and assaulting two gardai on Sallynoggin Road on October 16, 2016. Garda Garvan Allen testified that he saw the accused emerge from a house holding a pit bull terrier aloft in one hand and a claw hammer in the other. The garda alleged that as officers attempted to arrest him, Farrell shouted instructions to the dog, including "Get them Buster, bite them Buster." Farrell denies any dogs were present that evening. Allen described a melee during which Farrell violently resisted arrest, kicking and scratching officers, resulting in one garda drawing blood. A black metal knuckleduster was found in Farrell's pocket, and a claw-hammer was seized. In cross-examination, defense counsel Eoghan Cole BL presented Farrell's account that he was recording the scene with a phone and torch when tackled by three gardai, claiming he was struck and punched. Allen disputed this, maintaining all violence originated from Farrell. Allen acknowledged that only Farrell had medical evidence of injuries. The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
A trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court is ongoing regarding allegations of historical sexual abuse by two brothers against their younger siblings. The accused, referred to as 'Unnamed accused,' 'eldest brother,' and 'His brother,' are alleged to have indecently assaulted their younger brothers between 1979 and 1988. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The eldest brother faces 35 sample counts of indecently assaulting his two younger brothers between 1979 and 1985, while 'His brother' faces 16 sample counts of indecently assaulting the youngest brother between 1985 and 1988. The trial has heard that one of the complainants alleged he was raped up to 1,200 times over several years. The defence has argued that the allegations were concocted due to a family will dispute. The jury has begun deliberations and will resume on Friday. The case is at the trial stage with no findings, sentences, or finalisations yet determined.
In a Dublin park melee on 10 May 2019, 18‑year‑old Azzam Raguragui was stabbed to death. Acting State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that four stab wounds were inflicted, one to the chest severing the subclavian artery below the shoulder blade. The arterial injury caused massive blood loss and death shortly thereafter. The other wounds—on the chest, upper back, right arm and right thigh—were minor but contributed to his death. No defensive wounds were found on his hands or arms, and no head or neck injuries were noted. The 17‑year‑old accused, a minor, pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder; the plea was rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The trial, before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, continues tomorrow.
At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the trial of two men accused of indecently assaulting their younger brothers up to 40 years ago continues. The eldest brother, now aged 55 and living in Co Meath, has pleaded not guilty to 35 sample counts of indecently assaulting his two younger brothers between 1979 and 1985. His brother, a 50-year-old Dublin man, has pleaded not guilty to 16 sample counts of indecently assaulting one of the complainants between 1985 and 1988. The sister of the accused testified that she never saw one of the accused sexually assault any of the boys. She stated that there was a dispute in the family over their late mother's will, which lasted for seven years and was a difficult time. Another witness testified that the complainant had approached her years ago, asking her to remember an alleged incident involving his brother. The trial continues before Judge James McCourt.
During a melee in Finsbury Park, a 17‑year‑old accused of murdering 18‑year‑old Azzam Raguragui testified that he heard one of the deceased's friends laugh on the phone after the fatal stabbing. He described the victim's friends as "Arabs" and said that after the victim was stabbed twice in the leg, a friend laughed, saying "Azzam got stabbed." The witness, who is a minor, also recounted that the victim was stabbed five times and that the fight began after a punch from a member of the victim's group. He saw the victim running toward the accused, then on the ground kicking at him while the accused held a knife. The witness said he heard the victim say, "Remember my face," to the accused. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of twelve. The unnamed 17-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a Limerick murder trial, a jury of 11 men and one woman spent over two hours deliberating the case of Mark Crawford, 43, accused of stabbing his friend Patrick 'Pa' O'Connor, 24, to death in Fitzgerald's Bar. The jury was instructed by Ms Justice Tara Burns to consider Crawford's claim of self‑defence, the alleged threat he perceived, and whether the force used was reasonable and proportionate. The judge explained the possible verdicts: guilty of murder; not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter; or not guilty. Crawford had admitted to stabbing O'Connor but denied intent to kill, stating he acted in self‑defence after a dispute over €100 for cocaine. The prosecution argued there was no threat and that the force was excessive, while the defence highlighted Crawford's distress and remorse. The jury was to return a unanimous verdict before returning to the courtroom.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, two brothers faced charges of indecent assault against their younger siblings, with allegations spanning up to 41 years. One complainant, aged 45, claimed his older brothers, aged 55 and 50, abused him from infancy. He recounted that at six months old, the eldest brother lifted him from a pram and molested him, and later forced him to perform oral sex. The complainant said the abuse was constant by age eight and that the brothers' word was considered gospel in the family. He also mentioned telling a child and family agency worker about memories of being in the womb, though he did not disclose that he had recovered some memories through hypnosis. The 55‑year‑old accused pleaded not guilty to 35 sample counts of indecent assault between 1979 and 1985, while the 50‑year‑old pleaded not guilty to 16 sample counts between 1985 and 1988.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, a minor friend of a 17‑year‑old accused of murdering an 18‑year‑old in Finsbury Park admitted he had lied to Gardaí in a statement made two days after the fatal stabbing. The witness, who cannot be identified, said he had brought the knife used in the attack to the accused's home earlier that day and had shown it around. He claimed the accused told him to hold the knife until they reached Dundrum and to give it to him upon arrival. The witness later stated part of his Garda statement was false, explaining he feared trouble and was terrified, saying his "head was melted." The accused has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of twelve.
Two men are currently on trial in the Circuit Criminal Court, accused of indecently assaulting their younger brothers on dates up to 41 years ago. The first accused, a 55-year-old Meath man, pleaded not guilty to 35 sample counts of indecently assaulting his two younger brothers between 1979 and 1985. The second accused, a 50-year-old Dublin man, pleaded not guilty to 16 sample counts of indecently assaulting one of the brothers between 1985 and 1988. Neither man can be named for legal reasons. The trial heard that the first complainant, now 45, alleges he was sexually abused by both brothers at the family home in Dublin. He claims the abuse began when he was three and escalated to anal rape, alleging he was raped "1,000 to 1,200 times" over several years. The complainant stated he first made complaints in 2015, after his parents died, and denied that the allegations were motivated by a dispute over his mother's estate. The second complainant is also an applicant in the case. The matter is at the trial stage and has not been finalised; the proceedings continue before Judge James McCourt.
A friend of a 17‑year‑old accused of killing an 18‑year‑old in a Dublin park said he brought the knife used in the fatal assault. The witness, who is a minor, told prosecution counsel James Dwyer SC that the accused took the knife from him minutes before the melee because "he didn't want us to get into trouble". He added that the accused did not know about the knife until he saw the witness with it in the park. The accused has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to the murder of Azzam Raguragui (18) at Finsbury Park, Dundrum, Dublin 14 on 10 May 2019. The plea was not accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions and he is on trial at the Central Criminal Court. Earlier today the jury heard from a friend of the deceased, who denied that he threw the first punch that caused the melee.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mark Crawford, aged 43, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Patrick 'Pa' O'Connor, aged 24, who died after being stabbed in Fitzgerald's Bar, Limerick, on 7–8 July 2018. Crawford told Gardaí that the fatal incident followed a dispute over €100 owed for cocaine. He claimed a flick‑knife was handed to him by a young man in the bar, which he took for protection, and that he stabbed O'Connor in a moment of fear, believing he might be attacked. Crawford said he had no intention to kill and that the act was a split‑second reaction. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Tara Burns, continues with a jury of 11 men and one woman. The prosecution maintains that Crawford admitted the stabbing to Gardaí and that the motive was a dispute over cocaine payments. The case remains in the early stages of the trial.