Five men—Ciaran O'Driscoll (24), Patrick Curtis (38), Stephen Curtis (32), Mohammed Smew (27) and Michael Burns (43)—appeared before the Special Criminal Court on 5 December 2019. They are charged with conspiring to murder Patrick "Patsy" Hutch between 1 February 2018 and 10 March 2018, a serious offence under Section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. All five are also charged with participating in activities intended to facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation, namely the murder of Mr Hutch between 1 February 2018 and 28 February 2018, and with the murder of an unknown person between 1 February 2018 and 10 March 2018. Patrick Curtis and Michael Burns face additional charges of directing the activities of a criminal organisation during the same period. Burns is further accused of possessing a firearm silencer and five rounds of 9 mm ammunition on 10 March 2018, suggesting unlawful possession.
The Special Criminal Court directed not guilty verdicts for Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy, who had pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh Na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on March 6th, 2013. Ms Justice Tara Burns ruled that Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard's "belief evidence" was inadmissible due to "issues of unfairness" arising from a "blanket" claim of privilege over underlying material. The judge noted that without this evidence, the case was "inherently tenuous." The ruling also highlighted "worrying aspects" regarding the handling of statements by State's-witness David Cullen, who claimed Murphy was "never a member of the IRA." The court found that the refusal to release secret material to the prosecution or defence prevented meaningful cross-examination. A further charge against Mr Kennedy of carrying out an act intending to pervert the course of justice, by destroying a SIM card on March 6th, 2013, has been adjourned until January 13 next.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 4 December 2019, Robert Lawlor (35) faced five attempted‑murder charges for an attack on Fiona Mitchell on 26 May 2018. Defence counsel Patrick McGrath SC argued that Mitchell's identification of Lawlor was unreliable, citing inconsistencies and the difficulty of seeing in a dark garden. He warned of the dangers of identification evidence and urged the jury to reject Mitchell's testimony. Prosecution counsel John O'Kelly SC countered, presenting Mitchell's consistent statements, CCTV showing two men entering her garden, and bullet trajectories that matched her account. He highlighted the damage to the house, the presence of a dog that was killed, and the absence of DNA or fingerprints. O'Kelly also detailed prior threats by Lawlor toward Mitchell's ex‑girlfriend and her partner, framing the attack as a response to those threats. The case remained at the trial stage, with the judge scheduled to charge the jury the following day. Robert Lawlor pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, martial‑arts instructor Jonathan Dargan (49) was found guilty of unlawful killing after a late‑night domestic dispute on Harold's Cross Road on 6 March 2016. Dargan was arguing with his partner when Patrick Mullally (56) and Jason Cunningham approached. A cyclist testified that Dargan threw powerful punches at Mullally, who suffered a subdural haemorrhage and died the next day. Dargan admitted striking Mullally but claimed he was surrounded and feared for his safety, arguing self‑defence. The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on manslaughter after four hours of deliberation, and a majority verdict on assaulting Cunningham after an additional hour. The assault charge against Mullally's niece was withdrawn. Judge Pauline Codd set a sentencing date for 27 January, directed victim‑impact and probation reports, and remanded Dargan on continuing bail.
In a High Court hearing, Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary told the judge that he was surprised when COO Peter Bellew announced his resignation in July 2019 and subsequent move to Easyjet. O'Leary explained that Bellew had cited lack of sleep and stress as reasons for leaving, and that he had been offered a three‑month notice period to allow a transition after Ryanair's summer schedules. Bellew declined the offer, claiming the 12‑month non‑compete clause did not apply because he was not joining a low‑fare carrier or a European airline. O'Leary disputed this, noting the clause was standard for senior managers and that Bellew had been paid a €1.1 million share‑option bonus in June 2019. Bellew denied breaching the contract, arguing the clause was void as he was excluded from the share‑option scheme. The case continues before Mr Justice Senan Allen.
In the trial of Robert Lawlor, a 35‑year‑old from Laytown, the State's closing speech highlighted the circumstances leading to the shooting on 26 May 2018. Lawlor was seen by the alleged victim, Fiona Mitchell, in her back garden holding a gun moments before shots were fired into her home. The prosecution argued that the incident was triggered by Lawlor's ex‑girlfriend, Rachel Kirwan, refusing to end her relationship with Derek Mitchell, whom Lawlor demanded she break off. Lawlor pleaded not guilty to attempted murder of Mitchell, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, a threat to Kirwan to kill or seriously harm Mitchell and her son, and shooting a dog. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, continues before a jury of seven men and five women.
A jury has begun deliberating the trial of Jonathan Dargan, a 49‑year‑old martial arts teacher from Dublin, who is accused of manslaughter in the death of 56‑year‑old Patrick Mullally on March 6, 2016. Dargan denies unlawfully killing Mullally and denies assaulting Lauren Mullally and Shane Cunningham during the same incident. The jury heard that Dargan, a former doorman at Lillie's Bordello, had an argument with his girlfriend after Mullally and Cunningham left a pub before 4 a.m. Dargan claimed he threw the first punch, striking Mullally, who later died from a subdural haemorrhage and brain trauma. Judge Pauline Codd charged the jury that the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that Dargan intentionally struck Mullally without justification, that the death resulted from the assault, and that Dargan was not acting in self‑defence. The defence argues Dargan struck in a pre‑emptive manner because he believed he was under attack.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 3 December 2019, defence counsel Hugh Hartnett SC and John D Fitzgerald SC challenged the admissibility of a senior Garda's "belief evidence" that Laurence Murphy (62) and Ray Kennedy (40) were members of the IRA. They argued the evidence was "valueless" and that the Director of Public Prosecutions had treated the court's rulings with "casualness", making the process "impossible to understand". The defence noted that no prosecution for IRA membership has relied on belief evidence since 1972 and that the Garda's belief was formed from material held by the Gardaí in December 2017, which had not been disclosed to the prosecution, defence or judges. They also highlighted that the Garda's claim of privilege was broad, that cross‑examination was "sterile", and that the Assistant Commissioner had not made the Garda aware of a statement by David Cullen that Murphy was "never a member of the IRA". Laurence Murphy pleaded not guilty. Ray Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
The trial of 35‑year‑old Robert Lawlor, who denies threatening to murder his ex‑girlfriend's partner and attempting to murder Fiona Mitchell's mother, is in its final day of evidence. Lawlor, of the Rise, Laytown, Co Meath, pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Ms Mitchell at Moatview Avenue, Priorswood, Dublin on 26 May 2018. Ms Mitchell returned to the stand for the third time and denied that Kane McCormack, who was shot dead in 2017, had slept in her garden shed, a claim the prosecution had previously alleged. She described the night of the shooting, noting she heard two men in black, saw a gun, fled to her front door and heard shots, and that her German shepherd was found dead on the back decking. The prosecution also heard from Lawlor's former girlfriend, Rachel Kirwan, who initially claimed he threatened to kill Derek Mitchell's mother but later retracted that statement and said she had lied.
During the Special Criminal Court trial of Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy for the murder of Peter Butterly, Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard testified that his belief that the accused were members of the IRA was not affected by information that a key witness, David Cullen, had said he would deny IRA membership if called to testify. Howard, head of the Special Detective Unit, had formed his belief based on material he claimed privilege over, gathered in December 2017. He confirmed that no one in the investigation, including the DPP, had informed him of Cullen's statement, and he insisted the statement had no impact on his belief. Howard also denied any formal protocol or coaching on how to express such beliefs, and the defence will apply to exclude his evidence tomorrow. The trial continues. Laurence Murphy pleaded not guilty. Ray Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
In a court hearing on 2 December 2019, Robert Lawlor, aged 35, pleaded not guilty to several charges, including attempted murder of Fiona Mitchell, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and a threat to kill or cause serious harm to Fiona Mitchell and her son Derek Mitchell. Lawlor denied threatening to kill Derek Mitchell or shooting at Fiona Mitchell's kitchen. He claimed that Derek Mitchell had allowed Kane McCormack, whom he alleged was linked to the Hutch‑Kinahan feud, to hide in his garden shed before McCormack was shot dead in December 2017. Lawlor also accused his former partner Rachel Kirwan of being a "dirty, smelly knacker" and described her as a "sick woman." He said he had no involvement in the shooting and that the allegations were "crazy." The case was before Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of seven men and five women.
In a manslaughter trial, the prosecution argued that Jonathan Dargan, 49, was desperately trying to justify his actions by claiming he felt threatened and acted in self‑defence. Dargan, a martial arts instructor who had worked as a doorman at Lillie's Bordello, denied unlawfully killing 56‑year‑old Patrick Mullally on Harold's Cross Road on 6 March 2016 and denied assaulting Lauren Mullally and Shane Cunningham in the same incident. The jury heard that Dargan had thrown the first punch at Mullally, who suffered a subdural haemorrhage and brain trauma and died the next day. Dargan admitted to "lashing out" but said he felt threatened by the men. The prosecution contended that the CCTV did not show a threat and that Dargan's response was not reasonable. The trial will continue with Judge Pauline Codd's charge on the law.
In the Central Criminal Court trial, 35‑year‑old Robert Lawlor denies attempting to murder Fiona Mitchell on 26 May 2018 and denies threatening her son Derek. Mitchell, who confirmed her son's childhood friend Kane McCormack was shot dead 18 months earlier, says she does not know if McCormack was involved in the Hutch‑Kinahan feud. She also denies claims that her home is a "half‑way house" of partying and drug use. Witnesses include a taxi driver who met Lawlor on the night of the alleged shooting and a Garda who observed Lawlor's agitation at his home. Lawlor has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, a threat to Rachel Kirwan, and shooting a dog. The trial proceeds before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of twelve.
Jonathan Dargan, 49, a doorman and martial arts teacher at Lillie's Bordello, was arrested after an altercation on Harold's Cross Road on 6 March 2016. Two men confronted him over an argument with his girlfriend, leading Dargan to punch them. During the melee, Patrick Mullally, 56, was struck on the head, suffered a subdural haemorrhage and brain trauma, and died the following day. Dargan admitted his actions caused Mullally's death but claimed he acted in self‑defence, stating he was very drunk and felt surrounded. He denied assaulting Lauren Mullally and Shane Cunningham. Gardaí noted CCTV showed no injuries to Dargan. The case is proceeding before Judge Pauline Codd with a jury of five women and seven men. The article reports only the ongoing trial stage, with no verdict or sentencing information.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found a married couple guilty of female genital mutilation (FGM) and child cruelty for an act carried out on their one‑year‑old daughter on 16 September 2016. The 37‑year‑old man and 27‑year‑old woman, both of African origin, pleaded not guilty to both counts. The jury delivered unanimous guilty verdicts after almost three hours of deliberation. Judge Elma Sheahan remanded the accused in custody pending sentencing on 20 December. Detective Inspector Danny Kelly opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the charge and a potential flight risk; a deportation order for the man is under appeal, while the woman is an Irish citizen. The couple's three children, including the victim, are currently under the care of the woman's sister, with arrangements to remain with the aunt if Tusla is satisfied.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Judge Tara Burns considered whether the court should review sensitive material that Gardaí have refused to hand over to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The material concerns two men charged in connection with the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly. Gardaí cited security concerns for senior and junior counsel, claiming that disclosure could expose them to danger. Defence counsel for Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy objected to the court viewing the material, arguing it could create a conflict of interest. Judge Burns noted that the DPP was unable and unwilling to provide the material, but the court retains a supervisory role over disclosure. She ruled that the prosecution must ensure proper disclosure, but the court would not compel Gardaí to release the material. The trial is set to resume tomorrow at 10:30 am. Laurence Murphy pleaded not guilty. Ray Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
During the attempted‑murder trial of Robert Lawlor, the Central Criminal Court heard that Garda Cathal Hickey recovered four bullets from the Mitchell residence after the shooting on 26 May 2018. One bullet lay on the kitchen floor, another in the hallway, a third was found in the dog basket of the shed, and a fourth was on the decking outside the back patio. Hickey also traced a line of blood from a bullet in the dog shed to a decking area where a dead German Shepherd, Chopper, was found. He reported bullet holes in the front door at 79 inches and in the kitchen‑hallway door at 64 inches. Sergeant Noel Smith admitted moving a bullet from outside the house to inside the property at about 8 am, citing concern that it might be removed by someone else. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, continues with a jury of seven men and five women. Robert Lawlor pleaded not guilty.
Jonathan Dargan, 49, pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing of Patrick Mullally, 56, on 6 March 2016, and to two assault charges involving Lauren Mullally and Shane Cunningham on 5 March 2016. During the trial, Dargan told Gardaí that he and his girlfriend had been at a concert and were involved in a "fist fight" when three men joined the altercation. He claimed he threw punches, was hit, and that one man grabbed his neck. He said he left the scene in his car, thinking it was a simple fight. Gardaí later located his silver Mercedes at a Texaco forecourt, where he admitted involvement. Lauren Mullally testified that she had been celebrating with her uncle, the deceased, and that she struck Dargan with a shoe after seeing him near the deceased. The trial is proceeding before Judge Pauline Codd and a jury of five women and seven men.
In the Central Criminal Court, Robert Lawlor, 35, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, firearm possession, a threat to Rachel Kirwan, and shooting a dog. Detective Sergeant Noel Smith testified that Lawlor was seen in black clothing, agitated and aggressive on the evening of the shooting. Smith described Lawlor's erratic behaviour, his confrontation with Gardaí, and his departure from home, prompting Smith to contact Kirwan and the Armed Support Unit. Kirwan, who had been in a relationship with Lawlor and later with Fiona Mitchell's son Derek, broke down during questioning about photographs of Derek. She refused to answer questions about the photos, stating her life was worth more than the images. The trial remains before a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 37‑year‑old man and a 27‑year‑old woman pleaded not guilty to one count of female genital mutilation (FGM) and one count of child cruelty, claiming their one‑year‑old daughter was injured by falling on a toy. Prosecutor Shane Costelloe argued that the parents' explanation was not reasonably possible, citing medical evidence that only the glans and body of the clitoris were excised, with no bruising or lesions elsewhere. He asserted the parents permitted the FGM and were present during the act, failing to intervene. Defence counsel Colman Fitzgerald and Patrick Gageby countered that the parents were loving, caring, and had no history of abuse, and that the alleged fall was hearsay. The trial was set to continue before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
In a Dublin manslaughter trial, a witness testified that he and the deceased, Patrick Mullally, approached Jonathan Dargan because Dargan was aggressively confronting a nervous woman. The witness, who was drunk, could not recall the exact words exchanged but said he was struck in the face and later treated for a broken finger. He claimed he had tried to stop Dargan from beating the woman, though the prosecution argued it was merely an argument. Dargan, aged 49, pleaded not guilty to unlawfully killing Mullally on 6 March 2016 and to two assault charges on 5 March 2016. The trial is proceeding before Judge Pauline Codd and a jury of five women and seven men. The witness, aged 19 at the time, expressed regret for his involvement. The case remains in court.
During the FGM trial, a medical expert, Dr Deborah Hodes, testified that the damage to the one‑year‑old girl could not have resulted from falling backwards onto a toy. She explained that the clitoris was missing its glans and body on examination DVDs, indicating tissue removal consistent with FGM. Dr Hodes argued that a fall would have caused broader injury and that the toy was not sharp. The accused couple, a 37‑year‑old man and a 27‑year‑old woman, pleaded not guilty to FGM and child cruelty. The man described the day's events, claiming he did not cut his daughter and that he was unaware of doctors' doubts. The trial, held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, continues before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury. The couple's legal representatives remain present. The case remains at the trial stage.
In a Dublin manslaughter trial, witness Shaun O'Donoghue testified that he saw Jonathan Dargan, aged 49, throw several powerful punches at an older man, Patrick Mullally, aged 57, while shouting "bang, bang" on Harold's Cross Road. O'Donoghue described the assault as involving quick, forceful blows directed at the head, and he later observed Mullally lying on the ground with blood from the back of his head. Mullally was found dead the next day, and a post‑mortem revealed a fractured jaw, cheekbone, and a subdural haemorrhage caused by blunt trauma to the back of the head. Dargan pleaded not guilty to unlawful killing and related assault charges. The case is proceeding before Judge Pauline Codd with a jury of five women and seven men.
Rachel Kirwan, a mother of two, testified that she had lied to Gardaí about former partner Robert Lawlor's threats to kill Fiona Mitchell's mother and harm Derek Mitchell. She claimed she fabricated the story to portray Lawlor negatively after learning he was the gunman who fired two shots at Mitchell's home on 26 May 2018. Kirwan said she changed her statement after discovering she had been misled. She also denied that Lawlor had threatened her regarding Mitchell's mother and that he had shown interest in her children only after she began dating Derek Mitchell. Kirwan's testimony, which includes details of her relationship with Lawlor and Mitchell, was presented to the jury on the day of the trial. The case remains at the trial stage with no verdict yet. Robert Lawlor pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 37‑year‑old man and a 27‑year‑old woman pleaded not guilty to one count of female genital mutilation (FGM) and one count of child cruelty for allegedly mutilating their one‑year‑old daughter on 16 September 2016. The woman, who said she was a victim of FGM as a child in Somalia, claimed the daughter's injury was caused by a toy, not a blade, and that no FGM had been performed. She described being questioned by Gardaí on 22 September 2016 and said doctors had suggested the child had been mutilated. The man, who had lived in Ireland since 2008, stated he had never witnessed FGM, that he opposed it, and that the injury occurred after the child was changed and ran away. The trial was set to continue before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a couple accused of mutilating their one‑year‑old daughter on 16 September 2016 pleaded not guilty to one count of female genital mutilation and one count of child cruelty. Dr John Hoade, a forensic scientist, testified that no blood was found on the toy the accused claimed caused the injury. He examined the scene on 23 September 2016, noting that a carpet area had been cleaned and that light blood staining was found only underneath the carpet and on the underlay. The DNA profile from that blood matched the complainant, with a probability of less than one in a thousand million of being unrelated. Hoade also examined knives, scissors and other tools, finding no blood on any of them. The trial will continue tomorrow with legal arguments before Judge Elma Sheahan, and a verdict is expected next Monday.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Paul Wells Junior, aged 33, faces charges of impeding his father's apprehension by disposing of the chainsaw used to dismember murder victim Kenneth O'Brien. The jury, after two and a half hours of deliberation, was instructed by Judge Stewart to consider each count separately: disposing of the chainsaw motor and disposing of the chain and blade. The prosecution alleged that Wells Junior knowingly removed the equipment, while the defence argued he acted under a reasonable excuse, citing a history of abuse and fear of his father. Judge Stewart emphasized that the burden remained on the prosecution to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that no reasonable excuse existed. The jury was required to reach a unanimous verdict on both counts before proceeding with further deliberations. The case remains pending, with no verdict announced yet. Paul Wells Junior pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a paediatric surgeon, Dr Sri Paran, testified that the genital injury observed on a girl did not align with the father's account of a fall onto a toy. He described the injury as a cut with bleeding above the expected clitoral location and noted the absence of the clitoral head. Dr Paran warned that if the bleeding had not been stopped, the child could have suffered breathing difficulties and shock within 20 hours. He also stated that the injury was unlike any he had seen before and that the child appeared well‑nourished otherwise. Dr Sinead Harty, a forensic paediatrician, confirmed that the injury was inconsistent with a fall, noting no bruising or swelling, and concluded it was likely the result of female genital mutilation. Both parents denied involvement, and the trial was set to continue the next day before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury. The unnamed 37-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The trial of a couple accused of mutilating their daughter's genitals began before a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The unnamed 37‑year‑old man and 27‑year‑old woman pleaded not guilty to one count of female genital mutilation and one count of child cruelty, both alleged to have occurred on 16 September 2016. Prosecutor Shane Costelloe argued that the couple brought their one‑year‑old daughter to a hospital after she began bleeding. A paediatric surgeon performed a procedure to stop the bleeding and concluded the injury was not accidental. He stated that the clitoral head had been excised and removed. The surgeon and colleagues referred the matter to Gardaí, who began an investigation. The prosecution claimed the couple aided, abetted or procured the act and were present at its commission. The case is now before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
Paul Wells Junior, aged 33, stands trial for disposing of a chainsaw motor, blade and chain that were used to dismember Kenneth O'Brien. He is charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of his father, Paul Wells Senior, who was later convicted of O'Brien's murder. The defence argues that Wells Junior acted in panic, was physically abused by his father, and did not intend to obstruct the investigation. He voluntarily gave a statement to Gardaí on 5 February 2016 and was arrested the next day on suspicion of murder. The prosecution maintains that Wells Junior knew his father had committed the offence when he disposed of the chainsaw and fully understood the consequences. The case is before the Central Criminal Court, with the jury to deliberate on the charges of impeding the investigation. The trial is ongoing and no verdict has yet been reached. Paul Wells Junior pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of Robert Lawlor, accused of attempting to murder Fiona Mitchell on 26 May 2018, Mitchell denies that she misidentified Lawlor. She says she saw him through her kitchen window holding a gun, ran out, locked the door, and heard two loud bangs before her dog was later found dead. Lawlor's counsel, Patrick McGrath, argued that Mitchell was "obsessed" with him and had stalked him online, but Mitchell insists she never messaged him and that she did see him that night. Rachel Kirwan, a former partner of Lawlor, recounts their relationship, their children, and a 2018 garden incident where she told Lawlor to leave. Kirwan also recalls a phone call from Mitchell before the shooting. Lawlor has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, a threat to Kirwan, and shooting a dog. The judge will not require the jury until Thursday.
A 40‑year‑old Dublin man, Owen Cummins, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing a Beretta 92s handgun and silencer. The offence was alleged to have occurred on 6 September 2017 at Jamestown Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8, where the court inferred he had not obtained the weapon for a lawful purpose. During the arraignment, Cummins answered "Guilty" when asked how he wished to plead. His counsel requested a sentencing date, and the court set 20 January 2020 for sentencing.
During the trial of Paul Wells Junior, 33, the accused admitted to disposing of the chainsaw used to dismember Kenneth O'Brien, 33, a murder committed by his father, Paul Wells Senior, 51. Wells Junior told Gardaí he had wanted to pay for O'Brien's headstone to express remorse. He explained that he had taken the chainsaw from his car, unaware it had been used in the murder, and later disposed of its blade and chain at The Curragh. He claimed he had no intention of hiding the evidence and that he had been influenced by trauma inflicted by his father. Wells Junior pleaded not guilty to the charges of disposing of the chainsaw motor and its blade and chain. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Carmel Stewart, continues with the jury hearing closing arguments. The case remains at the trial stage.
In a trial held on 18 November 2019, Fiona Mitchell testified that on 26 May 2018 she was in her garden when a man named Robert Lawlor, whom she recognised from social media, appeared at her patio door holding a gun. Mitchell said she heard two gunshots as she fled, locked the kitchen door, and ran to her neighbour's house where she hid. She described seeing two men on a wall outside her home, but confirmed only one man was in her garden and house. Mitchell also stated that her German Shepherd, Chopper, was shot dead that night. She claimed to have heard a threat from Lawlor to kill her mother and to "take her out of misery." The case is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Robert Lawlor pleaded not guilty.
A man has been convicted of murdering a Sligo musician following three separate trials. Keith Brady, aged 32, of Cartron Estate in Sligo, was found guilty of the murder of Martin Kivlehan at the Central Criminal Court. The offence occurred on 2 or 3 August 2015 at Mr Kivlehan's home on Holborn Street in Sligo. Brady had initially denied the charge but subsequently offered a plea of guilty to manslaughter, which the Director of Public Prosecutions rejected. The jury, comprising eight men and four women, reached their guilty verdict after deliberating for one hour and 25 minutes. This conviction followed two earlier trials, during which a jury previously failed to reach agreement on a verdict and a second trial collapsed after a broadcast programme that the trial judge considered likely to have prejudiced the jury.
Chief Superintendent Mark Curran, a senior Garda, gave evidence at the Disclosures Tribunal on 15 November 2019, stating he was "very upset" by a bullying claim made by whistleblower Garda Nicholas Keogh. Curran described Keogh's allegation that he had removed evidence DVDs from an Athlone Garda Station store as "daft and without basis", insisting no such removal occurred. He also denied any wrongdoing in handling a source that Keogh had refused to hand over, arguing that source management is a collective responsibility of An Garda Síochána and requires trained handlers. Curran rejected all targeting allegations, asserting he had acted within his duties and was not negligent. The tribunal, chaired by Judge Sean Ryan, had heard from Keogh and was investigating whether Keogh was targeted after his protected disclosure of alleged Garda heroin‑collusion on 8 May 2014. Curran's evidence concluded on 15 November, with the tribunal resuming on 26 November.
A man accused of murdering a musician in County Sligo has heard prosecution counsel argue that his actions before and after the alleged killing demonstrate deliberate intent, despite claims of intoxication. Keith Brady, aged 32 of Cartron Estate, Sligo, is charged with murdering Martin Kivlehan, 60, at his home on New Apartments, Holborn Street on August 2nd or 3rd, 2015. Mr Brady has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. At the Central Criminal Court, prosecution counsel Paul Murray SC told the jury that Mr Brady made multiple conscious decisions following the death, including arranging heroin delivery to the house, altering his clothing, and providing false accounts to gardaí. Mr Murray contended that evidence including two stab wounds to the neck, a knife swap at the scene, and Mr Brady's demonstrated capability to make deliberate choices before and after arrest undermines the defence assertion that intoxication negated intent to kill or cause serious harm. The trial before Mr Justice Alex Owens continues.
Keith Brady, aged 32, of Cartron Estate in Sligo, stands charged with murder following the death of a local musician at New Apartments on Holborn Street in August 2015. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. At the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard evidence of interviews conducted by gardaí. In an August 2015 interview at Sligo Garda Station, Mr Brady admitted stabbing the deceased and stated that matters had spiralled beyond his control. However, during a subsequent November interview at Ballymote Garda Station, he denied involvement and claimed memory loss due to intoxication. The court was informed that Mr Brady later approached prison authorities at Castlerea Prison in Roscommon in December 2015, requesting to speak with a sergeant who had previously interviewed him. During this meeting, Mr Brady provided a detailed account in which he acknowledged responsibility, expressed remorse to the deceased's family, and described the incident as unintentional. The trial continues.
The trial of Aaron Brady, 27, accused of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe in 2013, was postponed until January 2020 for logistical reasons. Brady, who lives on New Road, Crossmaglen, was due to begin on Monday but a defence application delayed the start. The judge, Mr Justice Michael White, said a jury could not be sworn in as planned and a new trial date would be set. He also announced that the court would actively address outstanding issues and arrange for an enlarged 15‑person jury. The pre‑trial hearing will continue, and the court aims to resolve all matters before the new start date. The trial was originally scheduled for October 8 and then November 11, each postponed to handle pre‑trial matters.
A 35‑year‑old man, Robert Lawlor, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder of Fiona Mitchell, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, a threat to Rachel Kirwan, and shooting a dog. The Central Criminal Court heard that the attempted murder occurred on 26 May 2018 at Moatview Avenue, Priorswood, when Lawlor, armed, entered Mitchell's garden, fired a shot that shattered the patio door, and fired again as she fled. Mitchell escaped through the front door; Gardaí arrived but the gunman and a second man had fled. A dog that had been barking and raising the alarm was shot dead. Lawlor's alleged motive was that Mitchell's son, Derek, was in a relationship with Lawlor's former partner, Rachel Kirwan, a relationship Lawlor could not accept. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
Garda Nicholas Keogh, a whistleblower, testified at the Disclosures Tribunal that his final days on duty were "paranoid and unbearable" after he made a protected disclosure on 8 May 2014. He alleged that a senior member of the Athlone drugs unit, identified as Garda A, was in an improper relationship with a heroin dealer, Ms B, who earned an estimated €2,500 a week. The tribunal, chaired by Judge Sean Ryan, is examining whether Keogh was targeted, harassed, undermined or bullied following his disclosure. Keogh also discussed his drinking problem, noting it had been an issue before the disclosure but had become problematic only once at work. He described feeling like a "sitting duck" for Garda management, being paranoid about documents and phone tapping, and said the last days of his service were difficult, with the 21 December 2015 being his final day on duty. Keogh refused to name his informant, citing concerns about safety.
At the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, a garda inspector has denied allegations that he fabricated evidence against a Sligo man charged with murder. Inspector Patrick Harney testified that Keith Brady, aged 32, of Cartron Estate, made certain statements upon being charged with the death of Martin Kivlehan on 2 or 3 August 2015 at New Apartments, Holborn Street, Sligo. The defence barrister, Kenneth Fogarty SC, contended that a particular statement attributed to Mr Brady was not included in the inspector's written account, and suggested the omission was designed to present his client unfavourably. Inspector Harney stated the remark appeared in his notebook and was recorded at the time. Mr Justice Alex Owens cautioned the defence counsel on proper procedure when making such allegations. Mr Brady has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies murder. The trial before Mr Justice Owens and jury continues. Keith Brady pleaded not guilty.
The rape trial of two men at the Central Criminal Court was adjourned after the jury reported being deadlocked. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon informed the nine-man and three-woman jury that they could return a majority verdict, requiring at least ten jurors to agree. The jury had deliberated for three hours and previously requested to hear the complainant's evidence again, which was read from a transcript. The prosecution alleges that on a date in 2017, the complainant woke in a bedroom to find the defendants raping her on two occasions. Both accused pleaded not guilty to rape; the second accused also denies a charge of oral rape. The defendants, who knew the complainant from school, assert the activity was consensual. Defense counsel for the first accused argued the complainant made the allegation due to distress over overheard conversations, while counsel for the second accused contended the prosecution's claim that she was comatose was unsupported, noting witnesses saw her smiling and cuddling. Prosecution counsel highlighted that the first accused had recently moved into the flat, purchased condoms, and texted friends that he had "christened" the flat. The jury was sent home to resume deliberations on Tuesday morning.
A 35‑year‑old man named Robert Lawlor pleaded not guilty to an attempted murder charge. He is accused of trying to kill Fiona Mitchell on 26 May 2018 at Priorswood, Dublin. Lawlor denied the allegation. A jury of seven men and five women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Michael White. He is scheduled to appear before Mr Justice Paul McDermott tomorrow morning, and the trial is expected to last two weeks.
The Central Criminal Court trial of two men accused of raping a woman in a Leitrim flat in 2017 has entered jury deliberations. The first accused pleaded not guilty to rape, while the second accused pleaded not guilty to rape and oral rape. Prosecution counsel Eilis Brennan SC argued that the defendants did not care if the victim was consenting, citing evidence that they invited other men to the bedroom and made derogatory comments outside the room. The complainant testified that she woke to find the men raping her on two occasions. In defense, Conor Devally SC for the first accused contended that the sex was consensual and that the complainant later felt demeaned by the behavior of others, leading her to reconstruct the night. Colm Smyth SC for the second accused argued that the prosecution's claim of incapacity was a "spin," asserting the woman was in full control and had consented to oral sex. He also criticized the Garda investigation, alleging that untested DNA evidence was not seized. The jury began deliberations after lunch and will resume on Monday morning.
Two men from Leitrim have pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to charges of rape arising from an alleged incident in a flat in the county in 2017. The prosecution alleges that on two occasions during one night, a woman regained consciousness to find herself being raped by the defendants. The second accused also denies oral rape. The accused men, now in their 20s and known to the complainant from school, have entered pleas of not guilty. During the trial before Justice Eileen Creedon, the first defendant told gardaí he was being "set up" and that all sexual contact had been consensual. He claimed the woman later felt betrayed when he left the bedroom to address discomfort with his contact lenses. The prosecution contends the woman was too intoxicated to consent and that the defendant was aware of this. The trial continues.
In a Disclosures Tribunal hearing, Garda Nicholas Keogh testified that he smuggled printed Pulse files out of an Athlone station in his baton pocket and gave them to politicians. Keogh claims the files were re‑classified crimes he considered "fiddling" and that he hid copies in the station and in his baton to avoid Garda HQ monitoring. He alleges that after his protected disclosure on 8 May 2014, he was targeted, harassed and bullied by Superintendent Patrick Murray. Keogh denies intent to "bring down" Murray and says he was merely reporting bullying. The tribunal, chaired by Judge Sean Ryan, is examining whether Keogh was indeed targeted following his disclosure. The case involves allegations of improper relationships between a senior drug‑unit officer and a heroin dealer, and the alleged suppression of Keogh's complaints by Garda management.
Two Leitrim men have pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to charges of rape and oral rape following an alleged incident at a flat in a Co Leitrim town in 2017. A witness told the trial that the first accused emerged from a bedroom and disclosed he had engaged in sexual activity with the woman, displaying scratches on his back. The witness further testified that the second accused stated he would attempt oral sex with the woman, claiming prior consent to such activity. Medical evidence presented indicated the complainant had bruising in her throat and a swollen uvula. The woman testified she did not consent to sexual contact with either man and had lost consciousness before finding them engaged in sexual activity with her upon regaining awareness. The trial before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury continues.
At the Central Criminal Court, a trial heard that a woman alleging rape initially described three men as being involved in the assault. The complainant told the court she attended a party at a flat in a County Leitrim town in 2017 where she consumed alcohol. She stated she lost consciousness and awoke to find the first accused assaulting her. She reported hearing male voices and subsequently blacked out again, regaining consciousness as the second accused was assaulting her. Two Leitrim men have pleaded not guilty to rape charges. The second accused also denies oral rape. During cross-examination, the defence put to the complainant that she had previously given an account involving three assailants. The complainant confirmed this, noting she had heard voices in the room. A nurse from the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit in Mullingar confirmed the complainant initially reported three men were involved. The nurse stated she observed genital injuries consistent with non-consensual activity, though acknowledged such injuries could also occur during consensual contact.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that blood matching a musician found stabbed to death in his Sligo home was present on two knives recovered from the scene. A forensic scientist told the court that DNA evidence from a knife discovered on the body of Martin Matt Kivlehan, who died on August 3, 2015, matched the deceased. Blood matching Mr Kivlehan was also found on a second knife located in the kitchen. A garda ballistics expert noted the positioning of one knife on the victim's chest and observed two stab wounds, stating he had never encountered a scene where a person had inflicted two such injuries on themselves. Witnesses described Mr Kivlehan as a well-liked man who enjoyed company. Keith Brady, aged 30, of Cartron Estate, Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. That plea was rejected and his trial continues before Mr Justice Alex Owens.