A 20‑year‑old Dublin man, Martin Keenan, was found not guilty of murdering 33‑year‑old Wesley Mooney, who was stabbed with half a garden shears in Keenan's mobile home. The case was the first murder trial under the Defence and the Dwelling Act 2011. Keenan and his wife returned home to find two strangers in their bedroom. Keenan claimed the deceased attacked him and he struck him with the nearest object. The jury heard that the law allows homeowners to use reasonable force against intruders. Keenan's defence cited the 2011 Act and a Court of Criminal Appeal ruling that burglary is an act of aggression. The prosecution argued the force was unreasonable and that Keenan had fabricated his account. After 4 h 15 min of deliberation, the jury returned a majority verdict of not guilty. The judge discharged Keenan, who had been on bail.
In a High Court hearing, the court ruled that data generated by Graham Dwyer's mobile phone could be used as evidence against him in his Central Criminal Court murder trial. The State and Garda Commissioner argued that the data was lawfully retained and accessed under the 2011 Communications (Retention of Data) Act, which Ireland had adopted to comply with EU requirements. Dwyer's lawyers sought to exclude the data, citing a 2014 European Court of Justice decision that found the 2006 EU directive underpinning the Act invalid. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, rejected the exclusion and allowed the contested evidence to be presented to the jury. Dwyer maintains that the Act breached his privacy rights and is pursuing further legal action against the State and Garda Commissioner. The case remains ongoing.
David Byrne, a 42‑year‑old postman from Kilcullen, was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of 70‑year‑old Patricia Dunne on 16 October 2015. Byrne had pleaded not guilty to the dangerous driving charge and to other counts, including dishonestly inducing the National Driving Licence Service to issue a licence and making a false statement on an insurance application. The jury, after three and a half hours of deliberation, returned a majority verdict on the dangerous driving charge and unanimous guilty verdicts on the remaining counts. Judge Patricia Ryan remanded Byrne on continuing bail and set sentencing for 4 May. Byrne's case involved his Usher Syndrome Type 2, a condition that impairs vision in low light and peripheral vision, and the prosecution argued that he had been advised not to drive since 1997.
A jury will resume deliberations tomorrow morning in the trial of Martin Keenan, a 20‑year‑old Dubliner from Finglas, who is charged with murdering 33‑year‑old Wesley Mooney. The alleged murder occurred at St Joseph's Park halting site on 5 June 2016, when Keenan stabbed Mooney with half a garden shears after claiming the deceased attacked him. Keenan pleaded not guilty. The Central Criminal Court jury was given the shears to examine and had spent four and a half hours considering their verdict before being sent home. They will resume deliberations on Wednesday morning.
During the trial of David Drumm for conspiracy to defraud, former Anglo Irish Bank finance head Colin Golden testified that he was unaware that the €7.2 billion transactions with Irish Life and Permanent were a straight cash exchange without underlying security until after they occurred. Golden said he first learned of the scale and nature of the deals in early October 2008, after being told they were collateralised. He recounted that Ciaran Cunningham informed him of the €7.2 billion deal on 30 September 2008 and that he later forwarded details to Mary Burke at the Financial Regulator. Golden also noted that Ernst & Young auditors had been briefed on the transactions and that Vincent Bergin described them as "technically sound." He expressed surprise at the regulator's hostile reaction and explained that he did not grasp the significance of who placed the money first until months later.
A paediatrician has told the Central Criminal Court that a six-month-old infant could not have formed or swallowed the wad of tissue found in his throat. Dr Hilary Stokes testified during the trial of John Tighe, aged 40, of Lavallyroe, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, who denies murdering his son Joshua Sussbier Tighe on 1 June 2013. The prosecution alleges the tissue caused the child's death. Dr Stokes stated that infants at that developmental stage lack the manual dexterity and chewing ability required to compress tissue into such a wad, and would be unable to swallow an object of that size voluntarily. She further indicated the wad could not have become lodged as described through attempts to remove it. Earlier, a sergeant recalled that the child's mother asked the accused upon arriving at the home: "What have you done?" The trial continues before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury at the Central Criminal Court. John Tighe pleaded not guilty.
Two Dublin men, Garry Gleeson, 34, of Ballyfermot, and Stephen Dunne, 38, of South Lucan, are charged with conspiring to murder Michael Frazer between 28 July and 7 August 2017. The State Solicitor, Michael O'Donovan, informed the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had applied for an order to have the men tried before the Special Criminal Court. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan, granted the order, allowing the case to proceed in the non‑jury Special Criminal Court.
During the 36th day of David Drumm's conspiracy‑to‑defraud trial, former Anglo Irish Bank chief financial officer Matt Moran told the jury he was shocked by the regulator's hostile reaction to Anglo's transactions with Irish Life and Permanent. He said that at a meeting on 12 or 13 January 2009, the regulator suddenly asked him questions as if it had no knowledge of the transactions, which he had believed the regulator was aware of. Moran recounted that after the meeting he contacted Drumm, who had left Anglo, to confirm the regulator's awareness. Drumm's email, shown to the jury, indicated that Anglo's balance‑sheet management was a common practice and that the regulator was fully aware of the bank's actions. Moran noted that if the ILP transaction had not proceeded, it could have been fatal for Anglo, potentially eroding confidence in the bank. The trial, presided over by Judge Karen O'Connor, continues with a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Richard Crealy, a 37‑year‑old homeless man, was acquitted of the charge of recklessly causing €100,000 damage to The Gaiety Theatre. The incident occurred on 26 April 2015 when Crealy, searching for cardboard to sleep on, used a lighter to see inside a bin in Tangier Lane. He claimed the fire was accidental and that he had tried to extinguish it. Smoke from the bin entered the theatre's stage shutters, triggering the sprinkler system and causing significant damage. Gardaí and the fire brigade were present, and CCTV footage linked Crealy to the bin. The jury, after about half an hour of deliberation, found him not guilty, concluding that while the fire was accidental, the prosecution had not proven that he had foreseen the damage to the theatre. The case ended with Crealy's acquittal.
In a dangerous driving causing death trial, the prosecution argued that David Byrne, 42, could not have seen the road because he has no peripheral vision due to Usher Syndrome Type II. Prosecutor Fionnuala O'Sullivan said a fully sighted driver would have seen 70‑year‑old Patricia Dunne as she crossed Collins Avenue East, Killester, on 16 October 2015, and that Byrne's decision to drive with this condition, despite doctors' advice, made his driving dangerous. She also alleged Byrne obtained a driving licence by deception, answering "no" to a medical difficulty question, and failed to disclose his eye condition to his insurer. Byrne denies dangerous driving and the licence fraud, pleading not guilty. The jury will deliberate tomorrow, with the trial before Judge Patricia Ryan.
A jury has begun deliberating on the trial of Martin Keenan, a Traveller aged 20, who is charged with murdering 33‑year‑old Wesley Mooney in a mobile home in Dublin on 5 June 2016. Keenan claims Mooney attacked him after Keenan asked him to leave, and that he used a garden shears to stab Mooney. The Central Criminal Court jury was given the shears to examine. Judge Paul Butler explained that under the Criminal Law (Defence and the Dwelling) Act 2011, a person may use reasonable force if they believe a trespasser is threatening them, and that the force must be proportionate. He clarified that the accused is not required to retreat and that if the force is not disproportionate, the accused is not guilty of murder; if it is disproportionate, the accused is not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.
In the Central Criminal Court, the defence lawyer Séamus Clarke SC argued that Travellers can also be victims of burglaries, citing the Criminal Law (Defence and the Dwelling) Act 2011 and a 2011 judgement by Justice Adrian Hardiman. He presented the case of 20‑year‑old Martin Keenan, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of 33‑year‑old Wesley Mooney, who was stabbed with a garden shears at Keenan's mobile home in Dublin on 5 June 2016. Clarke said Keenan was not seeking trouble and that the intruder had chosen to invade his home, giving the homeowner latitude to defend himself. The prosecution, led by Garnet Orange SC, countered that the deceased was not attacking anyone, the force used was unreasonable, and that Keenan's claim of self‑defence was unsupported. The jury was instructed that it could find Keenan not guilty of murder or guilty of manslaughter, and the case would be charged on Monday.
During day 36 of David Drumm's conspiracy‑to‑defraud trial, the jury heard an extract from a September 2008 phone call between former Anglo Irish Bank CFO Matt Moran and former Anglo head of capital markets John Bowe. The men discussed how to persuade Credit Suisse banker Ewen Stevenson to sign a "beer mat" and to facilitate a transaction that would move €7.2 billion in Anglo's favour. Moran said he would try to "get a bit of drink into him" and then say, "I'd like about five billion before the 30th." Bowe suggested they could "get him to sign the beer mat" and that Anglo would place money with Credit Suisse, possibly using a single set of cash. The conversation was recorded by the bank, and Moran confirmed that the transaction had not yet taken place. The trial continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury. Credit Suisse pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 42‑year‑old postman David Byrne denied dangerous driving that caused the death of 70‑year‑old Patricia Dunne on 16 October 2015. He also pleaded not guilty to dishonestly inducing the National Driving Licence Service to issue a licence on 30 September 2014 and to making a false statement on insurance. Byrne claimed he had not driven at the time of the fatal collision, had not been speeding, had not drunk, and had obeyed traffic signals. An optometrist, Aengus Morrin, testified that Byrne had Usher Syndrome, diagnosed in 1997, and that his peripheral vision was "very, very poor – almost non‑existent". Dr Paul Kenna, a clinical ophthalmologist, confirmed the diagnosis and noted that Byrne had been advised against driving in daylight or at night. The trial continues with closing arguments pending.
John Tighe, aged 40, of Lavallyroe, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his six-month-old son Joshua Sussbier Tighe at his home on 1 June 2013. The Central Criminal Court heard that forensic examination revealed tissue paper from two different boxes lodged in the infant's throat during a post-mortem. Bridget Fleming of Forensic Science Ireland told the court that the three-ply tissue matched paper from a bedroom box, while two-ply tissue matched material from a sitting room box. The prosecution alleges Mr Tighe caused the child's death by asphyxiation. The defence maintains Mr Tighe was changing the baby's nappy when the child began choking. DNA evidence showed the child's blood on Mr Tighe's clothing, which defence counsel suggested could be consistent with Mr Tighe attempting to assist his choking son. The trial continues at the Central Criminal Court.
A forensic scientist has told the Central Criminal Court that blood found on pyjama bottoms belonging to a man accused of murder came from his six-month-old son. John Tighe, aged 40, of Lavallyroe, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo has pleaded not guilty to murdering Joshua Sussbier Tighe at his home on 1 June 2013. The trial heard that DNA analysis of samples from the pyjamas matched the infant's blood profile. Further matching samples were recovered from a babygrow, sitting room floor and wall. The prosecution alleges Mr Tighe caused his son's death by asphyxiation. The defence suggested the presence of blood on the pyjamas could be explained by Mr Tighe holding the baby while attempting to assist him. The trial, before Justice Patrick McCarthy and jury, continues at the Central Criminal Court.
In the Central Criminal Court, Ciara Tynan, the girlfriend of the 33‑year‑old Wesley Mooney, testified that the accused, 20‑year‑old Martin Keenan, was a professional bare‑knuckle fighter and questioned why he did not use his fists when he stabbed Mooney on the decking outside Keenan's home. Tynan denied the defence's suggestion that Keenan was defending himself after discovering the couple burglarising his house. Prosecutor Garnet Orange SC re‑examined Tynan, asking her about the claim that Keenan moved toward the victim before being stabbed. The defence, represented by Séamus Clarke SC, questioned Detective Sergeant Alan Brady about the bare‑knuckle fighter allegation, to which Brady replied that he had not seen any videos of Keenan on YouTube. Brady also confirmed that the deceased had 59 prior convictions, including burglary, threatening to kill, and possession of an imitation firearm with criminal intent, but no assault convictions. Martin Keenan pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 42‑year‑old postman David Byrne pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving that caused the death of 70‑year‑old Patricia Dunne on Collins Avenue East, Killester, on 16 October 2015. Byrne also pleaded not guilty to dishonestly inducing the National Driving Licence Service to issue him a licence on 30 September 2014 and to making a false statement when taking out insurance on 16 September 2015. The court heard that Byrne had an eye condition, Usher Syndrome Type 2, diagnosed in 1997, and that he had been strongly advised not to drive. Byrne denied being told not to drive and claimed he had never disclosed the condition to his insurer.
Martin Keenan, aged 20, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Wesley Mooney, aged 33, at St Joseph's Park, Dunsink Lane, north Dublin, on 5 June 2016. He claimed that on arriving home at about 11.45 pm he found a 'junkie' in his bedroom, who attacked him. Keenan said he struck the man with a garden shears tool, hitting him twice, after which the man fell. He later showed the Gardaí the shears he used. The jury heard that Mooney suffered two stab wounds and a broken shin. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis reported a deep stab wound below the left armpit that pierced both lungs and major vessels, a second wound below the left knee, and a spiral fracture of the left shin. He found modest alcohol and drugs in Mooney's blood and urine, and identified the chest stab as the main cause of death.
A father accused of murdering his infant son urged a doctor to intervene at the scene, the Central Criminal Court heard on the second day of trial. John Tighe, aged 40, of Lavallyroe, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his six-month-old son on 1 June 2013. Dr Diarmuid Murray told the court he arrived at the home shortly after 1pm and immediately formed the view the child was deceased. The doctor identified a tissue lodged in the baby's throat, positioned above the larynx in a manner that would cause asphyxiation. During cross-examination, Dr Murray confirmed the accused was distressed and repeatedly urged him to take action, though nothing could be done. Emergency call handlers also gave evidence, with one nurse expressing doubt that the accused was following her instructions to dislodge the obstruction. The trial, before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of nine women and three men, continues.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, David Drumm, former chief executive of Anglo, admitted that €7.2 billion worth of transactions between Anglo and Irish Life & Permanent (ILP) occurred in 2008 but denied that they were fraudulent or dishonest. He explained that he had written to senior Anglo colleagues in November 2008 urging a "war cabinet urgency" to address liquidity issues, and that he had asked his staff to "look under every rock" as liquidity fell. Witness Matt Moran, former chief financial officer at Anglo, testified that Drumm had discussed the ILP transaction with the regulator and that the bank's government guarantee had eased pressure on its funding position. Drumm has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to defraud depositors and investors and to false accounting regarding the 2008 deposits. The case is still pending before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
A 31‑year‑old Dublin man, Martin Aylmer of Casino Park, Marino, was charged at the Special Criminal Court with aiding or contributing to the murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016. He faced charges of participating in or contributing to activity intended to facilitate the commission of the murder, and of reckless participation that could facilitate the murder. The alleged offences occurred between 23 and 25 April 2016. Garda David Chapman arrested Aylmer at his home, conveyed him to Bridewell Garda Station, and the court remanded him in custody pending a bail application.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Martin Keenan, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Wesley Mooney (33) at St Joseph's Park, Dunsink Lane, north Dublin on June 5, 2016, continued before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury. During cross-examination, the defence challenged the character of the deceased and the circumstances leading to the incident. Ciara Tynan, identified as the deceased's girlfriend, denied allegations that Mr Mooney was aggressive or that he moved towards the accused prior to being stabbed with garden shears. However, she acknowledged that CCTV footage played in court showed Mr Mooney raising his middle finger at staff at a Tesco Express around 9.50pm, though she maintained this gesture did not constitute aggression. She also rejected the defence suggestion that the couple was committing a burglary in the accused's home. The prosecution and defence are presenting evidence regarding the events outside the accused's home in Finglas. No verdict has been reached, and the trial is ongoing, with proceedings scheduled to continue this afternoon.
In March 2008, David Drumm, former chief executive of Anglo Irish Bank, urged executives to hold a conference call to "zoom in" on achieving the bank's target of €5 billion in customer deposits for the half‑year ending March. Mr Drumm, who is on trial for conspiracy to defraud, told the jury that Anglo was primarily a lending bank, not a treasury, and that in 2008 €7.2 billion of transactions occurred between Anglo and Irish Life & Permanent (ILP). He disputes that these were fraudulent. Former chief financial officer Matt Moran testified that by late 2007 Anglo was run by "lending people" and that executives sought funding from banks they had relationships with. Meetings were held in Mr Drumm's office to discuss "special balance sheet initiatives" aimed at increasing funding or capital and reducing lending.
In the Central Criminal Court, Martin Keenan, aged 20, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Wesley Mooney, aged 33, which occurred on 5 June 2016 at St Joseph's Park, Dunsink Lane, Dublin. Ciara Tynan, the deceased's girlfriend, testified that she and Mooney had been traveling to a trailer owned by a man named Davy 'Good-looking' and had been invited to St Joseph's Park by a man in a car who claimed the front door was open. Tynan said they entered a bedroom, the owner returned shouting, and she claimed the accused stabbed Mooney after the owner left. She described herself as shouting for help, but the ambulance arrived an hour later. During cross‑examination, Tynan denied any burglary and said she had no convictions. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury of ten men and two women.
In a dangerous driving trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 70‑year‑old Patricia Byrne was killed on Collins Avenue East in Killester on 16 October 2015. Van driver Sandjis Jansons testified that he slowed his delivery van when he saw Byrne crossing the street, stating she was "already on the road" and not on a pedestrian crossing. He claimed he had no idea what she would do and that the car that struck her was driven by David Byrne, 42, who has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing Byrne's death. Byrne also pleaded not guilty to dishonestly inducing the National Driving Licence Service to issue him a licence and to making a false statement in an insurance application. The prosecution alleged Byrne had Usher Syndrome Type 2, a condition that impairs vision in low light, and that he failed to disclose this when applying for a licence or informing his insurer.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Kevin Hannaway (69) of Collin Mill, Belfast, and Eva Shannon (60) of Oakman Street, Belfast, pleaded not guilty to charges of knowingly aiding an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army (IRA), by assisting in interviews with individuals involved in IRA‑organised criminal activities. The alleged interviews took place at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, Dublin 15, on 7 and 8 August 2015. Additionally, Edward O'Brien (42) of Hazelcroft Road, Finglas, Dublin 11, David Nooney (53) of Coultry Green, Ballymun, Dublin 11, and Seán Hannaway (48) of Linden Gardens, Belfast, pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation on 8 August 2015. The prosecution, represented by Tara Burns SC, argued that Gardaí, acting on confidential information, used surveillance devices to record conversations in the house at Riverwood Park. After reviewing the audio recordings, the prosecution planned to present evidence on voice attribution.
In a Dublin murder trial, the jury saw half of a garden shears alleged to have stabbed Wesley Mooney to death outside his home. Garda Conor Mallon identified the weapon during a search of St Joseph's Park after Mooney's death. He described it as a half shears with a yellow stem and black handle. A forensic scientist found blood on the rusted blade and on the accused's left runner, and DNA matched Mooney. The scientist also examined a watch but found no evidence. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, continues with a jury of ten men and two women. Martin Keenan, 20, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mooney, 33, which occurred on 5 June 2016. The case remains in the Central Criminal Court.
A new jury of three men and nine women has been sworn in at the Central Criminal Court to hear the trial of John Tighe, aged 40, from Lavallyroe, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo. Mr Tighe pleads not guilty to the murder of his infant son Joshua Sussbier Tighe at his home on June 1, 2013. The original jury was discharged on the fourth day of the trial due to weather-related delays and a juror's prior commitment. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy cautioned the new panel to rely solely on courtroom evidence. The prosecution alleges the child died from asphyxiation caused by tissue lodged in his throat. Medical experts will testify that a six-and-a-half-month-old could not have formed or swallowed such material independently. The defence maintains the death was accidental, with Mr Tighe claiming the child choked on a baby wipe. The trial continues.
In a first‑time appearance before the Disclosures Tribunal, Sergeant Maurice McCabe alleged that former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan was "obsessed" with him and instructed former Garda press secretary Superintendent Dave Taylor to "bury" him. McCabe said Taylor, who was temporarily suspended in September 2016, claimed he had been ordered by Callinan to spread rumours that McCabe had been investigated for sexual assault. McCabe described an orchestrated campaign involving whispering, phone calls and texts, which Taylor allegedly forwarded to journalists and to Noirin O'Sullivan, who would approve the material. McCabe also recounted a meeting with Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness, during which Callinan allegedly warned McGuinness that McCabe was untrustworthy and had abused vulnerable children. Callinan and O'Sullivan denied the smear‑campaign allegations. McCabe's protected disclosure was made on 26 September 2016.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the jury was informed that the €7.2 billion transactions between Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent in September 2008 were "optical benefit only" and created no new cash. Former Anglo treasury manager Ciaran Cunningham, who testified on day 34 of David Drumm's conspiracy‑to‑defraud trial, confirmed the transactions took place but disputed any fraud or dishonesty. Cunningham explained that the deals were netted and would not appear in the accounts, that they were "cash neutral," and that the only benefit was optical. He noted the transactions were initially settled gross but later settled net, a fact he learned in February 2009. Drumm, the former chief executive, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to defraud and false accounting, and the trial continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Martin Keenan, aged 20, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Wesley Mooney, aged 33, at St Joseph's Park, Finglas, on 5 June 2016. Prosecutors alleged that Keenan, who was present at the scene early on 6 June, stabbed Mooney with a long‑handled garden shears, delivering two significant blows to Mooney's upper body, including a stab wound to the left side of the chest and a broken leg. Mooney was found face‑up on the decking outside a mobile home, and attempts to save his life failed. Keenan reportedly returned home to find lights on, saw cider bottles, and later entered the mobile home with the shears. He was arrested at Finglas Garda Station after the incident. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, is expected to last six days.
A nurse who advised a father during an emergency call about his choking infant was uncertain whether her instructions were being followed, the Central Criminal Court heard today. Aine Watts, who worked with WestDoc medical service, took a call in 2013 from John Tighe of Lavallyroe, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, after his baby began choking on tissue. Ms Watts told the court she instructed Mr Tighe to perform chest compressions and attempt to dislodge the obstruction, but was unsure if her guidance was being adhered to. Under cross-examination, she acknowledged prioritising airway clearance over CPR given the child's unresponsiveness. Mr Tighe, aged 40, has pleaded not guilty to murdering his son Joshua Sussbier Tighe on 1 June 2013. The prosecution alleges the tissue was deliberately placed in the child's throat; the defence maintains the six-and-a-half-month-old swallowed it independently. The trial before Justice Patrick McCarthy continues tomorrow.
Garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe gave evidence at the Charleton tribunal, describing the 2011 response to his complaints as "a kick in the teeth." Chief Superintendent Colm Rooney, now retired, admitted his 2011 circular letter congratulating Bailieboro station was inappropriate, stating his vindication of the station's standards was not warranted. McCabe testified that he felt forced out of his position as Sergeant in Charge in March 2008 and described a culture in An Garda Síochána that made it "extremely hard to speak out." He noted that his revelations regarding penalty points "really hit hard in the force." The tribunal also examined a 2006 allegation by Miss D against McCabe, where the DPP recommended against prosecution, finding no basis for an assault or sexual assault. McCabe stated he was exonerated and received support from colleagues. He also referenced a 2009 Facebook comment calling a puppet "Maurice the rat," which the O'Higgins commission later described as "vile and offensive." The proceedings are part of a trial-stage inquiry into whether unjustified grounds were used to discredit McCabe, including serious allegations against former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan. The matter remains ongoing as the tribunal continues to hear evidence.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Rihards Lavickis, 25, ended without a verdict after the jury failed to reach a decision on the death of Akadiusz 'Arek' Czajkowski. Lavickis, of Annaly Court, Longford, had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the stabbing at Rue Noyal Chatillon, Townspark, on November 1, 2016. The prosecution alleged Lavickis was a deliberate killer who lured the deceased with a knife, while the defense argued he acted in a 'tumult of emotion' after prior hostility. Following four hours of deliberation, the foreman reported the jury could not reach a unanimous or majority verdict. Justice Una Ni Raifeartaigh discharged the jury and noted that a retrial may be ordered at the discretion of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The matter was adjourned to the next list to fix a date for another trial.
A 20‑year‑old man, Martin Keenan, is on trial for the murder of Wesley Mooney, 33, who was killed at St Joseph's Park, Dunsink Lane, Finglas, Dublin 11 on 5 June 2016. Keenan pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. A jury of ten men and two women was sworn in, and the trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, is set to last six days.
In the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm, former company secretary Natasha Mercer testified that she sought legal advice after the bank's chairman, Donal O'Connor, asked her to amend the minutes of an audit‑committee meeting held on 18 November 2008. Mercer explained that she had written down different wording than what O'Connor recalled, and that her lawyers advised her that the chairman's signed minutes were the definitive record. She denied that O'Connor had ever told her to "shut up" when she challenged him about the minutes. Mercer also noted that her handwritten minutes of three September 2008 board meetings mentioned the Irish Life & Permanent transactions, whereas her typed minutes did not. The court heard that the final wording of the minutes described the ILP transactions as normal year‑end balance‑sheet activity, with no objections from the Financial Regulator or Ernst & Young.
A jury in a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court has been instructed to resume deliberations on Wednesday morning despite indicating to the judge that they had reached an impasse. The jurors had spent three hours and thirty minutes considering their verdict in the case of Rihards Lavickis, who is charged with the murder of a man in Longford more than two years ago. Mr Lavickis has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh indicated she would provide a further direction to the jury on Wednesday morning before they continue their deliberations. The foreman had told the court that the jury believed reconvening would be futile, but the judge suggested additional guidance might assist their consideration of the case.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberating in the trial of a 25-year-old Longford man charged with murder. Rihards Lavickis, of Annaly Court, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Akadiusz Czajkowski at Rue Noyal Chatillon, Townspark, on November 1, 2016, but guilty to manslaughter. The court heard that Mr Lavickis admits to stabbing the 31-year-old. He claimed the deceased had previously demanded repayment of a drug debt and assaulted him, and that he armed himself with a knife intending only to frighten Mr Czajkowski after discovering his windows had been smashed. Mr Lavickis told the trial he experienced a loss of control upon seeing the deceased. Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh directed the jury that provocation could reduce a murder conviction to manslaughter. Deliberations commenced this morning, with jurors having spent approximately one hour and 33 minutes considering the evidence by lunchtime.
At the Central Criminal Court, a murder trial commenced involving John Tighe, aged 40, from Lavallyroe, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo. Mr Tighe has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering his son, Joshua Sussbier Tighe, who died on June 1, 2013, at the family home. The prosecution alleges the infant, then six and a half months old, died from asphyxiation after tissue was placed in his throat. The defence contends the death was accidental, with Mr Tighe claiming the child grabbed and swallowed tissue whilst he was in the bathroom. Prosecution counsel told the jury that a baby of Joshua's age would be incapable of forming or swallowing such a bolus, suggesting Mr Tighe was the only person who could be responsible. A post-mortem examination identified two pieces of tissue in the throat, including an egg-shaped wad measuring five centimetres by three and a half centimetres. Expert evidence regarding the infant's developmental capabilities is expected during the trial, which continues before Justice Patrick McCarthy.
A 40-year-old man from Ballyhaunis, County Mayo has entered a not guilty plea to the charge of murdering his infant son at the Central Criminal Court. John Tighe of Lavallyroe was arraigned on the allegation that he killed his son on 1 June 2013 at his home. Justice Patrick McCarthy informed the jury, comprising eight men and four women, that proceedings would commence the following day due to the judge's involvement in another trial. The case is anticipated to run for approximately two weeks.
During the 30th day of David Drumm's trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the jury heard recordings of phone calls made in September 2008 between Drumm, former Anglo Irish Bank director John Bowe, and other bank officials. The calls, recorded by the bank for business purposes, were played to show Drumm's discussions with Bowe about seeking emergency funding from the Central Bank and the bank's liquidity situation. Drumm referred to the regulator as "Freddie fucking Fly" and described the bank's financial state as "still f***ed," noting a €14 bn liquidity shortfall. He also talked about the bank's balance‑sheet manipulation and the need to present a simplified cash‑flow statement to the regulator. Drumm pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and false accounting charges related to the 2008 deposit figures. The trial continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury of ten men and four women.
A prosecution barrister has told jurors at the Central Criminal Court that there is no credible basis for a provocation defence in the trial of a man accused of murder in Longford. Rihards Lavickis, aged 25 of Annaly Court, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in relation to the death of Akadiusz Czajkowski on November 1st, 2016 at Townspark. The State rejected the manslaughter plea, and the case proceeded to trial. Patrick McGrath SC argued that the accused deliberately killed Mr Czajkowski with a knife and that the three-and-a-half hour gap between discovering his broken windows and the fatal stabbing demonstrated calculated behaviour rather than a sudden loss of control. The defence counsel contended that his client, who admits responsibility, was provoked by ongoing harassment and a assault by the deceased. Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh will charge the jury on Tuesday.
The Regency Hotel shooting trial was adjourned for a month to allow an investigation into the death of Detective Superintendent Colm Fox, who had led the investigation into the fatal shooting at the hotel. Notes written by the late superintendent were handed to the Special Criminal Court and read by the three judges. The trial had previously been adjourned after the court heard that material in the case presented "unprecedented conundrums." The defence had requested copies of emails exchanged between four Gardaí involved. Patrick Hutch, aged 25, is pleading not guilty to the murder of David Byrne, aged 34, at the Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016, and denies possessing three AK‑47 assault rifles. Prosecuting counsel Sean Gillane SC asked the court to receive and read the notes, which were not opened to the court. He said the notes would provide context for an application he would make.
In a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm, aged 51, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and false accounting charges. Drumm claimed the Central Bank and the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority were fully aware of Anglo's actions to protect itself in September 2008, citing an email to former CFO Matt Moran. He alleged that the regulator and the bank had been informed of Anglo's efforts to create the impression that 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were. Drumm also stated that the Central Bank governor urged Anglo to engage with other Irish banks for an intra‑Ireland market, and that Anglo had a good relationship with Irish Life and Permanent. The trial, presided over by Judge Karen O'Connor, continues with a jury of ten men and four women. The case remains at the pleading stage, with no verdict yet.
The former company secretary of Anglo Irish Bank admitted to amending audit committee minutes to include a reference to a transaction with Irish Life and Permanent after being asked by bank executives. She said that Donal O'Connor, the bank's chairman, had told her that he and two other executives had discussed the matter and that the minutes should reflect their recollection of a discussion about ILP. She also noted that the minutes should state that the ILP customer account had been discussed and that balance‑sheet management was normal. The amendment was made after O'Connor sent an email on 17 February 2009, recalling the November 2008 meeting. The jury heard that the secretary had checked her own notes and was satisfied that the transaction had been discussed before including it in the final minutes. The trial of former Anglo CEO David Drumm, who has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and false accounting, continues before Judge Karen O'Connor.
During the trial of David Drumm, the jury heard that Anglo Irish Bank's audit committee was an independent watchdog tasked with overseeing management. Former company secretary Natasha Mercer said the committee's role was to challenge management if activities were not appropriate and that all members had substantial accountancy experience. Drumm, 51, pleaded not guilty to conspiring with former bank officials to defraud depositors and investors by creating the impression that 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were. He also pleaded not guilty to false accounting on 3 December 2008. The court heard that Drumm accepts the facts of the 2008 transactions between Anglo and Irish Life and Permanent but disputes that they were fraudulent or dishonest. The trial, held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, continues before a jury of ten men and four women.
A 25-year-old man charged with murder at the Central Criminal Court has testified that he did not intend to harm the deceased during an incident in Longford in November 2016. Rihards Lavickis of Annaly Court, Longford, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of a 31-year-old man at Townspark on 1 November 2016. He admitted stabbing the deceased but told the court he experienced a loss of control and a "blackout" at the time, only realizing later what had occurred. Mr Lavickis described escalating tensions with the deceased over several months, including a prior assault and property damage to his home. He stated he brought a knife to the deceased's residence intending only to confront him but that events spiralled when they encountered each other later. The prosecution suggested his account of losing control was a deliberate fabrication designed to support a manslaughter defence. Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh adjourned proceedings to allow a juror to attend a family event. The trial resumes before the jury on Friday.
In the first week of David Drumm's conspiracy to defraud trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the former head of treasury risk at Anglo Irish Bank, aged 51, pleaded not guilty to conspiring with former bank officials to defraud depositors and investors by creating the impression that Anglo's 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were. He also pleaded not guilty to false accounting on 3 December 2008. Michael Nurse, a witness, explained that Anglo's treasury credit committee met weekly to approve interbank credit limits, with a fast‑track process requiring only one senior manager's sign‑off for certain transactions. A €1 billion transaction with Irish Life and Permanent on 31 March 2008 was fast‑tracked and exceeded ILP's credit limit by 400 %. The €7.2 billion transaction on 30 September 2008 was approved "post transaction" by Drumm and Willie McAteer, with no signature required at the time.
The family of Tom O'Gorman, who was murdered by his lodger Saverio Bellante, has obtained the trial transcript after expressing concerns that Bellante's mental health care by the HSE may have contributed to the killing. Bellante, 38, was found not guilty by reason of insanity in a Central Criminal Court jury trial in July 2015 and was ordered to be detained indefinitely at the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin. Ciaran Craven SC applied for the transcript on behalf of the family, arguing that the death might have been influenced by the manner in which Bellante was treated by the HSE and a named doctor. The application was granted by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, who noted no precedent, and the transcript was released with restrictions for the coroner's use only. The family believes the inquest is the sole avenue to investigate the alleged inadequacies in Bellante's mental health management.