In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Detective Sergeant Eve Doherty (49) denies harassing State solicitor Elizabeth Howlin between September 2011 and March 2013 and making false statements in March 2013 that Howlin was perverting the course of justice. Howlin, who worked with the Director of Public Prosecutions, received letters and emails over 18 months that called her a "corrupt bitch" and "incompetent useless hobbit," and claimed she was a political appointee who would "pull" files to protect those connected to her or the Government. The trial, presided over by Judge Melanie Greally, included testimony from civilian Garda Suzanne Lindsay, who identified 60 literary features common to the documents linked to Howlin and the defendant, and from Chief Superintendent John O'Driscoll, who confirmed that the author of the posts was the subject of three ongoing criminal investigations. The case remains before the jury.
During a pre‑trial hearing at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 25 July 2017, Judge Melanie Greally addressed the defendants remanded on bail in the 2014 Jobstown water protest case. She explained that she was considering changing their bail conditions to prohibit them from commenting on the trials online, citing the need to protect the integrity of the proceedings. The judge noted that the first trial, which concluded in May with the acquittal of all six accused, had seen non‑trials participants post remarks on social media, and that a defendant's commentary near the end of that trial had almost derailed the process. She warned that any attempt to influence the jury selection or public opinion could be treated as contempt of court and lead to prosecution. Lawyers for some defendants objected to linking bail conditions to commentary, but the judge agreed to hear the matter in full on Friday.
The trial of Alan McNamara, accused of the murder of Andrew 'AOD' O'Donoghue on June 20, 2015, at the Road Tramps motorcycle clubhouse in Mountfune, Co Limerick, continued at the Central Criminal Court. McNamara, 51, has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The court heard evidence that Gardaí recovered two mobile phones from waste ground near where McNamara was arrested: a broken Samsung and a partial Nokia. Detective Sergeant Shane Ryan testified that the Nokia was linked to a number McNamara identified as his own during interviews, while the Samsung was registered to his stepson, Robert Cusack. Cusack, 28, pleaded guilty yesterday to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of his stepfather. Forensic analysis of four phones, including a 'club phone' owned by the Caballeros motorcycle club, revealed a five-minute call from Cusack to McNamara at 2:41 pm on the day of the shooting. Under cross-examination, Ryan acknowledged CCTV placed the shooting at 2:44 pm, meaning the call was likely ongoing. The trial, presided over by Justice Paul McDermott, was adjourned to Thursday.
The trial of Garda Eve Doherty, aged 49, for alleged harassment of State solicitor Elizabeth Howlin, has shown that none of the fingerprints found on abusive material matched Doherty's prints. Doherty denies harassing Howlin between September 2011 and March 2013 and denies making false statements in March 2013 that Howlin was perverting the course of justice. Howlin, a directing officer with the DPP, received letters and emails calling her a "corrupt bitch" and "incompetent useless hobbit", and falsely claiming she was a political appointee who would "pull" files. Detective Garda Conor Kiely presented evidence that fingerprints on four posters, a letter to the DPP, a letter to Howlin's home and a letter to the DPP's office did not match Doherty's prints.
A trial date has been set for Tadhg Butler, 37, who is charged with the murder of Michael O'Dwyer, 25, at Butler's Seafield address in Tramore, Co. Wexford, on 10 January 2014. Butler, also known as Thomas O'Grady and originally from Kilkenny, is accused of killing O'Dwyer, who was found with a knife injury and pronounced dead at Waterford Regional Hospital at 1.35 am on that day. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy fixed 9 April 2018 as the start of the trial, which may extend into a second week. The case will be heard before a judge and jury.
The Special Criminal Court heard belief evidence from Garda Chief Superintendent Gerard Russell that Vincent Banks, a 47‑year‑old Dublin man, was a member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Russell told counsel Paul Greene SC that he believed Banks was an IRA member on the date in question, citing material he had viewed and his experience with the Special Detective Unit. Banks, who lives in Smithfield Gate Apartments, Dublin 7, pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation on 18 December 2012. Padraig Dwyer SC for Banks suggested the belief was false. The court had earlier ruled that interviews conducted with Banks under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act were admissible, despite Banks' denial of IRA membership and his claim never to have seen the registration certificate for the car alleged to have been used in the fatal shooting of prison officer David Black on 1 November 2012.
In a case at the Central Criminal Court, Robert Cusack, aged 28, pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of his stepfather, Alan 'Cookie' McNamara, who is on trial for the murder of Andrew 'AOD' O'Donoghue. Cusack had previously pleaded not guilty to the impeding offence but was re‑arraigned and entered a guilty plea. McNamara, aged 51, is accused of shooting O'Donoghue on 20 June 2015 at the Road Tramps motorcycle clubhouse in Mountfune, Murroe. He is a member of the Caballeros motorcycle club and has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The trial continues, with the jury hearing evidence against McNamara tomorrow after the court's re‑organisation. Justice Paul McDermott informed the jury that Cusack's guilty plea was a matter for a later hearing and would not affect the current proceedings. The case remains in progress.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberating in a double murder trial concerning a 30-year-old man from Ballina, County Mayo. Alan Cawley has admitted causing the deaths of Thomas Blaine, aged 69, and John Blaine, aged 76, on 10th July 2013 at New Antrim Street in Castlebar. However, he pleaded not guilty to murder, with the defence raising the partial defence of diminished responsibility. Justice Paul Coffey instructed the jury that they must consider whether Mr Cawley was suffering from a mental disorder at the time that substantially diminished his responsibility for the killings. The defence psychiatrist identified three conditions, whilst the prosecution's expert disputed one diagnosis and questioned whether the personality disorders constituted mental disorders under the Criminal Law Insanity Act 2006. The jury, comprising four women and eight men, briefly deliberated before adjourning for the evening and will resume considerations the following morning.
During a trial for harassing a State solicitor, a Dublin garda, Eve Doherty, 49, was found to have worn a wig and sunglasses while sending anonymous emails from an internet café. The emails, sent between September 2011 and March 2013, targeted Elizabeth Howlin, a directing officer at the Director of Public Prosecutions, with slurs such as "corrupt bitch" and "incompetent useless hobbit." They also falsely claimed Howlin was a political appointee who would "pull" files to protect those connected to her or the Government. Evidence showed the emails originated from Hushmail addresses linked to the Wired café on Aungier Street. Doherty admitted she had received a document, added to it, and forwarded it to recipients at the Courts Service, the Financial Ombudsman and the Ombudsman. The trial is ongoing before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury.
Closing speeches were delivered at the Central Criminal Court in the trial of Alan Cawley, 30, of Ballina, Co Mayo. Cawley has admitted killing Thomas Blaine, 69, and John Blaine, 76, but pleaded not guilty to murdering them on 10th July 2013 at New Antrim Street in Castlebar. The prosecution, led by Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, alleged that Cawley made a decision to kill the two elderly brothers in acts of extreme violence. Counsel argued that Cawley's intoxication led to impulsive behavior, but his personality disorders did not constitute a mental disorder under the Criminal Law Insanity Act 2006, thus negating a diminished responsibility defense. The State requested guilty verdicts for both murders. Conversely, defense counsel Caroline Biggs SC argued that Cawley suffered from a lifelong mental disorder, describing it as a "poisoned gift" that diminished his responsibility. She contended that his history of torment and reliance on sedation supported a finding of diminished responsibility, urging the jury to return a verdict of manslaughter. The jury, comprising four women and eight men, is expected to begin deliberations on Monday after being charged by Mr Justice Paul Coffey. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no final verdict or sentence recorded.
A State forensic psychiatrist has told the Central Criminal Court that a Mayo man was voluntarily intoxicated when he killed two elderly brothers with special needs, causing him to behave in an extremely impulsive and violent manner. Dr Brenda Wright testified that the 30-year-old defendant, from Ballina, did not have a mental disorder in law at the time of the offences on 10th July 2013 in Castlebar. This contradicted evidence from a defence psychiatrist, who had argued the accused suffered from three mental disorders that diminished his responsibility. The defendant has admitted killing the brothers but pleaded not guilty to murder. Under cross-examination, Dr Wright acknowledged the accused had experienced significant anger and behavioural difficulties from early childhood, predating any substance use. She maintained, however, that personality disorders do not constitute mental disorders under the Criminal Law Insanity Act 2006. The trial continues at the Central Criminal Court.
A trial is ongoing before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of seven men and four women at the Circuit Criminal Court in Limerick. Alan 'Cookie' McNamara (51), from Mountfune, Murroe, Co Limerick, is on trial for the alleged murder of Andrew 'AOD' O'Donoghue on Saturday June 20, 2015, at Mountfune. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge and also to impeding his apprehension knowing or believing him to have committed a serious offence. Robert Cusack (28), of Abington, Murroe, is also on trial and has pleaded not guilty to impeding Mr McNamara's apprehension. Alan McNamara, the accused, has not entered a plea. Sergeant Brian O'Connor and Detective Garda Niall Fitzgerald testified that Mr McNamara told gardai that members of the Road Tramps motorcycle group had threatened to burn his home down with his family inside. Detective Garda Ursula Cummins of the ballistics section at Garda HQ testified that a 12-gauge shotgun cartridge found at the scene of the shooting was fired from a gun found in a wooded area behind Mr McNamara's home. The gun was sawn to a barrel length of 37cm, which is below the minimum legal length of 60cm for a shotgun in Ireland. The trial continues tomorrow.
A forensic psychiatrist for the State has told the Central Criminal Court that a Co Mayo man accused of murder did not have mental disorders recognised in law, despite having personality disorders at the time of the alleged killings. The 30-year-old from Ballina has admitted killing two elderly brothers with special needs but pleaded not guilty to their murder on 10th July 2013 in Castlebar. Dr Brenda Wright testified that while she agreed with the defence psychiatrist's diagnosis of emotionally unstable and antisocial personality disorders, these did not qualify as mental disorders under the Criminal Law Insanity Act 2006. She stated that qualifying mental disorders must impair a person's capacity to make decisions or understand relevant information, which personality disorders do not. Dr Wright also disputed the defence evidence that the accused had ADHD at the time, saying she found no supporting behaviour in garda interview recordings. Her evidence continues before Justice Paul Coffey and jury.
The murder trial of Alan 'Cookie' McNamara and Robert Cusack continues before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. McNamara, 51, from Mountfune, Co Limerick, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Andrew O'Donoghue on June 20, 2015. Cusack, 28, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged offence of impeding McNamara's apprehension. The jury reviewed CCTV footage showing a man brandishing a firearm at the Road Tramps clubhouse gates, where O'Donoghue was allegedly shot. Prosecution evidence included a sawn-off shotgun found in a wooded area behind McNamara's home and various weapons, including a pipe bomb and improvised firearm, discovered at the clubhouse. Gardaí testified that they arrested both defendants in Garryowen, Limerick, on the evening of the incident. A typed document listing 41 names, including 'Cookie' and 'Rob Cusack', was also found at McNamara's residence. The trial is ongoing, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded at this procedural stage.
The trial of Garda Eve Doherty, aged 49, continues in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after the jury was absent. Doherty, a Dublin-based Garda, is charged with harassing State solicitor Elizabeth Howlin from September 2011 to March 2013 and making false statements that Howlin was perverting the course of justice. She has pleaded not guilty. Judge Melanie Greally is hearing a legal argument and will rule on the issue Thursday morning. The jury is scheduled to return on Thursday to hear further evidence.
The trial of Alan 'Cookie' McNamara and Robert Cusack continued before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. McNamara, 51, from Mountfune, Co Limerick, and Cusack, 28, from Abington, Murroe, both pleaded not guilty. McNamara is charged with the murder of Andrew O'Donoghue on June 20, 2015, while Cusack faces charges of impeding McNamara's apprehension. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that O'Donoghue died from a single shotgun wound to the head, face, and neck. He stated that approximately 100 pellets created a 20cm by 60cm wound, with some penetrating the brain. The pellet pattern indicated the gun was fired from a distance of eight to ten feet. Detective Garda Niall Fitzgerald testified that officers entered McNamara's home with a warrant on the day of the shooting. They found a shotgun cartridge and a red diary in a bedroom cabinet, alongside four additional cartridges in a bedside locker. The diary, headed 'Caballeros MC Ireland,' contained lists of names, meeting minutes, and references to 'Cookie' and 'Robert.' Garda Fitzgerald agreed with defence counsel that entries dated June 16 under 'Prospects' appeared to link to Cusack. The trial is ongoing and was not adjourned or finalised during this session.
A consultant psychiatrist has testified at the Central Criminal Court that a 30-year-old man accused of killing two elderly brothers in Castlebar was suffering from three mental disorders that diminished his responsibility for the offences. Dr Pawan Rajpal told the jury that Alan Cawley, of Four Winds, Corrinbla, Ballina, had been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder, and Antisocial Personality Disorder. Mr Cawley has admitted killing Thomas Blaine, aged 69, and John Blaine, aged 76, on 10th July 2013 at New Antrim Street in Castlebar, but pleaded not guilty to murder. Dr Rajpal stated that all three conditions would have substantially diminished the accused man's ability to control impulses and learn from mistakes. Forensic evidence presented by the prosecution detailed extensive blood staining patterns at the scene, indicating both brothers were attacked whilst in vulnerable positions. The trial before Mr Justice Paul Coffey continues.
At the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that a Toyota Camry allegedly used in the November 2012 fatal shooting of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black was purchased under an assumed name. A vehicle dealer testified that a man identifying himself as Paul McCann bought the car on October 10th, 2012. The prosecution contends that Vincent Banks, aged 47, of Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin, was connected to the purchase, citing a thumbprint found on the registration document. The court heard that a Carrigallen resident in County Leitrim reported seeing a matching black Toyota Camry parked near her home the following day and contacted gardaí. Banks has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy with Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Gerard Haughton, continues before the Special Criminal Court.
Frederick "Freddie" Thompson, aged 36 and residing on Loreto Road, Maryland, Dublin 8, has applied to the Special Criminal Court to have a murder charge dismissed. The charge concerns the killing of David Douglas, 55, on Bridgefoot Street, Dublin, on 1 July last year. Mr Thompson's solicitor, Michael O'Higgins SC, presented the application under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999.
The Special Criminal Court heard that the fingerprint of Vincent Banks, a 47‑year‑old accused of IRA membership, was found on the registration certificate of a Toyota Camry used in the fatal shooting of prison officer David Black on 1 November 2012. Black, a 52‑year‑old father of two, was shot while driving to work at Maghaberry prison. Banks, who lives in Dublin 7, pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army on 18 December 2012. The car was registered to a man named Paul McCann at an address on Rathgar Road, Rathmines, but the landlord said no tenant bore that name; the registration letter was addressed to McCann. The vehicle was purchased from a previous owner in Tallaght on 10 October, and the buyer signed the certificate with his left hand while placing his right hand on it.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Larry McCarthy Jnr, aged 39, faced charges of threatening to kill Noel Moore and to damage Moore's property at Windsor House, Donoughmore, Limerick. The allegations stem from an incident on 28 July 2015, when Moore, a 74‑year‑old market stall‑holder, claimed he saw McCarthy Jnr, described as red‑haired, running across his garden and shouting threats. Moore testified that McCarthy Jnr said, "I'm going to fucking shoot you" and "I'm going to get my buddies to burn your house to the ground." McCarthy Jnr pleaded not guilty to both counts. The prosecution, represented by Ms Diana Stuart BL, cited ongoing family difficulties between the Moore and McCarthy families as context. Defence counsel was retired judge Mr Barry White SC. The three‑judge panel, led by Justice Tony Hunt, remanded McCarthy Jnr in custody pending a verdict scheduled for next Friday. The court will deliver its judgment on that day.
A man from Ballina, County Mayo, has admitted killing two disabled brothers but denies murder charges relating to their deaths in Castlebar on 10 July 2013. The 30-year-old defendant is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, charged with murdering Thomas Blaine and Jack Blaine. During proceedings, gardaí testimony revealed the accused's account of the incident, including claims he inflicted injuries because he suspected the brothers were child molesters. The State Pathologist's post-mortem examination documented extensive trauma to both victims, including skull fractures, blunt force injuries, and scalding. The pathologist characterised the assault as displaying "overkill", with violence far exceeding what was necessary to cause death. Evidence suggested the initial attack occurred while one victim lay in bed, with injuries consistent with defensive attempts. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and jury.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, May McNamara, wife of 51‑year‑old Alan McNamara, testified that she has lived in fear for the last two years following the 2015 shooting of Andrew O'Donoghue. She described how, after a night out on 19 June 2015, she found her husband on the ground with a "big man on top of his back" and a third man holding her back. She identified the men as Kevin Ryan, Jim 'Bob' McInerney and Dermot McKenna. She recounted a later encounter when a car with three men, one armed, threatened to kill her husband and burn their house. She also mentioned that her son Robert Cusack, 28, pleaded not guilty to an offence related to her husband's case. The trial, with Mr McNamara pleading not guilty to murder, continues before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
During a Garda search of a biker's clubhouse and vehicles linked to the 2015 shooting death of Andrew O'Donoghue, a cache of weapons was uncovered. The items included two shotguns, pepper spray, iron bars, axe handles, knuckle dusters and knives. The investigation was part of the murder trial of Alan McNamara, who is charged with O'Donoghue's death and has pleaded not guilty. McNamara's stepson, Robert Cusack, also pleaded not guilty to an offence of impeding the apprehension of McNamara. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, also heard testimony from Seamus Duggan, a Road Tramps member, who identified the weapons as being kept for protection at the club. Duggan's evidence, along with that of other Road Tramps members, was presented to the defence counsel, Hugh Hartnett SC, and the prosecution, Michael Delaney SC. The case continues before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
During a trial in Dublin, a 49‑year‑old Garda, Eve Doherty, was charged with harassing State solicitor Elizabeth Howlin between September 2011 and March 2013 and making false statements that Howlin was perverting the course of justice. The prosecution presented a poster that had photographs of Howlin and her distant cousin Brendan Howlin, TD, printed on it. The posters were reportedly left on cars around Howlin's estate in Blackrock, south Co. Dublin, and falsely claimed that Howlin was a corrupt State solicitor who had interfered in the prosecution of a local family of "drug dealers". The photograph used on the posters was taken in 2007 during a meeting between a committee within the Department of Justice and then‑Minister Brian Lenihan. It was uploaded to the website criminalcode.ie, and the prosecution argued that the only way the photo could have been obtained was from that site.
In a non‑jury Special Criminal Court trial, the State finished giving evidence against Larry McCarthy Jnr, 39, of Limerick, charged with threatening to kill 74‑year‑old Noel Moore and to damage Moore's Windsor House property. McCarthy Jnr pleaded not guilty. Prosecutor Diana Stuart BL presented evidence that Moore saw a red‑haired man—McCarthy Jnr—running across his garden, shouting threats to shoot him and burn his house. Moore testified that he believed McCarthy Jnr could carry out the threats. McCarthy Jnr's Garda interviews were read, revealing he claimed the Moore family had damaged his door and that he had spoken to Moore about involving the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. CCTV footage was sought but found to be unavailable for the relevant time. The trial continues.
The Central Criminal Court heard a trial of a 44‑year‑old Dublin man accused of raping his wife on Christmas Day 2003. He pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one of oral rape and one of anal rape. The jury, consisting of eight women and four men, failed to reach a verdict after more than four hours of deliberation and was discharged by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy. During the trial the accused testified that he and his wife had been drinking, had consensual sex that night and that he had not had anal sex. He claimed that his wife later accused him of rape the next morning. The prosecution, led by John O'Kelly SC, argued that the accused had raped his wife and had told her "I've been waiting to do this for a long time" before anally raping her. The case ended with the jury unable to agree on a decision.
A man is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the murder of two elderly brothers found beaten to death in their Castlebar home in July 2013. The accused, aged 30 and from Ballina, Co Mayo, has admitted killing the brothers but pleaded not guilty to murder. Evidence heard during the trial revealed that hours before the deaths, the defendant claimed to be a medical student and told people in a local public house that he worked in the mortuary and would conduct post-mortems on any bodies discovered that night. He also made allegations against another man present in the establishment, suggesting he posed a threat to his wife. Witnesses testified that the brothers were known as harmless and quiet members of the Castlebar community. One barman recalled regularly delivering tea to the brothers and witnessing the defendant in their company on the night in question. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury.
In a Limerick murder trial, Alan McNamara (50) pleaded not guilty to the 2015 shooting death of Andrew O'Donoghue (51). McNamara, a former Road Tramps member who joined the Caballeros, allegedly fired a sawn‑off shotgun at O'Donoghue during a territorial dispute between the two clubs. The incident began when McNamara, wearing Caballeros colours, was confronted by Road Tramps members in Doon, a Road Tramps area. After a confrontation, McNamara allegedly shot O'Donoghue at point‑blank range. Robert Cusack (28), McNamara's stepson, was charged with impeding his apprehension and also pleaded not guilty. Both men are being tried together at the Central Criminal Court, with the trial continuing before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. The prosecution presented evidence of the clubs' territorial conflict and the sequence of events leading to the fatal shooting.
In a 2017 trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 44‑year‑old Dublin man pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one count of oral rape and one count of anal rape against his wife on Christmas Day 2003. He testified that the couple had been drinking, that they had consensual sex after the children were put to bed, and that he had not engaged in anal sex. He said his wife later accused him of rape the next morning, which shocked him. The prosecution argued that he had forced sex and used the words "I've been waiting to do this for a long time" and "You're my wife" to justify the act. The case remains in its closing stages, with a jury of eight women and four men expected to retire tomorrow morning to consider a verdict.
Larry McCarthy Jnr, 37, is on trial before the Special Criminal Court for threatening to kill Noel Moore and to burn Moore's house, Windsor House, Limerick, on 28 July 2015. McCarthy pleaded not guilty. Prosecutor Diana Stuart BL argued that the threats stemmed from family disputes, noting that McCarthy's sister is married to Moore's son. Moore, 74, testified that he saw McCarthy, described as red‑haired, running across his garden and that McCarthy shouted, "I'm going to fucking shoot you" and "I'm going to get my buddies to burn your house to the ground." Moore said he believed McCarthy could carry out the threat. Defence counsel Barry White SC cross‑examined Moore, challenging the claim that McCarthy had threatened to shoot him, but Moore maintained the threat. Garda Niall Fitzgerald reported seeing Moore shaking and distressed on the day.
A carer became emotional while testifying at the Central Criminal Court as she described discovering the bloodied bodies of two elderly brothers at their Castlebar home in July 2013. Helen Maloney, who had provided care to Thomas and John Blaine for approximately nine years, told the court she found Thomas in his bedroom saturated with blood and later located John outside the rear of the property, also covered in blood. A garda witness noted that pieces of skin appeared to have been removed from John Blaine's stomach. Alan Cawley, aged 30 and of Four Winds, Corrinbla, Ballina, stands trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with their murder. He has admitted killing both men but pleads not guilty to the murder charge relating to the deaths on 10th July 2013. CCTV evidence placed him entering the brothers' home at midnight, departing approximately one hour later. The court heard Cawley had been released from prison days before the incident. The trial continues.
The trial in the Central Criminal Court concerns a 44‑year‑old Dublin man who pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one count of oral rape and one count of anal rape of his then‑wife on Christmas Day 2003. The wife, who has not been named, denies that any sexual activity was consensual. She says she was on the couch after putting their children to bed, had about seven glasses of wine, fell asleep and was then forced upon her. She repeatedly told the husband "No", but he allegedly replied "It's OK" and "I've waited a long time for this" before forcing himself on her. She claims she pushed him away, went to bed, and the next morning confronted him, asking why. The defence counsel argued that there was no truth to the allegation of sexual assault, that the husband had only "consensual vaginal intercourse" and that the wife had not asked for oral sex.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a woman accused her husband of raping her on Christmas Day 2003. She described how, after the alleged assault, he attempted to reconcile, but she could not trust him and could not get over the incident. The accused, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one count of oral rape and one count of anal rape. The woman recounted the events of the day, including a Christmas dinner with relatives, her consumption of wine, and the alleged assault that began with her husband pulling her shoulder and forcing his penis into her mouth, then into her vagina and anus, despite her repeated refusals. She said he later backed off, she pushed him off, and no further contact occurred that night.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing in Limerick, Larry McCarthy Jnr, aged 37, was charged with threatening to kill Noel Moore and to damage Moore's property at Windsor House. McCarthy Jnr pleaded not guilty. Prosecutor Diana Stuart presented evidence that the alleged threats occurred on 28 July 2015 when McCarthy Jnr allegedly ran across Moore's garden and shouted threats while Moore was inside his home. Moore testified that McCarthy Jnr shouted that he would shoot him and that he would have Moore's house burned to the ground. Moore also claimed McCarthy Jnr said his son had threatened Moore's father. McCarthy Jnr's father, Larry McCarthy Snr, gave evidence that his son had left the house after a phone call with his daughter. The trial continues before Judges Tony Hunt, Martin Nolan and Flann Brennan.
A jury of eight men and four women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court to hear the trial of Alan McNamara, aged 50, and his stepson Robert Cusack, aged 28. McNamara pleaded not guilty to the murder of Andrew O'Donoghue, aged 51, which occurred in Murroe on 20 June 2015. Cusack pleaded not guilty to an offence of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of McNamara, believing him to have committed murder or another arrestable offence. The trial is set to begin on Wednesday and is expected to last between two and three weeks.
A social worker has told the Charleton tribunal that administrative error led her to fail to identify that two distinct alleged abuse victims were listed within a single report file. The tribunal is examining claims that allegations of sexual abuse were deployed to undermine garda sergeant Maurice McCabe, a whistleblower. Laura Connolly, a duty social worker in Cavan town, gave evidence that separate incidents were combined into one document during 2014. She acknowledged that while reviewing materials, she did not notice that different surnames appeared in the report, attributing this to oversight and human error. Ms Connolly said she would have relied upon written professional records rather than telephone conversation notes. The Director of Public Prosecutions declined to prosecute in the matter in 2007 due to insufficient evidence. The tribunal heard that Ms Connolly only became aware of her involvement when contacted by a tribunal investigator, and that media coverage of Sergeant McCabe's whistleblowing role held no particular significance for her. Proceedings continued.
A 44‑year‑old Dublin man was tried at the Central Criminal Court for raping his wife on Christmas Day 2003. He pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one of oral rape and one of anal rape. Prosecutor John O'Kelly SC told the jury that marriage does not exempt rape from criminal liability. He described the couple's typical Christmas Day, noting they had two young children and had visited family before returning home for dinner. The accused allegedly put the children to bed, and the wife fell asleep on the sofa. At about 8.30 pm she reportedly woke to find the husband forcing his penis into her mouth; she resisted and said "no," but he persisted. O'Kelly said the wife was also vaginally and anally raped and that she resisted until she could escape.
A 30-year-old man from Ballina has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the murder of two elderly brothers who died in a violent assault at their Castlebar home in July 2013. Alan Cawley has pleaded not guilty to murdering Thomas Blaine and John Blaine at New Antrim Street, Castlebar. The State's case, opened by Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, centres on whether the deaths constitute murder or manslaughter. The brothers were discovered by their home help, with one found in his bedroom and the other in a rear courtyard. The State Pathologist found both men sustained severe blunt force trauma, with Thomas Blaine suffering extensive head, chest and facial injuries, and Jack Blaine, who had speech and hearing impairments, also receiving a scalding injury. Defence counsel subsequently admitted on the accused's behalf that he caused both deaths. The trial before Mr Justice Paul Coffey continues next week.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Vincent Banks, 47, of Dublin, pleaded not guilty to IRA membership. The prosecution alleges he bought the car used in the 2012 murder of Northern Irish prison officer David Black, 52, who was shot while driving to work at Maghaberry prison. Banks' defence, led by Padraig Dwyer SC, challenged the legality of his arrest. Evidence was presented in a voir dire to aid the three‑judge panel in deciding the matter. The legal argument will continue on Monday before Justice Isobel Kennedy, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Gerard Haughton.
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday to decide the verdict in the trial of Christopher McDonald, 34, accused of murdering 36‑year‑old Keith Walker with a sub‑machine gun while dressed in women's clothing. The trial, described by Justice Patrick McCarthy as a 'whodunnit', focuses on whether the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that McDonald was the shooter. McDonald has pleaded not guilty. The jury's deliberation will consider whether the accused intended to kill or cause serious injury, given Walker was shot 18 times.
A 30-year-old man from Ballina in County Mayo appeared before the Central Criminal Court to face trial on charges of murdering two elderly brothers. Alan Cawley of Four Winds, Corrinbla pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder in relation to deaths that occurred four years prior. The charges were brought on 10th July 2013 following an incident at New Antrim Street in Castlebar. Justice Isobel Kennedy empanelled a jury of four women and eight men to hear the case. The trial, scheduled to run for between ten and twelve working days, commenced before Mr Justice Paul Coffey.
A 34-year-old man stands charged with the murder of his girlfriend at the Central Criminal Court. The accused, with an address in Boyle, County Roscommon, is charged with strangling a 23-year-old woman at a residence in Sligo on 28 October 2015. He has pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity. The defence has admitted that the accused caused the woman's death by strangulation, with the sole issue being his mental state at the time. Detective Sergeant evidence outlined that the accused made a 999 call to emergency services, stating he had killed his girlfriend using a rear naked choke hold. Forensic psychiatrist Dr Fiona Toal testified that the accused suffered from schizophrenia and had stopped taking anti-psychotic medication months before the incident. She stated he believed he was in the Matrix and that voices instructed him to kill. Dr Toal concluded the accused was unable to refrain from the killing and did not know his actions were wrong. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
In the violent disorder trial of Republic of Ireland footballer Jeff Hendrick, the jury was instructed to disregard his football career. Hendrick, 25, denies committing violent disorder at Harcourt Street on 12 October 2013, as does co‑accused Jonathan Doran, 26. Doran also denies assaulting Darren McDermott, who testified that Hendrick dragged him from a taxi after a verbal row at Krystle nightclub, resulting in kicks to his head, face, chest and back. In closing, Hendrick's solicitor Sean Gillane urged the jury to set aside any bias from his football background, noting that Hendrick's success stems from application and diligence rather than talent. Judge Martin Nolan also asked the jury to apply common sense and ensure a fair trial. Witnesses, including Shannon Farrell, described seeing McDermott beaten and bleeding, while Doran's statements about the incident were heard by the court. The judge will resume his charge the following morning before the jury deliberates. Jonathan Doran pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin court, a 30‑year‑old Laois man is on trial for two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, alleged to have occurred in February 2014 at a flat in the city centre. The defendant, who was staying in a friend's flat, met a married woman who had become lost and upset during a night out. He claims the encounter was consensual, stating the woman initiated contact and that he did not do anything she did not want. The woman testified that she was drunk, exhausted, and had blacked out after lying on a sofa bed. She said the defendant forced her to perform oral sex, was aggressive, and ultimately raped her. She attempted to leave, was disoriented, and later told a taxi driver she had been raped. The unnamed 30-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Shannon Farrell, a bystander, was praised by Judge Martin Nolan for her bravery after she and a friend witnessed a violent assault on Darren McDermott on Harcourt Street on 12 October 2013. Farrell described seeing McDermott on the ground, heavily bloodied, and helped him up before speaking to Gardaí. The alleged assault involved professional footballer Jeff Hendrick (25) and co-accused Jonathan Doran (26), both of whom pleaded not guilty to violent disorder. McDermott testified that Hendrick dragged him from a taxi outside a nightclub, after a verbal altercation, and that he was subsequently kicked and punched. Doran denied striking McDermott but admitted to chasing him and sitting on him. The trial is ongoing before Judge Nolan and a jury of twelve.
In a 2017 murder trial, defence counsel Bernard Condon SC argued that Gardaí had handled evidence with "great laxity," citing gaps and inconsistencies in the investigation of the 2015 shooting of 36‑year‑old Keith Walker. Condon highlighted unanswered questions, such as the absence of dark glasses that a detective claimed to have found, the four‑day gap between Walker's death and the discovery of a bag, gun, wig and glove, and conflicting witness statements about the identity of the man seen in women's clothing. He also questioned the forensic evidence linking the items to Christopher McDonald, noting that DNA from other sources was present and that McDonald's DNA on a glove was insufficient to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Condon urged the jury to consider these shortcomings and to avoid jumping to conclusions, advocating a fair verdict of not guilty.
Oisin Conroy, 34, is standing trial at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, having pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Natalie McGuinness (23) by reason of insanity. The prosecution alleges that Conroy strangled Ms McGuinness at The Mews, Mail Coach Road, Sligo, on October 28, 2015. During the opening of the case, Ms Tara Burns SC stated that the defence does not contest the prosecution evidence regarding the events of that day. The jury will hear evidence that Conroy admitted to strangling his girlfriend during a 999 call and to Gardaí at the scene. Ms McGuinness was found unresponsive and naked; she was pronounced dead at the hospital. Chief State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy attributed the death to compression of the neck and strangulation, noting no stab wounds or significant bleeding injuries. Conroy sustained a significant head injury, which he indicated he caused himself with a knife. Defence counsel Mr Brendan Grehan SC accepted that Conroy caused the death by strangulation and that the arrest and detention were lawful. The sole issue in the trial is the accused's mental state, with expert evidence from two consultant psychiatrists expected to support the insanity defence. The trial continues.
A man accused of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army has pleaded not guilty to charges arising from investigations into the November 2012 killing of a Northern Irish prison officer. Vincent Banks, aged 47, from Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin 7, is on trial at the Special Criminal Court. The prosecution opened its case by outlining that David Black, a 52-year-old prison officer, was shot dead on the M1 near Lurgan on November 1st, 2012, whilst driving to Maghaberry prison. The court heard that a Toyota Camry used in the incident was later recovered burnt out in a ditch, with forensic evidence linking it to the killing. Prosecution counsel indicated that evidence will show the vehicle was registered to an address in Dublin and was transported to Carrigallen, County Leitrim, before the shooting. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy alongside Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton, continues.
A 69‑year‑old man, John Farrell, was charged with criminal damage and road traffic offences after driving a Mercedes through Trinity College's front gates on 2 April 2014, causing damage worth over €33,000. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The court heard that Farrell had a history of bipolar disorder and hyper‑mania, and a psychiatrist at the Central Mental Hospital confirmed that his behaviour on the day met the legal definition of insanity. Farrell denied the five counts of criminal damage, four counts of endangerment, three counts of dangerous driving and two counts of failing to stop after a collision. He was arrested shortly after the incident, was taken to Pearse Street Garda Station, and later committed to a psychiatric unit. The trial was scheduled to continue with a jury hearing.