The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) applied to the High Court for transcripts of the Special Criminal Court's proceedings involving Adrian Crevan Mackin, who shot Garda Anthony Golden in 2015 and later committed suicide. GSOC's request, made by counsel Mr Ronan Kennedy, sought transcripts from the twelve occasions Mackin's case was mentioned, including his bail status. The Special Criminal Court, a non‑jury court, ruled that it lacked both inherent and express jurisdiction to grant the application, stating that the High Court had the authority to consider such requests. Justice Isobel Kennedy, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton, advised that the application should be directed to a High Court judge. The DPP's counsel, Mr John Byrne, agreed that the Special Criminal Court did not have jurisdiction and that the matter should be brought before the High Court. The court thanked the parties for their remarks. The ruling was issued on 5 July 2017.
In the Central Criminal Court, the trial of Christopher McDonald, 34, accused of a machine‑gun murder while dressed as a woman, is proceeding with the jury set to hear closing speeches. McDonald, from Dublin's East Wall, pleaded not guilty to the killing of 36‑year‑old Keith Walker in the car park of the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club on 12 June 2015. The court heard limited evidence today, including testimony from Superintendent Colm Murphy, who was cross‑examined by Bernard Condon SC. Murphy confirmed that a doctor had examined McDonald after his arrest and noted the loss of his front two upper teeth, and that the arrest received significant media attention. Garda Sean Kelly testified that DNA and firearms residue samples were taken from McDonald at Blanchardstown Garda Station, though no firearms residue was found on him. DNA was found on a glove and wig that gardaí say were found next to the gun used in the attack.
Oisin Conroy, a 34-year-old man from Boyle, Co Roscommon, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Natalie McGuinness (23) at The Mews, Mail Coach Road, Sligo, on October 28, 2015. The accused was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court, where he entered a not guilty plea to the charge of murdering Ms McGuinness by reason of insanity. A jury of six men and six women was sworn in to hear the trial, which is scheduled to begin the following day and is expected to last up to two days. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy addressed the jury, noting that the case centers on the legal concept of insanity and that the factual circumstances would not be significantly in dispute. The report confirms the procedural stage as a trial, with the plea recorded as not guilty to the alleged offense of murder by reason of insanity. No findings, sentences, or final dispositions were recorded at this stage, as the matter proceeded to trial rather than being adjourned or concluded.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Niall Fitzpatrick, aged 50, was acquitted of firearms offences and attempted aggravated burglary at Patrick Glavin's home. Fitzpatrick denied possession of a Remington 12‑ga pump‑action shotgun and ammunition, and pleaded not guilty to the burglary charges. The jury delivered not‑guilty verdicts on the firearms and aggravated burglary charges, but could not reach a verdict on the attempted burglary charge. The case stemmed from an incident on 11 August 2013 at Glavin's residence in Rougrane, Glanmire.
Gwen Bradley, partner of 28‑year‑old Evan Morrissey, has filed a High Court action to quash the inquest verdict into his death. Morrissey died on 22 March 2014 at Cork University Hospital after being discharged from South Tipperary General Hospital three times for severe headaches. The inquest, held by coroner Philip Comyn, returned a narrative verdict that he died from a re‑bleed of a cerebral artery aneurysm. Bradley claims the inquest was conducted unlawfully, that the coroner limited the scope of the inquiry, and that relevant evidence was excluded. She alleges the coroner acted ultra vires, breaching the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights, and that the jury did not receive all pertinent evidence. The court granted permission to proceed and set a return date for October.
During a trial on 4 July 2017, forensic evidence linked Christopher McDonald, 34, to a murder weapon and items found near a sub‑machine gun used to shoot Keith Walker 18 times on 12 June 2015. Dr Edward Connolly of Forensic Science Ireland reported DNA matching McDonald on a clear plastic glove and a black wig, with a probability of less than one in a thousand million that an unrelated person had the same profile. The DNA on the gun and a brown handbag was unsuitable for interpretation, and the ear plug carried a different DNA profile. Dr Thomas Hannigan confirmed firearms residue on the glove and wig, suggesting they were worn by the shooter, but found no residue on swabs from McDonald. He offered possible explanations for the absence of residue, including that McDonald may not have been the shooter or that residue was lost in the 12 hours after the shooting. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
A Dublin man, Darren McDermott, told a jury that he suffered three fractures to his jaw and several broken teeth after an assault by a group of men led by professional footballer Jeff Hendrick. The incident occurred on 12 October 2013 at Harcourt Street, when McDermott was in a nightclub and later in a taxi that stopped at traffic lights. McDermott claimed Hendrick and his associates forced him out of the taxi, threatened him, and then attacked him, delivering kicks to his head, face, chest and back. McDermott fled, was struck by the attackers, and was later rescued by bystanders. He received emergency surgery at James's Hospital and remains under medical care. Hendrick pleaded not guilty to violent disorder and assault causing harm, while co‑accused Jonathan Doran also pleaded not guilty to the same charges. The trial is ongoing before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
Three Dublin men—Jonathan Hawthorn, 44, of Ballintyre Downs; James Geraghty, 60, of Dolphin House; and Donal O'Ceallaigh, 32, of Beach Road—are charged with membership in the Irish Republican Army. They were arrested on 14 September 2016 and remanded on continuing bail. Their trial in the Special Criminal Court is scheduled for 2 July 2018 and is expected to last three weeks.
The Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) has applied to the Special Criminal Court for transcripts of the court's appearances concerning Adrian Crevan Mackin, who shot Garda Anthony Golden in 2015 and then committed suicide. GSOC says a "public interest investigation" has been launched after complaints about the nature of interactions between Gardaí and Mackin before and after his January 2015 arrest. Counsel Ronan Kennedy requested transcripts of the twelve occasions Mackin's case was mentioned, noting that Mackin had been granted bail on a 100‑Euro bond and a 5,000‑Euro surety. The court was told Mackin was charged with membership of the IRA and that the DPP did not oppose the application but questioned the court's jurisdiction, suggesting the request should go to the High Court. The court will rule on the application on Wednesday. The case involves Mackin's 25‑year‑old status and the fatal shooting of Garda Golden on 11 October 2015 in Omeath, Co. Louth.
In the trial of Christopher McDonald, a jury viewed CCTV footage of the moment 36‑year‑old Keith Walker was shot 18 times with a sub‑machine gun in the car park of the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club. The footage, compiled by Garda Patricia Davey, shows Walker driving alone in a dark‑coloured car and arriving at the club at 5.31 pm. At 6 pm he is seen speaking to an unknown male; a minute later an individual in black clothing approaches, takes an item from a bag, and shoots Walker. The shooter, described as wearing black clothes, runners and long dark hair, then leaves the scene and runs away. Additional footage from a house on Sheepmoor Grove and a Lidl supermarket shows people walking by the area minutes after the shooting. A transparent latex glove was later found at a laneway near the club, but no other items were collected by the Gardaí. Christopher McDonald pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin murder trial, the jury was supplied with the shotgun used by the defendant, Seán Ducque, to kill 33‑year‑old Kieran Farrelly in 2014. Ducque, who has no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty but admitted firing two shots that killed Farrelly. The jurors requested the weapon during deliberations and received it before resuming at lunchtime. Prosecutor Dominic McGinn noted the Gardaí had asked for the firearm to be returned to avoid it being left unattended, a request the judge accepted.
In a Dublin murder trial, the jury requested to see the shotgun used by Seán Ducque, who shot Kieran Farrelly, 33, in the head and chest on 26 October 2014 at Killarney Court. Ducque, a homeless drug addict, pleaded not guilty. Prosecutor Dominic McGinn SC argued that firing a shotgun at close range indicates intent to kill and that the alleged provocation—Farrelly's threat to "beat the head off" Ducque—was insufficient to cause a complete loss of control. He described Ducque's actions as deliberate: luring Farrelly to the court, retrieving the gun, shooting twice, and reloading within a metre of the victim's head. McGinn concluded that this case represented a clear instance of murder. Defence counsel Hugh O'Keeffe SC acknowledged the killing but highlighted the unusual nature of provocation and the client's intoxication.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing in Limerick, Larry McCarthy, aged 37, faces a verdict on an assault charge. He is accused of threatening "unlawful violence" and physically assaulting David Foran, 33, on 25 November 2014 at Cornmarket Villas. McCarthy denies both the assault and the threat, pleading not guilty. Foran, who had earlier been knocked down by a motorcyclist and received compensation, identified McCarthy as the assailant in statements to Gardaí. The prosecution, led by John Byrne BL, argues Foran's statements are reliable, citing his signed declaration and a second statement that elaborated on McCarthy's identity. Defence counsel Barry White SC contends Foran's testimony is unreliable, pointing to inconsistencies such as unsubstantiated injuries and missing phone records. White also criticises the Garda investigation for lacking site examination and documentation. The court, presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy with Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton, will deliver its judgment on Monday, 3 July.
In a 2017 trial, Aivars Sondors, aged 55, faced three counts of assisting an offender by impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Marius Gaizutis, who had unlawfully killed Audrius Butkus, aged 44, on 9 or 10 September 2013. Sondors admitted the allegations but pleaded not guilty. Prosecutor Patrick Gageby argued that Sondors' actions—moving the body from a house on Marsh Road, disposing of evidence, and cleaning the scene—required effort, concentration and thought, and that no duress existed. He contended that Gaizutis, who was drunk, had no threat toward Sondors or his loved ones, and that Sondors' fear was not a threat of serious injury or death. Defence counsel Colman Fitzgerald urged the jury to consider Sondors' duress and reasonable excuse, noting his honesty and the lack of a willing participation in the aftermath of the killing. The jury was instructed to decide on duress and reasonable excuse before deliberation.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the prosecution closed its case against Larry McCarthy, 37, who was accused of assaulting David Foran, 33, on 25 November 2014 at Cornmarket Villas, Limerick. McCarthy, who lives at Tower Lodge, Crossgalla, denied both the assault and the allegation that he and two others threatened to use "unlawful violence" at the same place and date. Foran had earlier been knocked down and offered compensation by a motorcyclist. Detective Garda Gerard Healy testified that Foran identified McCarthy as the man who stabbed him, describing him as "stocky with red hair" and "unshaven." The defence argued that the absence of a video recording of Foran's statement handicapped their case, and that the detective had not asked whether the Larry McCarthy described was the one living in Cornmarket Villas. McCarthy denied any involvement. The prosecution announced that it had closed its case, while the trial continues before Ms Justice Kennedy, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Gerard Haughton. Larry McCarthy pleaded not guilty.
The murder trial of Christopher McDonald, 34, from East Wall, Dublin, continued at the Central Criminal Court, where he faces charges of the murder of 36-year-old Keith Walker. Mr. McDonald has pleaded not guilty to the killing, which allegedly occurred on June 12, 2015, in the car park of the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club on Shelerin Road, Clonsilla. Witness Mark Kelly testified that he was speaking with Mr. Walker when a gunman, described as wearing a wig and women's gym clothes, approached and fired a sub-machine gun. Kelly stated that children were nearby and that it was fortunate only one person died. He reported that the gunman "blew him to bits" and that Mr. Walker was already dead when Kelly attempted CPR. Another witness, Brian Duffy, said he saw the gunman reach into a bag and heard what sounded like firecrackers before the shooter fled. The trial has previously heard from State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy that the deceased was shot 18 times in the head and body. Prosecuting counsel Denis Vaughan Buckley SC presented the evidence. Justice Patrick McCarthy adjourned the proceedings, asking the jury to return on Wednesday to consider a legal issue in the trial. The matter was adjourned and is not concluded.
A trial date of 4 June 2018 has been set for Ross Outram, 26, of Ferryland, Waterford Road, Clonmel, who is charged with murdering 90‑year‑old Paddy Lyons in Waterford. Lyons was found slumped in a chair at his home with blood on his face and head injuries on 25 February. The case will be heard before a judge and jury in the Central Criminal Court.
A trial date of 30 May 2018 has been set for Darren Murphy, aged 40, who is charged with the murder of Olivia Dunlea, aged 36, at her Pembroke Crescent home in County Cork. The alleged killing occurred on 17 February 2013, when Ms Dunlea was found dead with multiple stab wounds in an upstairs room following a house fire. The case will be heard before a judge and jury in the Central Criminal Court.
In a Dublin murder trial, 33‑year‑old Seán Ducque, who has no fixed abode, admitted firing a loaded shotgun twice at Kieran Farrelly on 26 October 2014, killing him. Ducque said he was severely intoxicated with heroin, vodka and zimovane and had lost control after Farrelly threatened to punch him. He claimed drug dealers had given him the shotgun and four cartridges to rob a taxi driver and repay a €3,000 debt. Ducque testified that he hid the gun and the taxi driver's phone and cash in bushes at Killarney Court, then returned with Farrelly and his partners to retrieve the items. He denied any pre‑planned intent to kill, stating he was under threat and that the second shot was fired after the first when Farrelly was on the ground. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury of twelve. The unnamed 33-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 55‑year‑old Latvian‑born man, Aivars Sondors, is on trial in the Central Criminal Court for three counts of assisting an offender by impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Marius Gaizutis, who unlawfully killed Audrius Butkus. Sondors admitted the allegations but pleaded not guilty to all counts. He testified that he helped move Butkus's body from a house on Marsh Road, placed it in the sea at Mornington Beach, cleaned the scene, and disposed of items at Burke House. He said he was terrified of the killer and feared becoming the next victim. During his garda interviews he felt uneasy telling lies and later admitted he would have told the truth sooner or later. The jury will decide whether duress was present. The trial is scheduled to conclude with closing speeches before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury of twelve.
The murder trial of Christopher McDonald, 34, from East Wall, Dublin, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. McDonald has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of 36-year-old Keith Walker on June 12, 2015, in the car park of the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club on Shelerin Road, Clonsilla. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Walker, a healthy individual, died quickly after suffering 18 bullet wounds to the head and body. She concluded the cause of death was multiple gunshot injuries, noting the wounds were consistent with rapid fire. Detective Garda David O'Leary presented a 9mm Makarov sub-machine gun found in a laneway off Sheepmoor Grove, along with a handbag and wig. He testified that the firearm, which had been reactivated by a skilled person, fired the bullets that killed Walker. The jury also heard from Jason O'Connor, a friend of the deceased, who stated that Walker was preparing for a pigeon racing trip to Manchester when he was shot. The trial continues before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of twelve.
A 55‑year‑old Latvian‑born man, Aivars Sondors, pleaded not guilty to three counts of assisting an offender in the 2013 murder of Audrius Butkus, a 44‑year‑old victim. He testified that he had been coerced by the killer, Marius Gaizutis, to move the body from a house on Marsh Road in Drogheda to Mornington Beach, and to dispose of evidence such as carpet, clothing and other items at Burke House on Mathew's Lane. Sondors said he was terrified of Gaizutis, who had threatened him, and feared he would become the next victim if he refused. He admitted the allegations but argued duress. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court, is hearing whether the accused acted under duress, with the jury to decide the outcome. The case remains pending, with further cross‑examination scheduled.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Christopher McDonald (34) pleaded not guilty to the 2015 shooting of 36‑year‑old Keith Walker at the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club. The State alleges that a man dressed in women's clothing, wearing makeup and a designer handbag, approached two teenage boys on the evening of 12 June 2015 and asked for directions to the club. The teens, who were unaware of the club's location, described the man as late 30s or 40s, about five feet ten inches tall, with a cut above his right eye and a pink‑striped outfit. Witnesses also reported the man's presence in the area roughly 90 minutes before the shooting. The trial, presided over by Justice Patrick McCarthy, continues with a jury of twelve.
In the trial of 33‑year‑old Seán Ducque, charged with the 2014 murder of Kieran Farrelly, former partner Laura Dempsey testified that she was in a relationship with Ducque at the time and that they had a child. She said she had been selling heroin with Farrelly's partner that evening and that they later met Ducque and Farrelly, walking toward Summerhill. Dempsey claimed she heard a shot immediately after Farrelly crossed railings and that Ducque fired twice, once in the chest or head. She said she shouted "stop" after the first shot and that Ducque handed her a bag containing a gun after the second. Dempsey described being crying, the gun being disposed of in a bin on Mabbot Lane, and the Gardaí arriving to arrest them. She also admitted to being a heroin addict and taking methadone, valium and alcohol that night, but insisted she was not heavily intoxicated. Seán Ducque pleaded guilty.
During the murder trial of 33‑year‑old Seán Ducque, a witness, Leon Fay, testified that he heard two bangs and two women shouting "Seán Don't" on the night of 26 October 2014. Fay, who lived across the street from Killarney Court, recalled hearing what he thought were fireworks, then hearing the women's distressing cries. He also heard a male voice say "I'll meet you around the back" before seeing the women run together. Fay went to the scene, saw a body lying on the ground, and called an ambulance. The body was that of Kieran Farrelly, who was found shot with a shotgun. The state pathologist confirmed two fatal shotgun injuries, one to the eye and one to the chest, and the prosecution argued that Ducque's use of a shotgun at close range constituted an intent to kill. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, is expected to last two weeks. Seán Ducque pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Aivars Sondors, 55, continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey. Mr Sondors, of Sycamore Close, Termon Abbey, Drogheda, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of assisting an offender on September 9 or 10, 2013. He is alleged to have impeded the apprehension or prosecution of Marius Gaizutis, knowing or believing Gaizutis had unlawfully killed Audrius Butkus, 44. Particulars include moving Butkus's body from Marsh Road to Mornington Beach and cleaning the scene at Burke House. While Mr Sondors admitted the acts, his defense asserts duress. Gaizutis was previously convicted of Butkus's murder on May 1, 2015. Chief State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Butkus died from blunt force trauma to the head, causing brain injury and inhalation of blood. She stated the injuries were consistent with being struck by the blunt end of a hand axe, with up to nine blows. The body was found face down in the sand, with drag marks on the back. Cassidy noted Butkus was considerably intoxicated and had no defensive injuries. The trial is ongoing, with the jury tasked with deciding the issue of duress.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Larry McCarthy, 37, of Tower Lodge, Crossgalla, County Limerick, pleaded not guilty to assaulting David Foran, 33, at Cornmarket Villas on 25 November 2014. McCarthy also denied that he and two others threatened to use "unlawful violence" at the same location and date. The prosecution maintains that McCarthy was among those who threatened unlawful violence and assaulted Foran, who had earlier that month been knocked down and offered compensation by a motorcyclist. The defence is scheduled to submit arguments tomorrow before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton presiding.
A 33‑year‑old man, Seán Ducque, is on trial for the murder of Kieran Farrelly, who died in Dublin City in 2014. Ducque pleaded not guilty, but his barrister, Hugh O'Keeffe SC, admitted that Ducque fired two shotgun shots on 26 October 2014, shots that killed Farrelly. The prosecution, represented by Dominic McGinn SC, argued that the shots were fired from a sawn‑off, double‑barrelled shotgun found in a wheelie bin on Mabbot Lane. Farrelly's body was discovered on Killarney Street with two gunshot wounds – one to the chest and one to the left eye socket – and the State Pathologist confirmed death from these injuries. The court must decide whether Ducque intended to kill or seriously injure Farrelly, a key element for a murder conviction. The trial is scheduled to continue for two weeks before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a 12‑person jury.
During the trial of Christopher McDonald, a 34‑year‑old from Dublin's East Wall, a witness named Jason O'Connor was restrained by prison officers after he lunged at McDonald in front of the jury. O'Connor had been called to give evidence and, after walking behind McDonald, attacked him. Four prison officers and a Garda intervened, and Justice Patrick McCarthy warned O'Connor that he had powers to deal with people who do not act in a "civilised manner." The jury was asked to leave for a few minutes; when they returned, the judge reminded them that they must decide the case based on the evidence and that McDonald enjoys a presumption of innocence. McCarthy described O'Connor's behaviour as "disgraceful" and insisted it should not affect the jury. The trial, which also involves a witness named Stuart Kane who described a shooting at the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club, continues under Justice McCarthy's direction. Christopher McDonald pleaded not guilty.
During a Special Criminal Court hearing, David Foran, aged 33, testified that he does not know who stabbed him. Foran, who was cycling to his mother's house on 14 November 2014, was knocked down by a motorcyclist. Two days later the motorcyclist offered to settle the incident out of court, proposing €5,000 compensation. Foran met the motorcyclist's associate at Cornmarket Villas on 25 November 2014. He described being surrounded by six or seven people, receiving a slap to the back of his head with a baseball bat, falling, and then being stabbed in the leg. Foran could not identify the assailant or describe his appearance. The prosecution alleges that Larry McCarthy, aged 37, was among those who threatened to use "unlawful violence" and assaulted Foran, but McCarthy has pleaded not guilty. The case remains before Justice Isobel Kennedy, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Gerard Haughton.
The trial of Aivars Sondors, 55, for impeding a homicide investigation has focused on his alleged assistance to Marius Gaizutis in covering up the murder of Audrius Butkus, 44, who died from a violent assault in Louth. Sondors is charged with three counts of aiding the offender on 9 or 10 September 2013 by moving Butkus's body from a house on Marsh Road, Drogheda, to Mornington Beach, cleaning the scene, and disposing of evidence at Burke House. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts, though he admitted the allegations. The jury must decide whether duress was involved. Witness testimony from Carmen Canales, who hosted the killer's partner and children at her home that night, highlighted the partner's threats and the family's fear. The case remains before Mr Justice Paul Coffey.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Christopher McDonald, aged 34, is charged with the killing of 36‑year‑old Keith Walker at Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club on 12 June 2015. According to barrister Denis Vaughan Buckley, Walker left his home with his six‑year‑old son, travelled to Whitestown, met Jason O'Connor, and later drove to the club with pigeons in a car. At about 6 pm, a man dressed as a woman—wearing a long black‑haired wig, black leggings, dark sunglasses and a handbag—entered the car park, approached Walker, removed a sub‑machine gun from his handbag and fired 18 shots, fatally wounding Walker. CCTV footage will show the shooting and a subsequent image from a Lidl in Blanchardstown of a person without a wig but otherwise similarly dressed. A post‑mortem by Professor Marie Cassidy will confirm 18 gunshot wounds to Walker's head, body and left leg. Christopher McDonald pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a Limerick man, Larry McCarthy, 37, pleaded not guilty to assaulting David Foran on 25 November 2014 at Cornmarket Villas. The prosecution alleged that McCarthy, along with two others, threatened to use "unlawful violence" and that McCarthy stabbed Foran in the leg while he was beaten. Foran, who had been knocked down by a motorcyclist earlier that month, had initially refused a €5,000 compensation offer from the motorcyclist but later agreed to meet at Cornmarket Villas. McCarthy allegedly challenged Foran over the money demand. Foran was wearing a bullet‑proof vest at the time of the assault. The trial is presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy with Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton. The case remains pending.
In the Central Criminal Court, Christopher McDonald, 34, of East Wall, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 36‑year‑old Keith Walker, who was killed at a pigeon racing club on Shelerin Road, Clonsilla, on 12 June 2015. The judge, Justice Patrick McCarthy, instructed a jury of six men and six women that the trial would last two weeks, possibly extending into a third, and asked them to appoint a foreman before the trial opened on Tuesday.
A new jury of six men and six women was sworn in to hear the trial of 33‑year‑old Seán Ducque, who is charged with murdering Kieran Farrelly on 26 October 2014 at Killarney Street. Ducque, who has no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. The trial, now in the legal argument stage, will open before the jury on Wednesday and is expected to last two weeks. Prosecutor Dominic McGinn SC also indicated that evidence may be presented regarding a taxi robbery and a separate incident involving Hugh Gildea.
Mairtin Manning, 22, a relative of former Lord Mayor Christy Burke, was granted bail after being charged with knowingly possessing four kilograms of TNT and an RGD33 grenade head in Dublin's city centre. He faces a charge of possessing an explosive substance. His co‑accused, Declan McDermott, 28, is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, namely the Irish Republican Army. The Special Criminal Court, hearing the case on 14 June 2017, denied the State's objections based on flight‑risk concerns under the O'Callaghan principles. Both men were released on bail with strict conditions: they must provide their dates of birth, surrender passports, sign twice daily at Garda Station, observe a curfew, stay within the jurisdiction, avoid Northern Ireland, and not attend Republican gatherings. Manning must live on Ballybough Road and may only associate with certain relatives; McDermott must reside with his partner and mother at Buckingham Street.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Melanie Greally discharged Ken Purcell from the indictment on day 27 of the trial. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC entered a nolle prosequi regarding the two charges against Mr. Purcell, meaning the case proceeds no further against him. Mr. Purcell, 50, of Kiltalown Green, had pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning former Tanaiste Joan Burton and her adviser Karen O'Connell by restricting their personal liberty without consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght, on November 15, 2014. The remaining six defendants—Paul Murphy, Kieran Mahon, Michael Murphy, Frank Donaghy, Michael Banks, and Scott Masterson—also pleaded not guilty to the same alleged offence. The prosecution case is now concluded, and the jury will not be required again until later this week. The trial continues for the remaining accused.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 2 June 2017, Mairtin Manning was charged with knowingly possessing an explosive substance, specifically ten 400‑gram blocks of TNT and the explosive head of an RGD33 hand grenade, found at Spring Garden Street, Dublin 3. Declan McDermott was charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, namely the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Both men were arrested outside Clontarf Garda Station under the Offences Against the State Act and were directed to appear at the next court sitting. The court, presided over by Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Flann Brennan and Gerard Haughton, remanded both Manning and McDermott in custody for a hearing on 9 June. An application for bail is expected on 12 June. The former Lord Mayor of Dublin, Christy Burke, attended the brief hearing with the men's families and supporters.
A Central Criminal Court jury acquitted a 35‑year‑old Dublin man of rape after a trial that lasted just over four hours. The man had been charged with raping a university student on a first date after they met on Tinder and were driven to an unlit country road in the Dublin Mountains. He pleaded not guilty. The jury, composed of six men and six women, returned a not‑guilty verdict. The defendant expressed gratitude, while the complainant and a juror cried. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Butler, released the man from custody on this matter, noting he was in custody for other offences. The case ended with the defendant being escorted away by prison officers. No further legal actions were described in the article.
The jury in the trial of a 36‑year‑old Dublin man accused of raping a university student after meeting on Tinder will continue deliberations tomorrow. The defendant, charged with rape at Kilmashogue Lane, Rathfarnham, on 11 September 2014, pleaded not guilty. The complainant says they drove to an unlit country road and were raped in the car; the defendant claims consensual sex. The jury began deliberating at 2.50 pm on Wednesday, has deliberated for just over an hour, and will resume tomorrow morning before Mr Justice Paul Butler.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has requested to view footage of Darren Murphy, 40, demonstrating to Gardaí how he stabbed his girlfriend, Olivia Dunlea, who lay face down on her bed. Murphy, who lives in Passage West, Co. Cork, pleaded not guilty to murder but had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter, admitting he stabbed Ms. Dunlea in the neck and set fire to her home. His plea was not accepted, and the jury is now considering a verdict. During Garda interviews, Murphy showed how the assault occurred; the interviews were recorded. After more than two hours of deliberation, the jury asked to see the footage again and requested Justice Patrick McCarthy repeat the definition of provocation. McCarthy explained that provocation must be a sudden, unforeseen onset of passion that deprives the accused of self‑control.
A jury has begun deliberating a case in which a 36‑year‑old Dublin man is accused of raping a university student on their first date after meeting on Tinder. The alleged rape took place in the defendant's car after a drive up the Dublin Mountains on 11 September 2014. The defendant pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Paul Butler told the jury that the evidence is largely uncorroborated and that conviction would rely on the complainant's word alone, urging caution. He noted that the complainant's distressed state could be explained by other factors. The jury started deliberations at 2.50 pm and will resume tomorrow. The defence argued that the complainant's subsequent Tinder activity and the deletion of texts undermined her credibility, and that her visit to a GP rather than a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit suggested a different motive. The judge emphasised that any conviction must be based on the strongest evidence available.
Anthony Davitt, a 46‑year‑old asphalt contractor from Ferns, withdrew a High Court damages claim against Aviva after denying the insurer's allegations that he had fabricated a rear‑end collision near a family member's house under construction. The alleged incident, said to have occurred at 10.30 pm on 23 June 2010 on Monageer Road, involved Davitt's car being rear‑ended by the front of another vehicle driven by Patrick and Michael Berry of Lee Heights. Davitt had sued the Berrys, claiming a back injury from the collision, but the case was struck out when he announced its withdrawal. Aviva, represented by Liam Reidy SC, was awarded costs. The court also vacated earlier judgments against the Berrys, and Aviva's expert evidence suggested the incident could not have occurred as claimed. Davitt denied any conspiracy or fabrication of the accident.
A jury will begin deliberations tomorrow on the case of Darren Murphy, 40, who has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Olivia Dunlea. The trial is at the Central Criminal Court. Justice Patrick McCarthy instructed the jury to consider Murphy's state of mind and whether he was provoked by Ms Dunlea's actions, which could lead to a manslaughter verdict if the prosecution fails to prove lack of provocation. The jury will return tomorrow to consider a verdict.
Anthony Davitt, a 46‑year‑old asphalt contractor from St Aidans, Ferns, Enniscorthy, Wexford, denied in the High Court that he fabricated a road‑traffic accident that he claims occurred on 23 June 2010 at Monageer Road, Ferns, near a family member's house under construction. He said the accident involved his car being rear‑ended by the front of a car driven by Michael Berry, with Patrick Berry as the owner. Davitt alleges he suffered a back injury and that the Berrys were negligent. Aviva Insurance Plc, the insurers of the Berrys, denied the claim, calling it fraudulent and asserting that Davitt and the Berrys conspired to pursue the proceedings. The court heard that Aviva would present expert evidence suggesting the collision could not have occurred as Davitt described. The case is ongoing and is expected to last three days.
The trial of seven defendants, including Kieran Mahon, Michael Murphy, Frank Donaghy, Ken Purcell, Michael Banks, Scott Masterson, and Paul Murphy, continues before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. All defendants have pleaded not guilty to the alleged false imprisonment of Ms Burton and her adviser Karen O'Connell at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght, on November 15, 2014. On day 23 of the proceedings, Detective Garda Darren Rooney testified regarding the arrest of Mr Masterson at his Tallaght home on February 9, 2015. While acknowledging that Mr Masterson's four-year-old child was present, Det Gda Rooney denied that the defendant was handcuffed in front of the child, rejecting defence claims that the action was excessive. He stated handcuffing was for safety. Separately, Detective Garda Conor Fleming described the arrest of Councillor Kieran Mahon at his home at 6.50am on the same date. Fleming confirmed that six plain-clothes gardaí attended, four of whom were armed, and that Mr Mahon's children, aged 10 and 13, were in the house. He stated that Mr Mahon cooperated and no firearms were produced. The court heard that Mr Mahon was taken to Tallaght Garda Station for interview. The trial is ongoing, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded at this stage.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a 36‑year‑old Dublin man is accused of raping a university student he met on Tinder. The prosecution, led by Alex Owens SC, argued that the victim's decision to use Tinder and to get into a car with an unknown man was irrelevant to the alleged crime, emphasizing that the law protects those who take risks from predators. Owens highlighted alleged "nasty streak" behaviour and suggested the accused could act badly if crossed. The defence, represented by Michael Bowman SC, countered that Owens' remarks implied prejudice, likening the accused to a "controlling" predator and suggesting the victim's attire justified the alleged assault. Garda evidence showed the accused claimed consensual sex, citing a series of texts and sexting, and alleged the victim's complaints stemmed from a disagreement over condom use. The case remains pending jury deliberation. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
During a murder trial, prosecution barrister Thomas Creed SC argued that Darren Murphy, 40, stabbed his girlfriend Olivia Dunlea to death because he did not want anyone else to have her. Creed said Murphy had been cheated on once before and was determined not to be cheated on again, leading him to kill Dunlea on 17 February 2013. Murphy denies the murder charge but pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a plea that was not accepted. Creed described the events: after a night of drinking, a dispute over a taxi driver led Murphy to stab Dunlea, who died from a knife wound that penetrated her spinal canal and five other stab wounds to the neck. Murphy then set her house on fire, drove her car to the inn, threw her keys into a river, and returned to the burning house pretending ignorance.
The trial of seven men, including Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and Councillor Michael Murphy, continues at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury. The defendants, who include Kieran Mahon, Frank Donaghy, Ken Purcell, Michael Banks, and Scott Masterson, have all pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning former Tanaiste Joan Burton and her adviser Karen O'Connell by restricting their personal liberty without consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght, on November 15, 2014. On day 22, the court heard transcripts from Councillor Michael Murphy's February 2015 garda interviews. When shown protest footage, he repeatedly stated the video "speaks for itself" and asserted that the rights of both sides were "balanced." He further told gardaí, "There will be no issue explaining that to any judge," regarding comments about Ms Burton's safety. Detective Garda David Connolly testified to the arrest and interviews. Garda John Healy described being verbally abused by protesters and threatened by two men who attempted to rob him of his wedding ring and equipment. He alleged Paul Murphy displayed a "blatant disregard" for safety and was the most senior person present. The trial is ongoing, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded.
A 36‑year‑old Louth man accused of raping a university student he met on Tinder was heard in the Central Criminal Court on 11 September 2014. He pleaded not guilty and told Gardaí that the sex was "fully consensual". The prosecution alleged he raped the woman in his car after a drive up the Dublin Mountains following a McDonald's visit. The alleged victim was tested for STIs and given the morning‑after pill the next day; all tests returned negative. The case is pending before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury, with both parties anonymous.