In the Central Criminal Court trial of 35‑year‑old Eric Locke, the jury heard that DNA matching Locke was found under the fingernails of his ex‑girlfriend, Sonia Blount, who was strangled and suffocated in a room at the Plaza Hotel in Tallaght on 16 February 2014. Locke, who pleaded not guilty, is charged with her murder. The prosecution presented evidence that a man matching Locke's description left the scene with facial scrapes and that Locke had sent text messages to Blount after their breakup, pleading for a second chance while she asked to be left alone. Forensic scientist Marce Lee Gorman confirmed a DNA profile matching Blount on Locke's bloodstained jeans and on her fingernails. The trial, which continues on Thursday, remains at the jury stage with eight men and four women.
The murder trial of Ger Hogan and Dylan Hayes, who are accused of killing Shane Murphy at The Grove, Pallasgreen, Co Limerick on April 30, 2015, continues at the Central Criminal Court. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charge. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that Murphy died from a knife wound to the heart during a "violent and frenzied" attack, which also caused 22 other stab wounds and injuries to his lungs, throat, and liver. She noted that 22 wounds were caused by a single-edged knife, while one was likely caused by a knife or screwdriver tip. The court heard that gardai found a blood-stained screwdriver at the scene containing the blood of both the deceased and Hogan. In interviews, Hayes allegedly admitted to stabbing Murphy after a dispute, while Hogan claimed he tried to break up a fight and received a cut on his hand while pulling a knife from someone. The trial is ongoing before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
A trial at the Special Criminal Court has heard surveillance evidence relating to the movements of two vehicles through counties Westmeath and Louth on 16 December 2014. Michael Connolly, aged 44 and of Grange Drive in Dundalk, County Louth, has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. The prosecution alleges that officers from the National Surveillance Unit observed Mr Connolly driving in convoy with another man, who was subsequently found in possession of two improvised explosive devices. During proceedings before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges, several NSU officers provided evidence regarding the movements of a blue Fiat Punto and a black Vauxhall Vectra. Witnesses described observations of the vehicles parting and reuniting at locations in Mullingar and Delvin. The trial continues before the court.
The trial of Dylan Hayes and Ger Hogan, who are accused of the murder of Shane Murphy at The Grove, Pallasgreen, Co Limerick, on April 30, 2015, continued at the Central Criminal Court. Both defendants, aged 22 and 34 respectively, have pleaded not guilty to the charge. Detective Garda John O'Connell testified that Mr Hayes was interviewed eight times at Henry Street Garda Station. During the seventh interview, Mr Hayes allegedly stated that he stabbed Mr Murphy in the chest and stomach after a dispute in which Mr Murphy allegedly called him a "junkie" and accused him of "goofing off." Mr Hayes indicated to gardai where he claimed to have stabbed the deceased, stating, "I stabbed him there and there," while later asserting, "I didn't kill him." The court heard these allegations as part of the ongoing proceedings. The matter is currently before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of five women and seven men. The trial continues this afternoon.
The trial of eight men accused of falsely imprisoning TD Joan Burton and her advisor Karen O'Connell on November 15, 2014, continued at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The defendants, including Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, Dublin Councillors Michael Murphy and Kieran Mahon, and Frank Donaghy, Ken Purcell, Michael Banks, and Scott Masterson, have all pleaded not guilty to restricting the women's liberty without consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght. Katherine Zappone TD, who was an independent Senator at the time, testified that she felt Ms Burton was in "great danger" during the water charges protest. She described protesters closing in on the Tanaiste and reported the incident to gardaí after seeing the car surrounded and moved. During cross-examination, Ms Zappone acknowledged her opposition to water charges but maintained that the detention was menacing and intimidating. The court heard she did not agree with the violent nature of the protest, despite previous public statements. The trial is ongoing before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded at this stage.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 9 May 2017, Dylan Hayes, aged 22, admitted to stabbing Shane Murphy but denied killing him. Hayes, from The Crescent, Kilteragh, Dooradoyle, Co. Limerick, and co‑accused Ger Hogan, 34, of Raheen Square, Ballinacurra Weston, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Murphy at The Grove, Pallasgreen, on 30 April 2015. Hayes first denied any role in the fight that led to Murphy's death, but in a third interview he said, "I stabbed him lads. I'm sorry. Everything I told you is lies." He claimed to have stabbed Murphy three times—twice in the arm and once in the upper leg—before being stopped by Jodie Byrnes. Hayes said Murphy was still alive when he left, that Murphy had hit him back, and that he feared a life sentence for an act he did not commit.
During a 2017 trial, evidence was presented that a violent struggle occurred in a Dublin hotel room where 35‑year‑old Eric Locke allegedly strangled and suffocated 31‑year‑old Sonia Blount. The jury saw CCTV footage of Locke leaving the hotel hours before Blount's body was found on the floor, with an imitation firearm, cable ties, duct tape, and a blood‑stained top stuffed into her mouth. Garda testimony described ligature marks around her neck, a gag that damaged her teeth, and a black duct tape and phone charger near the body. The State Pathologist testified that death was caused by asphyxia from neck compression and suffocation due to the gag, noting bruising and scratches indicating a struggle. Locke pleaded not guilty, and the trial continued with a jury of eight men and four women.
Michael Connolly, aged 44 and resident of Grange Drive in Dundalk, County Louth, has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army on 16 December 2014. The Special Criminal Court heard opening arguments from the prosecution that Mr Connolly was observed driving in convoy with another man, Brian Fitzpatrick, following observations by members of the National Surveillance Unit. The court was told the men left the same house together in separate vehicles in the Ardee area before travelling in convoy towards Mullingar. It was further stated that two improvised explosive devices were discovered in Fitzpatrick's vehicle when both cars were stopped on the N52. The prosecution case will rely on evidence from Garda Assistant Commissioner Michael O'Sullivan regarding his belief of Mr Connolly's membership, along with garda interviews conducted under the Offences Against the State Act. The trial, before Mr Justice Tony Hunt presiding with Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Flann Brennan, continues before the three-judge, non-jury court.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, forensic scientist Sandra McGrath presented DNA evidence linking the deceased, Shane Murphy, and one of the accused, Ger Hogan, to a screwdriver found at the murder scene. The screwdriver, a standard Phillips head with a black and yellow handle, bore blood stains on its tip, along its length, and on the handle. McGrath's DNA profiles matched both Hogan and Murphy, with a one‑in‑a‑billion chance of the samples originating from an unknown person. Additional blood stains from a serrated steak knife and from Dylan Hayes's coat and trousers also matched Murphy's DNA. CCTV footage showed Hogan visiting a local Centra on the day before the murder, purchasing alcohol, and returning the next day. The trial, with a jury of five women and seven men, continued under Justice Patrick McCarthy. Ger Hogan pleaded not guilty. Dylan Hayes pleaded not guilty.
In a 2017 murder trial, a 35‑year‑old Dublin man, Eric Locke, was accused of strangling 31‑year‑old Sonia Blount in a Plaza Hotel room in Tallaght on 16 February 2014. Locke had assumed a false identity, presenting himself as Shane Cully, to meet Blount after their brief relationship ended. He brought cable ties, masking tape and a realistic‑looking airgun to the room, items he claimed were intended to overpower her. Blount was found lying on the floor with a garment in her mouth, having died of asphyxiation and strangulation. Locke pleaded not guilty but his defence admitted he caused her death. The prosecution argued he strangled her after panicking when she saw the items, while the defence sought to establish diminished responsibility. The jury was instructed to consider Locke's mental state and the evidence of their communications. The trial was scheduled to last about two weeks.
A 35‑year‑old man, Eric Locke, is set to go on trial for the murder of Sonia Blount, who was found dead in a room at the Plaza Hotel in Tallaght on 16 February 2014. Locke was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court, pleaded not guilty, and a jury of eight men and four women was sworn in. The case will be heard by Mr Justice Michael Moriarty and is expected to last about two weeks.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Karen O'Connell, a former special advisor to Labour TD Joan Burton, gave evidence in the trial of Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and six other defendants. The seven men, including South Dublin councillors Michael Murphy and Kieran Mahon, have pleaded not guilty to charges of falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and Ms O'Connell by restricting their liberty without consent at Jobstown, Tallaght on 15 November 2014. During cross-examination, Ms O'Connell was questioned about language she used during the water charges protest, which was captured on video. She stated she was not proud of the remarks made and acknowledged using strong language while in a stressful situation after being confined in a car for three and a half hours. The court was shown video clips from both women's mobile phones. Ms O'Connell denied the language reflected contempt for protesters, explaining it referred to the conclusion of the demonstration. She maintained she believed in peaceful protest and had previously participated in the Shell to Sea campaign in County Mayo.
In the trial of Dylan Hayes (22) and Ger Hogan (33) for the murder of 26‑year‑old Shane Murphy, former partner Jodie Byrnes testified that she witnessed Hayes stab Murphy during a fight at Sharon Kelly's house in Pallasgreen. Byrnes, who had ended her relationship with Hayes in October 2014, was in bed the night before Murphy's death when she was awakened by a man who had removed her clothing. She described seeing Hayes, visibly angry, with a knife in his pants, and later pulling the knife out to stab Murphy twice in the chest and stomach. Byrnes also reported that Hogan was present and allegedly stabbed Murphy at the same time. She claimed to have tried to intervene, but Hayes struck her above the elbow before withdrawing. The case remains pending before a jury and Justice Patrick McCarthy. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
During the Special Criminal Court hearing on 5 May 2017, the prosecution alleged that Brian Kenna, 54, used Christmas cards to smuggle a "secret and sensitive" IRA communiqué out of Portlaoise prison. Prosecutor Ronan Kennedy presented CCTV evidence showing Kenna carrying fifteen Christmas cards and later being stopped in the carpark where a document fell from his right jeans pocket. Kennedy argued the pocket was not accidental and that Kenna was aware of the contents, describing the cards as a perfect cover for a sinister document. Kenna's defence, led by Siobhan Stack, contended that the case hinged on a single document that did not mention him or the Gardaí's interception, and that there was no evidence Kenna had seen it. Judge Tony Hunt remanded Kenna on continuing bail until the verdict next Thursday.
A jury could not reach a verdict in the trial of 34‑year‑old Gary Walsh, who was charged with murdering 62‑year‑old Cathal Sweeney. Walsh had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in February 2014. The case centred on an incident in a mutual friend's flat where Walsh punched Sweeney repeatedly after Sweeney denied a sexual assault allegation. The assault left Sweeney with blunt‑force trauma to the head and face, leading to his death. The pathologist attributed the fatal injuries to the punches, noting Sweeney's warfarin therapy and other health issues. The prosecution argued that the blows were intended to cause serious injury, warranting a murder conviction, while the defence contended Walsh could not have known of Sweeney's medical conditions. After five hours of deliberation over two days, the jury was unable to agree on a verdict, and the judge recorded an "Unable to agree" decision, returning the case for further consideration.
During the murder trial of Dylan Hayes and Ger Hogan, witness Jodie Byrnes testified that she could not recall the events of the night Shane Murphy was stabbed because she was "stoned" on prescribed tablets and alcohol. Byrnes, who had a former relationship with Hayes, was staying at Sharon Kelly's home in Pallasgreen the weekend before Murphy's death. She described drinking and taking tablets, going to bed early, and being awakened by an unknown man who attempted to pull her pants down, prompting her to scream. She claimed the man was "out of it" and was later thrown out of the house. Byrnes said she could not remember speaking to Hayes or seeing any interaction between the accused and Murphy, and she could not recall seeing Murphy being stabbed. The judge instructed the jury to return the next day. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty. Dylan Hayes pleaded not guilty. Ger Hogan pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Dylan Hayes (22) and Ger Hogan (33) pleaded not guilty to the murder of 26‑year‑old Shane Murphy on 30 April 2015. Witness Graham Kelly testified that Murphy had head‑butted Hogan during an argument before the fatal fight, noting Hogan's nose was bleeding. Kelly also recounted that the accused men shouted, "Give it to him, give it to him," during the attack. Ailish Flood, who had stayed at the house that night, described a chaotic scene with drinking and shouting. She said the accused men, including Hayes who had a plastic toy gun, were in a bad state and that they began attacking Murphy. Flood claimed she saw Hayes holding a knife and Hogan holding a screwdriver, and that they stabbed Murphy. The trial will continue before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
The Central Criminal Court jury resumed deliberations on the murder trial of 34‑year‑old Gary Walsh, who is charged with killing 62‑year‑old Cathal Sweeney in Ashdale Gardens, Terenure. Sweeney died from blunt‑force trauma after being punched in the face while watching rugby in a friend's flat. Walsh, a father‑of‑one living in Templeogue, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in 2014. The jury heard arguments from both sides on Tuesday, spent nearly two hours today, and adjourned for the evening.
A retrial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has collapsed following a juror's internet research into a witness in the case. The jury had retired to consider their verdict when a juror informed Judge Martin Nolan that the jury foreman had disclosed she had googled background information about one of the witnesses. The juror stated she felt compromised and unable to deliberate fairly. Judge Nolan discharged the entire jury after confirming the foreman's conduct. Sandra Higgins, aged 36, of Cavan town, Co Cavan, had pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old child at her home on 28 March 2012. The prosecution alleged the infant was assaulted and subsequently presented to hospital with serious injuries. This was the second trial; the first jury failed to reach a verdict. Judge Nolan indicated the Director of Public Prosecutions will consider whether to proceed with a third trial, emphasising the importance of fair trial proceedings. Higgins was remanded on continuing bail, with the matter adjourned to 11 May.
During a murder trial, a witness claimed he pulled Dylan Hayes (22) and Ger Hogan (33) away from Shane Murphy (26) at a house in Pallasgreen, Co. Limerick, on 30 April 2015. The witness, who was heavily intoxicated and had taken tablets, said he had seen Hayes with a toy gun and told him to throw it out the window. He described arriving at the house, where the accused, the victim, the victim's girlfriend Sharon Kelly, Jodie Byrnes, and another girl were present. He heard screaming, entered the sitting room, and saw a fight between the victim and the two accused. He said he broke up the fight, pulled the men apart, and struck them. After the men left, he opened the victim's top, saw he was bleeding, and attempted to resuscitate him while a woman was on a 999 call. He admitted he could not remember details due to intoxication and drugs. Dylan Hayes pleaded not guilty. Ger Hogan pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard closing speeches in the trial of 34‑year‑old Gary Walsh, charged with murdering 62‑year‑old Cathal Sweeney. Walsh, a father‑of‑one, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter on 8 February 2014. Prosecutor Patrick McCarthy SC argued that Walsh's intent to cause serious injury, evidenced by multiple punches that fractured Sweeney's nose and cheekbone, warranted a murder conviction. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC highlighted Sweeney's pre‑existing medical conditions, including warfarin use and liver problems, suggesting that these contributed to the fatal bleeding and that the injuries alone may not have been the natural and probable cause of death. Grehan urged the jury to find Walsh not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, noting the possibility of neglect and the lack of immediate medical intervention. Judge Michael Moriarty instructed the jury of twelve, with proceedings to continue the following morning.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and six other water protesters, former Tanaiste Joan Burton appeared as a witness. She denied that she omitted the term "water protesters" from her statement to gardaí to avoid giving them legitimacy, insisting she was simply describing what happened. Burton said she was not making political statements and that she was asked to recount the events. She described being trapped in a car for about three hours after a graduation ceremony, feeling the protest was "very unusual" and "scary and menacing." She noted that most protesters behaved peacefully, but some engaged in shouting, banging the car and pushing. Burton also said she believes people have a right to protest peacefully, though she disagrees with the behaviour of many protesters in that particular campaign. The trial will continue with her next appearance on Thursday.
A retired consultant paediatrician has told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that the pattern of injuries sustained by a ten-month-old child indicated non-accidental harm. Dr Christopher Woods, who reviewed the child's medical files, stated that the combination of head injuries, eye trauma, rib fractures, bruising and other injuries occurring simultaneously was consistent with non-accidental injury. Sandra Higgins, aged 36, of The Beeches, Drumgola Wood, Cavan Town, has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to the child on 28 March 2012 whilst minding her at her home. A defence neurologist suggested that whilst accidental injury could theoretically cause such symptoms, this would be extremely rare. The trial heard closing speeches are scheduled to begin before Judge Martin Nolan on Tuesday. A court order prohibits publication of the child's identity.
Former Tanaiste Joan Burton denied being relaxed in the car where she was allegedly falsely imprisoned during a water‑charges protest on 15 November 2014. She told the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that she suffered nightmares after the event and that she tried to keep her composure to avoid aggravating the protesters. Video clips shown to the jury showed her reading a newspaper article about Michael Collins and speaking to adviser Karen O'Connell about posting a message on social media about children "roaming" the area. Burton said she did not hear political slogans, only "peaceful protest" and "shame on you", and that she had been in a "fear‑filled atmosphere". She also described the protest slogans shouted outside the car, including "Enda Kenny in your ivory tower" and "Stick your water meters up your arse". The trial, presided over by Judge Melanie Greally, continues with a jury of seven men and five women.
On day 115 of Ireland's longest criminal trial, the prosecution declared its case complete in the trial of former Anglo Irish Chairman Sean FitzPatrick, aged 68. FitzPatrick admitted to taking multi‑million euro loans from the bank and his family, which were "artificially reduced" for two weeks around the bank's year‑end statement by short‑term loans from other sources, including Irish Nationwide Building Society. He denied seeking to conceal the loans from the board, shareholders or auditors, claiming the refinancing was done by others and he merely signed off. FitzPatrick said there was no financial benefit to him, his family or the bank and that the refinancing was intended to avoid a misleading picture. He pleaded not guilty to 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act, including 22 charges of misleading auditors and five of furnishing false information between 2002 and 2007. The jury was instructed to return on 11 May.
During a trial for the murder of 26‑year‑old Shane Murphy, Dylan Hayes (22) and Ger Hogan (33) pleaded not guilty. The case centers on an argument that occurred moments before the fatal stabbing at The Grove, Pallasgreen, on 30 April 2015. Sharon Kelly, who had been dating the victim for three months, testified that a group was drinking at her home that night and that she had refused entry to Hayes, calling him "out of his head." She claimed Hayes believed a previous night's alleged rape attempt on her girlfriend, Jodie Byrnes, and that she herself had called Hayes a "junkie," an insult she said had inflamed him. Kelly also alleged that she saw Hogan and Hayes stab Murphy repeatedly with a knife and a screwdriver, a claim Hogan's counsel disputed, insisting his client was punching. The trial continues before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of five women and seven men.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 34‑year‑old Gary Walsh, of The Watercourse, Orwell Park, Templeogue, was charged with murdering 62‑year‑old former rugby captain Cathal Sweeney in Ashdale Gardens, Terenure. Walsh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter on 8 February 2014. He told Gardaí that he had punched Sweeney several times after an argument that began while they were watching a rugby match between Ireland and Wales in a friend's flat. Walsh claimed he struck Sweeney until the latter admitted he had sexually assaulted another man, a claim he said Sweeney denied. Walsh said he had no intention of killing Sweeney and called an ambulance after finding him slumped. The court heard that Sweeney died of blunt‑force trauma to the head and face. The trial continued with jury instructions given by Justice Michael Moriarty.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, evidence was presented that 62‑year‑old Cathal Sweeney died from blunt force trauma to the head and face after being repeatedly punched by his friend, 34‑year‑old Gary Walsh, while watching a rugby match on television. Dr Michael Curtis, the Deputy State Pathologist, testified that Sweeney's nose and left cheekbone were broken, with lacerations and a deep gash on his forehead. He described extensive bruising on the face, scalp, mouth, body and all four limbs, including tearing of muscle in the back. The injuries caused brain swelling, impaired breathing, and blood in the nostrils, which, combined with Sweeney's warfarin therapy, prevented clotting and increased bleeding. Sweeney also had coronary artery disease and an enlarged heart. The cause of death was stated as blunt force trauma to the head and face with profuse hemorrhage on a background of coronary artery atheroma, an enlarged heart and warfarin therapy.
A ten-month-old girl presented with injuries consistent with abusive head trauma when admitted to Temple Street Children's Hospital in Dublin in April 2012, a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard. Sandra Higgins, aged 36, of The Beeches, Drumgola Wood, Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to the child at her home on 28 March 2012. Higgins was working as a childminder at the time. Paediatric consultant Prof Alf Nicholson described the infant's condition upon admission, which included bilateral retinal bleeding, brain bleeding, rib fractures, and facial bruising. He stated these findings were classic indicators of abusive head trauma. Prof Michael O'Keefe, a consultant surgeon at Temple Street, confirmed the presence of haemorrhages behind both eyes and retinal detachment. The child's condition improved significantly, with bleeding resolving by June 2012. The trial, before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury, continues.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, judges ruled that the search and arrest of Brian Kenna, 54, were lawful. Kenna, who lives in Crumlin, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to membership of the unlawful organisation Oglaigh na hEireann (IRA). The court accepted that Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce had reasonable suspicion to stop and search Kenna outside Portlaoise prison after an alleged IRA communiqué fell from his pocket. The judge confirmed Boyce's independent view that Kenna was an IRA member. The court will decide tomorrow on an application challenging the legality of the car search.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Tanaiste Joan Burton recounted a frightening encounter with anti‑water‑charge protesters on 15 November 2014 in Tallaght. She said she and her adviser, Karen O'Connell, were moved from a garda car to a waiting jeep amid a hostile crowd that shouted abuse and threw eggs. Burton described being struck twice in the back of the neck—first by a ball‑like object and later by a water bomb that drenched her hair and jacket. She recalled the crowd's violent surge, the loss of her shoe, and the fear of nearby children. The incident led to charges of false imprisonment against Paul Murphy, Kieran Mahon, Michael Murphy and four others, all of whom denied the allegations. The trial, presided over by Judge Melanie Greally, is ongoing.
A jury was discharged in the Limerick murder trial of Dylan Hayes, 22, and Ger Hogan, 33, who had pleaded not guilty to the killing of 26‑year‑old Shane Murphy on 30 April 2015. Justice Patrick McCarthy, sitting at the Central Criminal Court, thanked the five women and seven men for their service and exempted them from further jury duty for ten years. He explained that a legal issue had arisen preventing the trial from continuing. A new jury of seven men and five women will begin hearing evidence this afternoon.
A childminder accused of causing serious harm to a ten-month-old infant pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the charge. Sandra Higgins, aged 36, of The Beeches, Drumgola Wood, Cavan town, is alleged to have intentionally or recklessly caused serious harm to the baby at her home on March 28, 2012. During garda interview, Ms Higgins denied that the child was violently shaken or assaulted while in her care. She told gardai she drove the infant to hospital after the baby suffered a seizure at her home. Medical evidence presented to the court indicated the child presented with unusual bruising, subdural haematoma, healing rib fractures, and bilateral haemorrhage behind the eye. Ms Higgins maintained she had cared for the child since June 2011 and that the baby experienced falls within her home. A detective garda confirmed during cross-examination that Ms Higgins had been cooperative throughout questioning. The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and jury.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Gary Walsh, 34, has heard evidence regarding the condition of the deceased, Cathal Sweeney, hours before his fatal assault. Walsh, of Templeogue, Dublin, is charged with murdering Sweeney in Ashdale Gardens, Terenure, on 8th February 2014. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Witness Michael McGuinness, a taxi driver, testified that Sweeney, a 62-year-old former rugby captain, was injured, shaking, and using a crutch when he flagged him down that morning. McGuinness noted Sweeney had difficulty entering the vehicle and appeared in bad condition, with a graze on his face. Sweeney stated he had fainted at a bus stop the previous night and been taken to James's Hospital. The driver assisted Sweeney in withdrawing €200 from a bank machine and purchasing items from a shop before driving him to the flat in Terenure between 10:30 and 11:00 am. McGuinness described Sweeney as an apologetic and conversational passenger who mentioned he was going to watch a rugby match with friends. The witness also noted Sweeney's history with alcohol and his pride in his sons' rugby achievements. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael Moriarty and a jury of six women and six men.
In the Central Criminal Court trial of Gary Walsh, the barrister Brendan Grehan SC cross‑examined witness Colm Campbell. Campbell testified that he saw Walsh punching and kicking Cathal Sweeney in his bedroom, but he could not recall the assault in the living room, even after hypnosis. He suggested he might have been in a blackout or had suppressed the memory. Grehan challenged Campbell's account, proposing that he might be a manipulative liar trying to distance himself from the events. Campbell denied this, insisting he was not conveniently forgetting or lying. The case remains before Mr Justice Michael Moriarty and a jury of twelve. The trial concerns Walsh's murder charge of Sweeney, who was killed on 8 February 2014 at Walsh's flat in Ashdale Gardens, Terenure. Walsh has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The proceedings continue.
In the Special Criminal Court, Brian Kenna, 54, of Crumlin, pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 21 November 2015. The court heard that a detective searched Kenna outside Portlaoise prison after an alleged IRA communiqué fell from his pocket. On 26 April 2017, Kenna's solicitor, Siobhan Stack SC, argued that the search and arrest were unlawful, claiming the detective had only very general information and lacked sufficient suspicion to justify stopping and searching Kenna. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges John O'Hagan and Flann Brennan, will decide the matter tomorrow.
The trial of Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, aged 34, and six other men has commenced in Tallaght. They face charges of falsely imprisoning former Tánaiste Joan Burton and Karen O'Connell on 15 November 2014 at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown. The defendants, including councillors Kieran Mahon (39) and Michael Murphy (53), and four other men, have all entered not‑guilty pleas. Prosecutor Sean Gillane SC addressed the jury, urging them to set aside prejudice and sympathy and to focus on the evidence presented. He explained the investigative process: Gardaí investigate, secure evidence, and forward a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who decides whether to bring charges. Gillane emphasized that the prosecution bears the burden of proving the case beyond a reasonable doubt and that his role is to present the evidence clearly, not to pursue a conviction at all costs. The defendants are currently arraigned and awaiting further proceedings.
In a 2017 trial, Sharon Kelly testified that she tried to stop her boyfriend Shane Murphy's murder by two men, Dylan Hayes and Ger Hogan, on 30 April 2015. Kelly, who had been with Murphy for about three months, was at her home with two women and Hogan when Hayes arrived with a gun and another man. Kelly said she told the men to leave, but they entered and began stabbing Murphy. She attempted to intervene, was pushed aside, and was stabbed in the hands and back. Hayes used a screwdriver and Hogan a knife. The attack lasted about four to five minutes, leaving Murphy blood‑covered on the floor. Kelly called emergency services; by the time they arrived, Murphy was dead. She will continue to give evidence before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury. Dylan Hayes pleaded not guilty. Ger Hogan pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and six other men for falsely imprisoning former Tánaiste Joan Burton and her advisor Karen O'Connell was postponed because a juror could not continue. Judge Melanie Greally informed the eleven jurors that one had been lost and that a replacement would be selected the next morning. The jury, composed of five women and seven men, had been empanelled after a three‑and‑a‑half‑hour selection process that called over 100 potential jurors. The defendants – Paul Murphy (34), Kieran Mahon (39), Michael Murphy (53), Frank Donaghy (71), Ken Purcell (50), Michael Banks (46) and Scott Masterson (34) – had all entered not‑guilty pleas at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Greally reminded the jurors not to conduct independent research or discuss the case with family or friends.
A childminder has gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court charged with intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old infant in her care in Cavan. Sandra Higgins, aged 36, of The Beeches, Drumgola Wood, Cavan town, has pleaded not guilty to the charge relating to an incident on 28 March 2012. The court heard that the child was presented to Cavan General Hospital with seizures and extensive bruising to her face and head. A consultant paediatrician described the injuries as consistent with shaken baby syndrome and stated it was his conclusive view they occurred on the day of hospitalisation. The defence contends that precise dating of injuries is not certain and disputes allegations that entries in a childminding diary were altered. The child's mother gave evidence of her growing concerns following earlier incidents involving bruising. The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
During a murder trial, witness Colm Campbell testified that he had attempted hypnosis to recall the start of a fatal assault on rugby captain Cathal Sweeney. Campbell, an alcoholic, described the evening of 8 February 2014 when he, Gary Walsh, and Sweeney were drinking and watching a rugby match at Walsh's flat. He recalled hearing noise from the bedroom, an argument, and slaps or thumps. He said he saw Walsh punching Sweeney, using elbows, and kicking him in the head. Sweeney was left motionless, unconscious, with a swollen, bruised face and cuts. Campbell claimed he shouted for Walsh to stop, but could not remember how the initial assault began. He has since sought hypnosis to recover any missing details, but remains uncertain of the exact trigger of the violence.
During a house party at The Grove, Pallasgreen, a 31‑year‑old man named Shane Murphy was stabbed and died from a heart wound. Dylan Hayes (22) and Ger Hogan (33) were charged with murder and pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, represented by Paul Burns SC, argued that Hayes and Hogan attacked Murphy with intent to kill or cause serious injury. The trial began with the prosecution outlining the events: a birthday celebration at the home of Murphy's girlfriend, Sharon Kelly, where a drunken man named Wayne was found beside a guest, Jodie Byrnes, who fled the bed. The next day, after a gathering at Kelly's house, Hayes was called by a partygoer and arrived shortly thereafter, leading to an altercation. The prosecution claimed that Hayes and Hogan then attacked Murphy, resulting in multiple stab wounds to his arms, abdomen and chest, with a fatal wound to the heart. Resuscitation attempts failed and Murphy died at the scene.
The prosecution case against former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick, aged 68, is set to finish this week after a protracted trial that began in September 2016. The trial, held in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, was delayed by weeks of legal argument and the absence of a jury, with evidence only presented in December. In February the case reached its 90th day, longer than any other criminal trial. The prosecution alleges that FitzPatrick and his family artificially reduced multi‑million euro loans for two weeks around the bank's year‑end by taking short‑term loans from other sources, including Irish Nationwide Building Society, and failed to disclose these to auditors between 2002 and 2007. FitzPatrick denies all charges. He has pleaded not guilty to 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act, including 22 charges of misleading auditors and five of furnishing false information.
A man who claimed he was physically and sexually abused at St Joseph's Industrial School in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, lost a High Court bid to allow him to apply to the Residential Institutions Redress Board for compensation. He had been committed to the school for two years and said he suffered severe beatings and sexual abuse. The board, set up in 2002 to compensate victims of industrial schools, closed applications in 2005. He applied in 2008, was refused because the application was not received in time, and made a fresh application in 2010. After an oral hearing in early 2012, the board again refused to extend time. In 2016 he brought judicial review proceedings against the board, the Superior Court Rules Committee and the Minister for Justice and Equality, seeking to quash the board's refusal and to declare the Superior Court rules an impermissible restriction on access to the courts.
Two men, Dylan Hayes, 22, of The Crescent, Kilteragh, Dooradoyle, and Ger Hogan, 33, of Raheen Square, Ballinacurra Weston, will stand trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 31‑year‑old Shane Murphy. The alleged killing took place at The Grove, Pallasgreen, on 30 April 2015. Both pleaded not guilty. Justice Patrick McCarthy has sworn a jury of seven men and five women to hear the case, which is expected to last three weeks.
A jury of five women and seven men was selected after a three‑and‑a‑half‑hour process that called over 100 potential jurors. The jury will hear the trial of Solidarity TD Paul Murphy (34) and six other men, including South Dublin councillors Kieran Mahon (39) and Michael Murphy (53), on charges of falsely imprisoning former Tánaiste Joan Burton and Karen O'Connell at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on 15 November 2014. All defendants have entered not‑guilty pleas. Judge Melanie Greally informed the panel that the case is expected to last six weeks and that the trial will begin at 2 p.m. tomorrow. She set strict criteria for juror eligibility, excluding those with personal connections to the parties, substantial knowledge of the events, employment with Irish Water or related agencies, or strong public positions on water charges.
Gary Walsh, 34, of The Watercourse, Orwell Park, Templeogue, admitted killing 62‑year‑old Cathal Sweeney in a flat in Ashdale Gardens, Terenure, on 8 February 2014 while they were watching an Ireland‑England rugby match. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The prosecution, led by Patrick McCarthy SC, argued that an assault began after Walsh confronted Sweeney over a previously withdrawn sexual‑assault allegation. Walsh allegedly struck Sweeney six or seven times, causing blunt‑force trauma to the head and face. Paramedics found Sweeney unresponsive with no pulse; he was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. The case is being heard by Mr Justice Michael Moriarty with a jury of twelve, and the trial is expected to last about seven days.
A jury has begun deliberating on the verdict in a cold case murder trial. The accused, John Joseph Malone, 53, of Newpark, Kilkenny City, pleaded not guilty to the strangulation and subsequent arson that killed 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on 11 September 1987 at Wolfe Tone Street. Justice Patrick McCarthy delivered a charge to the jury at the Central Criminal Court, stressing that a unanimous verdict is required and that the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that Malone caused Ms Smyth's death.
In a cold‑case murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Judge Patrick McCarthy delivered a six‑hour charge to a jury of seven men and five women. The case concerns John Joseph Malone, aged 53, who has pleaded not guilty to the 1987 strangulation and subsequent arson that killed 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on Wolfe Tone Street, Kilkenny City. The judge paused the proceedings before 5 pm and promised to resume the next morning.
The trial of Jonathan Gill, aged 35, collapsed after the jury was discharged by Judge Elma Sheahan on the fifth day of deliberations. Gill was accused of kidnapping a Drogheda postal worker, his partner and their 10‑week‑old baby, then robbing €660,000 from the workplace. The jury, consisting of seven men and five women, had deliberated for just over 14 hours. A juror handed a note to the judge, alleging that jurors were receiving outside information and that strangers had discussed the case on a tram. The judge, citing the seriousness of the allegations, discharged the jury and remanded Gill on continuing bail to appear again on 28 April. The case may be heard by another jury. Jonathan Gill pleaded not guilty.