In the trial at Sister Senan Court, three men in their twenties—Matthew Cummins (22), Sean Davy (21), and James Davy (25)—have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas 'Toddy' Dooly, a 64‑year‑old who was found dead in his Edenderry home on 16 February 2014. The prosecution alleges Dooly died from instrumental trauma to the head and chest and that the accused were present in his house on the day of the death, acting as a joint enterprise. A baseball bat, believed to have been used in the alleged murder, was recovered from a clothes bank in Edenderry on 21 February and later presented to the jury. Garda Trevor Shore described the bat as having marks and indentations; forensic scientist John Hoade examined it, noting missing wood pieces and dents that contained DNA matching Dooly, and reported blood staining indicating repeated swings of the weapon. The case remains at the jury stage.
Michael Brennan, 29, with a prior conviction for attempted murder, was seen by Gardaí chasing a group while armed with two knives. He pursued the group to a parked car, attempting to open or stab it, before Gardaí ordered him to drop the knives. Brennan, from Almayne Park South, Balgriffin, had previously pleaded guilty to knife possession in January 2016 and had 67 prior convictions, including attempted murder, intimidation of a witness and threats to kill. He was released in May 2015 after a ten‑year sentence for the 2007 attempted murder. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard the incident stemmed from a family dispute and that Brennan was relapsing into drug addiction. Judge Melanie Greally remanded him in custody until 11 October, noting his high risk of re‑offending and concern over his capacity for extreme violence. The court considered a probation report that was positive but highlighted the need for support structures to prevent future offending.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence on the eighth day of the 29‑year‑old Marta Herda's trial for the murder of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsos. Herda, a Polish waitress, is charged with driving Orsos into a harbour where he drowned on 26 March 2013. She pleaded not guilty and claimed the victim had been in love with her, a feeling she did not share, and that she could no longer tolerate the situation. Forensic Collision Investigator Garda Cliff Harding testified that a skid mark on the quay indicated the handbrake had been applied before the car entered the water, as the mark was consistent with a locked tyre caused by emergency braking. He noted that ABS would prevent such a mark, implying the handbrake was used.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 14 July 2016, the defence of 38‑year‑old Polish man Andrzej Wawrzyniak argued that he killed his housemate Jacek Kozakiewicz (44) in a "life and death struggle". Wawrzyniak, who has no fixed address, pleaded not guilty to the murder and had pleaded guilty to a second count of assault causing harm to Filip Talaj (31) at the same derelict pub on 26 February 2014. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC described the squat where five homeless Poles lived as "dark and unpleasant" and said Wawrzyniak was attacked first, feeling he might die. He cited Kozakiewicz's violent past and alleged that Wawrzyniak was panicking and terrified. Prosecution counsel Dominic McGinn SC countered that the evidence showed Kozakiewicz was drunk and asleep, that Wawrzyniak stabbed him 22 times in cold blood, and that the motive may have been bitterness or drunken rage.
A 51‑year‑old woman, Rose Kenny, gave a victim impact statement after a 2014 knife attack by her former partner, Denis Leahy, who had been charged with attempted murder. Kenny described herself as a normal 49‑year‑old working at a local creche when Leahy, whom she had known for about five years, viciously stabbed her three times in the neck and three times in the chest. She survived after twelve hours of surgery and a seven‑week hospital stay, suffering severe physical and psychological trauma. Kenny expressed guilt over having brought Leahy into her life and questioned her judgment of character. She reported ongoing anxiety, loss of trust, and difficulty returning to work, while her family continues to support her recovery. Leahy's guilty plea will be considered at sentencing next Thursday.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, a Garda witness testified that a fire may have been set at the armchair where 64‑year‑old Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley was found dead in his Edenderry home on 16 February 2014. The body, covered with a cushion, was in a sitting position in the armchair, which was burned in three places. Seven footwear marks were found on the floor, and no implement was recovered. The fire caused burns to Dooley's head, upper body, and both legs of his nylon tracksuit. The prosecution also presented witnesses who described the presence of a baseball bat in the scene, but no weapon was found. The case involves three men—Matthew Cummins (22), Sean Davy (21), and James Davy (25)—who are charged with murder and have pleaded not guilty. The trial is set to continue tomorrow before Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 13 July 2016, two men, Paul Smith (49) of Oranmore Road, Ballyfermot, and Stephen Smith (41) of Gate Lodge, Dundalk, Co. Louth, pleaded not guilty to assaulting an elderly woman, Jenny Lynch, on 7 March 2015 in Ballyfermot. Lynch testified that she was attacked while walking home from mass, describing severe injuries: blood from her nose and mouth, a busted nose, two black eyes, a lump on the side of her head, a sore shoulder, and the need for stitches to her lip. She claimed the attackers pushed, thumped, and dug her, and identified the Smiths as the assailants. Lynch also mentioned that Andrew Smith, the accused's brother, had previously pleaded guilty to assault in another court. The trial focused on Lynch's account of the assault and the defendants' denial of guilt. No verdict or sentencing was reported in the article.
Padraig Murphy, 30, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, for assault causing harm to Tracey Pavone, 39, in the Cottage Inn pub, Bluebell Avenue, Dublin. The offence occurred on 8 June 2014 when Murphy, who was out on bail for a separate assault, grabbed Pavone by the neck, dragged her out of the pub, and called her a "whore". A woman with Murphy punched and kicked Pavone. CCTV captured the incident. Pavone suffered bleeding, bruising and tenderness, and later reported panic attacks, recurring nightmares and confidence difficulties. Murphy had previously been jailed for 18 months for another assault and was released in May of the same year. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally noted his history of violent convictions and the seriousness of the offence, sentencing him to three years' imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended.
The murder trial of Andrzej Wawrzyniak (38) is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Wawrzyniak, who has no fixed address, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Jacek Kozakiewicz (44) at a derelict pub on Dublin's North Wall Quay on February 26, 2014. He also pleaded guilty to a second count of assault causing harm to Filip Talaj (31) at the same location and date. The prosecution presented evidence that Kozakiewicz, who was found dead with more than 20 stab wounds, had a history of drink-related and public order offences, including a suspended sentence for carrying knives and a prison term for possessing a crowbar. Detective Sergeant John Brady testified that Kozakiewicz lived a chaotic lifestyle in a squat occupied by five Polish men, where he was described as the "boss" and a "gentleman." Gardaí were aware of the squat but faced ownership disputes that prevented official eviction. The prosecution concluded its case today, and the closing speech to the jury of nine men and three women is scheduled for tomorrow morning. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no final verdict or sentence yet delivered.
During the seventh day of the 29‑year‑old Marta Herda's murder trial, the jury viewed a video of the deceased, 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsos, celebrating his birthday with Herda. The footage, shown in the Central Criminal Court, shows Herda seated beside Orsos as he blew out candles on a cake. Herda is charged with murdering Orsos by driving him into a harbour where he drowned on 26 March 2013. Orsos's brother, Zoltan Sandor, testified that the family had celebrated Orsos's birthday at his home in July 2012 and that the video was part of that celebration. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, continues with a jury of eight men and four women. The court heard additional testimony from witnesses about Herda's relationship with Orsos and alleged prior conflicts, but no verdict has yet been reached.
During a murder trial, witness Ms. April Murray testified that on 11 February 2014 she and her daughter were at Mangan's pub in Edenderry, where they met James Davy, Sean Davy and Jade Mooney. After the pub, they returned to Murray's house, where the men drank beer and used cocaine from a key. Murray described a chaotic scene the next morning, with damage to the living room and kitchen, and noted a light‑brown wooden baseball bat on the kitchen table. She claimed the bat had been used and was later left in a taxi. Courtleigh Maloney, an 18‑year‑old, confirmed that James Davy had brought the bat to the pub and left it in the taxi. Jade Mooney also stated that Davy had shown her the bat and said it was to "protect himself." The accused men, Matthew Cummins, Sean Davy and James Davy, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas Dooley.
An 81‑year‑old man was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by a Central Criminal Court jury after being found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting his niece in August 1971 in County Clare. He had denied the charges. The court also recalled a previous conviction by another Central Criminal Court jury, which had sentenced him to four and a half years for 11 counts of indecent assault on two daughters between 1971 and 1980; both girls were aged 11 to 13 at the time. The victim, now 56, testified that she was 11 when first raped, describing the assault in detail and the subsequent pain. She also recounted a second incident involving molestation while she was out shooting rabbits. The accused had left Ireland, was returned under a European Arrest Warrant in 2012, and had been granted bail pending trial. The victim's impact statement highlighted the lasting trauma, noting that she no longer wishes to be a victim.
John O'Rourke, 18, pleaded guilty to robbery of Chinese man Fen Ling Wang on Liffey Street on 10 July 2015. The attack involved seven teenagers who assaulted Wang, delivering kicks and blows that left him unconscious. The gang robbed his phone and shoes before abandoning him. Gardaí monitored the assault live via CCTV and interviewed the attackers after a six‑hour delay. O'Rourke was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally to a three‑year suspended term, with conditions of good behaviour, probation supervision and participation in drug, alcohol and anger‑awareness programmes. The court noted his difficult childhood and positive steps taken in his life. Other members of the group received separate sentences, including a ten‑month term for one male and a five‑month term for a 14‑year‑old girl. The case highlighted the violent nature of the assault and the victim's significant injuries and medical costs.
During the trial of 29‑year‑old Marta Herda, a jury was shown a Valentine's card she had received from the 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsas, the man she is accused of murdering by driving him into a harbour where he drowned. The card, held up by Garda Anthony Crehan, had pink roses on the front and the words "Thinking of you" inside a love heart. Inside, handwritten notes declared love, promised to change habits, and offered a phone number. The card was dated 21/5/12 at 22.54. Herda denied deliberately driving into the water and claimed she had not proposed that she drive into the water. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, continues with a jury of eight men and four women. The defence has not yet presented a verdict.
A 15‑year‑old was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after he threw black paint at a 16‑year‑old on a crowded Luas tram. CCTV captured the assault, and the victim had previously reported a violent attack by the boy and a group of local youths a month earlier. The teenager, who had one prior conviction and 33 subsequent offences including violent disorder, robbery, dangerous driving and car theft, was not complying with bail conditions such as a curfew. He is currently serving a sentence in a detention centre and is due for release next October. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three‑year detention sentence, deferring its imposition until 25 November, and allowed the boy to be released on bail pending review of his behaviour. The judge set strict bail conditions, including a curfew and restrictions on contact with certain youths in Tallaght. The unnamed 15-year-old pleaded guilty.
A 66‑year‑old musician was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for raping and sexually assaulting his stepdaughter between 1994 and 2000. He pleaded not guilty to one count of rape, one count of oral rape and 27 counts of sexual assault. The jury found him guilty on all counts. The victim, aged between 10 and 16 at the time, first reported the abuse to Gardaí in May 2012. The abuse occurred frequently in the family home and car, with the accused forcing the girl to touch him and perform oral sex while he was bedridden. The victim was raped in June 2000 while her mother was away. The court heard the abuse caused severe anxiety, panic attacks, depression and suicidal thoughts. The unnamed 66-year-old was convicted.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 12 July 2016, Andrzej Wawrzyniak, aged 38, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jacek Kozakiewicz, aged 44, who was stabbed at a derelict pub on Dublin's North Wall Quay on 26 February 2014. Wawrzyniak also pleaded guilty to a second count of assault causing harm to Filip Talaj, aged 31, at the same location and date. Garda interviews revealed that Wawrzyniak described a fight with Kozakiewicz, who he said was aggressive and often threatened to kill him when drunk. Wawrzyniak claimed he was terrified and stabbed Kozakiewicz four times in self‑defence, though post‑mortem results later showed 22 stab wounds. He expressed remorse and said he would live with the incident for the rest of his life. The trial was set to continue the following day before Justice Robert Eagar and a jury of nine men and three women.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, a Meals on Wheels volunteer, Ms Patricia Maguire, testified that a 64‑year‑old Offaly man, Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley, appeared to be in "OK" form the day before his death. Ms Maguire, who has volunteered for 18 years, delivered a meal to Dooley's home at Sister Senan Court on Tuesday, February 11, 2014. She described a brief conversation with Dooley, who seemed fine and paid her €2 or €2.50 for the meal. Dooley was later found dead in his living room on February 16, 2014, with injuries to his upper body and head. The trial involves three men—Matthew Cummins (22), Sean Davy (21) and James Davy (25)—who were charged with murdering Dooley on February 12, 2014, and who pleaded not guilty. The case continues.
A retired consultant surgeon, Dr Michael Shine, aged 83, faces trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for eight charges of indecent assault against six victims, with incidents dating from November 1964 to June 1991. Judge Melanie Greally set the trial for 2 October 2017, following a pre‑trial hearing on 7 July 2017. Shine remains remanded on continuing bail, and the trial is expected to last two weeks.
Marta Herda, 29, of Arklow, was charged with the murder of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsas on 26 March 2013 after he was driven into a harbour and drowned. In her first Garda statements, read to the Central Criminal Court on the fifth day of the trial, Herda said she could no longer tolerate Orsas, who had followed her for two years, texted her, and claimed to love her. She described how he had followed her to work, to her friends' homes, and even to a playground, and how she had felt threatened and depressed. Herda claimed that she drove the car into the water to stop the situation, stating she knew he could not swim. The trial heard testimony from Garda Anthony Crehan, Dr Donal Bailey, and Nurse Claire Best, and continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
In a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard that Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley, a 64‑year‑old Offaly resident, was found dead in his living room on 16 February 2014, four days after he was allegedly beaten to death with a baseball bat. The prosecution presented evidence that three men – Matthew Cummins (22), Sean Davy (21) and James Davy (25) – were present at a party in April Murray's house on the early hours of 12 February 2014, then travelled to Dooley's home. The men were said to have used a wooden baseball bat to inflict blunt‑trauma injuries to Dooley's head and chest, leading to his death. The prosecution also alleged attempts to set fire to Dooley's armchair and clothing, and that the men removed items from the scene, some of which were later recovered by the gardai. The accused pleaded not guilty. The trial was scheduled to continue the following day.
During a murder trial, witness Filip Talaj testified that he had kicked the accused, Andrzej Wawrzyniak, in the chest, causing him to become unconscious. Talaj escaped and hid, hearing Wawrzyniak searching for him. The prosecution claims that while Talaj was hiding, Wawrzyniak used a knife to murder Jacek Kozakiewicz, a 44‑year‑old electrician, who was sleeping in a makeshift squat on Dublin's North Wall Quay on 26 February 2014. Wawrzyniak, 38, has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge but has pleaded guilty to a second count of assault causing harm to Talaj at the same location and date. The trial also heard statements from other squat residents, including Dariusz Wantura and Bernadetta Dang, about the living conditions and the night of the incident. The proceedings will continue before Justice Robert Eagar and a jury of nine men and three women.
Dubliner Laura Dempsey, a 25-year-old mother of two, was remanded in custody at the Central Criminal Court for sentencing next Monday. She pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of the person she believed was guilty of murdering 33-year-old Kieran Farrelly on October 26, 2014. The offence involved assisting in the concealment of a shotgun used in the killing at Killarney Court, Killarney Street. Although initially charged with murder, that charge was dismissed following an application under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999. Detective Garda Gary Moran testified that Dempsey had 59 previous convictions, including for drugs possession and theft, many of which occurred after the shooting. He noted her heroin addiction and that victim impact statements were prepared but not read. Defence counsel Remy Farrell SC submitted a psychiatric report detailing ongoing flashbacks and clinical depression, arguing that a pronounced element of duress constituted a powerful mitigating factor. He highlighted that Dempsey made full voluntary admissions and had only transient possession of the weapon. Prosecuting counsel Dominic McGinn SC stated the maximum sentence for the offence was 10 years. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy said she needed time to consider the material handed in and remanded Dempsey in custody for sentencing next Monday.
A jury was sworn in for the trial of three men accused of murdering a 64‑year‑old man in Offaly. Sean Davy, 21, of Edenderry; James Davy, 25, of Celbridge; and Matthew Cummins, 22, of Edenderry, were charged with the murder of Thomas Dooley at Sister Senan Court on 12 February 2014. The men pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Justice Patrick McCarthy told the jury that the trial was expected to last three weeks, though it could extend beyond that. The trial began in evidence before Justice Margaret Heneghan.
In a Luas robbery on 14 August 2012, 42‑year‑old Suzanne McGowan and 37‑year‑old David Larkin robbed Izabela Portyka, taking her handbag. McGowan spat at Portyka and Larkin punched her several times before the pair fled. The incident involved verbal abuse, a threat to grab the bag, and Larkin's assault, including a punch to the head and pushing Portyka's head into a steel column. Portyka suffered neck and head injuries, later treated in hospital, and now experiences migraines and psychological issues. Both defendants pleaded guilty. Larkin, with 30 prior convictions, received a four‑year sentence with the final two years suspended. McGowan, with 24 prior convictions, was given a two‑year suspended sentence, suspended in full for three years. The court noted the offence was "out of character" for McGowan, a mother of two, and that she had not appeared for a prior probation report, leading to a bench warrant and remand until sentencing.
In a murder trial on 8 July 2016, the court heard that 38‑year‑old Andrzej Wawrzyniak, a homeless Polish man with no fixed address, was accused of stabbing 44‑year‑old Jacek Kozakiewicz to death at an abandoned pub on Dublin's North Wall Quay on 26 February 2014. Wawrzyniak pleaded not guilty to the murder charge but pleaded guilty to a second count of assault causing harm to Filip Talaj, who was also present. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy identified 23 stab wounds on Kozakiewicz, including 20 to the head and neck, one of which severed his spinal cord, leaving him paralysed on the left side and unable to feel his right side. Two major neck vessels were also severed, causing fatal bleeding. The trial, presided over by Justice Robert Eagar, continues with a jury of nine men and three women. The case also involves a separate assault on Talaj, who sustained multiple knife wounds but survived.
In County Clare, a 26‑year‑old man was originally sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment for serial sodomisation of a six‑year‑old girl between 2009 and 2012, with five years suspended. His appeal argued the starting point was too high. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, found the original 18‑year sentence "out of line" with comparable cases and recommended a 15‑year starting point. The judge then reduced the sentence to 12 years, suspending the final two years for the rape offences. A separate eight‑year sentence was imposed for the sexual assault count, to run concurrently, and two years of post‑release supervision were added. The defendant entered a good‑behaviour bond and agreed to comply with it. The decision reflects the court's assessment of the plea, the defendant's youth, family circumstances, and progress in prison. The unnamed 26-year-old pleaded guilty.
A 62‑year‑old Dublin man, whose name cannot be disclosed, pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to 11 counts of indecent assault on two girls between 1978 and 1987. He was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment by Mr Justice Paul Carney on 27 February 2014. His barrister, Caroline Biggs SC, has now filed an appeal against the sentence, arguing that the judge erred in structuring the sentence and failed to consider significant mitigating factors. Ms Biggs contends that the starting point of the sentence before mitigation was unclear, that consecutive sentences were unnecessary, and that the maximum penalty for the offences should have been ten years rather than the two years believed. She also notes that the defendant had no prior convictions, was rendered homeless for four years, and that a psychological report indicating remorse was ignored.
In the Central Criminal Court, Marta Herda, aged 29, is on trial for the murder of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsas. The prosecution alleges that on 26 March 2013, Herda drove Orsas into a harbour at South Quay, Arklow, where he drowned. During the trial, a paramedic testified that he was called to the quay at about 6.15 a.m. and found Herda soaked, cold and shivering, with white foam in her mouth. He treated her for hypothermia and transported her to hospital. While in the ambulance, Herda repeatedly said that Orsas "shouldn't have been there" and that she had driven the car into the water. A witness, Christina Byrne, claimed to have heard Herda shout that she had been raped, but her statement was cross‑examined and the court noted uncertainty about the words. The case remains at the trial stage.
John McCarthy, 28, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at Jervis Street on 23 August 2013. He had 22 prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally noted his limited involvement and lack of recent Garda attention, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence suspended in full, and ordered 240 hours of community service. McCarthy was arrested at the scene after punching the delivery driver once; other men also punched the driver. A positive probation report preceded the court. One other participant in the assault has died and charges were dropped against another accused.
In a murder trial on 7 July 2016, Andrzej Wawrzyniak, 38, a former Polish paratrooper, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jacek Kozakiewicz, 44, at a derelict pub on Dublin's North Wall Quay on 26 February 2014. Wawrzyniak admitted to stabbing Kozakiewicz after a fight, claiming he had killed a man. He also pleaded guilty to a second charge of assault causing harm to Filip Talaj at the same location and date. Garda Seamus Kelly, responding to a Luas driver's call about a blood‑stained tram passenger, met Wawrzyniak who led the officers to a manhole that opened into the abandoned pub, where the body was found. The trial, presided over by Justice Robert Eagar with a jury of nine men and three women, was set to continue the following day.
The trial of Marta Herda, 29, for the murder of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsas began on the second day at the Central Criminal Court. Herda, a Polish waitress from Arklow, is charged with driving Orsas into a deep harbour on 26 March 2013 and has pleaded not guilty. Defence counsel Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC argued that the State's case is that Herda lured Orsas to his death through phone calls. Garda Michael Hall presented records of calls and texts between Herda, Orsas and colleagues at the Brook Lodge Hotel, noting several between 5.20 am and 5.21 am that day. The prosecution suggested these communications were suspicious and instrumental in luring Orsas. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Orsas's injuries were consistent with drowning, citing abundant blood‑stained froth in his airways and overinflated lungs. The jury, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, heard these arguments and evidence before continuing the trial later that day.
A 39-year-old man from Killygordan in County Donegal has been charged with unlawful possession of ammunition before the Special Criminal Court. Shane Rowan was charged with possessing 78 rounds of 9mm parabellum ammunition at his Forest Park address on 9 March this year. The charge was brought before the court on 7 July following a caution. Rowan faces three additional charges arising from the same date: possession of three assault rifles and associated magazines at a separate location in County Meath, possession of ammunition of different calibre at that same address, and membership of an unlawful organisation. The book of evidence for all charges was served on the accused today. Justice Paul Butler, sitting with Judges Alison Lindsay and Cormac Dunne, remanded Rowan in custody pending his next hearing on 19 July.
During the murder trial of Marta Herda, a 29‑year‑old Polish waitress, the court heard that a witness, Paul Hickey, saw Herda arguing on the phone in a car early that morning. Hickey described seeing a Volkswagen Passat with a driver who appeared animated and engaged in a heated conversation. He noted the car's slow movement and that it did not overtake a cyclist, suggesting the driver was still on the phone. Hickey also reported that the car had later been pulled from the harbour where the victim, 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsas, was found drowned. The jury also heard that a postman discovered Orsas's front door open about two hours after the car entered the water. Garda Michael Hall testified that Herda had two mobile phones; the first was used for most contact with Orsas, including a final call at 5.35 am lasting two minutes.
During a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that Andrzej Wawrzyniak, 38, who has no fixed address, was involved in a fatal stabbing at a derelict pub on Dublin's North Wall Quay on 26 February 2014. Wawrzyniak pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jacek Kozakiewicz, 44, but pleaded guilty to a second count of assault causing harm to Filip Talaj at the same location and date. The case was opened by Dominic McGinn SC, who described the setting: five Polish residents, including Wawrzyniak, were drinking in a squat that had formerly been a pub. An argument erupted between Talaj and Wawrzyniak, leading Talaj to claim that Wawrzyniak had grabbed a knife and attacked him. Talaj fled, hiding in a dark corner, while Wawrzyniak remained concealed. After some time, Talaj emerged, armed with a knife for protection, and returned to his hiding place.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 30 April 2014, Michael Hanrahan, aged 35, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after slashing Martin Wall with a Stanley blade on Henry Street. The attack left Wall with a permanent disfiguring scar requiring 43 stitches to his head, nose, lip and face. Hanrahan, who lives on Mac Uilliam Parade, Tallaght, had 68 prior convictions for road traffic offences, assault, burglary, criminal damage and assaulting a Garda. Judge Martin Nolan described the injuries as a "very apparent disfiguring scar" that would have a long‑term effect and said the attack was one that Wall "certainly didn't deserve." Hanrahan was sentenced to three years and nine months' imprisonment. The case was prosecuted by Elva Duffy BL, with Garda Nicola Connolly reporting that she responded to the incident at 4 pm and that CCTV footage identified Hanrahan, who was arrested the following November.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Carol Sanders, aged 50, pleaded guilty to producing a weapon likely to intimidate her mother, Mary Sanders, after a jealous attack on 24 November 2015. Sanders, an alcoholic with a personality disorder, held a carving knife to her mother's throat and later to her chest, saying "You have to die," after learning her sister and uncle were returning from Canada. She also kicked her mother, tried to choke her, and threw a dinner plate in rage. The court considered two other charges of producing a weapon and an assault. Mary Sanders escaped, alerted Gardaí, and obtained a barring order. Sanders spent two months in the Dóchas Centre, now lives in supervised accommodation, and has increased medication and abstained from alcohol. The case was adjourned for sentencing to 24 October.
Joseph O'Neill, 41, pleaded guilty to possessing €1.4 million worth of heroin with intent to supply. He was caught with 10 kg of heroin concealed in two fire extinguishers. While in Cloverhill Prison, O'Neill became chairman of the jail's Red Cross organisation and worked on a programme to reduce prison violence. He gave a speech at an international conference in Dublin Castle and was left standing on Dame Street for an hour before guards escorted him back to prison. O'Neill apologised to gardaí, admitted he was a chronic cocaine addict and had been motivated by debt after losing his truck‑driver job. He asked the court to consider suspending part of any sentence imposed. He will be sentenced on 15 July.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Patrick McCartan sentenced 43‑year‑old Robert Kealy to five years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on probation, after Kealy pleaded guilty to possession of heroin for sale or supply. Kealy was arrested following a Garda stop outside The Barge Pub, where he was found with heroin worth €7,598. A subsequent search of his home uncovered weighing scales and drug‑dealing "tick lists". The judge said the sentence was intended to remove one more dealer from the streets, noting Kealy was selling drugs to support his own habit despite medical warnings of possible amputations. Kealy's record includes 42 prior convictions for drug dealing, assault, theft, burglary and criminal damage. His defence counsel, Sarah‑Jane Callaghan, described him as a chronic drug user who was deeply sorry for the harm he caused. Garda Paddy Farrell confirmed Kealy's role as a trusted distributor within the local drug‑using community.
At the Central Criminal Court in Dublin on 5 July 2016, Krzystof Grzegorski, aged 22, was found guilty of the murder of Bogdan Michalkiewicz, 41, at Westside Apartments, Letterkenny, County Donegal on 13 May 2013. Grzegorski had pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but the prosecution rejected the plea. The jury reached a unanimous guilty verdict following five hours of deliberation. Justice Patrick McCarthy imposed the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment, backdated to 26 May 2014. The prosecution established that Grzegorski inflicted 46 wounds to the victim's head and face, along with 17 stab wounds to the abdomen, and dropped a television on the victim's head. Pathologist evidence indicated the victim sustained severe injuries including nine stab wounds to the tongue and defensive injuries, indicating he endured significant suffering. A second defendant, Dariusz Weckowicz, 51, was acquitted by direction of the trial judge, having been present at the scene but not proven to have participated in the attack.
Andrew Smith, a 24‑year‑old mechanic from Navan, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to his girlfriend Chloe Cherry on 27 October 2013. The original sentence of two‑and‑a‑half years, with six months suspended, was imposed by Judge Michael O'Shea on 18 June 2015. Smith appealed, arguing that the sentencing judge failed to resolve a factual conflict regarding an alleged incident in which he supposedly locked Cherry in a dog cage. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Alan Mahon, found that the judge had not conducted a "Newton type hearing" and had accepted the victim's account of the dog‑cage allegation as true, an error in principle. Consequently, Smith was re‑sentenced to two years' imprisonment, with 15 months suspended, and was required to enter a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period. The appeal did not alter any other aspects of the case.
In a Wicklow harbour murder trial, a 29‑year‑old Polish waitress, Marta Herda, was charged with killing her 31‑year‑old Hungarian colleague, Csaba Orsas, by driving her car through harbour barriers into the sea. Prosecutor Brendan Grehan presented evidence that the car entered the water at high speed, that Herda was the driver, and that Orsas was a front‑seat passenger. He noted that Herda could swim while Orsas could not, and that the body was found drowned on a beach two miles away. Testimony from a security guard described a high‑speed vehicle and a woman screaming near the quay, later identified as Herda. Garda Fiona Furlong recounted finding Herda wet and distressed, pointing to the harbour. The case was opened to the Central Criminal Court, with a three‑week trial before Mr Justice McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women. The unnamed 29-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 48‑year‑old Dublin man was jailed for three‑and‑a‑half years, with the last six months suspended, after pleading guilty to assault causing harm to a woman he had met to use heroin. The assault took place on 16 April 2012 in the woman's apartment in Rathmines, where the man repeatedly struck her with various objects, including an air‑freshener can. The victim was left with extensive bruising on her thighs, abdomen, lower spine and arms, and she later claimed the attack left her homeless and worsened her psychiatric and substance‑use problems. The judge noted the man had 12 prior convictions, including an attempted rape, and that the offence was at the most serious end of the scale. The sentence was back‑dated to July 2012, allowing credit for time already served.
James Casey, aged 25, was severely beaten in a Tallaght halting site clash on 20 September 2015. He did not report the assault to the gardai but later armed himself with a slash hook and was charged with possession of an article with intent to cause injury or intimidate others. In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court he pleaded guilty. Judge Melanie Greally suspended a two‑year prison sentence for four years, citing Casey's role as a peace maker who had since helped calm disputes and moved away from the site. Sarah‑Jane Callaghan BL defended Casey, noting his fear for his life and the attack on his home. The case also referenced Casey's three prior convictions for public order offences and possession of stolen goods. The court's decision was based on his demonstrated change in behaviour and efforts to maintain peace.
The Central Criminal Court heard that a 64‑year‑old father and a 38‑year‑old mother, both from the UK, will not be sentenced before October. They were convicted in May after a seven‑week trial that heard dozens of allegations of horrific sexual abuse against their young son. The jury found the father guilty of nine counts of raping his son from the age of six and of child cruelty, but acquitted him of raping the child with a poker. The mother was convicted of child cruelty but found not guilty of sex assault relating to allegations that she had sex or simulated sex with her child when he was between six and seven. The offences occurred between 2009 and 2011 in their Waterford home. The parents had originally faced 82 charges, but 60 were withdrawn. The mother was due to be sentenced today, but a psychological report on her was not ready.
A 54‑year‑old man was sentenced to 12 years in prison for raping and sexually abusing his three step‑children. The Central Criminal Court imposed two concurrent 12‑year terms: one for abuse of the two youngest children and another for abuse of the eldest child. The judge noted that the man, who moved to Ireland from abroad and began a relationship with the children's mother, denied all allegations and maintained his innocence, which the court considered a mitigating factor. The eldest child, aged 11‑15 at the time of the offences, was convicted of four counts of rape, ten counts of sexual assault, one oral rape and two counts of using an object to penetrate her between 2001 and 2005. The other two children, aged 7‑13 and 11‑17, were convicted of 35 counts of sexual assault and rape. The sentences will run concurrently. The man continues to deny the abuse.
A 29‑year‑old woman, Marta Herda of Arklow, was arraigned in the Central Criminal Court on 4 July 2016 for the murder of Hungarian Csaba Orsas at South Quay, Arklow, on 26 March 2013. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy informed the court that the trial would last three weeks and had sworn in a jury of seven men and five women. When the jury returned, the judge addressed one juror who confirmed she had been a member of An Garda Siochana. He explained that while there was no principle objection to a former Garda serving, the case might present a difficulty because of her insider knowledge. The judge, acknowledging her eligibility, discharged her with some embarrassment, stating it was best for the jury to remain impartial. He informed the remaining 11 jurors that the panel would leave for the day and that a replacement would be sworn in the following day, when the trial was expected to commence.
The jury in the trial of Krzystof Grzegorski (22) will return tomorrow to continue deliberating on its verdict. Grzegorski is accused of murdering fellow Polish man Bogdan Michalkiewicz (41) at Westside Apartments in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, on May 13, 2013. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder. Although he offered a plea of guilty to manslaughter, the State did not accept this plea. Following a trial that lasted almost three weeks at the Central Criminal Court, Justice Patrick McCarthy instructed the eight men and four women on the jury that they could return a verdict of guilty of murder, or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. The jury spent nearly three hours deliberating today before being adjourned until tomorrow morning to continue their consideration. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no final verdict or sentence yet determined.
A jury was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Polish man Andrzej Wawrzyniak, aged 38, who is accused of murdering Jacek Kozakiewicz at Valence & McGrath's, North Wall Quay, Dublin 1, on 26 February 2014. Wawrzyniak pleaded not guilty. Justice Patrick McCarthy informed the nine‑man, three‑woman jury that the case would be ready to proceed on Wednesday and would take two weeks to complete.
Mark Donohoe, a 40-year-old man from Navan, Co Meath, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for an assault that occurred on September 2, 2013, at Eurospar, Hartstown Shopping Centre. The defendant pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, specifically on the basis that his actions were excessive, a plea accepted by the prosecution as excessive self-defence. The court heard that the incident began when the victim, Alan McIllroy, head-butted Donohoe following a dispute over personal space in a queue. Donohoe subsequently used a knife to attack McIllroy, who suffered severe facial injuries, including a wound from his ear canal to his cheek. Judge Patricia Ryan found that while Donohoe acted in self-defence, he used force beyond what was required. The judge suspended a two-year prison sentence on the condition that Donohoe keeps the peace and is of good behaviour for that period. Additionally, the court ordered that €4,000, offered by Donohoe in remorse, be paid to the victim. In mitigation, the judge noted Donohoe's unblemished record, excellent educational and working history, volunteer engagement, and his unequivocal state of being under attack.