In a Dublin murder trial, David Cully, 24, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for killing his 41‑year‑old nephew, Edward O'Connor, on 15 December 2013. Cully claimed he shot O'Connor "in the heat of the moment" after O'Connor mentioned a sexual‑abuse allegation that had been investigated but not prosecuted. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that O'Connor died from two gun‑shot wounds to the back, one entering between the 10th and 11th ribs, damaging the aorta, oesophagus and lung, and the other entering between the 11th and 12th ribs, fracturing the rib and injuring the adrenal gland, pancreas and stomach. The wounds caused massive internal bleeding and collapsed lung, leading to rapid death. The trial was adjourned to resume before Mr Justice Carroll Moran and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Ronan Gormley, aged 30, received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to assault causing harm, producing an instrument and obstructing a peace officer at Wrights Café Bar in Swords on 11 November 2013. The incident involved Gormley taking off his belt and striking Mark Rogers, who was socialising in the smoking area. Rogers sustained a 1.5‑cm wound on his left eyebrow that required stitches. Security restrained Gormley until Gardaí arrived. Gormley was described as abusive and aggressive while intoxicated, but later calm. He has paid €2,000 in compensation to Rogers and has taken steps to address his alcohol use. Judge Mary Ellen Ring, after considering Gormley's guilty plea, compensation, lack of prior convictions and his adult responsibility, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the entire term suspended, directing him to engage with probation services for eighteen months.
In the Central Criminal Court, Patrick O'Connor, the brother of the deceased, testified that a week before the murder, David Cully had threatened him with a gun. O'Connor said the deceased had called him from a pub on 8 December 2013, claiming Cully was walking around with a gun. O'Connor offered to bring the deceased to his house, where Cully allegedly told his nephew he intended to shoot him. O'Connor described feeling frightened and worried. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Carroll Moran, continues with a jury of seven women and five men. Cully, 24, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for killing 41‑year‑old Edward O'Connor in his back on 15 December 2013. The DPP had decided not to prosecute the earlier allegation of sexual abuse. The case remains in court.
In a High Court action, Francis Foster, aged 58, sued the Garda Commissioner, the State and the Attorney General for damages after the Garda Emergency Response Unit mistakenly raided his flat on 19 July 2013. Foster alleged assault, false imprisonment and a breach of his constitutional rights, claiming trauma, panic attacks, flashbacks and post‑traumatic stress disorder. The defendants acknowledged the raid was on the wrong premises but denied assault, false imprisonment or constitutional violations. On 2 July 2015, following settlement talks, the case was struck out. No settlement terms were disclosed. Detective Sergeant Paul Murphy admitted the error, apologized to Foster and expressed regret. The settlement was reached after Foster's claim that three officers had smashed his front door, shouted at him, and physically restrained him, though the defendants denied that guns were pointed at him or that he was held hostage. The case was dismissed without further proceedings.
In July 2015, Francis Foster, 58, sued the Garda Commissioner and the State after a Garda Emergency Response Unit mistakenly raided his council‑owned flat on Nicholas Street. Foster alleged that at 6:30 am on 19 July 2013, three Gardaí in full SWAT/riot gear smashed the front door, shouted at him, pushed him onto his bed, and pointed guns at his head and neck. He claimed he was only recognised as a civilian after he identified himself, after which the officers left, damaging the door. Foster said the incident caused him trauma, panic attacks, flashbacks and post‑traumatic stress disorder, and that he had to sleep with a sofa against the door. He seeks damages, including aggravated and exemplary damages. The Gardaí, represented by John Rogers SC, deny the assault allegations but admit they entered the wrong dwelling. The case is before a jury presided by Mr Justice John Hedigan.
In a murder trial in Louth, a 42‑year‑old woman, Paula Farrell, is accused of killing her 30‑year‑old partner, Wayne McQuillan, on 1 January 2014. The jury heard that a Drogheda Garda, Tomas Leonard, reported that Farrell told him she had stabbed McQuillan after an argument. He described blood in the hallway and kitchen, two knives, and a bread knife. The prosecution read a statement from Farrell in which she said she stabbed McQuillan twice with a medium‑sized knife, that he walked out the front door and collapsed outside. Defence counsel questioned whether the Garda had noticed injuries on Farrell's head or face. Dr Maria Marillo testified that Farrell was anxious, had a scrape on her face, smelled of alcohol, and had been drinking nine cans of cider the previous afternoon. She was deemed intoxicated and not fit for questioning. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, is expected to last two weeks. Paula Farrell pleaded not guilty.
Michael Noonan, a 34‑year‑old stonemason, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for two unprovoked serious assaults. The first, on 5 May 2014 at Club 92 in Leopardstown, involved Thomas Kelly who was knocked to the ground, left with multiple skull fractures and haemorrhaging, and spent five days in hospital. The second, on 7 September 2014 at The Magic Carpet Bar in Cabinteely, saw Noonan punch a glass into Gary Rigley's face and then beat Rigley's brother Shaun. CCTV footage showed Noonan and Rigley speaking before the attack. Noonan pleaded guilty to both assaults at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and admitted the acts were not pre‑meditated. He had ten prior convictions, mainly for public order offences, and a suspended sentence in 2005 for an earlier assault. Judge Martin Nolan described the blows as extremely forceful and noted Noonan's history of loss of control, concluding the assaults were totally unforgivable.
In the murder trial of David Cully, a 24‑year‑old from Finglas West, the jury was shown a video of his first Garda interview in which he cried while explaining the shooting of his uncle, Edward O'Connor, who was 41. Cully admitted that he shot O'Connor in the back during a confrontation that escalated after O'Connor made a comment about a person who had alleged sexual abuse against him. The DPP had decided not to prosecute the allegation. Cully has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the killing. He apologized to O'Connor's family and to the Gardaí in tears. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Carroll Moran, continues before a jury of seven women and five men. The court heard that the alleged abuse was investigated but not prosecuted. The case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court. The video was shown to the jury this morning. The trial continues this afternoon.
David Cully, 24, was tried for the murder of his uncle, Edward O'Connor, 41, who was shot in the back after a fist fight. Cully initially told Gardaí that a gunman had appeared "out of nowhere" and shot his uncle, but later admitted he had brought a gun to the fight and shot O'Connor himself. He claimed he fired in the heat of the moment after O'Connor made a comment about a sexual‑abuse allegation against him. Cully denied premeditation, stating he had never held a firearm before and had only watched shooting films. Gardaí argued the act was pre‑orchestrated and intended to kill. The case is before Mr Justice Carroll Moran with a jury of seven women and five men. The trial is ongoing. The unnamed 24-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Ciaran Moran, 29, who is serving a life sentence for murder, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for assaulting Philip Massey at Bentley House hostel in Dun Laoghaire on 7 June 2013. Moran admitted kicking, punching and stabbing Massey in the abdomen after Massey said something "unpleasant" to him. The assault caused a wound that required stitches and Massey was discharged from hospital the next day. Moran, who has 24 prior convictions including manslaughter and murder, was intoxicated that night and made full admissions, which the judge considered when imposing the sentence. Ciaran Moran pleaded guilty.
A Laois father of seven pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault against his daughter between 1981 and 1987, when she was aged nine to 15. He was arrested in 2014 and admitted to sexually abusing and raping her, describing the acts as "making love" to a child who could not consent. The victim, now 43, first reported the abuse to Gardaí in 2013 and later filed a victim impact statement detailing the psychological harm, including suicidal thoughts and lifelong trauma. The court remanded him in custody and adjourned sentencing to 13 July. He was registered as a sex offender upon pleading guilty. The case highlights the prolonged abuse and the victim's enduring suffering, with no prior convictions for the defendant.
Michael O'Brien, 46, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a one‑year‑old baby while the child's parents were out drinking. The court found the baby was left in O'Brien's care in a house lacking clean clothes, electricity and food, with food stored only in a freezer for social worker inspections. O'Brien had previously served a twelve‑year sentence in 2008 for abusing two children under six and a four‑year term in 1993 for assaulting a 60‑year‑old woman during a burglary. Judge Sarah Berkeley described the assault as "a vile and monstrous act" and, after suspending 18 months of a five‑year term, ordered O'Brien to continue treatment in prison and cooperate with probation services. He pleaded not guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was convicted by a jury earlier this year.
In 2011, Zhen Dong Zhao, a 38‑year‑old Chinese national, was convicted of murdering Noel Fegan outside his internet café on Wellington Quay and received a mandatory life sentence on 5 December 2012. Zhao appealed, arguing the trial judge had misexplained provocation to the jury. The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction and ordered a retrial. Zhao was remanded in custody and a retrial date of 3 May 2016 was set at the Central Criminal Court. Zhen Dong Zhao pleaded not guilty.
Zhao Zhen Dong, a 38‑year‑old Chinese national, had been sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2011 murder of Noel Fegan outside his internet café on Wellington Quay. He pleaded not guilty and was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court, receiving a mandatory life sentence from Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on 5 December 2012. Zhao appealed, arguing that the trial judge had erred in explaining provocation to the jury. The Court of Appeal, in a judgement delivered on 26 June 2015, quashed his conviction and ordered a retrial. The appeal focused on the judge's failure to clearly state that provocation remained a defence even when an intention to kill or cause serious harm existed. Zhao was remanded in custody to appear before the Central Criminal Court on the following Monday. The Court noted the complexity of provocation law and the importance of clear jury instructions.
Four men convicted of assaulting two off-duty gardaí at Charlestown in June 2012 have been imprisoned following a successful appeal by the Director of Public Prosecution against their original suspended sentences. Nico Barrett, aged 22, of Humbert Street, Sligo; David Leonard, aged 32, formerly of Rhue, Sligo; Daniel Phelan, aged 23, of Tower Crescent, Connolly Park, Sligo; and David Skeffington, aged 23, of Rathscanlon, Charlestown Road, Tubbercurry, had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court. The trial judge imposed three-year suspended sentences on Barrett, Leonard, and Skeffington, and a two-year suspended sentence on Phelan in October 2014. The Court of Appeal found the sentences unduly lenient. Mr Justice John Edwards, speaking for the three-judge court, stated that custodial sentences were unavoidable and that assaults on peace officers must be severely punished. Barrett received 14 months imprisonment, whilst the other three received 12 months each.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, David Cully, aged 24, admitted shooting his uncle, Edward O'Connor, dead in what he described as the heat of the moment. Cully claimed that after a fist fight at a yard on Ballycoolin Road, O'Connor made a comment about a sexual‑abuse allegation against him, which provoked Cully. He said he had found a handgun two days earlier, was unsure if it worked, and fired at O'Connor when the uncle's remark "riled him up." Cully stated he had no intention to kill and that the act was unplanned. He apologized to O'Connor's family. The trial, set to continue before Mr Justice Carroll Moran, involves a jury of seven women and five men. The case remains at the manslaughter stage, with Cully pleading not guilty.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, an 18‑year‑old witness recounted the instant his father, Edward O'Connor, was shot by David Cully, the accused. The teenager described a pre‑arranged fist fight between two men, during which Cully, after a comment about a sexual‑abuse allegation, lost his temper. He allegedly fired a black handgun, shooting O'Connor's father and then firing four or five additional shots. The witness said the fight paused briefly, then resumed, and that the parties shook hands afterward. Cully, 24, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 41‑year‑old O'Connor, who died on 15 December 2013. The trial is proceeding before Justice Carroll Moran with a jury of seven women and five men.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has failed to reach a verdict in the trial of a registered childminder charged with causing serious harm to a ten-month-old infant. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of Cavan town, had pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to the child on 28 March 2012. The trial heard that the baby presented at Cavan General Hospital with a brain bleed, detached retina and fractured ribs after being in Ms Higgins's care. Prosecution medical experts testified the injuries were consistent with violent shaking and non-accidental trauma. Defence experts suggested the evidence indicated head trauma and possible reactivation of an earlier injury. After deliberating for just under six hours on day eight of proceedings, the jury of twelve informed Judge Patricia Ryan they could reach neither unanimous nor majority verdict. Ms Higgins was remanded on continuing bail. The case has been listed for mention on 2 July before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has been instructed that it may return a majority verdict in the trial of a registered childminder charged with causing serious harm to a ten-month-old child. Sandra Higgins of Cavan town has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to the baby on 28 March 2012. The twelve-member jury, which had deliberated for almost five hours, was initially directed to reach unanimity but was advised by Judge Patricia Ryan that a verdict supported by at least ten jurors would be acceptable. The jury requested clarification on the legal definition of recklessness and sought to rehear evidence from expert witnesses, including a consultant paediatrician and a neuropathologist. The prosecution contends the child's injuries, including a brain bleed, detached retina and fractured ribs, resulted from violent shaking whilst in the accused's care. The defence maintains the evidence suggests head trauma or reactivation of an existing injury. The accused has denied the allegations.
In the Central Criminal Court, the widow of Edward O'Connor, the 41‑year‑old victim, testified that her husband, David Cully, returned from a pub on 8 December 2013 visibly upset and frightened after Cully claimed the accused had threatened him. She recounted that Cully had entered the pub and warned her that he had a gun and intended to kill him. Cully, aged 24, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his uncle, who was shot on 15 December 2013. The trial also heard from other witnesses describing the events leading up to the shooting, including a confrontation at a yard and the subsequent gunfire that killed O'Connor. The case is proceeding before Mr Justice Carroll Moran with a jury of twelve.
During the sixth day of his nephew's murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Eugene O'Connor, the brother of the deceased, gave evidence describing the shooting and the moment after. He said he had visited his brother, Edward O'Connor, at home in Barn Lodge that afternoon and heard him speak to his son, Darren, about a "straightener" to settle a row. Eugene explained that the fight took place at Cappagh Cross, involving Darren and another man, and that David Cully, the accused, fired a gun in the air when another person joined. He recalled hearing a shot, seeing his brother's back, and then seeing two holes in his brother's back after lifting his shirt. Eugene said his brother was taken to hospital, pronounced dead about an hour later. The trial continues before Mr Justice Carroll Moran and a jury. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court adjourned its deliberations in the trial of a Cavan childminder accused of assaulting a ten-month-old baby. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, 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. The jury of eight men and four women suspended their deliberations after four hours and will resume tomorrow. The trial heard evidence that the child presented at Cavan General Hospital around 5pm on the date in question with a brain bleed, detached retina and fractured ribs, subsequently suffering seizures. The prosecution contends the injuries resulted from violent shaking while the child was in Ms Higgins's care. Medical experts called by the prosecution stated the injuries were non-accidental and likely sustained in her custody. Defence experts suggested the evidence indicated head trauma potentially from reactivation of an earlier injury. Ms Higgins denied the allegations to gardai.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court will begin deliberating tomorrow in the trial of a childminder charged with assaulting a ten-month-old baby. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of Cavan town, Co Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to the infant on 28 March 2012. The prosecution alleges Ms Higgins caused injuries consistent with violent shaking, including a brain bleed, detached retina and fractured ribs, while the child was in her care. Medical experts who treated the child stated the injuries were non-accidental and likely occurred during Ms Higgins' supervision. The defence presented expert witnesses suggesting the injuries could result from earlier trauma. Judge Patricia Ryan instructed the jury to base their verdict solely on evidence and common sense, disregarding sympathy for any party. Closing arguments focused on medical evidence, the timing of injuries, and competing expert interpretations regarding the cause of the child's condition.
On the fifth day of the nephew's murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Charlotte O'Connor, the widow of the deceased, gave emotional testimony. She recounted that her husband, David Cully, 24, had been shot twice by his nephew, Edward O'Connor, 41, on 15 December 2013. Cully admitted manslaughter, claiming he "lost it" after a comment about a sexual‑abuse allegation against the deceased. He pleaded not guilty to murder. O'Connor said she received a call from Cully after 4 p.m. that day, who told her Mr Cully wanted to arrange a fist fight to settle a dispute involving their son, Darren. She described rushing to the scene, finding Edward lying and unresponsive, and following the ambulance to the hospital where she learned her husband had died before 6 p.m. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Carroll Moran, continues with a jury of twelve.
The Court of Appeal will consider whether to set sentencing guidelines for cases of dangerous driving causing death. The suggestion was made by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan in the case of Seán Casey, 27, of Cooragannive, Skibbereen, who was jailed last year for seven years for dangerous driving that caused the death of a 22‑year‑old woman and the paralysis of her friend. Casey was driving at 80 km/h, four times the legal limit, when he entered a roundabout. His barrister, Tom Creed SC, argued that the sentencing judge had placed Casey's offence "at the apex" of dangerous‑driving‑causing‑death cases before mitigation was applied. The maximum sentence for the offence is ten years imprisonment. Mr Justice Sheehan said the three‑judge court would consider setting guidelines, following the precedent of the Fitzgibbon guidelines for assault causing serious harm and the Ryan guidelines for possession of a firearm.
The murder trial of David Cully, 24, continued at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Carroll Moran and a jury. Cully, of Kilshane Road, Finglas West, is charged with murdering his uncle, Edward O'Connor, 41, by shooting him twice at Ballycoolin Road, Finglas West, on December 15, 2013. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, although he admitted manslaughter to gardai, claiming he 'lost it' after a comment regarding a sexual abuse allegation against the deceased. During cross-examination on the fifth day of the trial, witness Darren O'Connor, 24, testified that he saw his cousin shoot their father in the back following an arranged fist fight at the family's grandparents' property. Mr O'Connor denied that there was a 'history of firearms' in the family and stated he was unaware of previous weapons found near their home or in Dunsink. However, he agreed that he is allegedly facing a charge of being in possession of a firearm in the course of a robbery in July 2013. The trial continues this afternoon.
Closing speeches have been heard in the trial of a childminder charged with assaulting a baby at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of Cavan town, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old child on 28 March 2012. The prosecution alleges the child presented with seizures, brain injuries and fractured ribs after being brought to Cavan General Hospital, having been normal earlier that day. The defence contends the prosecution cannot conclusively establish when the injuries occurred. Prosecuting counsel argued the evidence demonstrates non-accidental injury inflicted through violence. Defence counsel submitted that expert evidence confirmed injuries cannot be timed conclusively, and questioned why his client should account for older injuries when she was not the sole caregiver in preceding weeks. The jury of eight men and four women is expected to begin deliberations tomorrow. Judge Patricia Ryan presides.
A 24‑year‑old Dublin man, Darren O'Connor, gave evidence at the Central Criminal Court on the fourth day of his cousin David Cully's murder trial. Cully, also 24, is charged with murdering his uncle, 41‑year‑old Edward O'Connor, by shooting him twice on 15 December 2013. O'Connor described how he and his father were at their grandparents' property when Cully, after a prior altercation, suggested a "straightener" or fist fight. O'Connor says he and his father entered the yard, where Cully and his opponent were waiting. During the fight, Cully shot Edward in the back, firing about six shots. O'Connor testified that his father was left lying on his back, breathing heavily, and was later pronounced dead. The trial is before Mr Justice Carroll Moran with a jury of seven women and five men. David Cully pleaded not guilty.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has decided not to proceed with a prosecution against a woman from Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan who had been charged in connection with her father's death in 1988. Sharon Cullen, 39, had faced a charge of unlawfully and maliciously causing grievous harm with intent to murder at an address in Crumlin, Dublin on 13 May 1988. The decision followed a Supreme Court ruling in October 2014 which dismissed the DPP's appeal against a High Court order that had halted the prosecution on grounds of delay. A nolle prosequi, formally discontinuing the case, was entered at the Central Criminal Court today.
A jury of five men and seven women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court on 22 June 2015 for the trial of 42‑year‑old Paula Farrell of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, who is accused of murdering 32‑year‑old Wayne McQuillan on 1 January 2014. Ms Farrell pleaded not guilty. Judge Patrick McCarthy told the jury the trial would last about two and a half weeks and would begin with evidence on Wednesday morning.
Kevin Coughlan, 32, of Limerick, had his murder conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal after a March appeal citing unsatisfactory trial conduct, particularly the changing testimony of Deputy State Pathologist Dr Khalid Jabber. Dr Jabber had initially suggested the victim, Francis Greene, might have drowned, but later concluded the victim was dead before entering the water and had been strangled. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Seán Ryan, found the trial unsatisfactory and substituted the murder conviction with a manslaughter conviction under the Criminal Procedure Act 1993. No criticism was directed at the prosecution or the trial judge. Coughlan remains remanded in custody until 29 July, when he will appear before the Central Criminal Court for sentencing. The sentencing is scheduled for next month. Kevin Coughlan pleaded not guilty.
A consultant paediatrician has given evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the trial of a childminder charged with assaulting a baby. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of The Beeches, Drumgola Wood, Cavan town, has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old child in her care on 28 March 2012. Dr Christopher James Hobbs told the court that bruising to the infant's back and ear represented a "classic textbook picture" consistent with violent shaking. He noted that bruising in such locations is unusual in accidental injury but common in non-accidental cases. A defence witness, Dr Julie Mack, a paediatric radiologist, countered that bleeding identified on brain scans resulted from rupture of a smaller blood vessel rather than the larger vessels typically associated with shaken baby syndrome. The trial before Judge Patricia Ryan continues with a jury of twelve.
In a significant judgment delivered on Friday, Mr Justice Paul McDermott ruled that John Gerard McDonagh, convicted in 2001 of the murder and rape of Siobhán Hynes, is not entitled to High Court orders seeking access to forensic evidence. The court dismissed McDonagh's judicial review proceedings against the Garda Commissioner and the Attorney General, holding that the High Court lacks jurisdiction to grant such orders. However, the judge clarified that the Court of Appeal possesses ample jurisdiction under Section 2 of the 1993 Criminal Procedure Act to determine applications for access to forensic material, such as clothing, fibres, and nail clippings, for new DNA testing. McDonagh, who pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence, was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and ten years for rape. The judge stated that while there is no absolute obligation on the Garda Commissioner to facilitate re-investigation, the Commissioner must provide adequate reasons for any refusal. The judgment affirmed that if new evidence establishes innocence, the conviction should be quashed, but such applications must be directed to the Court of Appeal rather than the High Court.
A 52‑year‑old Munster man was convicted and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for sexually abusing his nieces, in‑law, daughter and son over a 24‑year period. He pleaded not guilty to ten counts of indecent assault on his nieces in‑law between 1988 and 1992 and to three counts of sexual assault on his daughter and son in 2001, 2002 and 2011. The jury found him guilty and the judge, Mr Justice Carroll Moran, imposed a ten‑year term with the final two years suspended. The defendant's counsel, Patrick McGrath SC, has now applied to appeal, arguing that the judge erred by not severing the indictment and by failing to summarise the defence's case. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Anne Marie Lawlor BL, countered that the judge acted appropriately given the nature of each complaint. The appeal will be considered by the court as soon as possible.
Lawyers for the State have requested an additional two weeks to file a response to Brian Meehan's appeal, which seeks to have his 1999 conviction for the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin declared a miscarriage of justice. Meehan, aged 47 and serving a life sentence in Portlaoise prison, is arguing that new evidence from the 2001 Special Criminal Court trial of John Gilligan undermines his conviction. The evidence relates to material that emerged during Gilligan's trial, in which Gilligan was acquitted of Guerin's murder but convicted of cannabis importation. During case‑management proceedings in the Court of Appeal, the Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel, Paul Anthony McDermott, explained that the State needed time to prepare a full set of submissions, citing the volume of material and the need to clarify the meaning of new evidence.
The trial of David Cully, 24, will resume on Monday after a break. Cully is charged with murdering his uncle, Edward O'Connor, 41, by shooting him twice in the back on 15 December 2013. He admitted killing O'Connor, saying he 'lost it' after O'Connor made a remark about a person who had alleged sexual abuse against him. Cully pleaded not guilty to murder and his guilty plea to manslaughter was rejected by the State. The case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court. In the opening, the State's counsel, Pauline Walley SC, argued that Cully had no intention to kill or seriously injure O'Connor and that the prosecution must prove intent and lack of provocation. She noted family tension after the abuse allegation and a fight the night before the killing, during which Cully brought a gun. The trial is expected to last three weeks before Mr Justice Carroll Moran.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 21‑year‑old Zoe Thompson of Tallaght pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm after striking Aidan and Colm Brown with the heel of her stiletto shoe at the Abberley Hotel on 15 April 2013. Judge Desmond Hogan sentenced Thompson to three years for each count, suspending the sentences in their entirety. The judge noted Thompson's cooperation, the presence of a doctor's letter citing pregnancy complications, and her payment of €2,000 as a gesture of remorse, which was ordered to be divided between the two victims. Thompson's previous convictions include four road‑traffic offences, one for drunk driving. The court heard that Aidan Brown, a barman, suffered seven surgical staples to his head and lost €1,000 in wages, while Colm Brown received five staples and lost €690 in wages.
Vasilica Stan, a 21‑year‑old Romanian who had lived in Dublin since age 14, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Haseeb Ghous and Majid Khan on 7 December 2013 at the Alchemy nightclub. He claimed he had been motivated by a text that the men had harassed a female friend, describing his actions as "misguided chivalry". The court found no physical provocation and accepted that Stan was remorseful. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence and ordered Stan to pay €2,000 to Ghous and €1,000 to Khan within a year. The assault occurred at 2:10 am; Ghous was knocked unconscious, suffered dental and facial injuries, and was treated at Mater Hospital, while Khan was hit twice, later experiencing dizziness and neck pain. Stan admitted the assault but denied kicking Khan when he was on the ground. The court received reference letters from his employer, girlfriend and landlord.
Philip Doyle, aged 38, was convicted of manslaughter for the death of his ex‑fiancée's three‑and‑a‑half‑month‑old baby, Ross Murphy, in April 2005. The Central Criminal Court, after a four‑week trial, returned a unanimous verdict of manslaughter, and Doyle was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment on 15 May 2012. Doyle appealed, arguing that the trial judge had not adequately considered expert medical evidence and that the injuries could have resulted from an accidental fall. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Seán Ryan, rejected the appeal, stating that the conviction was "safe" and the trial was "satisfactory." Mr Justice Ryan noted that the jury had been properly instructed to weigh expert testimony and that the evidence supported the conclusion that the baby's severe injuries were inflicted by Doyle rather than by an accidental fall. The appeal was dismissed, leaving Doyle's conviction and sentence intact. Philip Doyle pleaded not guilty.
Kevin Coughlan, aged 32, had been sentenced to life imprisonment in 2011 for the murder of Francis Greene, who was found dead on Steamboat Quay between 28 and 29 November 2009. In March 2015, Coughlan's counsel, Anthony Sammon SC, appealed the conviction on the grounds that the trial was unsatisfactory, citing the testimony of Deputy State Pathologist Dr Khalid Jabber. Dr Jabber had altered his conclusion during the trial, initially suggesting the possibility of drowning but later concluding that the victim had died before entering the water and had been strangled. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Seán Ryan, agreed that the trial was unsatisfactory and quashed the murder conviction. It substituted a manslaughter conviction under the Criminal Procedure Act 1993. Coughlan was remanded in custody to appear before the Central Criminal Court for sentencing on the following Monday. Kevin Coughlan pleaded not guilty.
A 54‑year‑old Dublin man, who pleaded not guilty to 60 counts of sexual assault against six daughters of a former partner, was found guilty on all counts and originally sentenced to seven years, two of which were suspended. After a failed appeal, the Director of Public Prosecutions successfully sought a review on the grounds that the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal imposed a new sentence of nine years imprisonment, removing the suspended portion because the defendant is unwilling to participate in a sex offenders programme. The court noted that the abuse, which occurred over many years and involved repeated sexual contact and forced viewing of pornography, was a severe breach of trust. The new nine‑year term is the final imposed sentence, with no suspended part. The case remains at the appellate stage.
The trial of 24‑year‑old David Cully, charged with murdering his 41‑year‑old uncle Edward O'Connor, will resume on Friday morning. Cully, of Kilshane Road, Finglas West, admitted shooting O'Connor twice in the back on 15 December 2013 but pleaded not guilty to murder. He had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the State, and is now on trial at the Central Criminal Court. The State's case, presented by Pauline Walley SC, argues that Cully had intent to kill, citing family tensions after an allegation against O'Connor and a physical row the night before the shooting. Walley noted that Cully had brought a gun to a "fair fight" and that he claimed hatred toward O'Connor. The trial, with a jury of seven women and five men, is expected to last three weeks under Mr Justice Carroll Moran.
The High Court refused to surrender Aidan O'Dwyer, a 40‑year‑old from Clonmel, to Bulgarian authorities for alleged attempted murder of a taxi driver. Bulgarian prosecutors claimed O'Dwyer stabbed the driver in the chest with a knife, motivated by hooliganism, and that the driver survived only thanks to emergency services. O'Dwyer, who was arrested under a European Arrest Warrant on 24 June 2014, argued he acted in self‑defence and that the injuries were not severe. The court considered his serious medical condition, including a liver transplant in 2005 and current powerful medication, and his medical evidence sworn before the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture. The judge cited substantial risk of inhumane and degrading treatment in Bulgarian prisons, citing CPT findings of fundamental shortcomings. Consequently, the court ordered O'Dwyer's release, returned any bail, and discharged him from the proceedings.
David Cully, 24, of Kilshane Road, Finglas West, Dublin, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of his uncle, Edward O'Connor, 41, who died at Ballycoolin Road, Finglas West, on 15 December 2013. Cully pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The prosecution, represented by Ms Pauline Walley SC, argued that the burden of proof lies with them to show that Cully intended to kill O'Connor, not merely to cause serious injury. Walley urged the jury to remain impartial and not be swayed by sympathy. The trial, which began with a jury of seven women and five men, is scheduled to continue until 2 p.m. and is expected to last up to three weeks.
A childminder charged with causing serious harm to a baby in her care appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, from Drumgola Wood in Cavan town, has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to the infant at her home on 28 March 2012. The child's uncle gave evidence that the baby was "bright and bubbly" on the morning of the alleged assault but became seriously ill later that day and was hospitalised. He described a pattern of injuries sustained while in the defendant's care in the weeks preceding the incident. A social worker told the court she received notification of concerns that the baby's injuries might be non-accidental and met with the parents, who co-operated fully and requested gardaí involvement. The trial is expected to run for six days before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury. A court order protects the child's identity.
Sandra Higgins, a registered child-minder from Cavan town, is currently on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where she has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old infant at her home on March 28, 2012. The prosecution alleges the child suffered active seizures, extensive bruising, and retinal haemorrhaging consistent with violent shaking. During the first day of the six-day trial before Judge Patricia Ryan, the infant's mother testified that the child appeared healthy when dropped off that morning but was found unconscious with a swelling between the eyebrows when collected. The mother also raised concerns regarding the child-minding diary, alleging that entries describing bumps and bruises were added or changed after the incident. The defence is expected to call an expert witness to argue that the injuries were accidental and that there is no evidence supporting a diagnosis of violent shaking. A court order prohibits the publication of any details that would identify the child. The trial is ongoing, with the jury tasked with evaluating the conflicting medical and testimonial evidence presented by both sides.
Stephen Lyons, 23, of Newbridge, appealed a four‑year sentence for assaulting a Filipino national on 31 October 2010. The original judge, Michael O'Shea, had rejected evidence that Lyons acted in excessive self‑defence. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice George Birmingham, found the sentence unduly severe and imposed a new term of two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final 15 months suspended. Lyons had claimed that the victim, after a confrontation, thrust a knife at him and that he fled, only to be pursued and punched, resulting in a scrotal stab. Witnesses testified to kicks to the victim's head. Lyons had no prior convictions, a positive probation report, and had been denied a career in the army because of the conviction. The appeal was granted on the basis that the sentencing judge had not been properly notified of the self‑defence evidence. Stephen Lyons pleaded not guilty.
Anthony Ryan, aged 33, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and sexual assault of an 18‑year‑old woman in a Dublin suburb on 13 July 2012. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, by Ms Justice Carmel Stewart on 4 February 2014. Ryan had voluntarily paid €1,000 in compensation. On 12 June 2015, Mr Justice George Birmingham dismissed Ryan's appeal against the sentence, ruling that the four‑year custodial term was not unduly severe. The case involved Ryan following a group of women from a nightclub in Coolock, driving them to a suburb, and then assaulting the victim after she had been knocked out. Ryan was later arrested by Gardaí and found unfit for interview due to intoxication. The appeal was heard with Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice Alan Mahon.
Daniel Byrne, aged 21 and described as having significant mental disabilities, was sentenced to a two‑year suspended term after pleading guilty to attempting to hijack a woman's car on Old Lucan Road, Palmerstown, on 29 October 2013. Byrne, who left a special needs school at 14 and is in the bottom one per cent of mental ability, was found unsuitable for community service. He was found to have severe mental disabilities, including ADHD and compulsive behaviour, and had 32 prior convictions, including three for assault. Byrne admitted the offence, claimed intoxication, and had spent the previous night in hospital with self‑inflicted injuries. The victim, who had to change jobs and suffered nightmares, reported that Byrne had blood on his face and appeared to have a screwdriver. The judge, Martin Nolan, ordered a Probation Service assessment and a suspended sentence, with no custodial term imposed. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin city‑centre assault, 26‑year‑old Romanian Ionut Potop head‑butted and bit Pakistani shop employee Tariq Mohammed at a Londis store on Westmoreland Street on 4 June 2014. Potop, who was drunk and had shouted racial slurs, caused injuries to Mohammed's nose, torso and wrist, leading to hospital treatment. Potop pleaded guilty to assault. Judge Patrick McCartan, noting Potop's lack of prior convictions, ordered him to raise €3,000 for Mohammed within six months as a token of remorse, warning that failure to do so would result in imprisonment. Potop was remanded on continuing bail to allow time to gather the compensation. The case was adjourned to 11 December for sentencing. The court considered Potop's apologies, letters of regret, and his attendance at psychotherapy for anger and alcohol issues. The judge expressed willingness to give Potop a chance if his remorse was genuine. The proceedings remain at the bail stage, with no final sentence yet imposed.