A Roscommon man acquitted of his mother's murder by reason of insanity has appealed against the verdict, seeking a retrial on grounds of diminished responsibility. Paul Henry was sent to the Central Mental Hospital in May 2014 following his acquittal at Castlebar. His counsel argued the trial judge misdirected the jury on the burden of proof regarding insanity, and that the Court of Appeal has jurisdiction to order a retrial and correct the error. The Director of Public Prosecutions opposed the appeal, contending the court lacks power to retry insanity verdicts under existing legislation. During submissions at the Court of Appeal, one judge remarked that Henry might have a better life serving a prison sentence than remaining in the Central Mental Hospital. The three-judge panel reserved judgment, noting the matter would require considerable consideration. Paul Henry pleaded not guilty.
During the 31st day of Graham Dwyer's murder trial, analyst Sarah Skedd testified that there was no evidence contradicting the suggestion that the same person used both Dwyer's work phone and the 'Master' phone found in Vartry Reservoir. Skedd compared usage patterns of the two Nokia mobiles, noting that each phone only had the other's number saved. She observed that when both phones were active simultaneously, they used cell sites in the same area, though on different networks. For example, on 21 December 2011, both phones used a Fitzwilliam Street cell site, and later that day they both used sites near Howth Harbour and Dwyer's workplace. The court had already heard that Dwyer was charged with murdering 36‑year‑old childcare worker Elaine O'Hara on 22 August 2012, and that the prosecution alleged he stabbed her for sexual gratification.
The Central Criminal Court in Dublin is hearing the trial of William Moran, 20, who is charged with the murder of Martin Brophy, 22, at the old Waterford Institute of Technology between 19 and 21 May 2012. Moran has pleaded not guilty. The court is currently addressing legal issues and will resume with evidence tomorrow.
Darran O'Brien, 35, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for threatening to "chop up" his sister Patricia Dunne and her family over a dispute about selling their family home. He had called his niece searching for Dunne, threatened to cut her hand off, and said he would "chop them all up" if anyone interfered. O'Brien texted Dunne with violent threats, later arriving at her home with an axe, a hammer and a knife. Gardaí were called after his partner reported him, and a specialist negotiator was involved. O'Brien pleaded guilty to threatening to kill his sister and to threatening to kill Gardaí. The judge cited his 67 prior convictions and the family's sale plan as aggravating factors. The sentence included an 18‑month suspended period and strict probation conditions. Ms Dunne's victim impact statement described her fear and distress caused by O'Brien's behaviour. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Stephen Cahoon, aged 42, had been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his pregnant ex‑girlfriend, Jean Teresa Quigley, 30, who was 10 weeks pregnant when she was strangled on 26 July 2008. The Central Criminal Court found him guilty on 30 April 2012, and Mr Justice Barry White imposed the life sentence. On 4 March 2015 the Court of Appeal quashed Cahoon's conviction, citing a misdirection by the trial judge regarding the defence of provocation. The appeal was successful because the judge's brief statement that provocation could not involve intent was deemed a mistake at a crucial point in the jury's deliberation. The Court ordered a retrial and remanded Cahoon in custody, noting that a retrial would be his third attempt after six years already served. The case was notable for being the first trial under the Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act 1976 before a jury in the Republic of Ireland.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 42‑year‑old Graham Dwyer, charged with the murder of 36‑year‑old childcare worker Elaine O'Hara, was examined by a US witness, Darci Day, who testified that Dwyer had confessed to fantasies of killing O'Hara if she wanted him to. Day, from Maine, said Dwyer had also described a fantasy of stabbing a woman to death during sex. She recounted that she had communicated with Dwyer via email and text, discussing violent and sexual fantasies, including rape and murder. Day also described her own history of depression, suicidal thoughts, and online interactions with Dwyer, noting that she had never met him in person. The trial, which had been proceeding for 29 days, was scheduled to resume with a jury of five women and seven men. The case remains at the trial stage, with no verdict yet announced.
The Court of Appeal ruled that a wholly suspended seven‑year sentence imposed on a 53‑year‑old man for raping and indecently assaulting his wife's sister was unduly lenient. The man pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault committed between 1985 and 1986. A jury at the Central Criminal Court found him guilty on all counts and the trial judge, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, imposed the suspended sentence on 7 June 2013, citing the man's need to support his family, including two autistic sons who require 24‑hour care. The Court of Appeal dismissed the man's appeal against conviction and agreed with the Director of Public Prosecutions that the sentence was too lenient. The court noted that the man had been married to the complainant's elder sister, had two children, and that the offences occurred in the house's bedroom when the complainant was staying over.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has heard evidence from a retired detective sergeant regarding the 1997 murders of two women in Grangegorman, Dublin. Mark Nash, aged 42, has pleaded not guilty to the murders of Sylvia Shields and Mary Callanan on 6 and 7 March 1997. Detective Sergeant David Lynch testified about questioning another suspect, Martin Stafford, in relation to the killings. During cross-examination, the defence counsel raised questions about the adequacy of the investigation and whether relevant information about Stafford's movements had been properly pursued. The court also heard evidence concerning Nash's alleged voluntary disclosure to gardaí in Galway on 17 August 1997 regarding crimes committed in Dublin five months earlier. Justice Carroll Moran adjourned proceedings to address a legal issue that emerged during testimony, with the jury directed to return on Wednesday.
The Central Criminal Court in Dublin is hearing the trial of William Moran, aged 20, who is charged with the murder of Martin Brophy, aged 22, at the old Waterford Institute of Technology building between 19 and 21 May 2012. Moran has pleaded not guilty and the court is currently addressing legal arguments, with evidence to resume on Thursday.
In March 2015 the Court of Appeal considered whether Joe O'Reilly could have his 2007 murder conviction declared a miscarriage of justice. O'Reilly, 42 at the time of the trial, was convicted of killing his wife in their Naul home and sentenced to life imprisonment. He applied under Section 2 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1993, claiming that a portion of the book of evidence had been left in the jury room during the trial, potentially compromising the jury's impartiality. The Director of Public Prosecutions argued the application was an abuse of process, as no new facts had emerged and no attempt had been made to discharge the jury. O'Reilly's counsel contended the case was stateable, citing the lack of inquiry into how the evidence entered the jury room and whether jurors had read it. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment, to be decided as soon as possible, following O'Reilly's earlier unsuccessful appeals in 2009 and 2012.
During the 29th day of Graham Dwyer's murder trial, evidence was presented that two Nokia phones found in Vartry Reservoir were used almost exclusively to contact each other. The phones had no other numbers saved and were last used on the day of the alleged murder. Their contacts were labeled MSTR and SLV, the consonants of "Master" and "Slave." The phones were purchased together on 30 November 2011 and were unregistered. Between 1 December 2011 and 22 August 2012, 1,369 texts and 11 calls were exchanged, all unanswered or to voicemail. Five unanswered calls from Ms O'Hara's iPhone were also recorded. The trial, before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury, continues with Mr Dwyer (42) charged with murdering 36‑year‑old Elaine O'Hara on 22 August 2012. The State alleges he stabbed her for sexual gratification. The case remains in the Central Criminal Court.
During the 28th day of the murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, evidence was presented that Graham Dwyer, aged 42, sent 847 text messages to Elaine O'Hara between January 2008 and December 2009, including 53 on a single day. Garda Paul Kane testified that he analysed Dwyer's work‑phone bills and confirmed the volume of messages, though the content remained unknown. A call from Dwyer to O'Hara's message minder was also identified. Additionally, a crime analyst, Sarah Skedd, used toll‑booth and mobile‑tower records to trace a mobile phone and a vehicle, concluding that Dwyer owned the car that travelled from Galway to Dublin on 4 July 2012. The trial also heard from a friend of O'Hara, who described her personal struggles and relationships, and noted that O'Hara was last seen on the evening of 22 August 2012, after being discharged from a mental‑health hospital.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard statements from the former partner of Mark Nash, who is charged with the murder of two women in March 1997. Nash, aged 42, has pleaded not guilty to the murders of Sylvia Shields and Mary Callanan between March 6 and 7, 1997. State counsel read two statements from Sarah Jane Doyle, describing how she met Nash in a Dublin nightclub in late March 1997 and subsequently began a relationship with him. The court heard Nash claimed to have family connections in Ballina, County Mayo. The second statement was taken after Doyle received a letter from Nash whilst receiving treatment at Beaumont Hospital, following an assault at a house in Ballintober, County Roscommon on August 16, 1997. A handwriting expert from An Garda Síochána testified that letters attributed to Nash displayed consistent characteristics and were written fluently without hesitation or disguise. The trial continues.
In the Waterford murder trial, a jury heard that Garda Eugene O'Neill photographed a swelling on the accused William Moran's hands, taken the same week the body of Martin Brophy was found. Moran, 20, is charged with Brophy's murder at the old WIT building between 19 and 21 May 2012. He pleaded not guilty and is on trial at the Central Criminal Court. O'Neill explained he was asked to photograph Moran's hands after a colleague noticed a swelling, taking two photos on 22 May 2012. Detective Garda Emmett Dunphy confirmed he is a certified XRY operator and examined a sim card belonging to Moran. The jury also heard that items such as a cider bottle wrapper, plastic flaggins and Nike runners were found on New Gate Street and Castle Street between 22 and 25 May. The trial, expected to last three weeks, continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of four women and eight men.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Derek O'Keeffe, aged 39, pleaded guilty to two robbery counts and one attempted robbery at three petrol stations in November 2013. He stole cash from a Maxol Garage on Tymon Road, a Discount Fuels on Fortunestown Road, and a Topaz on Greenhill Road. During the incidents he threatened a security guard with a syringe and held a pregnant employee, Anna Zajac, at a 23‑inch knife point, forcing her to open tills. Zajac reported feeling emotionally destroyed and fearing for her unborn child after the robbery. Garda Simon Whelan testified that O'Keeffe was chased over ten garden walls before being tackled and captured. O'Keeffe's 36 prior convictions include manslaughter, assault, and robbery. Judge Patricia Ryan remanded him in custody to be sentenced next October.
John-Paul Cawley and Wenio Rodriguez Da Silva have brought appeals against their murder convictions in the Court of Appeal. Both men, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Bruno Lemes De Sousa at Shronowen Bog, Listowel, between February 16 and 17, 2012, were found guilty by a jury at a Kerry sitting of the Central Criminal Court. They received mandatory life sentences from Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan on May 22, 2013. Cawley had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Counsel for Da Silva, John B Peart SC, argued the jury should have been discharged against his client, alleging that Cawley's barrister prejudiced Da Silva by jokingly referring to him as a "short plank" during trial discussions. Counsel for Cawley, Anthony Sammon SC, submitted that the trial judge improperly charged the jury regarding the onus of proof. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Seán Ryan with Ms Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan and Mr Justice John Edwards, reserved judgment to a date as soon as possible. The matter was adjourned.
A 61‑year‑old Limerick man, who was jailed in the early 1970s for indecent assault, will be sentenced next week for raping his seven‑year‑old niece between 1984 and 1988. He was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of one count of attempted rape, three counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault. He was remanded in custody for sentencing. The victim, whose name is withheld, said in a victim impact statement that her uncle had stolen her childhood, innocence, dignity and trust. The court heard that the man had previously been jailed for six months in 1973 for an indecent assault, and in 1974 was convicted in the UK for assaulting a girl under 14. He had further convictions for indecent assault in 1995 and 1998, and was jailed for 22 months in 2013 for breaches of the Sex Offenders Act.
John Patterson, 58, of Drimnagh, was convicted of 14 counts of sexual assault against a boy on Mourne Road between 2001 and 2003. A jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty and Judge Donagh McDonagh sentenced him to eight years' imprisonment and ordered him to pay €24,000 in compensation from his Army pension on 25 November 2010. On appeal, Justice Garrett Sheehan, sitting with Justices George Birmingham and Alan Mahon, upheld the eight‑year sentence and the compensation order but suspended the final 21 months of the term. The Court of Appeal had earlier suggested that Patterson might participate in the 'Building Better Lives' sex offenders programme, but his counsel noted that Patterson was ineligible because he had not pleaded guilty. John Patterson pleaded not guilty.
In a 1997 double murder trial, ex‑partner Lucy Porter testified that Mark Nash, aged 42, was a fantasist who told many lies. Porter, who had moved to Dublin with Nash five months earlier, described living with him and their infant daughter in Prussia Street. She recounted that on the night of March 6, 1997, Nash attended a charity quiz at the GPO, returned with two colleagues, and later went to Eddie Rockets where he was seen with a velvet jacket and black caterpillar boots. Porter noted a change in Nash's behaviour, including increased showering, which she attributed to his sexual activity. She agreed with the defence that Nash was a fantasist. The trial also heard from other witnesses, including Audrey Leonard, and continued cross‑examination of former Garda James McHugh. The proceedings remain ongoing. Mark Nash pleaded not guilty.
The High Court heard further submissions in the extradition proceedings against Ali Charaf Damache, an Algerian-born Irish citizen wanted in the United States for conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and attempted identity theft. Counsel for the Attorney General stated that 324 inmates in the US prison system have convictions for Islamic-type terrorism offences, with 10 per cent held in the ADX Supermax Prison. Damache's legal team argued that he could also be sent to other facilities with Communication Management Units. The court noted that if convicted in the US, Damache faces up to 45 years in jail. The High Court previously heard allegations that Damache conspired with Colleen LaRose, who was jailed for ten years in 2014 after admitting involvement in a plot to murder Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks, and Jamie Paulin Ramirez, who was sentenced to eight years in the US after pleading guilty to providing material support to terrorists. In Ireland, Damache was arrested in March 2013 minutes after pleading guilty to sending a menacing phone call to US Muslim activist Majed Moughni in January 2010, for which he was sentenced to three years. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly remanded Damache in custody until April 21, noting that a judgment was not anticipated by that date.
Philip Doyle, 38, of Tinakilly, Aughrim, Co Wicklow, was convicted of manslaughter for the death of his ex‑fiancée's three‑and‑a‑half‑month‑old baby, Ross Murphy, at Creagh Demesne, Gory, Co Wexford, on 5 April 2005. The Central Criminal Court, after a four‑week trial, directed the jury to acquit Doyle of murder and return a unanimous manslaughter verdict. He was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment on 15 May 2012. Doyle's appeal against conviction was opened in the Court of Appeal. His barrister, Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC, argued that the incident was an accident, that the judge had not adequately explained the withdrawal of the murder charge, and that expert evidence on physical abuse was unreliable. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel countered that medical experts found the baby's injuries inconsistent with an accidental fall. The Court of Appeal will decide the appeal as soon as possible. Philip Doyle pleaded not guilty.
A 57-year-old man from Bailieborough in Cavan has been found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter following a trial at the Central Criminal Court. Oliver Kierans was charged with the death of his wife, Patricia Kierans, at their family home on September 5th, 2013. The jury returned majority verdicts finding him guilty of manslaughter by ten to two, and guilty of unlawful possession of a shotgun and possession with intent to endanger life. Evidence presented during the two-and-a-half week trial indicated that Patricia Kierans had separated from the accused and begun a new relationship. The court heard that on the date in question, Patricia Kierans sustained a fatal shotgun wound to the chest at close range. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy confirmed the cause of death was a shotgun injury. Kierans was remanded in custody for sentencing on March 26th. Oliver Kierans was found guilty.
A court has ordered a 63-year-old Dublin man, previously convicted of sexual assault, to have no interaction with children and not to loiter where children gather. The application was brought by gardai under section 16 of the 2001 Sex Offenders Act, which allows the court to prohibit the actions of a respondent if it is necessary to protect the public from serious harm. Judge Martin Nolan granted an exclusion order sought by the State, noting that the 2001 act was there to protect youngsters in the country from predators. In 2007, the man was sentenced to two years imprisonment for the sexual assault of a juvenile. He was convicted again in 2008 of another sexual assault and sentenced to two years with one suspended. In 2010, he was released from Dublin's Arbour Hill Prison, subject to a condition that he comply with the directions of the Probation Services for five years. The court heard that he previously scored high on a risk assessment test, which would have considered his alcohol abuse problems as a contributory risk factor. The order sought that the man be prohibited from having any interaction with any child and from loitering around areas where children usually congregate. Dean Kelly BL, defending, said that any order under the act must be proportional and argued that the prohibitions may be too vague and too broad. The judge refused to include an order that the man not consume any alcohol in a public place.
In February 2013, Michael Jennings (19) and Aaron Handyside (18) threw stones at a night bus on Wyattville Road, Ballybrack, Dublin, injuring passenger Darren Brien when a stone shattered a window and struck his eye. Both men pleaded guilty to damaging the Volvo bus and to assault causing harm. They had no prior convictions. On 27 February 2015, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced them to one night in custody and suspended a nine‑month prison term for each, conditional on keeping the peace. The court noted their limited education and the defendants' remorse, including a €1,500 payment by Jennings. The judge emphasised the obvious danger of throwing stones at buses and the potential for serious harm. No further sentences or convictions were mentioned in the article.
The trial of Mark Nash, 42, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Sylvia Shields (60) and Mary Callanan (61) at sheltered accommodation in Grangegorman between March 6 and March 7, 1997, continued at the Central Criminal Court. Defence counsel cross-examined former Assistant Garda Commissioner James McHugh regarding the earlier, withdrawn murder charge against Dean Lyons. Mr. McHugh testified that Lyons made admissions describing the scene, including the entry point and the victims' positions, which he agreed were consistent with the facts. The defence argued that Lyons' description of the carving knife blades found at the scene could not have been more accurate. Mr. McHugh acknowledged that a second admission from Nash caused concern within An Garda Síochána, leading to an investigation into potential contamination. He stated he was satisfied that officers in Galway, where Nash made his admission, did not prompt him, noting that no notes were taken during those interviews. The court heard that both statements could not be true, necessitating a review of the evidence. The trial continues.
Philip Doyle, 38, of Wicklow, was convicted of manslaughter for the death of his ex‑fiancée's three‑and‑a‑half‑month‑old baby, Ross Murphy, in 2005. The Central Criminal Court found the death an accident after a four‑week trial, and Doyle received an 11‑year sentence in May 2012. Doyle now appeals, arguing the original trial failed to properly direct the jury on the evidence of the baby's ill health and the lack of intent for murder. He contends that the prosecution's reliance on a paediatric study was unreliable and that the judge did not explain why the murder charge was withdrawn. The appeal is before the Court of Appeal, with the prosecution yet to reply. The case remains at the manslaughter conviction stage. Philip Doyle pleaded not guilty.
Wesley Brennan, 28, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for stealing a Honda Accord belonging to Leoney Dunphy during their first date. The theft occurred after Brennan, who met Dunphy on the Plenty of Fish dating site, began shouting at her over her driving and demanded she exit the car so he could drive away. He subsequently sold the vehicle to scrap dealers in Ashbourne. Brennan pleaded guilty to theft of a vehicle worth €5,500. The court noted no violence was used and that Dunphy was not put in fear, though she was flustered. Brennan, who had grown up in Tallaght and was experiencing homelessness and drug debt, apologized to the victim. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence, backdating it to September when Brennan entered custody after bail was revoked.
Neil Curran, 32, of Baldoyle, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for the assault causing harm to Peter Lynch. The incident occurred on December 17, 2013, at Airside Retail Park in Swords. Mr. Lynch, who was Christmas shopping with his family, confronted a woman for littering. Curran, identified as the woman's boyfriend, allegedly struck Mr. Lynch from behind on the head, causing disorientation. The court heard that Curran continued to hit the victim until his nose bled, then kicked him before fleeing the scene. Mr. Lynch sustained severe head injuries, including a soft tissue injury to one eye, cheek swelling, and a chipped tooth. Curran pleaded guilty to the charge. Judge Martin Nolan handed down a sentence of three and a half years, with the final 22 months suspended on strict conditions. The judge noted Curran's early guilty plea and cooperation with gardaí but described the act as a "cowardly assault." Curran had previously apologized to the victim and offered a €3,000 bond as a token of remorse. The matter was finalized with this custodial sentence.
In the Graham Dwyer trial, a forensic scientist presented evidence that the paint on a spade found near Elaine O'Hara's remains was not a chemical match to paint found in Dwyer's shed. The spade, which Dwyer's wife said she recognised as missing from their garden, was examined for paint, protector and a fence piece from Dwyer's garden. The scientist noted that the paint on the spade appeared as dried‑on droplets and that microscopic examination showed similarities to paint from Kerrymount Close, but chemical composition tests revealed differences, concluding the paints did not match. The evidence was delivered on the 25th day of the trial at the Central Criminal Court, with Dwyer, a 42‑year‑old father of three, charged with the murder of 36‑year‑old childcare worker Elaine O'Hara on 22 August 2012, hours after she was discharged from a mental health hospital.
Oliver Kierans, aged 57, from Drumbannon in Bailieborough, County Cavan, stands trial at the Central Criminal Court on a charge of murdering his wife Patricia Kierans on 5 September 2013 at their home address. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and to possession of a shotgun with intent to endanger life. The jury found him guilty yesterday of unlawful possession of a 12-gauge double-barrel shotgun. Justice Aileen Donnelly directed the jury of five women and seven men to consider majority verdicts on the remaining charges of murder and possession of the firearm with intent to endanger life. Deliberations were adjourned this evening and will resume tomorrow.
In a 2015 murder trial, the jury heard that Garda Sergeant Mark Nash had reservations about Dean Lyons, describing him as "a bit of a Walter Mitty." Lyons, who died before the trial, was the first person to admit to the 1997 double murder of Sylvia Shields (60) and Mary Callanan (61) at Orchard View in Grangegorman. He was charged in July 1997. The court considered evidence that a key belonging to Ann Mernagh was found in a garden near Orchard View, and that Lyons had thrown the key into a hedge on Rathdown Road, as stated in a July 26, 1997 statement. Lyons also admitted stealing £30 from under a carpet in the same building. The trial also discussed the involvement of Martin Stafford, who was investigated but ultimately excluded from the case. The proceedings remain ongoing. Mark Nash pleaded not guilty.
During the 25th day of Graham Dwyer's murder trial, his wife Gemma Dwyer testified that the spade found near Elaine O'Hara's remains was the same spade she had noticed missing from their garden. She described how the spade had been used to clear a neighbour's dog's droppings and had been absent during the summer of 2013, after which she had used a plastic spade. Dwyer also recalled receiving a letter from her husband in which he referred to Ms O'Hara as "that awful girl." She provided details of their life together, including their children, their home in Foxrock, and her husband's interests in model aeroplanes, cars, and computers. The court heard that the spade was a True Temper Homeowner model, forged in Cork before 2009, and that the Gardaí had not taken the spade to the search. The trial continued before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury.
Oliver Kierans, a 57-year-old man from Drumbannon, Bailieborough, Cavan, is currently on trial at the Central Criminal Court. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife, Patricia Kierans, aged 54, which allegedly occurred on September 5th, 2013, at their shared address. Kierans also pleaded not guilty to the unlawful possession of a 12-gauge double barrel shotgun and not guilty to possessing the same firearm with intent to endanger life. After deliberating for more than five hours, a jury of five women and seven men returned a unanimous verdict finding Kierans guilty of the charge of unlawful possession of the shotgun. The jury has not yet reached a verdict on the remaining charges, including the murder allegation. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly thanked the jury for their service and instructed them to return the following day to continue their deliberations on the outstanding counts. The matter remains ongoing, with the trial proceeding to a further stage of jury consideration.
In a 2015 Central Criminal Court hearing, Mark Nash, 42, pleaded not guilty to the 1997 murders of Sylvia Shields and Mary Callanan. Nash claimed that a confession he gave to Gardaí in August 1997 was "produced" by other Gardaí at Mill Street Garda Station, not entirely his own words. He later said he never claimed the confession was 100% fabricated. The court heard that Nash had expressed distrust of Gardaí, suggesting that words could be twisted. Assistant Commissioner Derek Byrne, who interviewed Nash in 1999, recounted Nash's statements about Garda manipulation. The trial also discussed earlier confessions by Dean Lyons, who was later charged and then had his charge withdrawn. The case remains ongoing.
A jury has begun deliberations in the Central Criminal Court in the trial of Oliver Kierans, aged 57, from Drumbannon, Bailieborough, County Cavan. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Patricia Kierans, aged 54, at their home address on 5 September 2013. He also denies unlawful possession of a 12-gauge double-barrel shotgun and possession of the same firearm with intent to endanger life. The trial proceeded today despite the accused's absence due to illness, following his instructions that proceedings continue. Justice Aileen Donnelly outlined to the jury of five women and seven men that they must return unanimous verdicts on all charges, with three possible outcomes for the murder allegation. After deliberating for more than thirty minutes, the jury adjourned to resume consideration of the case tomorrow.
A 74‑year‑old Kerry pensioner was found guilty by a jury of eight counts of sexual assault of his sister‑in‑law, who is now 53. The convictions relate to indecent assault incidents that occurred between 1 January 1971 and 31 December 1974. The trial, held over four days at the Central Criminal Court before Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan, ended with the jury agreeing on eight of the eleven charges; the remaining three were not fully agreed upon. The accused was charged with 11 counts of indecent assault, but the jury convicted him on eight. The victim, who was 10 years old when the abuse began, reported the abuse to her family in 1986 and to the Gardaí in 2007. She described repeated assaults at the accused's home in Kerry, where she often stayed overnight with her sister and her sister's daughters.
The trial of William Moran, a 20‑year‑old from Waterford, will resume before a jury on Wednesday morning. Moran is charged with the murder of 22‑year‑old Martin Brophy, who died of blunt‑force trauma to the head at the old Waterford Institute of Technology building between 19 and 21 May 2012. He has pleaded not guilty and is being tried at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. Witness testimony last week described the alleged assault: Moran allegedly stamped on Brophy's head, saying "This is out of American History X", and also kicked and dropped a brick on him, causing blood to spatter. The witness, Gavin Walsh, said the incident occurred in a warehouse on Saturday 19 May 2012. The jury, composed of four women and eight men, will return to decide the case. The trial has been in legal argument before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy for several days.
Darren Byrne, 34, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for biting off a large portion of Niall Kearns' ear during an unprovoked pub attack at The Village Inn, Clondalkin, on 23 June 2012. Byrne pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. He claimed he was on heavy medication and believed six men were attacking him, which he used as a defence. The judge, Martin Nolan, described the assault as "a savage attack" and noted it was at the highest level of the offence. Byrne had 15 prior convictions for minor matters. The victim, Kearns, reported that Byrne had been growling in his ear and that the ear could not be re‑attached by surgeons. The sentence was imposed despite Byrne's health issues and claims of being a former heroin addict. The case was prosecuted by Fiona McGowan BL and defended by Garnet Orange SC.
Two 24‑year‑olds, Gerard Monroe and Christopher Forbes, were found guilty of assault causing harm to Steve O'Sullivan and Des O'Leary after a "bumping" incident at Lillie's Bordello club in Dublin. The court heard that the pair waited outside the club, ambushed the victims as they left, and struck them on the head, with Forbes also kicking O'Leary. O'Sullivan suffered a concussion, a knocked‑out filling, a black eye and swollen lips; O'Leary sustained temporary hearing loss and injuries to his eye socket and nose. Both men pleaded guilty to two assault charges. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a suspended three‑year sentence, conditional on the men keeping the peace for two years, and ordered restitution payments of €3,000 from Forbes and €550 from Monroe. The court noted their good work records, low re‑offending risk, and their participation in alcohol awareness programmes.
Mark Cooke, 26, of Derry Park, Crumlin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for drug offences. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply, admitting to being caught with heroin and cocaine in March and May 2013, as well as possession of Diazepam and heroin for sale or supply on March 6, 2013. Judge Martin Nolan suspended a three-year prison sentence on the condition that Cooke keeps the peace for that period. The judge noted it would be unjust to jail Cooke, who is in rehabilitation for long-term consequences of an assault, citing that he is practically housebound. Cooke suffers from weakness on his left side, long-term memory impairment, and depression resulting from an unprovoked attack on July 9, 2013, at St James Walk, Rialto, which left him in a 26-day coma. His childhood friend, Daniel Clarke, 20, of Dolphin House, Dolphin's Barn, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Cooke during that incident. Clarke was previously sentenced to eight and a half years, with the last 18 months suspended. The court heard Clarke straddled the victim and drove a broken glass bottle into his face. Cooke has nine previous convictions, including one for possession of drugs for sale or supply and one for attempted robbery.
Swords District Court heard several matters presided over by Judge Denis McLoughlin. Jandean Hyland, who pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, had his case struck out after paying €750 compensation. Anthony Lambe, convicted of causing criminal damage, was fined €200 and remanded on continuing bail until May 18th to pay the fine. Patrick McDonagh was convicted and fined €250 for theft, while his brother Eddie McDonagh, also convicted of theft, was given the benefit of the Probation & Offenders Act. Karl McQuillian, who pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cannabis, had his case adjourned until May 18th for a Probation & Welfare report to assess suitability for 200 hours of community service in lieu of a five-month prison sentence. Algars Putnins, who pleaded guilty to intoxication, obstruction, and threatening behaviour, was remanded on continuing bail to reappear in May to make a €200 charitable contribution, with the Probation Act to be applied if the donation is made. Martin Maughan, who pleaded guilty to careless driving and failing to give a specimen, was disqualified from driving for four years and fined €300.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Edward Connors, a 30‑year‑old deaf mute with no fixed abode, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for the unlawful killing of Eoghan Dudley, 28, who died after being knocked under a bus on Dawson Street on 6 December 2012. Connors had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, but a jury found him guilty of manslaughter after an eight‑day trial. Judge Patrick McCartan described Connors as a serious danger to society, citing his history of aggression and violence, and noted his severe communication difficulties stemming from lifelong deafness. The judge also ordered Connors to be assessed for rehabilitation services in the UK, as no suitable services exist in Ireland for deaf offenders. Connors had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of threatening injury with a syringe, for which he received two concurrent two‑year sentences.
In February 2015, lawyers for the State were instructed to prepare a substantive 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, 47, is serving a life sentence in Portlaoise Prison after a 31‑day trial before the Special Criminal Court. He also faces convictions for drugs and firearms. Meehan's appeal is based on new evidence that emerged during the 2001 Special Criminal Court trial of John Gilligan. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Tom O'Connell, noted that the evidence was already known before the original appeal and that the DPP had previously moved to dismiss the application, a motion that was refused by the Court of Criminal Appeal. The Court of Appeal has ordered the State to submit a comprehensive response, with case management to be considered on 19 June.
A 48‑year‑old Clare resident was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for sexually abusing his Limerick niece from age six. He began raping her from age nine, forcing her to touch his private parts and perform oral rape while she stayed at his bedsit. The jury found him guilty of eight counts of rape and 17 counts of sexual assault between October 1998 and April 2003; he had pleaded not guilty to 32 counts of rape and assault between October 1998 and October 2004, with seven counts unresolved. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Carney, described the case as distressing, noting the abuse was filmed, the victim was drugged with alcohol, and pornographic material was shown. He imposed a 15‑year term with no suspension and ordered 18 months of post‑release supervision. The defendant had prior convictions dating from 1984 to 2012.
The Prison Governor is appealing a High Court judgement that the detention of a convicted murderer in solitary confinement for nearly a year breached the prisoner's rights. The case is currently at the appeal stage. The Governor, represented by Mr Seamus Woulfe SC, argued that the prisoner, Daniel McDonnell, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of teenager Melanie McCarthy McNamara, was kept in solitary confinement for his own safety. However, McDonnell's lawyers contended that the 23-hour lock-up regime was disproportionate and violated his rights. The court previously quashed the regulation keeping McDonnell in solitary confinement and made several declarations, including that the prisoner's rights to bodily and psychological integrity were breached. The matter was adjourned for a week following the judge granting permission to bring fresh proceedings, including an inquiry under Article 40 of the Constitution into the legality of McDonnell's detention. The judge also placed a stay on his orders until Tuesday of next week. The judge found that the confinement in solitary was unlawful and neither necessary nor proportional to the perceived threat to McDonnell's person. McDonnell, who was found guilty in January 2014 of murdering Ms McCarthy McNamara, claimed he was denied access to structured activities within the prison and was finding it difficult to cope, with his health suffering.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has been presented with a letter of retraction written by Mark Nash, a 42-year-old man from Dublin, who previously gave gardaí a statement admitting responsibility for the 1997 murders of two women in Grangegorman. Nash has pleaded not guilty to the charges concerning the deaths of Sylvia Shields and Mary Callanan between 6 and 7 March 1997. In the retraction, read to the court by former Assistant Commissioner James McHugh, Nash attributed his knowledge of the crimes to media coverage, teletext reports, and radio accounts. He claimed he had been in mental distress when making his initial August 1997 statement at Mill Street Garda Station in Galway and asserted he had requested legal representation on three occasions during questioning. The trial, with Roscommon connections relating to an earlier assault allegation against Nash, continues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Thomas Callery, aged 42, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Danielle Byrne, aged 22, after a melee at a pub during Callery's child's christening. Callery threw a pint glass that struck Byrne in the face, causing her to black out and fall. The glass hit her right eye, resulting in nerve damage, scarring to her eyebrow and cheek, and ongoing anxiety. Byrne reported daily eye drops and anxiety attacks. Callery, who has 14 prior convictions including a 2006 common assault, was remanded in custody pending sentencing. The judge noted Byrne's intoxication and the altercation but emphasized Callery's responsibility for the injury. The case remains at the sentencing stage, with no final sentence announced yet.
Charles Dillon, 33, was found guilty by a jury of assault causing harm to Polish national Piotr Kozub, 59, after an incident at the Castle Inn Pub in Rathfarnham on 13 December 2008. Dillon, a father of six, had pleaded not guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Desmond Hogan imposed a three‑year jail sentence but suspended it, requiring Dillon to keep the peace for two years and complete 240 hours of community work. The judge noted Dillon's awareness of the consequences of his actions and his previous convictions for public order offences. Kozub suffered severe personal injuries, including black eyes, broken teeth, and required five weeks off work and dental surgery in Poland. Dillon's brother, who ran the karaoke that night, was also involved in the altercation. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan expressed shock that Club Lapello on Dame Street served an already intoxicated UK customer, Daniel Rains, 31, up to 15 additional alcoholic shots before he launched an assault rampage. Rains, an electrician from Manchester, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mauritian national Ramanasmany Manthaly, causing a fractured cheekbone, and to assaulting two other customers and two security officers on 26 January 2014. He had four prior UK convictions for assault. Garda Ciaran O'Sullivan noted Rains had no recollection of the attacks and had expressed remorse. The judge imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year jail term, crediting time already spent in custody awaiting bail, and criticised the club for allowing Rains to remain on the premises after staff had warned him to "quieten down.".
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard evidence on its 22nd day regarding Graham Dwyer, aged 42, who is charged with murdering Elaine O'Hara at Killakee, Rathfarnham on August 22nd, 2012. Mr Dwyer has pleaded not guilty. A former partner testified that Mr Dwyer had expressed a fantasy involving stabbing during sexual activity and subsequently brought a kitchen knife into their bedroom. She also described receiving a birthday card from Mr Dwyer in November 2014 containing references to forensic evidence and acquittal. Detective Garda Bríd Wallace of the Computer Crime Unit gave evidence regarding examination of Ms O'Hara's laptops, identifying documents concerning methods of killing and online searches for stabbing-related content and specific knives. Email communications and user profiles on websites associated with Mr Dwyer were also discussed. The trial continues before a jury of five women and seven men.