A grave digger, Martin Hayes, 34, will be tried for the murder of his partner, Amadea McDermott, 27, who was found dead at her home in Rathvale Drive, Ayrfield, Coolock on or about 20 July 2017. Hayes was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, led by senior counsel Sean Gillane, will argue that the events leading to the murder began on 19 July and continued into the early hours of 20 July, with Hayes and McDermott in a relationship at the time. Witnesses will include McDermott's sisters and other parties, and Garda officers from Coolock and Malahide stations will testify. Hayes was employed as a grave digger at Mount Jerome cemetery in Harold's Cross when the alleged offence occurred. The trial, overseen by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, is scheduled to last up to four weeks.
A trial is ongoing before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury of six men and six women regarding allegations that four men raped and sexually assaulted a woman at her home in Dublin between December 8 and 9, 2018. Reporting restrictions apply to the identities of all participants. The complainant, now 24, testified that she was held down on her mother's bed while two men took turns raping her. She stated that neither man wore a condom and that she was subsequently dragged from the bathroom by her hair by the first accused. The court heard that she was examined at the Rotunda Sexual Assault Treatment Unit, where she reported vaginal, oral, and digital penetration. Defence counsel for the first accused, Dominic McGinn SC, argued that any sexual contact was consensual and denied that his client pulled the complainant's hair. The complainant denied these claims, stating she was not making up the events. The first accused, aged 25, has pleaded not guilty to oral rape and sexual assault. The second accused, also aged 25, has pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault. The third accused, aged 23, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one oral rape, and sexual assault. The fourth accused, aged 24, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and sexual assault. The matter is currently at the trial stage and continues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 41‑year‑old man was convicted of sexual assault against his 10‑year‑old daughter, who was in his bed when the alleged offence occurred between 1 January and 30 April 2017. The daughter reported that the man rubbed her front and back and inserted a finger into her vagina while they were in his bed, but she could not say for certain whether he was awake or asleep. The jury found him guilty, and Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to three years and four months' imprisonment. The man has now appealed, arguing that the trial judge erred by not directing the jury that the evidence did not establish his intent and by failing to issue a corroboration warning. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, has reserved judgment on the appeal. The unnamed girl pleaded not guilty.
Craig O'Brien, 28, of Ballyfermot, admitted assaulting influencer Charleen Murphy at the Grafton Capital Hotel on 10 February 2023. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Orla Crowe set a sentencing hearing for 24 November 2023, remanding O'Brien in custody until then. The court will view CCTV footage and a victim impact statement, with the hearing expected to last about half an hour.
In October 2021, 41‑year‑old Brazilian Renato Gehlen was convicted by a unanimous jury of murdering 37‑year‑old Anne Colomines in Dublin. He denied the murder and claimed that Colomines had stabbed herself during a struggle, producing a knife and cutting herself four times. The State argued that Gehlen's appeal was contradictory to his trial position and that evidence for a provocation defence was lacking. The Court of Appeal, hearing the appeal on 13 October 2023, rejected Gehlen's claim that he could have argued provocation at trial. Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh noted that the production of a knife alone did not constitute provocation and that there was no evidence of loss of self‑control. The appeal was dismissed, leaving Gehlen's mandatory life sentence in place. The case remains at the appellate stage.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 13 October 2023, the appeal of Edmundas Dauksa, aged 53, was dismissed. Dauksa had been convicted in May 2021 by a Central Criminal Court jury of murdering his former partner, Ingrida Maciokaite, 31, after she refused to bring their six‑year‑old daughter to his home. The jury found no provocation and rejected Dauksa's claim that he was "fuelled with murderous intent" or that he had been "wronged" by the court's custody decision. The appeal argued that Maciokaite's decision not to bring the child constituted provocation, but the Court of Appeal, led by Ms Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh, held that the decision was a matter for the custody court and that Dauksa's 20‑minute walk to the courtyard did not indicate a loss of self‑control. Alcohol intoxication was deemed irrelevant to the intent to kill. Both grounds of appeal failed, and the murder conviction was upheld. Edmundas Dauksa pleaded not guilty.
In October 2023, Sebastian Betlejewski, 37, was extradited from Poland to face charges for an assault that occurred in 2008 at the Zanzibar nightclub in Dublin. The incident involved Betlejewski punching a stag party-goer, who suffered a fractured skull and cheekbone after falling onto the dancefloor. Betlejewski pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm. He had no prior convictions in either Ireland or Poland. The court heard the victim, a Northern Irishman, had returned home after the incident and had since moved on with his life. Betlejewski claimed mistaken identity, stating another man had assaulted him. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to 18 months, suspended on conditions, and he was released on bail after brief custody in both countries. He paid €5,000 to the victim and expressed remorse. The case concluded with a suspended custodial sentence and no further custodial term imposed.
A former English teacher has gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court charged with indecently assaulting a pupil during the 1980s. Jacintha McSherry O'Connor, aged 63, of Donegal Town, Co Donegal, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault on dates between June and September 1985. The prosecution alleges the offences occurred both during tutoring sessions at the complainant's home and whilst on holiday abroad with his family. The complainant, now 51, testified that he was a young teenager at the time and had not yet reached puberty. He described incidents occurring in a swimming pool and at the accused's apartment during the holiday, and further alleged assaults at his Dublin home following their return. The defence denies all allegations, with counsel suggesting the complainant developed an obsession with the accused and is mistaken about conversations he claims took place. The trial continues before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
The High Court has dismissed an application for an inquiry into the detention of Martin O'Toole, also known as Martin Thomas, who was convicted of offences related to the 2018 Strokestown eviction incident. In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey refused to direct an inquiry under Article 40 of the Constitution, characterizing the bid as a collateral attack on the verdict and sentence handed down by Judge Martina Baxter. O'Toole, 59, was found guilty by a jury at the Circuit Criminal Court of several offences, including aggravated burglary, violent disorder, and assault, and was sentenced to a total of 15 years in prison. He is currently detained in Castlerea Prison. The application was brought by two individuals, Ms Melissa Kelly and Mr Joe Doocey, who argued the trial was fundamentally flawed and that O'Toole was an innocent man. However, Mr Justice Sanfey noted that much of the evidence presented was hearsay and that O'Toole had not personally submitted documentation to support the claim. The judge emphasized that the High Court can only interfere with detention if a trial is clearly fundamentally flawed, a threshold not met here. He further stated that an appeal, which the applicants had rejected, was the clear remedy for raising complaints about the trial conduct. O'Toole has rejected any wrongdoing, claiming his legal team failed to follow his instructions.
Anthony Connors, 47, pleaded guilty to robbing a priest at a parochial house in Coolock on 30 September 2021. CCTV showed him inside the house for 20 minutes, during which he stole from the priest, knocked him to the ground and threatened him with a knife, leaving the priest terrified. Connors has 61 prior convictions, including burglary, false imprisonment, assault and impersonating a Garda. The court heard the priest escaped, ran to a neighbour who called the Gardaí, and that the priest now suffers sleepless nights and anxiety about opening his door. Connors' guilty plea and letter of remorse were considered. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a headline sentence of eight years but, after taking the plea and remorse into account, sentenced him to six years in prison, backdated from his arrest. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and Connors' extensive criminal record. The priest's victim impact statement was submitted but not read aloud.
The Court of Appeal upheld a one‑year custodial sentence for a 13‑year‑old who orally raped his 7‑year‑old cousin and committed four further sexual assaults. The appeal was dismissed because the judge had imposed the minimum sentence the law allowed. The court noted that the youth, now 18, would be transferred to an adult prison for the remainder of his term, a decision left to the executive. The judge's role was to impose an appropriate sentence, and the court found no error in requiring custodial detention. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, where the defendant pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault and was convicted of oral rape. The judge reduced the headline sentence from eight to four years, then to one year, citing the offender's immaturity and mitigating factors. The appeal was rejected on all seven grounds presented.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 12 October 2023, Aaron Brady's defence argued that two jurors in his 2020 murder trial may have visited Crossmaglen after the verdict, a claim that required clarification. Brady, aged 32, was convicted of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe and sentenced to life imprisonment with a 40‑year minimum, plus a concurrent 14‑year robbery term. The defence sought leave to raise this as a new ground of appeal, citing a meeting between a juror and the jury minder on 3 March 2021 and a subsequent encounter on 16 June 2022. Brendan Grehan SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, maintained that the law clearly prohibits questioning jurors about deliberations after a verdict, citing the long‑established rule that such inquiries undermine finality.
In a rape trial, a 19‑year‑old woman testified that she invited a man she knew to her home, but he arrived with three unknown men. Over December 8‑9, 2018, all four men sexually assaulted her. The accused, aged 25, 25, 23 and 24, pleaded not guilty to various counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault. The complainant described being forced into oral sex, having her clothing removed, and being assaulted by multiple men while she tried to seek help. She reported being in pain, bleeding, and eventually contacted Gardaí, receiving treatment at a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit. The case is before Mr Justice David Keane with a jury of six men and six women. Reporting restrictions apply to all participants.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 11 October 2023, Aaron Brady's defence lawyers argued that the State had failed to disclose a police report about steroids found in the home of key prosecution witness Daniel Cahill until after his cross‑examination. The defence claimed this omission undermined Cahill's credibility and made the trial unfair. Brendan Grehan SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, counter‑argued that the late disclosure was a privileged police‑to‑police report and that the defence had chosen not to recall Cahill. He also highlighted that the defence had sought to show a picture of Cahill's penis to the jury, describing it as an attempt to humiliate the witness. The appeal concerns Brady's 2020 conviction for the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe, for which he is serving a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum. The hearing will continue the following day before a three‑judge panel.
John Paul Duncan, 39, with 139 prior convictions, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after he attacked two gardaí while being escorted to Mater Hospital. He had been arrested for possessing €8,500 worth of cocaine in six condoms and pleaded guilty. Duncan had requested a stay of sentence to enter a residential drug treatment program, but Judge Orla Crowe refused. The judge set a headline sentence of four years for the cocaine possession, reduced due to Duncan's early plea and remorse, and added a suspended six‑month portion for 18 months. The court also ordered Duncan to maintain good behaviour for 18 months upon release and to comply with Probation Services supervision. The assault on the gardaí, described as "nasty", was taken into account in the sentencing decision. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Aaron Brady, convicted of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe, has taken his appeal to the Court of Appeal. His lawyers argue that the prosecution failed to investigate an interruption of key witness Molly Staunton's testimony, which occurred via video link from New York during the Covid‑19 lockdown. An unseen man interrupted Staunton while she was testifying, and the court later read the jury a transcript of that exchange. Brady's counsel claims this was unlawful and prejudicial, and that the court erred by not ordering an investigation into the circumstances. The Director of Public Prosecutions contends the judge acted within his jurisdiction, that the interruption did not affect the evidence, and that the jury should not be discharged. The appeal hearing will continue tomorrow before a three‑judge panel. The case remains a landmark Irish murder trial, with Brady serving a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum.
Owain Plumb, 37, an IT worker who has lived in Ireland for ten years, was convicted at the Central Criminal Court of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault of a young woman who slept on his couch on 11 January 2020. The woman had earlier that night rebuked him for unwanted touching. Plumb, originally from Wales, had no prior convictions and maintains his innocence. The court described the offence as an opportunistic breach of trust and hospitality. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a headline sentence of eight years and eight months, then reduced it to seven years with the final twelve months suspended, citing Plumb's lack of prior convictions, good character evidence, rehabilitation steps, family support and favourable employment history. The case involved alcohol and cocaine consumption, a group hug that led to the assault, and the woman's subsequent distress and attempt to recover her iPad. The victim's impact statement was submitted but not read aloud.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 9 October 2023, a 17‑year‑old girl who had been repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted by a family friend over six years, starting when she was seven, read her victim impact statement. The defendant, a 40‑year‑old man whose name is withheld, was found guilty of 12 counts including rape, anal rape and oral rape, and not guilty of one count of sexual assault. He continues to deny wrongdoing. The victim described the man as a predator, said she lives in constant fear, suffers severe anxiety, depression and PTSD, and that the court process made her feel more on trial than he was. She said her schoolwork suffered, she isolated herself, and she fears future effects of the abuse. The judge thanked her for her report and hoped she would continue her studies. The case was adjourned to 23 October for finalisation. The unnamed 17-year-old was acquitted.
Aaron Brady, convicted of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, is appealing his conviction in a six-day hearing before the Court of Appeal. On the fourth day, senior counsel Fiona Murphy argued that the trial's integrity was "well and truly breached" when key witness Molly Staunton, testifying via video link from New York, was interrupted by an unseen man who told her to "stop it right now" before the connection was cut. Murphy submitted that the trial court erred in refusing to discharge the jury, claiming the disruption rendered the trial "fundamentally flawed" and that the State failed to implement adequate safeguards for the witness. She contended that the jury might perceive the interference as prejudicial to Brady, despite no evidence linking the man to the appellant. In reply, Lorcan Staines SC for the DPP stated that declaring Staunton a hostile witness was a discretionary matter for the trial judge. Brady, who was found guilty by an 11-to-1 majority jury at the Central Criminal Court in August 2020, is serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum term for the murder, which occurred during a robbery in 2013. He was also sentenced to 14 years for the robbery, running concurrently. The appeal continues before Mr Justice John Edwards, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, and Ms Justice Tara Burns.
Witnesses at the Central Criminal Court described the June 5, 2018 shooting at Bray Boxing Club. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty to the murder of Robert 'Bobby' Messett and the attempted murders of Peter Taylor and Ian Britton. Witness Ian Britton recounted seeing a man in a yellow top and tracksuit, wearing a hard‑hat‑style headwear, who fired a gun that struck Messett in the head and later Taylor. He estimated about ten shots were fired over 30‑45 seconds. Alan Hunter testified that Taylor "made a charge" at the gunman before being shot, describing the gunman as calm and wearing a black visor and gloves. Stephen Kearns also saw Taylor running toward the gunman and falling, with the gunman eventually disappearing. The trial continues before Justice Karen O'Connor.
The Central Criminal Court heard that the family of Michael Connolly (55), who was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility in the death of Mark Lawlor (37), had previously attempted to have him committed to a mental health institution due to concerns about his deteriorating mental health. Connolly had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Lawlor by reason of insanity. The jury was informed that Connolly believed Mr Lawlor had 'some kind of exalted identity like a king' and was 'a kingpin of Dublin'. The case hinged on the disagreement between two psychiatrists regarding whether Connolly was sufficiently mentally ill to be found not guilty by reason of insanity. The prosecution submitted that the offence committed by Connolly fell into the higher bracket for sentencing, which would result in a sentence between 10 and 15 years. Defence counsel highlighted that Connolly had received a fully-suspended sentence in 2013 for attacking what he believed to be 'blasphemous' artworks in a Louth church gallery with an axe and was then admitted to a mental health institution in Ardee, Co Louth. The matter was adjourned to October 27 for sentence.
Four men are currently on trial at the Central Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice David Keane, accused of raping and sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman at her home in December 2018. Reporting restrictions apply to the identities of all participants. The first accused, aged 25, has pleaded not guilty to oral rape and sexual assault. The second accused, also 25, has pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault. The third accused, aged 23, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one oral rape, and a sexual assault. The fourth accused, aged 24, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and a sexual assault. Prosecution counsel Anne Rowland SC outlined evidence alleging the men arrived at the victim's home after 11pm, where they allegedly subjected her to non-consensual acts, including forced oral sex and intercourse. DNA evidence was presented, linking the first accused to bedding, the second to the victim's swabs, and the fourth to the victim and a condom; no DNA from the third accused was located. The accused men provided varying accounts to gardai, initially denying presence or claiming consent. The trial is ongoing and will continue before the jury on Monday.
During a six‑day appeal hearing, Aaron Brady's counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, argued that a secret tape recording of a US Special Agent, Matt Katske, coercing a suspect to implicate Brady in the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe should have been admitted as evidence. The recording, described as "liquid gold," shows Katske offering assistance and threatening a suspect's brother in exchange for information that would place Brady in the frame. O'Higgins claimed the trial judge erred by refusing to allow the tape before the jury and by denying cross‑examination of Katske. The appeal also contends that the deportation of Brady to Ireland was effectively an extradition, undermining his trial rights. Brady, 32, is serving a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum for the 2013 murder and a concurrent 14‑year robbery sentence. The appeal will continue before the Court of Appeal on Monday. Aaron Brady was found guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Tyreece O'Farrell, a 15‑year‑old at the time of the offences, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for stealing 24 bicycles from apartment blocks in the Ballsbridge area between December 2019 and June 2020. The bicycles, valued between €500 and €2,500, were locked in underground car parks or outdoor areas; only one was recovered. The sentence includes a 16‑month suspended portion, leaving an effective custodial term of 20 months. O'Farrell also pleaded guilty to violent disorder in East Wall, where a driver suffered a brain injury after nine days in hospital. He received an 18‑month sentence for that offence, to run concurrently with the bicycle‑theft term. The court ordered 16 months of good‑behaviour supervision under the Probation Service following release. The judge noted O'Farrell's 29 prior convictions, drug addiction, and homelessness, and urged him to consider rehabilitation.
John Paul Duncan, 39, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing €8,500 in cocaine contained in six condoms at Store Street Garda Station on January 31 last. He also admitted assaulting two gardaí who took him to the Mater Hospital on the same day after he reported feeling unwell. Duncan, who has 139 previous convictions in Ireland and 11 in other jurisdictions, was previously sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in a €1.8 million cocaine haul in 2007. He escaped from Loughan House open prison in 2016 and was later extradited from the UK. During the sentencing hearing, Duncan requested that his sentence be stayed to allow him to undertake a 14-week residential drug treatment course starting October 17. He testified that he has been drug-free for a couple of months and cited childhood domestic violence as the origin of his addiction. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the matter for sentence to next Wednesday, October 11, to obtain a urine analysis. The court did not conclude the case or impose a final penalty during this session.
Patrick Stokes, 31, with 97 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to robbery in St Audoen's Park, Dublin 8, on 11 October 2021. The robbery involved a homeless man who had given Stokes €40 from his sock; Stokes then took about €400 from the sock after the victim and another man had smoked crack together in a park near Christchurch. The victim later identified Stokes in a shop on Westmoreland Street, leading to his arrest. Stokes also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on the Liffey Boardwalk, Bachelor's Walk, Dublin 1, on 21 September 2021, where he punched a man to the ground and stamped on him, causing bruising and soft‑tissue damage. He was on bail for a 2019 assault causing serious harm. The court heard that Stokes has a long history of drug addiction, has been living in a tent near the Dáil, and has been attending workshops in custody. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned sentencing to 8 December.
The State presented fingerprint and DNA evidence linking Gerard Cervi to a van used by the gunman in the Bray Boxing Club shootings of 2018. Cervi, 36, was charged with the murder of Bobby Messett and the attempted murders of coach Pete Taylor and Ian Britton. The prosecution described the shooting at 6:50 am, where nine shots were fired, killing Messett and injuring Taylor and Britton. CCTV footage showed a grey Volkswagen Caddy van with a yellow plate leaving the club, traveling through Cabinteely and Poolbeg to Ringsend. Gardaí seized the van, finding white spirit bottles with Cervi's fingerprints and DNA from the passenger seat and handbrake. Additional footage depicted Cervi traveling to the van on a distinctive bike and returning later that day. The trial was adjourned overnight. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
During a six‑day appeal hearing, Aaron Brady's counsel argued that the jury's deliberations were compromised by the Covid‑19 pandemic. Brady, convicted in 2020 of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe and sentenced to life with a 40‑year minimum, claimed that jurors were worried about dying or about loved ones dying, which he said deteriorated the quality of their deliberations. The appeal focuses on defence complaints about two witnesses who testified via video link from New York during the pandemic. Brady's trial, the longest murder case in Irish legal history, lasted 122 court days and concluded with an 11‑to‑one jury verdict. The appellate court heard arguments that the trial judge should have discharged the jury, but the judge had exercised discretion to continue the case. The appeal will proceed the following day before a three‑judge panel.
Derek Coady, a father of three from Tallaght, was sentenced to four years and six months in prison, with the final six months suspended for two years, for endangerment. He pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly engaging in conduct that created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to Alan Hall, 44, between 17 and 18 May 2020 on Bluebell Avenue, Dublin 12. Coady admitted assaulting Hall by punching him in the stomach, causing minor harm, and exposing him to serious harm. He denied involvement in setting fire to Hall's home and claimed he was unaware of the arson. Hall later died from smoke inhalation after a fire was attempted in his home. The judge noted Coady's 46 previous convictions, alcohol overindulgence, and the mitigating factor of his guilty plea and remorse. The case involved a co‑accused, Conor Curran, who has since died. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the endangerment, which led to Hall's death.
A 15‑year‑old boy pleaded guilty to assault, false imprisonment and theft of a phone after violently attacking his former girlfriend during a crisis period. The victim, who suffered 32 bruises and abrasions, was held in a shed outside the boy's home town, then forced to leave the town after the boy refused to return her phone. She fled to a shop where Gardaí were alerted and she was taken to hospital. The boy's mother explained that the boy had been referred to child mental health services, but the service never started due to Covid lockdowns, and that he had experienced self‑harm and bereavement. The court adjourned sentencing to 9 October, noting the boy's lack of prior convictions, his age, and the need for anger‑management support. The victim's impact statement described ongoing emotional, physical and mental strain and her desire to move on.
A 72‑year‑old man was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment for raping and sexually abusing three of his nieces over a decade. He pleaded guilty to 16 counts of rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and indecent assault committed between 1985 and 1995 at various locations in Cork and Kerry. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, described the offender as a "voracious sexual predator" who masqueraded as a kindly uncle. He set a headline sentence of 25 years, reduced to 20 years because of the defendant's age, and suspended a further two years permanently. The sentence includes two years of post‑release supervision if released. The court heard victim impact statements describing the abuse as repeated, prolonged, humiliating and degrading, and noted the defendant's advanced age may affect his survival of the sentence.
The Central Criminal Court sentenced Sam Archbold, 37, to 12 years in prison with two years suspended for the attempted murder of Andrew O'Brien on 8 April 2022. Archbold, who had failed to repay a €2,000 debt, shot O'Brien twice in the head while he was in his car, leaving O'Brien with shattered teeth, a throat hole and lasting speech difficulties. Archbold was homeless at the time of arrest and had a history of crack cocaine addiction. He pleaded guilty in March 2023, a factor the judge cited as mitigating. The judge described the offence as "organised and deliberate" and placed it in the egregious category, imposing a headline sentence of 16 years before reducing it to the final 12‑year term. A one‑year supervision order was also imposed. The case highlighted the severe consequences of drug‑related criminality.
A 36‑year‑old man, Gerard Cervi, is accused of murdering Robert 'Bobby' Messett and of attempting to murder coach Pete Taylor and Ian Britton on 5 June 2018 at Bray Boxing Club. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. The Central Criminal Court will hear the case, with a jury of six men and six women sworn in. Judge Paul McDermott warned jurors about media influence and advised them to rely solely on court testimony. The trial is expected to last about six weeks and will begin on Wednesday.
Aaron Brady, 32, of New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, is serving a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, 41, on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgen, Co Louth. Brady was found guilty in August 2020 by an 11‑to‑one jury at the Central Criminal Court. His appeal, originally scheduled to begin on Tuesday, was adjourned to Wednesday due to a strike by criminal barristers who are campaigning to reverse cuts to legal aid fees. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, granted the adjournment after the Director of Public Prosecutions explained that the entire criminal bar would be unavailable to commence the seven‑day hearing on Tuesday. The appeal will focus mainly on defence complaints regarding two witnesses who testified via video link from New York during the Covid‑19 crisis.
The Central Criminal Court will hear the murder trial of 32‑year‑old Jozef Puska, accused of killing 23‑year‑old schoolteacher Ashling Murphy on 12 January 2022 in Cappincur, Tullamore. Puska, who lives at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, is represented by Michael Bowman SC. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, will preside. Once the jury is empaneled, the trial is expected to last about four weeks. Murphy, a recent graduate of Mary Immaculate College, was jogging beside the Grand Canal when she was allegedly fatally assaulted.
The Special Criminal Court has heard the appeal of Michael Carroll, who was previously sentenced to 22 years imprisonment for a firearms offence and attempted murder. Carroll, who pleaded guilty to a new charge of having in his possession or control a firearm with intent to endanger life, contrary to Section 15 of the Firearms Act, at Drumalee Avenue on September 2, 2016, was sentenced to 10 years and six months for the firearms offence. He also pleaded guilty to one charge of attempted murder of Edward Staunton at Railway Street on March 26, 2017, and was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment consecutive to that for the attempted murder offence. The judge noted that the firearms offence on John Hutch carried a presumptive minimum sentence of ten years imprisonment and that the attempted murder of Mr Staunton was aggravated by the recent commission of the serious firearm offence. The court considered mitigation and suspended the last two years and six months of the adjusted 14-year sentence, resulting in a final sentence of 22 years for the two offences. The matter was adjourned for further consideration at the Court of Appeal.
Two men have been acquitted of robbery in connection with the 2013 Lordship Credit Union heist in Bellurgan, County Louth, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was killed. Following a three-month trial at the Special Criminal Court, judges found insufficient evidence to convict Brendan Treanor of carrying out the robbery itself, though the court noted his association with the criminal gang involved. James Flynn, from South Armagh, was cleared of direct participation in the robbery but convicted of conspiracy to steal the getaway vehicle used in the raid. The three-judge panel, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, determined that while evidence established both men's involvement with the crime's planning and execution, the prosecution had not proven beyond reasonable doubt that either was among the four men who entered the credit union car park. Flynn will be sentenced on November 13th. Aaron Brady, separately convicted of Detective Donohoe's murder, is serving a life sentence and pursuing an appeal. Brendan Treanor pleaded not guilty.
The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict for Noel Long, a 74‑year‑old former British Army soldier, in the oldest murder prosecution in Irish history. Long, who has prior sexual and assault convictions, was found guilty of murdering 42‑year‑old Nora Sheehan in June 1981. The jury accepted the State's case that DNA from semen found on Sheehan's body matched DNA from Long's clothing, and that fibres and paint fragments from the victim matched those from Long's car. The defence argued that the State failed to prove intent and that the case could be manslaughter, but the jury rejected this. The verdict was reached after 5 hours and 32 minutes of deliberation. The judge thanked the jurors and indicated that a mandatory life sentence would be handed down shortly. The Sheehan family was expected to address the court about the impact of the loss. Noel Long pleaded not guilty.
In early summer 2023, Noel Long received a call from Detective Inspector Eamonn Brady about new evidence in the 1981 murder of Nora Sheehan. Long declined to meet with Gardaí or discuss the evidence, stating he wanted no involvement. The article recounts the 1981 discovery of Sheehan's body in Shippool Woods, describing the scene, the victim's injuries, and the forensic work that linked fibres and paint from Long's 1981 Opel Kadett to the victim. It details the 2008 DNA review that produced a partial male profile from a semen sample, later matched to DNA on a beanie hat taken from Long in 2021. The article also notes the defence's challenge to the reliability of the Low Copy Number DNA method and the State Pathologist's statement that Sheehan's cause of death was unascertained.
A jury of eleven returned to the Central Criminal Court to continue deliberating a cold‑case murder trial involving Noel Long, 74, of Passage West, Cork. Long is charged with the murder of 54‑year‑old Nora Sheehan, whose body was found in Shippool Woods in 1981. The jury had spent 4 hours 44 minutes on their first day of deliberations and was instructed by Judge Paul McDermott to resume at 10.30 am the next day. The prosecution's case, presented by Brendan Grehan SC, relied on forensic evidence, including a partial DNA profile from semen on Sheehan's body that matched DNA on clothing taken from Long in 2021, fibres from the victim's carpet that matched those from Long's car, and paint fragments that matched the same vehicle. The defence, led by Michael Delaney SC, argued that the evidence was solely forensic and did not establish intent, suggesting a possible manslaughter verdict. Noel Long pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Paul McDermott informed a jury that the 74‑year‑old Noel Long's trial could be the oldest murder prosecution in the State, noting the difficulty of proving an old case. The jury, after 35 minutes of deliberation, will return tomorrow. Long, who lives in Maulbawn, Passage West, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 54‑year‑old Nora Sheehan, who disappeared between 6 and 12 June 1981 and whose body was found at The Viewing Point, Shippool Woods. The prosecution's case rests on circumstantial evidence, including the victim's movements, the discovery of her body, and a DNA match between a sample from her body and a beanie hat taken from Long in 2021. Mr McDermott reminded jurors that no statute of limitations applies to murder, that over 280 exhibits were lost, and that the defence had concerns about a missing vaginal swab.
At the Central Criminal Court, prosecutors have submitted that forensic evidence in a cold case murder trial points inescapably to the guilt of the accused. Senior counsel Brendan Grehan closed the State's case against Noel Long, aged 74, of Maulbawn, Passage West, County Cork, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Nora Sheehan between 6 and 12 June 1981. Ms Sheehan's body was discovered at Shippool Woods, Cork, six days after she went missing. Mr Grehan told the jury that fibres from the victim's clothing and paint fragments matched those from the accused's Opel Kadett motor vehicle. A DNA profile recovered from semen found on the deceased matched that from a beanie hat belonging to Mr Long, with odds of one in 23,000 against it being unrelated. Defence counsel Michael Delaney SC argued the 42-year delay was unprecedented and that critical exhibits had been lost, preventing independent verification of the prosecution's forensic findings. The jury's verdict is now pending.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, brothers Ian (34) and Daniel (43) Connaghan were found not guilty of murder after a jury deliberated 14 hours. The jury, however, convicted Ian of manslaughter and Daniel of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to 55‑year‑old Michael 'Mick' Mulvey, who died 13 days after the November 14, 2019 assault. The brothers had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and to the serious harm charges. The State's case alleged that Ian attacked Mulvey near The Halfway House Pub, leaving him on the ground, and that Daniel joined him in a subsequent beating on a traffic island. The jury accepted that the brothers' actions substantially contributed to Mulvey's death but did not find the intent required for murder. No verdicts were recorded for the two assault‑causing‑harm charges, and Daniel was granted bail pending a probation report.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 1 August 2023, a jury found 55‑year‑old Michael Connolly guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility for the death of 37‑year‑old Mark Lawlor in Cloverhill Prison in 2019. Connolly, originally from Louth, had scalded Lawlor with hot water before strangling him. He had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury considered conflicting psychiatric evidence: Dr Stephen Monks and Dr Sally Linehan both diagnosed paranoid schizophrenia but disagreed on whether Connolly was entitled to a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury reached a 10‑2 majority verdict of manslaughter. The case was adjourned to 2 October for sentencing and victim impact statements. No murder conviction was secured. The trial highlighted the dispute over psychiatric testimony and the application of diminished responsibility.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 67‑year‑old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to eight years and three months' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on strict conditions. He pleaded guilty to one count of anal rape of a nine‑year‑old girl in June 2021. The victim, who was the granddaughter of the man's distant relative, was living in the same house as the defendant and her mother until 2020. She disclosed the abuse to her mother on 16 July 2021, who called the Gardaí. The defendant was arrested in September 2021 after a Gardaí interview in which he admitted living at the address but denied the assault. He has two prior non‑sexual convictions and is due to appear later this year on a separate charge. The judge noted the aggravating factors of the victim's age and the breach of trust, and the mitigating factor of the defendant's guilty plea.
Craig Lynham, aged 23, was sentenced to 16 months in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for four counts of sexual assault committed against a 14‑year‑old girl during a sleepover in February 2020. The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, was present at a gathering where Lynham, then 19, sat beside her on the sofa while they watched television. Over the course of the night, he inappropriately touched her on four separate occasions, causing her to freeze and not move. She reported the incident to her boyfriend the following day, who informed her father, leading to a complaint to the Gardaí. Lynham has 11 prior convictions, including possession of stolen property and drug offences, and is already serving a sentence for another matter. He has expressed remorse and accepted the jury's verdict. Craig Lynham was found guilty.
A 23‑year‑old woman was raped by Albert Crowley, 68, in his Dublin home on 8 March 2019. She awoke to sexual moaning, saw Crowley, slapped him and fled. Crowley later claimed she had consented. The woman, intoxicated and asleep, suffered severe trauma, including PTSD, self‑harm attempts and depression, and has struggled to care for her two‑year‑old daughter. She testified that she overdosed and was hospitalised for five days after seeing Crowley at trial. Crowley pleaded not guilty to rape and five sexual assault charges, was convicted on all charges, and was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended. He must engage with the Probation Service for two years upon release. The case highlighted a breach of trust and a 40‑year age gap between the parties. The woman was described by the judge as brave and courageous, yet profoundly affected by the assault.
The cold case murder trial of Noel Long, 74, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of 54-year-old Nora Sheehan between June 6 and June 12, 1981, continued before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Former State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy, called by the defence, testified that the cause of Mrs Sheehan's death remains unascertained. While she agreed with the prosecution that death by asphyxia via two specific methods could not be proved or disproved, she stated there was no evidence of strangulation. Dr Cassidy noted the absence of petechial haemorrhage and ligature marks, suggesting the victim may have died elsewhere before her body was transported to Shippool Woods in Cork. She indicated that injuries to the head and face were consistent with an assault but unlikely to be fatal on their own. The prosecution argued the death resulted from foul play, citing the victim's naked and bruised state. Dr Cassidy acknowledged that while smothering is difficult to sustain, it could not be excluded. The matter was adjourned, with the trial set to continue before the jury.
In a Central Criminal Court murder trial, the jury was instructed that the core issue was the differing conclusions of two psychiatrists regarding Michael Connolly, a 55‑year‑old from Louth. Connolly, who scalded and strangled cellmate Mark Lawlor, 37, in Cloverhill Prison on 23 November 2019, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Dr Stephen Monks testified that Connolly did not understand the nature or wrongness of his actions, supporting a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Dr Sally Linehan, however, found that Connolly understood he had killed another person, suggesting a verdict of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Both doctors agreed Connolly suffered paranoid schizophrenia, but disagreed on the applicability of the special verdict. The jury was told to decide which psychiatrist's evidence they preferred, as this was the "nub of the case.".
In a Dublin murder trial, brothers Ian Connaghan (34) and Daniel Connaghan (43) plead not guilty to the killing of 55‑year‑old builder Michael 'Mick' Mulvey, who died 13 days after a November 2019 assault near The Halfway House Pub. The State alleges the brothers beat Mulvey at a roundabout, causing injuries that contributed to his death, though not the sole cause. The brothers also face charges of serious harm and assault. Judge Paul Burns instructed the jury to determine the dominant cause of death and the accused's intent, noting that intent to cause serious injury suffices for murder. Prosecutor Anne Rowland argued the beatings were severe enough to imply intent to cause serious harm. Defence counsel Garnet Orange contended no serious injury occurred and the death was likely natural. Post‑mortem findings identified blunt‑force chest trauma and underlying ischemic heart disease as contributory. The jury will resume deliberations tomorrow.