Christopher Coakley, 31, with 124 prior convictions, was sentenced to eight years in prison for a pre‑meditated, brutal attack on a doctor in Dublin's north inner city. Coakley approached the doctor, who was travelling on a motorised scooter, and stabbed him repeatedly with scissors, targeting the head, neck, chest and stomach. The victim, a doctor who had never met Coakley, sustained penetrating wounds and required hospital treatment and physiotherapy. CCTV and DNA linked Coakley to the scene, and he was arrested in June 2021. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, noted Coakley's history of drug addiction and early criminal record, reduced the headline sentence of 11 years to nine years with a 12‑month suspended portion, and imposed conditions of medical compliance and probation supervision. The case was originally charged as attempted murder but the charge was dropped after Coakley pleaded guilty to causing serious harm.
Noel Lennon, 49, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the manslaughter of Isaac Horgan, 52, who died after being stabbed in the leg at his home in Dublin 2 on March 29, 2021. Originally charged with murder, Lennon pleaded not guilty to that charge but guilty to manslaughter, a plea accepted by the State. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a headline sentence of nine years, reduced by 18 months to seven and a half years. The final year of the sentence was suspended for a post-release period of four years, with the judge warning that any breach would result in immediate custody. The sentence was backdated to March 30 last year. The court noted Lennon's high risk of re-offending and his 12 previous convictions. Aggravating factors included the impact on Horgan's nine-year-old son and the fact the victim was killed in his own home. A co-accused, Lisa Lee, was previously convicted by a jury of discarding the knife used in the attack. Lee, of no fixed abode, was jailed for two years last December. The report also notes that Horgan had previously been acquitted of the 2002 manslaughter of Douglas McManus, having pleaded not guilty to murder and assault charges in that earlier case.
Stephen Penrose, 40, serving a life sentence for murder, was given a concurrent two‑year sentence for threatening to burn down the home of a prison officer at Cloverhill. He admitted saying the words but claimed no intention to act on them. Penrose had prior convictions for manslaughter, assaults on prison officers and a threat to an officer. The threat was made on 4 March 2018 after an alleged complaint by the officer, who was absent from work the next day. Penrose told staff the officer should drop the complaint and threatened to pour petrol through the officer's letterbox. He pleaded not guilty, represented himself, and asked for a backdated sentence and a transcript. Judge Elva Duffy noted his admission of the threat but lack of intent, imposed the two‑year term, and granted credit for time already spent in custody.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Dylan Crowley, 18, received a two‑year suspended sentence for assault causing harm and robbery of a food delivery rider on 2 February 2021. The victim, struck with a wooden stick and later with a blow to the arm, suffered a compound fracture requiring two surgeries, a metal plate, and a year out of work. Crowley, who was 16 at the time of the offence, pleaded guilty. Judge Orla Crowe described the assault as "very serious" but noted his youth, sentencing him to two years in prison with the sentence suspended in full for three years and ordering 18 months of probation supervision. The court also considered the robbery and the victim's impact statement, noting the rider's loss of "everything.".
In a June 2023 sentencing, a 37‑year‑old man was jailed for five years for sexually abusing a boy who was four to eight years old between 1999 and 2002. The defendant, aged 13 to 17 at the time of the offences, pleaded guilty to oral rape and sexual assault, involving insertion of fingers into the boy's anus at the boy's home. He had no prior convictions. The victim, now 28, gave a victim impact statement describing long‑term depression, anxiety, nightmares and fear, and praised the judge for encouraging others to speak out. Judge Mary Ellen Ring noted the defendant's lack of maturity and the absence of a risk assessment, imposed concurrent sentencing, and ordered 18 months of post‑release supervision. The case highlighted the abuse's occurrence while the defendant was a minor and the victim's decision to disclose the abuse after a two‑year period of uncertainty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Julie Ann Stokes, 43, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and weapon production after slashing a homeless woman up to 40 times with a broken bottle at a Spar on Dame Street on 20 September 2022. Stokes, who has 212 prior convictions including theft, assault, threats to kill, knife possession, drug misuse and public order offences, was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison, with the final six months suspended under strict conditions. The judge noted the attack occurred in a public place at night, was captured on CCTV, and that Stokes had a drug problem, primarily crack cocaine. She must remain under Probation Service supervision and comply with all directed actions. The sentence was backdated to September 2022 when she entered custody. The victim, also homeless, refused a hospital visit and did not cooperate with Gardaí. The court considered Stokes' progress in prison and her efforts to address addiction.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 16 June 2023, it was revealed that Mary McDonnell, a "vulnerable" witness who gave evidence in the gangland murder trial of three men, has no formal security arrangement with the State. McDonnell received immunity for her testimony but was deemed unsuitable for the Witness Protection Programme. Garda liaison officer Sergeant Fergal Finnegan confirmed that the arrangement with McDonnell is informal, with no written protocols or guarantees for her future security or finances. Former liaison officer Sgt Aoife Reilly acknowledged McDonnell's vulnerability but denied that her protection depends on her giving evidence, stating that any protection is based on a risk assessment and that her entitlements will revert to normal social welfare once the Garda arrangement ends. The trial of Thomas McConnell, who denies the murder of Gareth Hutch, continues under the same conditions. Thomas McConnell pleaded not guilty.
A man has launched an appeal against his conviction for rape and sexual assault following a trial in the Central Criminal Court. Stephen Lynch, with an address in County Offaly, was convicted in May 2021 of raping a fifteen-year-old girl at a property in Athlone, County Roscommon, in October 2015, and of sexually assaulting another young woman and assaulting her friend in December 2015. Lynch pleaded not guilty to all charges. At the Court of Appeal, his legal representatives argued the jury should have been discharged due to concerns they were photographed during the trial and following a reference by a witness to previous stories about the accused. The State's counsel submitted these issues were resolved at trial and were not sufficiently prejudicial to warrant discharge. The appeal court reserved judgment. Lynch was sentenced to eight years and nine months for the rape offence and concurrent sentences totalling two years and nine months for the other convictions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 15 June 2023, Jaroslow Kilian, a 39‑year‑old Polish national with 27 prior convictions in Ireland, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for violently attacking five bus passengers on the C4 route from Dublin to Celbridge. Kilian, who had been deported in December 2021 and illegally returned to Ireland in February 2022, was found intoxicated and suffering from schizophrenia. He slapped, punched and kicked passengers, causing concussions to two men and lasting PTSD to a woman who was punched full‑force in the face. Kilian also threatened Gardaí who arrived to arrest him. He pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and one count of assault, with three further counts considered. The court set a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years on mitigating factors, and backdated it to 27 August 2022 when he was taken into custody.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 15 June 2023, Stephen McMullen, aged 25, pleaded guilty to assault and intimidation of a witness after an incident on 19 August 2021 in Clondalkin. McMullen, who was on bail for three offences and had 92 prior convictions, attacked a man outside his home, kicking him and punching him on the head. The victim, who had previously bought "weed" from McMullen, was later called by McMullen while Gardaí were present, asking what the officers were doing and what the victim had told them. McMullen's DNA matched evidence from the scene. He expressed remorse and requested placement in a rehabilitation centre. The judge adjourned sentencing for one week. No victim impact statement was made. The case was the first violent offence for McMullen before the court.
Simon Quilligan, 40, was convicted in March 2021 of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life at a halting site where he allegedly said "I'll kill you all; man, woman or child." He had previously been found not guilty of attempted murder and of intentionally or recklessly discharging a firearm in a separate incident. Quilligan appealed the firearms conviction, arguing insufficient evidence and inconsistency with his acquittal on the discharge charge. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, rejected the appeal, stating ample evidence justified a jury decision and that the conviction was not inconsistent with the acquittal. Quilligan remains jailed, with release scheduled for 10 June 2024, and the Court of Appeal will set a date for his sentence appeal next week. The case involved additional convictions for threatening to kill or cause serious harm and for criminal damage, all of which were sentenced to run concurrently.
Eamon Savage (36) of Emmet Road, Inchicore, was sentenced to three years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for witness intimidation of Lyndsey Byrne at Merchants Quay, Dublin 8 on November 18, 2021. Savage pleaded guilty to the charge and admitted to threatening Ms Byrne, who was at the centre of a violent false imprisonment ordeal, to withdraw her statement or she would be murdered. The court heard that Savage was part of a group who conveyed a message to Ms Byrne from one of Paul Clarke's associates, who was described in court as the 'main man' in the assault. Judge Orla Crowe noted that Savage had made specific and detailed threats against Ms Byrne, which caused her to fear for her life. She also highlighted that Savage had a large number of previous convictions and was deemed to be at very high risk of re-offending by the Probation Service. The sentence was backdated to January 1, 2022, and a defence application to suspend a portion of the prison sentence was declined. Paul Clarke (29) of Clonard Road, Dublin 12 was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for his role in the attack. Co-accused Craig Kelly (38) of Dowland Rd, Walkinstown, was sentenced to five months in prison for his role in one of the attacks. A third man, Josh Conlon (19) of Meath Place, Thomas Street, received a suspended sentence.
The Special Criminal Court is hearing the trial of Thomas McConnell, 37, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gareth Hutch, 36, on May 24, 2016, at Avondale House, North Cumberland Street, Dublin 1. Prosecution alleges McConnell and Jonathan Keogh planned the killing and used protected witness Mary McDonnell's apartment to surveil the victim. Defence counsel Pat McGrath SC challenged McDonnell's identification of McConnell, noting she told gardai she was "not really one hundred per cent" sure, describing her certainty as "half and half." She identified a second man in CCTV footage as the shooter based on his "square face" but did not know his name. The court is now examining the procedures used by gardai to obtain her statement. In a related November 2018 finding, the Special Criminal Court convicted Regina Keogh, Jonathan Keogh, and Thomas Fox of the murder. Fox was also convicted of unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9 mm handgun on May 23, 2016. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alex Owens, Judge Elma Sheahan, and Judge David McHugh.
Tony Byrne, a 66‑year‑old former RTÉ cameraman, was sentenced to 14 months' imprisonment, with the last two months suspended, for sexually assaulting his teenage step‑daughter, Donna McCarthy, on 10 May 1992. The assault took place at their family home in Firhouse, Dublin, when McCarthy was 16. Byrne denied the charge during the trial but accepted the jury's verdict and apologized to McCarthy the day after the incident. McCarthy, who had previously waived anonymity, testified that Byrne, whom she believed to be her father, had put his arm around her and touched her in the area of her vagina and breasts while she was in bed. The judge described the offence as an "egregious breach of trust" and noted McCarthy's lasting emotional harm. Byrne's sentence was reduced from an initial 18‑month headline to 14 months after mitigation factors such as remorse, family support and his work history were considered. Tony Byrne was found guilty.
Kevin Kletzander, a former Trinity College student, pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual assault committed in Dublin between 5 and 28 August 2021. The offences occurred at Grafton Street, Stephen's Green, Aston Quay, Usher's Island, the Ilac Shopping Centre and Store Street Garda Station. In each incident he forced contact with a woman's crotch or buttocks, sometimes using force or a fist, and once slapped a female Garda. He was arrested at the Ilac Centre and has been in custody since August 2021. Kletzander has no prior convictions and admitted the acts were inappropriate, citing mental health problems that had led to hospitalisations. The court heard psychiatric and probation reports and adjourned the case to 23 June for finalisation. The case was presided over by Judge Orla Crowe.
The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment in an appeal by James Davy regarding the severity of his sentence. Davy, along with Mathew Cummins, was initially convicted of murdering Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley in 2014. In 2021, the Court of Appeal quashed these murder convictions, finding no evidence of a joint enterprise to kill. Instead, the court substituted convictions for impeding the apprehension of Sean Davy, who remains serving a life sentence for the murder. Davy was re-sentenced to nine years in jail, with the final two years suspended, but the sentence was marked as served. He was released in September 2021 after serving six years and nine months. Davy now appeals against the severity of this already-served term, arguing it negatively impacts his job prospects. Counsel for the State described the appeal as moot. However, Mr Justice Edwards noted that while the sentence is served, Davy is entitled to due process and a proportionate censure. He criticized the re-sentencing judge for failing to consider Davy's remorse, mental health, addiction, and prison progress. The court will decide whether the sentence was excessive given these unaddressed mitigating factors.
Owen Healy, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of endangerment regarding an incident at Whitefriar Gardens, Dublin 8, on August 1, 2018. The defendant, who has 41 previous convictions, was 18 at the time of the alleged assault. Prosecuting counsel Sinead McMullan BL stated that another man was previously jailed for seven-and-a-half years for his role in the attack, while the main instigator is set to be sentenced later this year. The court heard that the victim was held in his home for six hours, stabbed multiple times, and had his right ear nearly severed. Detective Garda Sarah Keogh detailed how the victim was attacked after asking a group of men to leave his home. Healy was seen covered in blood at a homeless hostel shortly after the incident. Defending counsel Michael Bowman SC noted his client was 18 and requested an adjournment to allow for the finalisation of a Probation services report. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the matter to July 21, when a plea of mitigation will be heard. The case was not concluded at this stage.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 12 June 2023, witnesses described the moment Ross Hutch, a cousin of Gareth Hutch, discovered his nephew's body at Avondale House after a shooting. Ross was seen clutching his head, roaring, and screaming "oh, no, no, no" as he approached the body lying between two cars. Video showed the shooting, with two gunmen firing at Gareth before fleeing. Ross chased the men through a pedestrian exit. Gardaí reported a volatile scene with up to 50 people shouting abuse. Ross told officers "do your job" and later said "It's the f**king feud." Thomas McConnell, 37, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gareth Hutch, 36, which occurred on 24 May 2016. The court heard evidence of the shooting, the weapons used, and the post‑mortem report indicating four gunshot wounds. The trial was set to continue the following day.
Robert Duffy, 50, was convicted in 1996 of murdering John Gibson in Belfast in 1993 and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was released after four years under the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) in July 2000. In March 2007 he attempted to murder Colin O'Neill at the Emerald Bar in Dundalk by firing a shotgun into O'Neill's face at point‑blank range, for which he was again sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty. The High Court heard that Duffy is now being considered for parole in this jurisdiction, while Northern Irish authorities seek his extradition to serve a life sentence for breaching the GFA release terms by attempting the murder. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs heard that Duffy has engaged well with probation services, is a trusted prisoner, is considered at a moderate to low risk of re‑offending, and no longer affiliates with any paramilitary organisation.
Vadim Veste, a 28-year-old dual Moldovan-Romanian national from Fermoy, Co Cork, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for aggravated sexual assault. He pleaded guilty to the November 7, 2021, attack on a woman in her 50s at St Colman's Park. Mr Justice Paul McDermott described the incident as shocking, brutal, and cowardly, noting the victim sustained injuries and that Veste used a hat as a gag. The judge highlighted Veste's history, including a previous three-year prison sentence for the rape of a 14-year-old in Eastern Europe in July 2016, from which he was released just 18 days before the current offence. Although a headline sentence of nine years was set, the judge reduced the term due to Veste's expression of remorse, despite a Probation Service report indicating a lack of insight. Veste was sentenced to six years and six months in prison, with the final six months suspended for two years on strict conditions, including attending treatment deemed appropriate by the Probation Service. The court also ordered that Veste not approach the victim or her family, prohibited unsupervised access to children, and imposed a six-year post-release supervision order to protect society and prevent future offending.
A 41‑year‑old father from North Africa, who claimed his nine‑year‑old daughter was possessed by a jinn, was convicted of two counts of assault causing serious harm and three counts of child cruelty after a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The girl, now unable to walk, talk or sit independently, suffered repeated beatings, burns, choking and other abuse at the hands of both parents. The father argued he was less culpable because he was at work during the most damaging assault, but the Court of Appeal dismissed his conviction appeal and left a reserved judgement on his sentence appeal. The court upheld the conviction, noting the father's participation in the daily violence and the joint enterprise with the mother. The case highlighted the severity of the abuse and the court's refusal to accept the father's defence of possession. The unnamed appellant pleaded not guilty.
A 51‑year‑old Galway man pleaded guilty to one count of anal rape, one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual exploitation of his teenage nephew, aged 14‑15, between June 2016 and June 2017. The offences occurred at the defendant's home, a horsebox, his car and the victim's home. The abuse began with inappropriate touching and masturbation, escalating to oral and anal rape. The nephew's behaviour changed from "happy‑go‑lucky" to misbehaving, prompting his family to notice the abuse in 2017. The man voluntarily admitted to the Gardaí and was arrested in November 2018. He pleaded guilty in March 2024 after a jury was empanelled. He has no prior convictions. The court heard a victim impact statement describing the abuse's effect on the nephew's mental health and family relationships. The judge thanked the victim for his statement and noted the nephew's support network.
Michael Scott, aged 59, was convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence after driving an agricultural teleporter over his 76‑year‑old aunt Chrissie Treacy outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna, on 27 April 2018. The Central Criminal Court heard that Scott had been involved in a long‑running land dispute with Ms Treacy and had driven the teleporter across her yard while reversing. He claimed he had felt a "thump" and thought he had hit a trailer, then moved the machine forward, after which he discovered his aunt lying on the ground. A friend of Ms Treacy's, Regina Donohue, testified that Scott had subjected her to verbal abuse and mental torture before the incident. At the sentencing hearing on 12 June 2023, the Director of Public Prosecutions said the offence falls in the mid‑category for manslaughter, recommending a headline sentence of four to ten years. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
Noel Price, 44, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to facilitating the attempted murder of Christy Keane by making a vehicle available to the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation. The offence is alleged to have occurred between June 27 and June 29, 2015. Price admitted to assisting the organisation with the intention of facilitating the commission of the attempted murder. The matter was adjourned to July 25 for sentencing, with the court directing that Price be produced on that date. In a related development, John Costello, 41, was sentenced for providing transport to persons involved in an assault causing serious harm to Keane on June 29, 2015. Costello had previously pleaded guilty to this charge. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a sentence of four years and six months, backdated to when Costello entered prison. The judge suspended the remaining portion of the sentence for four years, conditional on Costello being of good behaviour and keeping the peace. The court noted a humanitarian situation in Costello's case, offering him an opportunity to turn away from crime. Keane, who survived the 2015 shooting at the University of Limerick, was not expected to furnish a Victim Impact Statement but could be invited to make one.
A 37‑year‑old Tipperary man pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to oral rape and sexual assault of a four‑year‑old neighbour between 1999 and 2002. He was 13 when the abuse began and was 17 at its end. The victim, now 28, described how the abuse ruined his childhood, education and relationships, causing depression, anxiety, nightmares and paranoia. He said he had struggled to disclose the abuse and feared for future children. Justice Mary Ellen Ring praised his courage and noted the victim's emotional and physical suffering and the breach of family trust. The court adjourned the case to the following Friday, remanded the accused in custody, and noted that the offender had no prior convictions and was a minor at the time of the offences. The prosecution suggested a 10‑15‑year sentence, but the defence highlighted the guilty plea and the statutory discount for a minor offender. The case remains pending.
A pre‑trial hearing has started in the case of Noel Long, a 74‑year‑old man accused of murdering 54‑year‑old Nora Sheehan in 1981. The hearing, expected to last three weeks, is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. Brendan Grehan, senior counsel, leads the prosecution, while Michael Delaney SC heads the defence. Sheehan's body was discovered by forestry workers at The Viewing Point, Shippool Woods, Cork, six days after she was reported missing. A jury will be sworn in after the pre‑trial hearing concludes.
A man's appeal against his four-year jail sentence for the sexual abuse of a child in County Cavan has been dismissed by the Court of Appeal. The appellant, now 23, pleaded guilty at Cavan Circuit Criminal Court in June 2021 to defilement of a person under 15 years of age following an incident in 2017 when he was 17. The trial judge imposed a sentence of five and a half years in January 2022, suspending the final 18 months. The appellant's counsel argued the sentence was excessive, contending that the age difference between the accused and the victim was not inherently aggravating and that the duration of the assault was brief. The Court of Appeal found the trial judge had properly identified aggravating factors including coercion, persistence, and a significant age disparity. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy noted the victim had repeatedly refused consent and dismissed the appeal, stating the headline sentence of seven years fell within the judge's discretion.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 9 June 2023, 69‑year‑old Josephine McMahon pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault against two brothers aged four to five and eight to twelve, committed between 1992 and 1996 at her house in Kenmare, Co Kerry. McMahon admitted using a wooden spoon to assault the younger boy in a bathroom, threatening him and later assaulting him again in a bath, and a third assault in a bedroom. She also exposed herself to the older brother and threatened him with the spoon. The younger brother's victim impact statement described ongoing depression, anxiety, addiction, suicidal thoughts and lasting shame, while the older brother cited deep emotional scars and family impact. McMahon, a wheelchair user with diabetes and kidney disease, has no prior convictions and will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register. The case was adjourned to 26 June for sentencing, with a request for a suspended sentence.
The Court of Appeal upheld a 5‑½‑year jail sentence for a 55‑year‑old man who abused five sisters between 1980 and 1988. The abuse began when the man was 12 and ended when he was 20. The sisters were aged seven to 13 at the time of the abuse. He pleaded guilty to one count of rape and six counts of indecent assault. In February 2022 he received a total of six years and six months' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended. The judge ordered the three‑and‑a‑half‑year rape sentence and the three‑year indecent‑assault sentence to run consecutively. The appeal argued that consecutive sentences ignored mitigating factors such as the offender's age, cognitive difficulties, lack of insight and remorse, but the Court of Appeal rejected the appeal, finding the judge had carefully considered all mitigating factors and that the consecutive sentences were appropriate and not unduly lenient.
Daniel McDonnell, 28, serving a mandatory life sentence for the 2012 murder of 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy McNamara, pleaded guilty on 12 August 2021 to threatening a prison officer at Wheatfield Prison with a sharpened piece of metal. He said he would slit the officer's throat or get someone else to do it. The officer, who was conducting routine checks, reported the threat and was shocked and concerned. McDonnell had previously been arrested in January 2022 for sharpening a shiv and had a history of 36 convictions, including two threats to kill in 2020. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, hearing the case on 8 June 2023, set a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years and back‑dated to 2 May 2023. The court noted McDonnell's good family support and his receipt of psychological help while in custody. The life sentence for the murder remains unchanged.
Defrocked priest Denis Nolan, aged 71, had his prison term quadrupled by the Court of Appeal. He had previously been jailed for seven years in 2014 for sexually abusing a boy over five years, and for six years in 2017 for rape and abuse of another boy. In December 2023 he pleaded guilty to three counts of anal rape, one of oral rape and five of sexual assault of a third boy, with offences dated 2001‑2005. The trial judge imposed a nine‑year sentence, suspending seven‑and‑a‑half years, but the Court of Appeal quashed that and imposed a new six‑year term to run consecutively with his existing sentence, which expires in December. The appeal was based on the claim that the suspended portion was unduly excessive and that the original sentence did not reflect the overall gravity of the offences.
Stephen Keane, 33, of Coolfin Meadows, Portlaw, was convicted of murder for the death of John Lowe, 60, in December 2018. He had pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not to murder. Keane claimed intoxication and that he had only struck Lowe once, but the trial judge allowed admissions he made to Gardaí during pre‑detention interviews and notebook entries to be admitted as evidence. Keane's lawyers argue that these admissions were made while he was intoxicated, without legal advice, and should have been excluded. They contend the judge erred in admitting the Garda notebook entries and in not applying the same fairness test used for the first two interviews. The Court of Appeal will decide on June 15. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no verdict yet.
Tony Byrne, 66, of Carriglea Court, Firhouse, Dublin, was found guilty by a jury of sexually assaulting his step‑daughter Donna McCarthy, then 16, on 10 May 1992 at the family home. The assault involved Byrne entering the bedroom, putting his arm around McCarthy, touching her knee and moving his hand up her leg to touch her vagina and breasts outside her clothing. McCarthy fled to a neighbour's house, cried and told her mother that "Dad got into bed with me". Byrne, a retired RTE and Virgin Media cameraman, was arrested by appointment and gave a voluntary interview to Gardaí, denying the complaint and suggesting it was revenge. He apologised to McCarthy the day after the incident and has complied with bail conditions. The case was adjourned to 14 June for sentencing. The court heard McCarthy waived anonymity, that Byrne had a role in her life, and that a DNA test proved he was not her father.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 8 June 2023, Thomas McConnell, aged 37, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gareth Hutch, aged 36, which occurred on 24 May 2016 outside Avondale House, North Cumberland Street, Dublin 1. Prosecutor Fiona Murphy SC presented evidence that McConnell, along with Jonathan Keogh, Regina Keogh, and Thomas Fox, were part of a pre‑planned ambush. The prosecution alleged that a black BMW and a Skoda Octavia were used as getaway vehicles, that McConnell was seen walking to the Skoda before the shooting, and that he and Keogh carried handguns to the scene. Witness Mary McDonell, who had provided a flat for the shooters, was granted immunity and is a key witness. The court heard that McConnell was involved in the careful planning and execution of the murder, which was described as pre‑meditated and brutal. The trial continues before Judges Alex Owens, Elma Sheahan and David McHugh.
A court heard that Lyndsey Byrne was threatened with murder if she did not withdraw her statement following a two-day false imprisonment ordeal in which she was beaten and had boiling water thrown over her. Eamon Savage (36) of Emmet Road, Inchicore, pleaded guilty to witness intimidation of Lyndsey Byrne at Merchants Quay, Dublin 8 on November 18, 2021. He was part of a group that threatened Ms Byrne in public, telling her that she was to drop the charges and say she had lied about the attack. Savage also told her that if she did not comply, she would be murdered. Paul Clarke (29) of Clonard Road, Dublin 12 was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for his role in the attack. Co-accused Craig Kelly (38) of Dowland Rd, Walkinstown, was sentenced to five months in prison for his role in one of the attacks; while a third man, Josh Conlon (19) of Meath Place, Thomas Street, received a suspended sentence. The matter was adjourned for sentence next week to June 14.
Valerie McGovern, 57, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty to two separate violent assaults. In October 2018 she head‑butted and bit Patricia Nolan, pulling her to the ground and causing cuts and a bite mark. Nolan declined hospital treatment and later moved away. In August 2020 McGovern attacked Aishling Groves, waving a kitchen knife, attempting to slice her face and stabbing her on the neck. Groves was hospitalized for 12 days, including intensive care, and received 20 stitches. McGovern had eight prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced her to four years and four months, suspending the final eight months on strict conditions. The sentence includes a two‑year term for the 2018 assault and a two‑year‑four‑month term for the 2020 assault, to run consecutively, with the suspended portion subject to probation supervision. The judge noted McGovern's guilty pleas, efforts to address alcohol addiction, and the serious escalation of her offences.
Anthony Byrne, 28, of Ringsend, Dublin 4, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for an unprovoked assault on a 16-year-old boy. Byrne pleaded guilty to charges of assault causing harm and production of an article in a communal area of his housing block on January 4, 2022. The court heard that Byrne attacked the teenager with a baseball bat, striking him in the head, legs, and arms, causing a broken finger and significant trauma. Judge Orla Crowe described the incident as an "absolutely unwarranted attack" with a long-lasting impact on the victim, noting aggravating factors including the victim's lack of resistance and Byrne's continued strikes as the boy left. Despite Byrne's three previous convictions, Judge Crowe sentenced him to two years' imprisonment but suspended the final six months due to his rehabilitation efforts. Consequently, Byrne faces 18 months of effective custody. The judge also ordered that a €2,000 sum brought by Byrne be paid to the victim's mother and that the baseball bat be destroyed.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 31‑year‑old Christopher Coakley pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a doctor on Seville Place, Dublin, on 28 January 2021. Coakley, who had 124 prior convictions, knocked the doctor from his e‑scooter, then stabbed him seven times with a pair of scissors. The victim, a Mountjoy Prison doctor, sustained penetrating wounds to the abdomen, chest, head and neck, and required ongoing physiotherapy. Coakley was charged with attempted murder, robbery and production of scissors, but a nolle prosequi was entered for the attempted murder charge. The court considered the robbery and production charges in sentencing. Coakley's lawyer highlighted his drug‑related background and a possible bipolar disorder, and requested a partially suspended custodial sentence with conditions. The judge will sentence on 19 June.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a man was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment for raping and sexually assaulting his niece over a five‑year period from 2008 to 2013. The victim, aged between seven and thirteen, was repeatedly abused in the accused's caravan, where he called her "ugly" and told her she "didn't have to be ugly any more" while raping her. The jury found him guilty of two counts of rape, one count of anal rape and two counts of sexual assault. He has 12 prior convictions, including a three‑year sentence for sexual assault. The judge, Justice Karen O'Connor, noted the victim's courage and the aggravating factor of the accused's dominance, and imposed a seven‑year post‑release supervision order. The sentence was back‑dated to the time he entered custody in April. The case was brought to light in 2017 when the victim disclosed the abuse to social care workers.
Robert Redmond (35) and Jamie Gray (27) pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing a PAK PM-63 submachine gun at M11 Southbound, Shankill, Dublin, on May 7, 2020. The charge, under Section 27A(1) of the Firearms Act 1964, alleged they had the firearm in their possession or control without a lawful purpose. Prosecution confirmed that count one, alleging participation in criminal organisation activity, would not be proceeded with. Mr Justice Paul Burns remanded Redmond in custody and granted Gray bail until July 10, when their sentence hearing will take place. Redmond, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in December last year for the murder of Barry Wolverson in Swords, Co Dublin, is currently serving that mandatory term. Gray, who has no indictable previous convictions, was granted a governor's report for his sentencing. Bernard Fogarty (34), Redmond's co-accused in the Wolverson murder, was also sentenced to life imprisonment. The court noted that Redmond had previously denied the murder charge, while Fogarty was convicted. The current matter remains pending sentencing, with the hearing scheduled for July 10.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has convicted three men of participating in a violent attack on a farm property near Strokestown, County Roscommon, on 16 December 2018. Following a 50-day trial, PJ Sweeney, aged 44, from Ramelton, County Donegal; Martin O'Toole, aged 58, from Claremorris, County Mayo; and Paul Beirne, aged 56, from Boyle, County Roscommon were each found guilty of 15 of 17 charges. These included false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, three counts of arson, criminal damage and violent disorder. They were also convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. A fourth defendant, David Lawlor from County Meath, was acquitted of all 17 charges. The three convicted men have been remanded in custody and will return to court for sentencing on 30 June. Martin O'Toole pleaded not guilty. Paul Beirne pleaded not guilty.
Britvic has been ordered to reinstate Anthony O'Brien, a shop steward with 24 years of service, following a decision by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) that found 'no evidence whatsoever' he threw a punch during an altercation outside the firm's west Dublin plant on 12 May 2021. The WRC adjudicating officer, Breiffni O'Neill, found procedural unfairness in Britvic's investigation, noting that the precise allegations were not put to O'Brien and that additional allegations were made during the disciplinary process. O'Neill stated that the sacking was both procedurally and substantively unfair, emphasizing that no training had been provided to staff on the firm's dignity at work policy. The matter was heard under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, with the order becoming effective on 15 May 2023. Fergus Dwyer of Ibec, representing Britvic, argued that O'Brien's actions had destroyed the company's trust and confidence, while Dave Curran of Siptu, representing O'Brien, contended that the CCTV footage showed O'Brien was moving away and that he was the victim of an assault. The Trade Union also participated in the proceedings. The case was not adjourned and was concluded at the hearing_or_decision stage.
A man convicted of murder in Northern Ireland was arrested in the State on an extradition warrant following his disappearance from custody seven months earlier. James Meehan, aged 53, with addresses in Derry city and Kells, Co Meath, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2009 for the murder of a man in Derry in 2007. He had absconded while on home leave in October 2022 and was declared unlawfully at large by the Northern Ireland Prison Service. Gardaí arrested Meehan by arrangement at a garda station in Dublin this morning. At the High Court, his defence counsel submitted that he had moved to live with his brother in Kells to work and had notified the Department of Justice of his whereabouts in December. The judge noted Meehan was living openly and had engaged with authorities. Bail was granted on condition of a €2,000 deposit, daily signing-on, provision of a mobile phone number to gardaí, and surrender of any travel documents. He was remanded to appear again on 12 June.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has requested exhibits and legal directions on common design as deliberations continue in the trial of four men accused of participating in a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed property near Strokestown, Co Roscommon in December 2018. Patrick J Sweeney, aged 44, of Ramelton, Co Donegal; Martin O'Toole, aged 58, of Claremorris, Co Mayo; Paul Beirne, aged 56, of Boyle, Co Roscommon; and David Lawlor, aged 43, have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder and animal cruelty. The prosecution alleges approximately 30 armed men attacked the property. The jury examined two exhibits and received clarification on the legal principle of common design before adjourning until Monday.
Chang Teng Wang, 57, of Melville Rise, Finglas, Dublin 11, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of his infant grandson Seán Wang, who died on 15 August 2019. Wang was arraigned in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and the case was adjourned for sentencing on 7 June. He remains on continuing bail until that date. The baby, who was in his grandfather's care while his parents were out, was taken to Temple Street Children's Hospital in cardiac arrest on 13 August, received CPR 40 times, and died two days later in intensive care.
A Dublin man was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for the abuse of his daughter, who was between four and seven years old at the time of the offences. The man, whose identity is withheld to protect his daughter, was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after previously denying two counts of indecent assault in 1987. The victim, now in her 40s, read a victim impact statement describing her father as a "monster" who used her serious illness to his advantage, leaving her feeling "dirty, worthless and inadequate." Judge Martin Nolan described the conduct as a "huge breach of trust" and noted the man's age, long work history and low likelihood of re‑offending as mitigating factors. The sentence was back‑dated to 8 May, and the judge also considered the man's prior minor convictions and letters of support from his siblings.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has begun deliberating in the trial of four men accused of participating in a vigilante attack on security personnel guarding a repossessed farmhouse in Strokestown, Co Roscommon, in December 2018. The defendants, Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor, each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges. These alleged offences include false imprisonment and assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, arson of four vehicles, criminal damage to the property's front door, violent disorder, robbery of a wristwatch, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Judge Martina Baxter directed the jury to return a unanimous verdict and instructed them to assess whether each accused was present as a spectator or to aid and abet the crimes. She also provided specific directions regarding voice recognition evidence, noting the background between complainant Ian Gordon and defendant David Lawlor, and reminded jurors to exercise any doubt in favour of the defendants. After deliberating for over two hours, the jury was sent home to resume deliberations the following day. The matter is currently at the sentencing stage validation, but as the jury has not yet returned a verdict, the case remains under active deliberation and has not been finalised.
During a three‑week Central Criminal Court trial, the jury heard harrowing evidence of gratuitous sexual violence against four children in an extended Traveller family. Prosecutor Shane Costelloe warned that the evidence would be unsettling and unsavoury, and after seven hours and 33 minutes of deliberation, the jury returned guilty verdicts on 117 of 124 counts. The accused included a 66‑year‑old patriarch, his sons aged 38, 40 and 41, and a 63‑year‑old wife. The patriarch faced 24 charges, each son faced 31 or 36 charges, and the wife faced charges of assault and assistance in an alleged anally rape. All accused denied the charges. The trial highlighted the alleged abuse occurring between 1999 and 2005 across various locations in Ireland, with the family described as part of the Traveller community. The prosecution's case focused on the veracity of the complainants' accounts, while the defence argued inconsistencies and lack of detail in the evidence.
A 36‑year‑old man, Gerard Cervi, faces trial at the Central Criminal Court on 2 October for the murder of Bobby Messett (50) and the attempted murder of boxing coach Pete Taylor, who was also shot when a gunman entered Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018. Cervi, originally from Dublin's East Wall, is also accused of attempting to murder Ian Britton on the same day and location. He has been in custody since September 2018, with his first trial in September 2021 collapsed after 10 weeks when a juror fell ill. The Court of Appeal had previously considered granting him bail under the strictest conditions, but denied bail after a trial date was fixed. The case is expected to last six weeks, with the court noting that the trial will likely be very long.
In a 2023 Court of Appeal decision, the three‑judge panel ruled that if a juvenile sentencing error is found, the appeal court cannot impose a new sentence once the offender turns 18. The case concerned a 20‑year‑old man who had been sentenced to life detention with a 13‑year review after pleading guilty to the murder of 20‑year‑old student Cameron Blair. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, had sentenced him in April 2020 when he was just shy of 18. The appeal court can only quash the original sentence or impose a sentence that could have been given at trial, but it cannot order detention for an adult or imprisonment if that was not an option at sentencing. The court noted that the offender would be transferred to an adult prison after 18, and that the appeal court is constrained by the options available at the trial court.