Richard O'Brien, aged 61, was convicted by a jury of 63 counts of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault against five victims, including his sisters, niece and two daughters, with offences spanning 1975 to 2011. The Central Criminal Court heard that the abuse began in his family home on O'Moore Road, Ballyfermot, and continued until the three women fled as teenagers. He also strangled a puppy and a kitten during their childhood. O'Brien denied all allegations. The court imposed a life sentence for the rape of his daughters and concurrent sentences totalling 11 years for the other offences, with the sentences commencing from his March 2024 custody. The judge noted O'Brien's lack of remorse and the severe impact on the victims, who had waived anonymity to name him.
In a Tallaght murder trial, the prosecution presented evidence that 25‑year‑old Ademola Giwa was fatally stabbed in the neck on 10 August 2021 during a dispute over a debt and a stolen scooter. John Titiloye, 26, pleaded not guilty. The State alleged that Titiloye had bought a knife the same day and, after an initial walk away, returned to protect his father, Anthony, who was also injured. The trial heard that Titiloye, Giwa, and Samson Fayemi had a verbal row that escalated into a physical altercation on Mac Uilliam Road. CCTV and mobile footage were cited, and Giwa was pronounced dead at Tallaght Hospital after resuscitation attempts. Titiloye was arrested on 11 August and the case is set to continue before a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 12 May 2023, a 27‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to threatening to kill his former partner, burn her house, and "dance" on her face over access to their baby daughter. The offences, committed between June and July 2022, included threatening to kill the woman, damaging her home, harassing her, and violating a Family Court order by repeatedly contacting her. The man had been in a relationship with the woman for about a year and they share a child. A care order gave the mother full custody and the right to decide the father's access. The man sent harassing emails and WhatsApp messages, calling the woman a "selfish c***" and threatening violence. He remains under supervised access to his daughter, is barred from contacting the woman except for child‑access matters, and is required to pay maintenance. He has two prior assault convictions from 2017.
Lisa Lee, 41, was sentenced to four years in prison for discarding a knife that was used in the fatal stabbing of Isaac Horgan. The judge suspended two years of the sentence on the condition of good behaviour for three years after her release and required her to work with probation services. Lee, who has 17 prior convictions and has struggled with medical conditions and drug addiction, was warned to "put her life and house in order." She had no fixed abode and had previously lived at Depaul Homeless Hostel. The knife was discarded on 29 March 2021 at Spring Garden Lane, Dublin, after Noel Lennon had stabbed Horgan. Lennon, 48, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was also sentenced earlier that year. The court noted that Lee's attempt to hide the weapon was ineffective, as the knife was found in an area covered by CCTV.
At the Special Criminal Court, Paul Murphy (61) and Jason Bonney (52) were sentenced for participating in the 2016 murder of David Byrne by providing getaway vehicles. The three-judge panel found both men guilty of contributing to the killing by facilitating the removal of two gunmen from the scene. Ms Justice Tara Burns, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Grainne Malone, described their assistance as intentional and organised, noting they acted in concert with four other vehicles in a planned operation. The court rejected defence arguments that their role was minor, finding they knew a serious criminal event was planned. Murphy, who has 67 previous convictions, received a nine-year sentence backdated to March 17. Bonney, who has no prior record, was sentenced to eight and a half years, backdated to April 14. The judge set a headline sentence of ten years for both, reducing it based on personal circumstances. Separately, Gerard "The Monk" Hutch was acquitted of the murder charge in the same case. The court found it could not rely on the unsupported evidence of a witness to convict him. These sentences conclude the sentencing phase for the convicted defendants, while Hutch remains free following his acquittal.
In the Special Criminal Court, the trial of Brendan Treanor and James Flynn, charged with conspiracy to commit burglaries and a robbery that killed Garda Adrian Donohoe, is set to conclude next week. After the prosecution's case, the defence argued that the common‑law offence of conspiracy no longer exists, citing the Criminal Justice Act 2006, and claimed the charges were vague and unsubstantiated. The court rejected these arguments, holding that the indictment provided sufficient "reasonable information" and that the common‑law offence still stands. The trial, which has lasted 39 days, involves the January 2013 robbery of €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union and a separate conspiracy with Aaron Brady to steal car keys from residential premises. Treanor (34) and Flynn (32) have pleaded not guilty to all charges. Brady, already serving a life sentence for Donohoe's murder and the robbery, denies any role in the latter and is appealing his conviction.
A High Court jury awarded €505,000 in damages to Michael Sheehan, a 62-year-old former League of Ireland and GAA player, after finding he was assaulted by An Garda Síochána. The civil action, heard before Mr Justice Alexander Owens, alleged that Sheehan was pepper-sprayed and manhandled during an arrest in Athlone on June 3, 2012. The defendants, including the Garda Commissioner and the State, denied the claims of assault and false imprisonment, arguing the response was proportionate to a public order incident. The jury found that gardai used excessive and unreasonable force, assaulting Sheehan in a police vehicle and at Athlone Garda barracks. Sheehan was subsequently acquitted of Public Order Act offences in a separate criminal proceeding. The court awarded Sheehan his legal costs against the State. Mr Justice Owens placed a stay on the damages order pending a potential appeal to the Court of Appeal, conditional on the defendants immediately paying €75,000 to the applicant. The judge also exempted the jury from further duty for ten years.
Scheduling difficulties have delayed a bid by Gerard Hutch to recover his legal costs following his acquittal last month on a murder charge at the Special Criminal Court. Hutch was cleared of involvement in the fatal shooting of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. The costs application, which the State opposes, was originally due for hearing this week but prosecutors indicated complications had emerged. Justice Tara Burns rescheduled the matter for June 7. Meanwhile, two men convicted of acting as getaway drivers during the attack—Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney—will be sentenced on Friday. Both were found guilty of participating in or contributing to Byrne's murder after a 52-day trial concluded last month.
A 28‑year‑old man, John Titiloye, will go on trial on Thursday for the murder of Ademola Giwa, 25, who was killed on 10 August 2021 in the Mac Uilliam Road area of Tallaght. Titiloye was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty. He was employed as a blind fitter in the Dublin area in 2019. The judge, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, warned the jury not to discuss the case or conduct independent research, and the trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, is expected to last two weeks.
A family sexual abuse trial is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury. Five defendants, comprising a 66-year-old man, his 63-year-old wife, and their three sons aged 38, 40, and 41, face 126 counts of alleged offences against four family members who were children at the time. The alleged incidents occurred between 1999 and 2005. All five defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. The first accused is charged with 25 counts, including anal and oral rape of his nephew and granddaughter. The second accused faces 31 charges, including rape and sexual assault of his sister. The third accused is charged with 36 counts, including anal rape of his niece and cousin. The fourth accused, the mother, is charged with concealing the effects of anal rape and assaulting her nephew and granddaughter. The fifth accused faces 31 charges of rape, sexual assault, and oral rape against his sister. During testimony, a 33-year-old male complainant alleged that his uncle anally raped him when he was approximately nine or ten years old. He stated that the abuse continued until he was 16 or 17. The trial continues.
A man accused of participating in a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm in Co Roscommon told gardaí that he organised people to 'take back the house peacefully'. Paul Beirne (56) of Croghan, Boyle, Co Roscommon, stated in December 2018 that he drove a group of around 30 men to the property and broke the front door down with a sledgehammer. He claimed he did not know how the situation escalated. Co-accused Patrick Sweeney (44) of High Cairn, Ramelton, Co Donegal; Martin O'Toole (58) of Stripe, Irishtown, Claremorris, Co Mayo; and David Lawlor (43) of Bailis Downs, Navan, have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The charges include false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The prosecution evidence concluded on Monday afternoon, and the trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter in the absence of the jury until Thursday morning, when the panel is due to return.
John Lindsay, 47, was sentenced to two and a half years in jail for his role in a €1.2 million drug seizure. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale on 15 March 2023, after having spent up to €1,000 a week on cocaine and trying to reduce a €20,000 drug debt. The court noted that Lindsay had not owned the drugs but acted in a warehousing and delivery capacity, assisting in their onward transmission. He had one prior assault conviction. The judge, citing Lindsay's charitable work, early guilty plea, drug‑free status, strong work history and rehabilitation, imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year term with the final two years suspended. The sentence was a departure from the mandatory minimum, reflecting the circumstances of the case and Lindsay's reformed character. The seizure involved heroin worth €831,000 recovered from a hold‑all bag and €420,000 found at Lindsay's home.
Oliver Doran, aged 24, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the axe‑murder of 76‑year‑old Kwok Ping Cheng in Robinson's Court, Dublin. The court heard that Doran entered Cheng's sheltered accommodation at 9.59 pm on 28 April 2021, left at 11.12 pm, returned at 1.03 am on 29 April, and stayed for 11 minutes before Cheng's body was found the next morning. CCTV showed Doran's movements, and a pathologist confirmed multiple blunt and sharp‑force injuries, including a fractured mandible, caused by an axe found beside the body. DNA on the axe matched Doran, who had previously fled Ireland with his family the day after the murder and was arrested on 5 May 2021. He pleaded guilty, had 98 prior convictions, and the judge described the crime as senseless with no motive, imposing a life sentence back‑dated to 17 January 2023. The sentencing hearing included a victim impact statement from Cheng's son, Jason.
In a sentencing hearing on 8 May 2023, the family of Gareth Kelly, a 38‑year‑old father, demanded justice after his killer, Christina Anderson, 41, stabbed him five times while he was attempting to start his car outside her home on 25 February 2020. Anderson, who had never met Kelly, approached him and stabbed him twice before returning to her house and stabbing him again. Kelly died at the scene. Anderson was initially charged with murder and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted a plea of guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility due to a mental disorder. The court heard statements from Kelly's partner Maria Murphy, mother Noeleen Kelly, sister Lorraine Kelly and others, describing the profound loss and pain caused by the killing. The judge adjourned the matter to 22 May to hear mitigation pleas from Anderson's defence lawyers.
Gerard Hutch, who was acquitted last month by the Special Criminal Court of murdering Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne at the Regency Hotel, has applied to recover his legal costs from the State. The State has indicated it will oppose the application, which is scheduled to be heard on Friday. The hearing will occur alongside the sentencing of Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, both convicted of acting as getaway drivers during the February 2016 hotel attack. Murphy, a taxi driver from Swords, and Bonney, a builder from Portmarnock, were each found guilty of participating in or contributing to Byrne's murder by providing access to motor vehicles. During sentencing submissions at the Special Criminal Court, defence counsel emphasised Murphy's long involvement in the taxi business and advanced age, and highlighted Bonney's previously unblemished record, community contributions, and voluntary work with boxing clubs. Ms Justice Tara Burns, presiding with two other judges, adjourned sentencing to Friday at ten o'clock.
A man accused of participating in an attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm in County Roscommon has told gardaí he was asleep at his home on the night in question. Paul Beirne, aged 56, of Croghan, Boyle, faces charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four security workers, aggravated burglary, and arson concerning multiple vehicles at Falsk, near Strokestown, on 16 December 2018. During interviews with gardaí, extracts of which were presented to the jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Mr Beirne stated he was present at the property during an earlier eviction on 11 December 2018, claiming he was there to purchase cattle. He declined to provide a detailed account of events. Regarding the early-morning incident five days later, when approximately 30 armed men allegedly arrived at the farm, Mr Beirne maintained he was at home and asleep. He stated he had no knowledge of his cattle lorry's movements that night, despite tachograph records. Three co-accused have also pleaded not guilty to identical charges. The trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Fox, a 33‑year‑old with no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to robbery and criminal damage for a 2018 incident in which he and an accomplice attacked a taxi driver in Ballybrack. Fox forced a door at an angle and punched a window, causing considerable damage, while the other man took €150 from the vehicle. The court adjourned sentencing for six months, ordered Fox to pay €3,000 to the victim, and required ongoing urine analysis. Fox, who had been heavily using cocaine at the time, has since turned his life around, moved in with his aunt, and is now working and engaged. The case is set for a hearing on 6 November 2023. The prosecution described the robbery as "thuggish" and "cowardly" violence. Fox maintains he did not grab the driver from behind. The defence highlighted his drug‑free period and low risk of reoffending.
A man accused of murdering Bobby Messett and attempting to murder boxing coach Pete Taylor during a shooting at Bray Boxing Club in June 2018 has applied for bail at the Court of Appeal, citing nearly five years in custody without a trial date. Gerard Cervi, originally from Dublin, faces charges relating to the incident in which a gunman entered the premises on Bray Harbour, County Wicklow, and fired nine shots. His trial at the Central Criminal Court collapsed in September 2021 after ten weeks when jury numbers fell below the required threshold. Cervi's legal team argued that extended delay, combined with an anticipated Supreme Court ruling on phone evidence, justified reconsideration of bail conditions. The State opposed the application, citing evidence that Cervi had purchased a one-way ticket to Malaga at the time of his arrest and had made unexplained trips to Spain after the shooting. Mr Justice George Birmingham adjourned the matter to May 18 for further submissions regarding Cervi's work history, travel patterns, and living arrangements.
A garda sergeant testified in the appeal trial of four men accused of attacking security personnel at a repossessed farm in Co Roscommon. The trial is ongoing before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury. Patrick Sweeney (44), Martin O'Toole (58), Paul Beirne (56), and David Lawlor (43) have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges, including false imprisonment, assault, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Garda Sergeant Enda Daly stated that Roscommon District Court had previously convicted a person, not one of the accused, of an assault on Ian Gordon of GS Agencies on December 11, 2018, and fined them €200. The appeal is scheduled to be heard later this year in Roscommon Circuit Court. Sgt Daly confirmed that gardai were present at the property on December 11, 2018, to ensure no breach of the peace and that they used 'reasonable force' to remove individuals from the premises. The trial continues.
The Central Criminal Court is currently hearing the trial of five accused individuals, including a 66-year-old man, his three sons aged 38, 40, and 41, and the 63-year-old wife of the first accused. They face over 100 counts of alleged rape, sexual assault, and other offences against four family members, who were children between September 1999 and February 2004. All defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The first accused denies 25 charges, including anal rape of his granddaughter and offences against his nephew. The second accused, aged 41, denies 31 charges, including rape and sexual assault of his sister. The third accused, aged 38, denies 36 charges, including anal rape of a cousin and rape of his sister. The fourth accused, the mother of the three men, denies concealing the effects of anal rape by providing an adult diaper to her granddaughter and assaulting her nephew and granddaughter. The fifth accused, aged 40, denies 31 charges, including rape and sexual assault of his sister. On the second day of the trial, a complainant testified to alleged incidents involving her grandfather. The trial continues before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and is expected to last three weeks.
A 51‑year‑old woman, Julie Flood, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) in Portrane after a Central Criminal Court judge ordered her placement following a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Flood had pleaded not guilty to the murder of her 94‑year‑old father, Patrick Flood, on his birthday in 2019. A jury, after 48 minutes of deliberation, accepted evidence from two forensic psychiatrists that she was in a psychotic state and did not understand that her actions were wrong. The psychiatrists agreed she believed a voice of God told her her father was an imposter. Flood's father died two days after being stabbed, with a post‑mortem attributing death to congestive cardiac failure and a recent stab wound. The judge directed that Flood be treated at CMH in accordance with the relevant legislation.
A husband, his wife, and their three sons are currently on trial at the Central Criminal Court, facing allegations of sexual offences and assaults against four members of their extended family. The first accused, aged 66, has pleaded not guilty to 25 charges, including two counts of anal rape of his granddaughter, and 21 charges against his nephew. His son, the second accused (41), pleaded not guilty to 31 charges involving his niece and sister. The third accused (38), another son, denied 36 charges, including anal rape of his cousin and niece. The fourth accused, their mother (63), pleaded not guilty to concealing the effects of an offence and two counts of assault. The fifth accused (40), the third son, pleaded not guilty to 31 charges against his sister. Prosecutors allege the offences occurred between September 1999 and February 2004. The complainants are two brothers, aged 30 and 33, and two women, aged 30 and 36. Shane Costelloe SC stated that the State's case is that each complainant was sexually abused by some of the accused. The trial, expected to last three weeks, continues before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 2 May 2023, 29‑year‑old Michael O'Reilly pleaded guilty to raping a 13‑year‑old girl in Dublin on 11 April 2021. He claimed in a letter to the victim that he "honestly did not know" her age and expressed shame and disgust. The court heard that the victim had been sexually assaulted after a teenage boy had finished consensual sex with her. O'Reilly allegedly forced the girl to the ground, removed her clothing and raped her. CCTV footage of the victim's upset reaction was shown to O'Reilly, who denied any involvement. He was remanded in custody until 10 July for finalisation of the case. The teenage boy was charged with engaging in a sexual act with a child but the charge was later withdrawn. No prior sexual convictions were recorded for O'Reilly, though he had convictions for assault, theft and burglary.
A garda detective has given evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the trial of four men charged in connection with an alleged attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm near Strokestown, Co Roscommon. The court heard that a two-second body-camera clip was not disclosed to the defence as the officer believed it was not relevant. Detective McDonnell acknowledged he had inadvertently recorded the footage while the camera was in garda custody and accepted that withholding it did not constitute best practice. The trial heard evidence regarding an incident on December 16, 2018, when approximately 30 armed men reportedly arrived at the property and attacked four security guards. Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor, all pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each, including assault causing harm, false imprisonment, aggravated burglary, arson, and violent disorder. The trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury.
Alan Leech, 38, was jailed for two years for extortion after he was hired by Bryan Kennedy to murder a couple with whom Kennedy's wife was having an online affair. Leech demanded money from Kennedy and Kennedy's wife on three occasions in January 2020, threatening violence and claiming he had third‑party killers. Kennedy, who had already been sentenced to four and a half years for soliciting Leech, paid €8,000 but failed to pay an outstanding €2,000, prompting Leech to send more threatening messages. Leech never contracted any third parties and had no gang connections; he was described as a "local junkie" with a history of drug addiction and 43 prior convictions. The court noted Leech's remorse and reduced the headline sentence of three years to two years, citing mitigating factors. The case highlighted the threats and intimidation faced by Kennedy's wife, who reported ongoing fear and PTSD after the incidents. Alan Leech pleaded guilty.
A 32‑year‑old drug addict was jailed after terrorising his mother, threatening to stab her dog, petrol‑bombing her home and writing "rats out" on her door. He broke her jaw, forced her to hospital and was convicted of assault, possession of a knife and burglary. The mother, who had obtained a protection order, described the abuse and her fear. The court noted the high risk of reoffending and the offender's remorse. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to three years and two months, suspending the final eight months on conditions including offence and victim focus work with the Probation Service. The mother expressed a desire to reunite her family and accepted his apology, while the defence highlighted his addiction and prospects for rehabilitation. The unnamed 32-year-old pleaded guilty.
Trevor Brown, 40, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed on May 7, 2022. Brown pleaded guilty to creating a serious risk of harm by driving dangerously at Meakstown Cottages, Finglas, two charges of assaulting a police officer, and one charge of stealing a car at Fassaugh Avenue, Cabra West. The court heard that Brown reversed a stolen vehicle at speed, pinning Garda David Lewis's leg between the vehicles, before resisting arrest and assaulting Garda Lewis and Garda Louise Moran. Both officers sustained injuries and were certified unfit for duty. Judge Patricia Ryan noted Brown's 165 previous convictions, including 58 for theft and 41 under the Road Traffic Act. While acknowledging mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, time in custody, and engagement in drug treatment, the judge rejected Brown's claim that he was reversing slowly. Judge Ryan sentenced Brown to two and a half years for the unlawful taking of a car and five years for the assault on a police officer. The final year of the assault sentence was suspended under strict conditions. Both sentences run concurrently and are backdated from the date he went into custody.
Emanuel Adrian Marcu, 29, of Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after punching a co‑worker during a night out at Temple Bar on 29 January 2019. The victim, who was on a work night out, was punched twice in the face, sustaining a broken jaw that required surgery and several days in hospital. Marcu, who was intoxicated that night, later claimed he could not remember the incident and that someone had pushed him, but he admitted the attack was unprovoked. He voluntarily appeared at Garda station, offered an apology and brought €2,000 to court. Judge Martina Baxter, noting the seriousness of the injury and Marcu's lack of prior convictions, imposed 240 hours of community service in lieu of a two‑year prison sentence. The sentence was deemed suitable by the Probation Service.
In a 2023 appeal, the Court of Appeal upheld a High Court judge's refusal to order the return of a young daughter to the UK, citing a grave risk of physical and psychological harm from her father. The mother, who had moved to Ireland with her pre‑school child in 2022 after alleging domestic violence, argued that English restraining orders would not prevent the father from taking the child. The father, who denied all allegations, sought a Hague Convention order to return the child. The Court, satisfied that the mother had proven a real and grave risk, dismissed the father's appeal and maintained the High Court's decision. The case highlighted the exceptional nature of the situation and the court's willingness to protect the child from potential harm.
The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment in the appeal by 'Fat' Freddie Thompson against his 2018 life sentence for the 2016 murder of David 'Daithí' Douglas. Thompson, who pleaded not guilty, argued that his conviction should be overturned due to procedural failures in how gardaí identified him from CCTV footage. His counsel contended that no records were kept of the identification process, preventing effective cross-examination, and cited UK protocols as a standard for such procedures. The State argued that the UK code did not apply in Ireland and that the conviction remained safe even without the CCTV evidence, noting that the footage was of sufficient quality for the trier of fact. The court heard that Thompson was driving a Ford Fiesta involved in the plot, while other vehicles, including a Mercedes Benz, Suzuki Swift, and Mitsubishi Mirage, were part of the convoy. Thompson is one of four men jailed for the murder. Lee Canavan was sentenced to life in 2021 for his role in the joint enterprise, though the court did not find he fired the shots. Nathan Foley pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation and received a six-year sentence, while Gareth Brophy was jailed for ten years as the getaway driver.
A garda superintendent has firmly rejected suggestions that policing failures contributed to a violent incident at a repossessed house near Strokestown, County Roscommon, in December 2018. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Superintendent Seamus Boyle disputed a defence assertion that gardaí failed to intervene timeously and properly before armed men attacked security personnel. Four men—Patrick Sweeney of Ramelton, County Donegal; Martin O'Toole of Claremorris, County Mayo; Paul Beirne of Boyle, County Roscommon; and David Lawlor of Navan, County Meath—have each pleaded not guilty to seventeen charges. These include false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder, and animal cruelty, arising from the early-morning incident on 16 December 2018. The superintendent confirmed he prepared a policing plan and visited the property but maintained An Garda Síochána's role was limited to preventing breaches of the peace. The trial before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury continues. Patrick Sweeney was convicted. Martin O'Toole was convicted. Paul Beirne was convicted. David Lawlor was convicted.
Ioan Lingurar, 36, who posed as a taxi driver, was convicted of raping two women in Dublin three years apart and of false imprisonment. The first victim was attacked in February 2016 after she had hailed what she thought was a taxi; she escaped after a struggle and later reported the assault. The second victim was assaulted in February 2019 after she had entered a vehicle she believed to be a taxi; she fought back and escaped. DNA evidence linked both attacks to Lingurar, who had previously been convicted of a sexual assault in France. At the Central Criminal Court, the judge imposed a total of seventeen‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the 2016 and 2019 sentences running consecutively. Lingurar appealed, arguing the headline sentences were too high, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, finding no error in the sentencing. Ioan Lingurar pleaded not guilty.
Two men have been sentenced to a combined total of sixteen-and-a-half years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for facilitating a criminal organisation in the fatal shooting of Thomas McCarthy. Charles McClean, aged thirty-four, of Clondalkin in Dublin, received ten years, to run consecutively after an eight-year sentence for conspiracy to murder. Mark Lee, aged thirty-two, from Lucan in Dublin, received nine years with the final twelve months suspended. Mr McCarthy, a fifty-five-year-old father of five from England, was shot dead at his mother's home in Ballyfermot on twenty-seventh July two thousand twenty after answering the door. He had no involvement in criminality and was shot nine times with no established motive for the killing. Mr Justice Paul McDermott found that McClean played a prominent role in the carefully planned murder, monitoring the victim's movements and signalling the shooter. Lee demonstrated loyalty to the criminal organisation involved whilst showing little empathy for the victim's family. Both men pleaded guilty to the charges.
A security guard gave evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of a violent attack at a repossessed property in Strokestown, County Roscommon, on 16 December 2018. The witness described being struck with a nail-studded bat and cut with a blade during an incident involving approximately thirty armed men. Four defendants—Patrick Sweeney of Ramelton, County Donegal; Martin O'Toole of Claremorris, County Mayo; Paul Beirne of Boyle, County Roscommon; and David Lawlor of Navan, County Meath—have pleaded not guilty to seventeen charges each. These include false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and animal cruelty. The trial before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury continues at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 22-year-old man charged with two murders and an attempted murder in Sligo has received a psychiatric assessment, the Central Criminal Court heard this week. Yousef Palani, of Markievicz Heights, Sligo, faces charges relating to incidents in April 2022. He is accused of murdering Aidan Moffitt on April 10 and Michael Snee on April 12, and of attempting to murder another man on April 9. Palani, who is remanded in custody at Castlerea Prison in Roscommon, is due to stand trial on November 13, with proceedings expected to last approximately four weeks. Defence counsel informed Mr Justice Paul McDermott that the assessment had only recently been received and that outstanding evidentiary matters and records from the Central Mental Hospital require attention before trial. The case was adjourned to June 13 for further mention.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 72‑year‑old former sports coach admitted to 13 counts of indecent assault on five teenage boys between December 1979 and March 1990. The admissions followed Judge Martin Nolan's ruling that incidents involving complainants aged 15 or older should not be considered by the jury, as the law at the time allowed consensual activity post‑15. The defendant had initially pleaded not guilty to 266 counts covering 1978‑1993. He denied wrongdoing, claiming some allegations were fabricated or that he only acted after the boys turned 15. The judge remanded him in custody and adjourned sentencing to 22 May, noting the conduct was "grossly immoral" but not criminally illegal under the 1980s law. The case remains pending sentencing.
In 2021 Simon Quilligan was jailed for six years for possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life at a halting site where he threatened to kill people. He had earlier been found not guilty of attempted murder and of endangerment from a reckless discharge of a firearm. The Court of Appeal heard that the conviction for the firearm offence was "perverse" because the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to prove possession of a live weapon. Quilligan's lawyers argued that witnesses could not see or hear a gun, that no firearm residue or silencer was found, and that the evidence was inconsistent with the acquittals of the other charges. The appeal was heard by a three‑judge panel, with the judge noting that the case would be decided at a later hearing. The article reports only the arguments and the pending decision, not a verdict.
Wayne Cooney, 32, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to demanding money from a mother in Raheny on 21 April 2019, claiming her son owed €11,000. He threatened her, saying they would return to collect. The woman, frightened, photographed him and reported him. Cooney had 26 prior convictions, including murder, firearm and ammunition offences. Judge Orla Crowe, hearing the case, noted the aggravating factors of his criminal history and the daylight setting, but also considered his guilty plea, apology and remorse as mitigating. She sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, adding to his existing life term. The court heard that the victim did not wish to give an impact statement, and that Cooney expressed shame and a desire to apologise. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
William Twomey, with an address in Warrenpoint, County Down, has failed in his appeal against conviction at the Court of Appeal in relation to an attack on a Mayo businessman in County Louth in December 2017. Twomey was found guilty at the Special Criminal Court in September 2021 of robbery, assault causing harm, and demanding money with menaces. He received concurrent sentences totalling three years, with the final year suspended, dating from August 2021. The trial heard that Twomey orchestrated a plan to lure the businessman to Omeath under false pretences, resulting in a violent robbery. On appeal, Twomey's counsel argued he had withdrawn from the joint enterprise by notifying gardaí and the PSNI. However, the Court of Appeal found the trial court had properly assessed the evidence and determined his steps were insufficient to constitute effective withdrawal. Mr Justice Edwards stated the Special Criminal Court's findings were thorough, rigorous, and open to them on the evidence presented. The appeal was dismissed.
The State has argued at the Court of Appeal that the four-and-a-half-year jail sentence imposed on Christopher Rafter for the rape and sexual assault of his two younger sisters was too lenient. Rafter, of Portlaoise, Co Laois, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to offences committed between 1989 and 1993. Ms Fiona Murphy SC, representing the State, contended that the concurrent structure of the sentences resulted in a single punishment for two victims, with Rafter receiving only two years for ten indecent assaults. She noted that Mr Justice McDermott had identified a headline sentence of nine years for the rape of Linda Rafter, reduced to six years before suspending 18 months, and a headline of seven years for the rape of Dolores Prendergast, reduced to four-and-a-half years. The State alleged that too much credit was given to Rafter's age during the majority of the offending. In response, Mr John D Fitzgerald SC for Rafter cited his client's borderline intellectual disability and schizoid personality, arguing the sentence was not radically out of line with similar cases. The court heard that the abuse was continuous and involved a significant breach of trust. The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgement in this appeal.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 72‑year‑old former sports coach pleaded not guilty to 266 counts of indecent and sexual assault against five boys. The court heard that the complainants, now men in their 40s and 50s, had been in contact with the accused as boys or teenagers through sports and family friendship. The State alleged that the accused exposed himself, fondled, masturbated, handcuffed, urinated and defecated with the boys, and that he offered money for sexual acts. The accused denied suggesting that a second complainant could pay off a loan by letting him watch the complainant's wife and him have sex. He claimed the relationship with the second complainant became sexual only after he turned 18 and that any acts were consensual. The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
Aidan Horan, 39, of East Wall, Dublin, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court after pleading not guilty to two counts of assaulting his wife on January 1, 2019, and February 22, 2019. Following a trial, he was convicted of both charges. Prosecution evidence detailed that during the first incident, Horan struck the woman in the head and face, while the second involved her finger being hyper-extended, requiring surgery. Mr Justice Paul Burns acknowledged claims that violence was mutual but noted that only Horan was convicted. He described the relationship as tempestuous but stated there is no excuse for violence. The court imposed a 12-month custodial sentence. The final three months of this sentence were suspended on strict conditions, requiring Horan to engage with the Probation Service for three months upon his ultimate release from prison. The judge emphasized the specific impact of domestic violence under the Domestic Violence Act. Horan had no previous convictions, and his defense counsel offered €4,500 as a token of remorse, which the victim declined.
A 62‑year‑old man who sexually abused his two sisters over a seven‑year period more than 40 years ago lost an appeal against his conviction and five‑year prison sentence. The Court of Appeal, led by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, rejected the appellant's legal team's arguments that the trial was unfair because the offences occurred more than four decades earlier, that separate trials should have been held for each complainant, and that the indictment had been amended after all evidence was heard. The appellant was originally convicted in September 2021 by a Central Criminal Court jury in Tullamore, Co. Offaly, of one count of rape and 12 counts of indecent assault between 1974 and 1981, and was sentenced to five years in prison by Ms Justice Carmel Stewart. The appeal was dismissed, with the court finding no merit in the criticisms raised.
A 58‑year‑old man was sentenced to 14 years in prison after a Central Criminal Court trial in November convicted him of 11 offences, including rape, oral rape, sexual assault, false imprisonment, threat to kill and forcing a child to watch sexual activity. The crimes were committed against his nine‑year‑old daughter in the family home in the Midlands between December 2019 and April 2020. He used religious arguments, telling the child that the bible required obedience to a father, and threatened to kill her and other family members if she disclosed the abuse, showing her a knife. The daughter, now 11, described lasting trauma, nightmares, vomiting and fear of being ostracised by peers. Her mother also gave a victim impact statement. The judge imposed concurrent 15‑year terms for the rape offences, suspended the final year on condition of good behaviour, and ordered probation supervision for one year.
A 38‑year‑old man, Brian McHugh, has been charged with the murder of 52‑year‑old youth worker Lisa Thompson, who was found dead with multiple stab wounds in her Dublin home on 10 May 2022. A co‑accused, Deirdre Arnold, 40, faces a charge of impeding the prosecution or apprehension of the alleged murderer between 9 May and 11 July 2022. Mr Justice Paul McDermott set a trial date for 26 February 2024, with case management to finish by 21 July 2023, and the trial is expected to last four weeks.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Nathan O'Neill, aged 24, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of Jamie Higgins, who was stabbed five times in a nightclub fight in Shannon on 18 March 2018. O'Neill had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter and to causing serious harm to Michael Shannon, for which he received a seven‑year sentence. Both sentences run concurrently and are back‑dated to 1 April 2022. The judge noted O'Neill's prior convictions for threatening to kill, possession of a knife and criminal damage, and his earlier guilty plea and cooperation with Gardaí, which led to a reduction from the headline 14‑year sentence. O'Neill admitted the knife was taken from a car after an earlier altercation and that he feared further violence. The court heard victim impact statements from Higgins's family, describing the profound loss and the family's grief. O'Neill expressed remorse and apologised to the family.
Darren Murphy, of George's Place, Dublin 1, appealed his conviction for the 2012 murder of Eamon Kelly at the Court of Appeal. In November 2021, the Special Criminal Court found Murphy guilty of murder, acting as a "spotter" in a common design, while acquitting him of possessing a Glock pistol due to insufficient evidence. In January 2022, a three-judge court imposed a life sentence on Murphy. His legal team argued that the identification process from CCTV footage was flawed, citing credibility issues with Garda witnesses who had previously accessed Pulse records regarding Murphy. They contended that the Special Criminal Court erred in admitting the footage and assessing its weight. The State responded that the identification procedure was transparent and that witness credibility was properly assessed by the trial court. The appeal also referenced Sean Connolly, who was jailed for life in 2015 for the same murder. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, reserved its judgment in the matter.
Diarmuid Phelan, a 53-year-old senior barrister and law professor from Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, County Dublin, is charged with the alleged murder of Keith Conlon at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, on February 22, 2022. The matter was adjourned at the Central Criminal Court to allow the Director of Public Prosecution time to respond to detailed disclosure requests from the defence. Defence counsel Karl Monahan BL applied for Arthur McClean Solicitors to come on record, noting substantial prior correspondence regarding disclosure. He stated that the accused's previous solicitors had sought detailed records on March 21, while new solicitors recently requested "further and better" disclosure. Prosecution lawyers indicated they required considerable time to respond to these requests and asked for the matter to be put back for six weeks. Mr Justice Paul McDermott acknowledged that the defence letter set out significant detail regarding the information sought, noting that providing a comprehensive reply would require time. He suggested that readily available materials could potentially be addressed within four weeks. The judge adjourned the case to May 25 to review the matter again. Phelan is due to go on trial at the Central Criminal Court on May 29, 2024. Keith Conlon, a father-of-four from Kiltalown Park, was seriously injured in a shooting incident and died at Tallaght University Hospital two days later.
Sean Nolan, aged 38, appealed his 2020 murder conviction for strangling Amanda Carroll, a mother of two, in her own apartment after a two‑day binge of alcohol and drugs. Nolan had been found by Gardaí on a North Dublin street the day after Carroll's body was discovered, and the prosecution relied on field notes taken by officers who were off‑duty. In the appeal, his counsel argued that these notes, which recorded Nolan saying he had "choked her until she passed out," were not properly read to him during his formal interview and should not have been admissible. The appeal also questioned the jury's deliberation on Nolan's intoxication level and intent, noting that the jury had received no judicial guidance on these matters. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeal.
A 58-year-old man from County Mayo has told gardaí he was not present at a December 2018 incident at a repossessed farm near Strokestown, County Roscommon, and denied seeing a firearm at the scene. Martin O'Toole of Claremorris faces charges of false imprisonment and assault causing harm to four security personnel, along with aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder, robbery and animal cruelty. The trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard evidence today of three garda interviews conducted over two days in January 2019. In the recorded interviews, which O'Toole has pleaded not guilty to all charges relating, he stated he never witnessed a gun at the property, though he later acknowledged travelling to Elfin before the incident. Security personnel had previously testified that armed men, numbering approximately 30, attacked the farmhouse five days after its repossession. Three co-accused men face identical charges. The trial continues.