A key witness in the Central Criminal Court trial of Stephen Silver, who is accused of murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan, has testified that he deliberately kept the accused away from gardaí on the night of the shooting in Foxford, County Mayo. James Coyne told the court that on June 17th, 2020, Silver called to his home and they travelled together to Foxford, where Silver transferred a motorcycle to him. When Silver later expressed interest in visiting Castlerea Garda Station a second time that evening, Coyne said he steered him away, fearing trouble. The court also heard that following his arrest at the scene, Silver urinated on his cell floor and may have self-harmed by striking his head against the wall. Gardaí described his behaviour as agitated. The trial, which continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, also heard CCTV evidence of Silver's movements on the day in question.
A father of five was jailed for four years after a jury found him guilty of two counts of child cruelty for attacking his partner's toddler, who was left with extensive bruising and required two days of hospital treatment. The toddler, aged two and a half at the time, suffered injuries to his face, ears, back, buttocks, thighs and genital area, and was described by his grandmother as looking like a child from an ISPCC ad. The man, who had 43 prior convictions including assault, was seen threatening the child on four occasions. He maintains his innocence. The mother, aged 21 when the assault occurred, received a three‑year suspended sentence in 2020 for allowing the abuse. The judge noted the child's vulnerability and the man's criminal record, and gave credit for time already served. The sentence runs concurrently on both counts.
Simon McGinley has failed in his second attempt to overturn his murder conviction at the Court of Appeal. McGinley, aged 38, was convicted in April 2014 of murdering Eugene Gillespie, a retired telecoms broker, at a house on Old Market Street in Sligo on 19 September 2012. Mr Gillespie, aged 67, died in hospital following a cardiac arrest after being assaulted and tied up in his home. McGinley had originally pleaded not guilty to murder and admitted manslaughter instead, but this plea was rejected by the State. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. At the appeal hearing, McGinley's legal team argued he was displaying symptoms of schizophrenia at the time of the attack and that this constituted a miscarriage of justice. Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh dismissed the appeal, finding that neither insanity nor diminished responsibility had been raised at trial and that retrospective psychiatric assessment fell short of the required threshold.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Patrick Dunne, aged 29 and autistic, admitted killing his mother Susan Dunne, 62, with a hatchet, inflicting five fatal blows to her head while she lay in bed. The prosecution and defence psychiatrists agreed he was insane as defined by law at the time of the murder. The trial, described as unusual, will focus on evidence of the assault, the hatchet found in the kitchen with Dunne's DNA, and the circumstances leading to the killing. The case also involves testimony about Dunne's routine of collecting her son's disability allowance and his unaccompanied driving. The jury will consider whether Dunne was not guilty by reason of insanity based on the psychiatric assessments. The trial will resume on Tuesday before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury of five men and seven women.
In a case heard at the Court of Appeal, Martina Rooney, aged 40, was found not to have successfully overturned an eight‑year jail sentence for a violent assault that took place in Temple Bar, Dublin, on 13 June 2020. The assault involved Rooney repeatedly stabbing a woman over a missing €50 note, with the attack described as "barbarous" and aggravated by a sexual element that "humiliated intimate body parts." Medical reports noted extensive facial bruising and lacerations to the back, buttock and thigh, and the victim was also stabbed in the eye. Rooney had pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and robbery, and the Court of Appeal upheld the original sentence, noting the seriousness of the offence and the mitigating factors presented by her drug‑addiction background. Her co‑accused, Karl Fishe, 36, received a two‑year sentence for his role in the assault.
An elderly St John Of God Brother, Aidan Clohessy, aged 82, former principal of St Augustine's School for boys with learning disabilities, faces nine charges of indecent assault against four boys. The alleged offences occurred between 31 August 1968 and 17 August 1986. Clohessy appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Martin Nolan set a trial date for 18 November 2024 and remanded him on continuing bail. Earlier, Judge Nolan lifted reporting restrictions that had prevented the media from naming the defendant, following an application by several news organisations.
In 2022 the Court of Appeal increased a 66‑year‑old man's sentence from 12 years with 18 months suspended to 17 years for a 16‑year period of rape, molestation and aggravated sexual assault of his daughter. The man had begun abusing her when she was six or seven and continued until her 20s, committing 54 charges, of which nine were pleaded. The offences included repeated rape, oral rape, indecent assault, sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault involving an electric sander. The appeal was brought by the State, who argued the original headline sentence of 16 years for rape was too lenient given the "depth of cruelty" and the victim's prolonged degradation. The Court of Appeal agreed, quashing the original sentence and imposing a headline of 17 years with no suspended portion, and ordered the offender to register as a sex offender and attend probation for five years. The unnamed 66-year-old pleaded guilty.
A witness told the Central Criminal Court murder trial that he heard the accused man say "If I didn't kill him, he would have killed me" at the scene in Castlerea, County Roscommon. Marcus Silvera, a resident of Main Street in the town, testified that he heard gunshots shortly before midnight on 17 June 2020 and observed a man with long hair and a black leather jacket walking in the street and shouting. Garda Enda Rowley also gave evidence, describing how the accused, Stephen Silver, was found handcuffed at the scene and later questioned at Castlerea Garda Station. Mr Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan but has admitted manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott continues at the Central Criminal Court.
Noel Colvin, 45, a homeless man, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and production of an article at Harbour Court, Dublin, on 14 August 2020. He attacked a homeless woman, Natasha Smith, who was standing on a lane‑way off Lower Abbey Street. Colvin approached her, offered cider, then, after she asked him to step back, pulled out a blade and cut her face. She was taken to hospital and received 20 stitches, leaving considerable scarring. Colvin had a history of assault convictions and was suffering from an alcohol addiction. He apologized and a letter of apology was submitted to the court. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment for the assault, taking the production of an article into account. The sentence was imposed at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Andrew Brennan, aged 41, was sentenced to a fully suspended prison term after pleading guilty to assault causing harm and threatening to kill his ex-partner on 6 May 2021. The incident occurred after a 24‑hour binge of alcohol and drugs, during which Brennan punched, kicked, and stood on the woman's neck, threatening to kill her. The victim sustained significant bruising, two black eyes, damaged teeth, and incurred €600 in medical expenses. Brennan was ordered to pay €2,500 to the victim or a charity. Judge Martin Nolan described the attack as "savage" and noted that Brennan had no prior convictions, concluding that imprisonment would be unjust. The case highlighted the toxic nature of the couple's relationship, marked by repeated alcohol and drug binges.
A 29‑year‑old man, Patrick Dunne of Ballingeragh, Lixnaw, Co Kerry, is charged with the murder of his mother, Susan Dunne, which occurred between 26 and 27 November 2013 at their family home. He was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court, pleaded not guilty, and a jury of five men and seven women was sworn in. The trial, scheduled to begin later that week and expected to last three days, will focus on the issue of insanity. Judge Paul Burns instructed the jury that all witnesses and Gardaí are from Lixnaw and that they should not research the case or its participants. He also advised the jurors to remain available for the duration of the trial, which may extend beyond the initial day. The case will be heard in the Central Criminal Court.
Stephen Silver, a forty-six-year-old motorbike mechanic from Aughavale near Foxford in County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan on June 17th, 2020 in Castlerea, County Roscommon. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility. At the Central Criminal Court, Sergeant Michael O'Hara testified that upon arriving at the scene, Mr Silver told him he had retrieved a firearm from an unknown man who approached him on Main Street. When informed that he had shot a detective garda, Mr Silver allegedly responded negatively about the officer's competence. Gardaí at the scene described Mr Silver's demeanor and actions following his arrest. A witness living overlooking the location provided an account of the shooting itself. The trial, heard before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of twelve, continues.
George Finglas, 46, of North Circular Road, Dublin, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for transporting over €2.5 million worth of cannabis. On 2 February 2021, Revenue officials and a sniffer dog discovered two pallets of cannabis herb, concealed under portable gas heaters, at Dublin Port. Gardai set up a surveillance operation and carried out a controlled delivery to an industrial estate in west Dublin. Finglas, acting as a transporter, was directed by an unidentified "Suspect B" to unload the pallets into a rented van. He later drove the van to a commercial premises in Baldongan, Lusk, where he was arrested. Mobile phones recovered from the van contained encrypted messages referencing the drugs and payments. Finglas admitted moving the drugs under direction, citing a €25 000 gambling debt and fear of creditors. He had previously pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of drugs and had earlier suspended sentences for assault and a drunk‑driving conviction.
A garda witness testified at the Central Criminal Court that Stephen Silver, aged 46, a mechanic from Aughavard in Foxford, County Mayo, displayed a "smirk" while verbally confronting him as he attempted to resuscitate Detective Garda Colm Horkan following the shooting in Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Garda Aidan Fallon described observing two men fighting before hearing gunshots, then witnessing a man shoot another man lying on the ground twice. Upon discovering the injured man was Detective Garda Horkan, Fallon began CPR, during which the accused allegedly told him he was "doing it wrong" and "killing him". Mr Silver, who denies murder, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott continues with cross-examination of the witness. Stephen Silver pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jake Merriman, aged 31, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for endangering a garda during an anti‑lockdown protest on Grafton Street on 27 February 2021. Merriman threw a firework, which was lit by a juvenile, into the crowd, perforating Garda Mark Walsh's right eardrum. He also punched a garda in the face and kicked another in the testicles. The court noted Merriman's violent conduct and his admission that he had been drinking the night before and intended only to cause a disturbance. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a custodial sentence, acknowledging Merriman's remorse and his payment of €10,000 as a token of regret. The garda's hearing has since recovered, though he suffered temporary loss of hearing. The case highlighted the serious impact of Merriman's actions on the garda and the protest environment.
A member of An Garda Síochána gave emotional testimony at the Central Criminal Court today describing the moment she witnessed a gunman fire multiple shots at her colleague Detective Garda Colm Horkan as he lay on the ground in Castlerea, County Roscommon. Garda Helen Gillen told the court she and Garda Aidan Fallon were driving near the junction of Main Street and Patrick Street when they observed two men grappling before hearing what they believed to be gunshots. She said she saw a man emerge from nearby premises carrying a firearm and fire at the man on the ground, though she could not recall the exact number of shots fired. Garda Gillen stated the shooter was wearing a black jacket with a luminous stripe and a backpack. Stephen Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility in relation to Detective Garda Horkan's death on 17 June 2020. The trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott continues.
In Cork Circuit Court in November 2020, Tyler Lewis, then 20, was sentenced to six years in jail for possession of a 15‑cm knife, unlawfully seizing a vehicle and falsely imprisoning a female. The offence occurred in July 2020 when Lewis, armed with a knife and yellow gloves, forced a woman into a car, threatening to stab her boyfriend if she did not comply. The woman faked a panic attack and Lewis fled. Lewis had 31 prior convictions and a history of drug abuse. The judge described his conduct as violent, dangerous and bizarre. Lewis appealed to the Court of Appeal, arguing that no actual violence was used and that the incident was brief. Justice Isobel Kennedy rejected the appeal, stating the incident was violent and that Lewis had pre‑meditated the crime by buying the knife and gloves earlier that day. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the six‑year sentence intact.
A witness living near Castlerea, County Roscommon heard "roaring and shouting" and observed erratic behaviour in the minutes before Detective Garda Colm Horkan was fatally shot on June 17th, 2020, the Central Criminal Court has heard. Paul McGarry described seeing two men ducking behind walls and a motorbike being driven at speed without lights before hearing what he believed were gunshots at 11.50pm. A second witness, Laura McIntyre, reported seeing a bearded man in his 40s driving recklessly on the motorcycle, shouting about armed squads and firearms. Stephen Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Garda evidence outlined that earlier that day an agitated man had visited Castlerea station complaining about alleged abuse of an elderly person, with subsequent checks linking a blue van to Silver. The trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott continues.
A 22‑year‑old man was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for repeatedly raping a young cousin and sexually assaulting another when he was a teenager. He pleaded guilty to three counts of rape of a boy aged six to nine and one count of sexual assault of a boy aged ten to twelve. The offences occurred between 2014 and 2019 while the defendant was aged 12 to 16. The court heard that the man, who had no prior convictions, had been a babysitter and had repeatedly forced the victims to remove clothing and to be in positions that allowed anal penetration, claiming it would help the victims' asthma. He was found to have abused the trust of the children and to have used deceit. The judge imposed a six‑year sentence with two years suspended, citing his remorse, early guilty pleas and young age at the time of the offences.
A 41‑year‑old convicted sex offender was sentenced to 13½ years' imprisonment, with the last two years suspended, for raping his former partner twice in August 2016 at his apartment in Co. Laois. The court found a significant breach of trust, noting the victim was pregnant and had recently given birth. The offender had previously been on the sex offenders register for a 2007 sexual assault of a 17‑year‑old girl and a 2016 assault of his partner. He was also convicted of a 2016 assault of his partner by head‑butting her face. The sentence was based on the rape and anal rape counts, with a headline of 10 years for rape and 13½ years for anal rape. The offender had no guilty plea, no remorse, but did cooperate with Gardaí. The court suspended the final two years of the custodial term, back‑dating the suspension to 28 March 2022. The unnamed 41-year-old pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
Daniel Fitzpatrick, aged 32, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for stabbing three men outside a Dublin pub on 9 September 2015. The attacks occurred on Oscar Traynor Road, where Fitzpatrick, who had previously been convicted of manslaughter in Birmingham, had engaged in an argument with other men. The three victims approached the group to intervene; one suffered tendon damage and a large scar on the back of his head, while the other two were treated for stab wounds and have since recovered. No victim impact reports were presented. Garda Alan Roche noted that a metal bar with a pointed end was found near the scene, presumed to be the weapon. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the three and a half year term for the most serious assault and two concurrent two‑year sentences for the other two attacks, back‑dating the sentences to July 2020 when Fitzpatrick first entered custody. Daniel Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty.
Imre Arakas, a 64-year-old Estonian national, appeared before the High Court to challenge his extradition to Lithuania, where he is alleged to have acted as a mercenary in the 2015 murder of Deimantas Bugavicius. Lithuanian authorities allege Arakas supplied two nine-millimetre handguns, clothing, and chemical cleaning substances to a three-man gang in Kaunas, while also engaging in surveillance and route planning. Arakas's legal team, led by Remy Farrell SC, opposed the surrender, arguing that Lithuanian authorities had "changed the narrative" regarding his specific role and that no formal charge had been properly established. They noted an eyewitness claimed Arakas was not present at the scene and that he provided an alibi placing him in Spain during the incident. The State, represented by Siobhán Ní Chúlacháinn BL, maintained that the legal basis for the European Arrest Warrant remained unchanged, asserting Arakas was part of an organised group acting for mercenary reasons. Mr Justice Paul Burns heard the arguments and indicated he hoped to deliver a judgement by November 7. Separately, Arakas was previously sentenced by the Special Criminal Court in December 2018. He pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to murder James 'Mago' Gately in Northern Ireland between April 3 and 4, 2017. Mr Justice Tony Hunt jailed him for six years, noting Arakas had agreed to pull the trigger for financial gain under contract from the Kinahan crime gang. Arakas has been in custody in Ireland since April 2017.
Michael Lawrence, 55, filmed his daughter Jessica Maughan, 28, viciously beating his mother‑in‑law Mary Maughan, 65, as she left a doctor's appointment, and also recorded his other daughter Marie Stokes, 31, attacking Mary's daughter Rosie while Rosie waited in her car. The video was shared on social media and viewed 3,500 times. The court heard that the victims, though physically recovered, suffered psychological harm from the humiliation. Lawrence and the two daughters pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced each to a two‑year suspended sentence, ordered them to pay €1,000 to the Garda, and remanded Stokes and Lawrence in custody pending sentence while allowing Jessica Maughan to remain on bail. The judge described the assaults as disgraceful and vicious, noting the humiliation was aggravated by the footage's online presence. The court did not impose any custodial term on the father or the daughters.
Thomas Sheehan, aged 37, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for orally raping and sexually assaulting his half‑sister, Edel Sheehan, between 2000 and 2002 when they were teenagers. Sheehan, who had no fixed abode in Tipperary, pleaded guilty to one count of oral rape and five counts of sexual assault. He had previously written letters to Gardaí confessing the abuse, which led to the case. The court noted the siblings grew up in extreme neglect, poverty and violence, and that Sheehan's confession and apology were mitigating factors. The judge reduced the headline six‑year sentence to four years, adding concurrent two‑year sentences for the remaining offences and a one‑year post‑release supervision order. The case highlighted the long‑lasting impact on Edel, who waived anonymity to name her abuser. The sentencing reflected the seriousness of the repeated sexual offences and the vulnerability of the victim.
Predatory serial sex offender Slawomir Gierlowski has had his prison sentence further extended for an attempted attack on a woman in 2011. Gierlowski (38) was previously sentenced in 2018 to 22 and a half years with four years suspended for random outdoor attacks on three other women between 2011 and 2016. After a Central Criminal Court trial in May 2019, Gierlowski was convicted of attempted rape, sexual assault and assault causing harm of a fourth victim on the night of December 18, 2010. Sentencing for those offences was adjourned while Gierlowski appealed his 2018 convictions and the severity of that sentence. The Court of Appeal dismissed these appeals and in July 2021, he was sentenced for this offence to a further ten years consecutive to the earlier sentence, giving a total prison sentence of 28 and a half years. The matter was adjourned during the appeal process. In July 2022, Judge Elma Sheahan extended Gierlowski's time in custody by a further six years, imposing concurrent sentences totalling six years consecutive to his Central Criminal Court sentence. The court heard that Gierlowski's DNA and fingerprints were taken as part of an investigation in 2016 into a separate assault and matched samples that were recovered from a flex and a cigarette box in this case. The victim described how the man, later identified as Gierlowski, had jumped at her in broad daylight, pushed her to the ground, straddled her and failed to get a flex around her neck before putting his hands on her neck and squeezing with his thumbs. He tried to pull down her pants. She resisted and fought back at the man, who punched her many times with a closed fist before he ran off. The woman continues to suffer adverse effects from the offence ten years later. Judge Sheahan noted Gierlowski had similar serious offending pre and post this offence. She said his offending had been previously described as 'dangerous predatory behaviour', which even at this stage he refuses to acknowledge despite going through three trials. She noted he has been in custody since 2016 but said she could not take into account any insight gained or remorse as he does not accept the verdict and there is no guilty plea. She said the court would take into account that he is already serving a significant sentence. Previously Mr Justice Michael White said that in the absence of Gierlowski acknowledging his predatory behaviour, he remained a serious threat to the safety of women. Judge Sheahan said the protection of society was an important consideration for the court. She imposed concurrent sentences totalling six years consecutive to his Central Criminal Court sentence. She noted the need to have regard to rehabilitation but said there was no evidential basis for suspending part of the sentence.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, who is accused of the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016, until next Tuesday at 11am. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC stated that the trial is ready to proceed, noting that new evidence will be presented later in the proceedings. The court, presided over by Ms Justice Tara Burns, agreed to the new date after considering the availability of the three-judge panel. In related developments, Jonathan Dowdall (44) and his father Patrick Dowdall (65) have pleaded guilty to charges of facilitating the murder of Byrne. Jonathan Dowdall admitted to a lesser charge of facilitating the shooting, while Patrick Dowdall admitted to facilitating the murder and participating in criminal organisation activity by making a hotel room available. The State indicated it may enter a nolle prosequi against Jonathan Dowdall on the murder count. Co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, charged with facilitating the offence by providing vehicles, remain on trial. The court noted that if the trial extends past Christmas, arrangements may be made for early January.
Mary Sutcliffe, 41, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, with 12 months suspended, for perverting the course of justice by wiping blood from a door handle after an alleged assault in Ranelagh, Dublin. On 11 August 2018, five people entered an apartment where two men were present. One man was punched after a confrontation. CCTV later identified Sutcliffe and two women walking to the apartment; one woman held the door open while two men entered. Sutcliffe was seen wiping the door handle, apparently removing blood. Two men were arrested shortly after. Sutcliffe admitted the act in court, claiming she did not know the men and acted under duress. She has no prior convictions, was under the influence of narcotics, and has a history of drug difficulties and domestic abuse. The judge noted her high risk of reoffending but also her efforts to improve her situation. Mary Sutcliffe pleaded guilty.
Martin Begley, aged 55, was found guilty by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury of nine counts of sexual assault and 12 counts of invitation to sexual touching of a seven‑year‑old boy in two Dublin locations between December 2019 and April 2020. The verdicts followed a six‑day trial in June. Begley, who lived in Larkfield Grove, Kimmage, denied the convictions and intends to appeal. He had been employed by the boy's parents after they advertised on an Irish childminding website; he claimed garda vetting and supplied references, though he never showed evidence. Begley began minding the children in December 2019, moving to his own house during the March 2020 Covid lockdown. In April 2020 the boy's mother discovered a video of a boy being spanked with a belt, leading to immediate termination. The following month the boy's mother learned Begley had shown him how to engage in sexualised behaviour.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 7 October 2022, PJ Bennett, father of 29‑year‑old Sharon Bennett, delivered a victim‑impact statement after Patrick Ballard was sentenced to a mandatory life term for murdering his girlfriend. Bennett described the murder as a "nightmare" that has devastated his family, noting that Sharon was a loving daughter and mother of two girls. He expressed remorse for not protecting her and stated he does not blame the Ballard family, only Patrick. Bennett recounted the difficulties caused by Covid‑19 restrictions, which prevented him from seeing Sharon in intensive care for five days and from holding a proper funeral. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, highlighted the brutality of the attack, the victim's blamelessness, and the impact on her children. Ballard, 35, had pleaded guilty to murder and had a history of 140 convictions, including assault and theft. The sentencing was back‑dated to 28 January 2021, when Ballard entered custody. Sharon Bennett pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Silver, aged 46, a motorcycle mechanic from Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon, on 17 June 2020. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The Central Criminal Court heard that Detective Garda Horkan, aged 49 and with nearly 25 years' service, was fatally shot shortly before midnight after an encounter with Mr Silver on Patrick Street. Prosecution counsel outlined that Mr Silver told gardaí the garda attacked him and stated: "With all that's going on with the police in this world, I shot him." The post mortem examination revealed eleven gunshot wounds. The defence argues Mr Silver's responsibility is substantially diminished due to mental health difficulties. A psychiatrist will give evidence for both the prosecution and defence. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
A mother was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for assault causing serious harm to her 20‑month‑old son, false imprisonment of a social care worker and possession of a large kitchen knife. The court heard that the infant suffered 18 % total body surface area scald burns to his face, neck and upper body, leaving permanent disfiguring scarring. The mother, who had a depressive disorder and a mild intellectual disability, pleaded guilty to the assault and false imprisonment. The judge noted the aggravating factors of the breach of trust, the severity of the injuries and the mother's failure to take prescribed medication. The sentence for the assault was reduced from a headline 14‑year term to nine years, with the final two years suspended for two years. The false‑imprisonment and knife charges carried a two‑year term, also suspended for two years, and all sentences run concurrently, back‑dated to 9 October 2019.
Patrick Ballard, aged 35, pleaded guilty to murdering his former partner, Ms Bennett, aged 29, in a public toilet in County Clare on 28 January 2021. Ballard had initially pleaded not guilty but, two days into his trial at the Central Criminal Court, admitted that his kicking and stamping caused Bennett's death. Witnesses, including Hussein 'Jamesie' Abdullah, testified that Ballard attacked Bennett in the toilet, pushing her onto a metal floor and repeatedly stamping and kicking her head. Bennett was taken to hospital in Limerick, where she died on 10 February 2021. Ballard was re‑arrested on 24 March 2021 and charged with murder. The trial, expected to last two weeks, was adjourned to hear a victim impact statement, with the mandatory sentence for murder being life imprisonment.
In October 2022, Joseph Byrne, aged 33, was sentenced to nine‑and‑a‑half years in prison by the Central Criminal Court for providing a handgun to his friend Dean McCarthy, who used it to shoot Sinead Connolly on 6 March 2021. Connolly, a mother of one, survived the attack but was left paralysed and in need of ongoing treatment. Byrne's actions were described by Judge Paul McDermott as reckless, irresponsible and dangerous, noting the ease with which he obtained the firearm and ammunition. The judge set a headline sentence of 14 years for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, reduced to eleven years with an 18‑month suspended portion, and imposed a five‑year concurrent sentence for possession of ammunition. The case highlighted the lack of support for Connolly and her daughter following the violent incident. Joseph Byrne pleaded guilty. Dean McCarthy pleaded guilty.
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has joined Patrick Quirke's Supreme Court appeal as an amicus curiae, making its own legal submissions at no cost to the court. Quirke, a 51‑year‑old farmer from Breanshamore, is serving a life sentence for the 2011 murder of DJ Bobby Ryan, a part‑time DJ known as Mr Moonlight. The appeal, scheduled for a one‑day hearing on 25 October, challenges the validity of the search warrant used in the investigation and the DPP's discretion in calling an expert witness. The Commission argues that the warrant powers used in Ireland lack proportionality safeguards and that the right to privacy should be weighed against the community's interest in prosecuting crime. It will present case law and other material not previously considered by the other parties. No opposition was raised by the DPP or Quirke's counsel to the Commission's participation. The Court of Appeal had dismissed Quirke's 52‑ground appeal in November.
Boy B, now 18, withdrew his appeal against his conviction for the May 2018 murder of 14-year-old Ana Kriegel in Lucan. Originally convicted at age 13 alongside Boy A, he was sentenced to 15 years' detention with a review after 8 years. The appeal hearing, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, saw Boy B confirm directly that he wished to withdraw the appeal, bringing an end to four years of proceedings.
Nigel McEvoy, 46, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Paddy Keogh, 74, at a Dublin bar on 24 November 2018. The attack left Keogh with panic attacks, early‑onset dementia and a nursing home stay. McEvoy, who has 14 prior convictions including nine public‑order offences, was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally to 36 months' custody, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The judge noted the assault was "violent in the extreme" and that Keogh's life‑changing injuries were fully described in a victim impact statement. McEvoy, who has schizophrenia and a history of mental‑health difficulties, expressed remorse, offered €200 as a gesture of apology (to be donated to the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland), and has taken steps to improve his circumstances since 2019. The sentence reflects mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, limited violent history and his efforts to address his mental health.
Brian Mullen, aged 77, was convicted by a jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in February 2022 of assaulting John Wayne with a pitchfork during a dispute over the demolition of a boundary wall. The assault took place on 13 April 2019 at Wayne's address and caused facial injury and a fractured leg. Mullen was also found guilty of production of an article and endangerment at the same address on the same date. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and had no prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a fully suspended custodial sentence of 20 months, conditioned on Mullen having no contact with the victim. The judge cited his age, remorse, good record and the €10,000 he brought to court as a demonstration of remorse. The court noted that Mullen had contacted Gardaí twice before the incident and again on the day of the assault, and that he accepted the jury verdict and expressed remorse.
An Irish woman, Elaine Sadlier, 55, is being sought in the UK on suspicion of assisting Michael Foran in the murder of his ex‑partner, Katie 'June' Jones, whose body was found in a bathtub in West Bromwich in 2018. Sadlier appeared at the extradition court in Birmingham, objecting to surrender under the post‑Brexit Trade and Co‑operation Agreement. A warrant issued on 14 June 2021 accuses her of aiding Foran, who pleaded guilty to the murder and received a life sentence with a minimum of 17 years. Another man, Keith O'Dwyer, was also convicted of assisting Foran and sentenced to 16 months. The court noted CCTV evidence of Sadlier and others transporting luggage in a Range Rover to Liverpool, then to a ferry to Ireland. The matter is adjourned to 27 October, with a submission deadline of 17 October.
In a murder trial in Ennis, a 35‑year‑old man, Patrick Ballard, is accused of killing his partner, 29‑year‑old Sharon Bennett, by repeatedly kicking and stamping on her head in a public toilet. Ballard, formerly of Ashford Court Hotel, admitted that his actions caused Bennett's death and accepted that the killing was unlawful, but pleaded not guilty to murder. The prosecution, led by Dominic McGinn, outlined that the fatal assault occurred after an argument in a covered car park, witnessed by others and captured on CCTV. Ballard allegedly pushed a third man out of the toilet, continued the assault, and left the scene before an off‑duty guard arrived. Bennett was taken to hospital, survived initially, but died on 10 February 2021. The trial will focus on Ballard's intent and the unlawful nature of his violence. The hearing is scheduled to last two weeks.
A Dublin construction worker, Aaron Broderick, aged 29, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for assaulting his ex‑girlfriend after their break‑up. On 27 July 2019, he approached the woman as she walked home from work near Crumlin, put his arm around her, threatened to stab her, and forced his fingers into her mouth to silence her. She struggled, fell, and he grabbed her by the neck, pushing her over a neighbour's wall. She screamed, attracting her mother's attention, and Broderick fled. Later that night he entered her home, stole her mobile phone and clothing, and left a handwritten note. He had previously broken into her home two days earlier, taken her phone, and returned it after she demanded it back. He pleaded guilty to assault, burglary, theft and trespass, and the court noted his remorse and participation in drug detox and violence‑reduction programmes. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the assault and the subsequent offences.
Patrick Ballard, 35, of Ashford Court Hotel, Ennis, is set to stand trial for the murder of Sharon Bennett, 29, in Ennis's Market area on 10 February 2021. He was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty. The case stems from an incident on 28 January 2021, after which Bennett died weeks later. Mr Justice Paul Burns informed the jury that both parties lived in Ennis and that the matter was investigated by Garda officers from Shannon and Ennis. The trial will last two weeks.
The Court of Appeal refused to consider an "implied consent" argument raised by the defence of ex‑RTE journalist Mícheál Ó Leidhin, who was convicted of sexual assault. The defence had argued that the victim had discussed possible sexual activity the following morning before falling asleep, and that this should have been considered by the jury. The court held that a sleeping person cannot give consent and that the jury's charge did not mention implied consent. The appeal also challenged the 18‑month sentence with three months suspended, but the court reserved judgment on that ground. Ó Leidhin, aged 38, was convicted in April 2022 after a trial in which the victim described being groped while asleep. The court noted that the victim's testimony was compelling and that Ó Leidhin had no prior convictions. The appeal remains pending.
Patrick Dowdall (65) pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of David Byrne by booking room 2104 at the Regency Hotel using his credit card on February 4, 2016, and subsequently passing key cards to a known member of the Hutch criminal organisation. He and his family are in protective garda custody.
Jonathan Dowdall, 44, had his murder charge dismissed after indicating his willingness to become a state witness in the trial of Gerry Hutch and others related to the 2016 death of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel.
A jury has been sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Stephen Silver, a 46-year-old mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo. Mr Silver pleaded not guilty to the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan, who died in the course of his duties in Castlerea, County Roscommon, on 17 June 2020. However, he entered a guilty plea to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. The jury, comprising seven men and five women, was cautioned by Mr Justice Paul McDermott that members with immediate family in An Garda Síochána should not serve. The trial is expected to last up to seven weeks. If convicted of murder, Mr Silver faces a mandatory 40-year sentence. The matter was adjourned to 7 October.
Sean Mooney, 39, of Barry Park, Finglas, was sentenced to eight months in jail after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply. On 19 January 2017, Gardaí executed a search warrant at his home and found 13 street deals of heroin and nine of crack cocaine, each wrapped in Kinder Surprise eggs. They also seized an electronic weighing scale and cash of €740 and £890. The drugs' estimated street value was €420. Mooney had 39 prior convictions, including assault and drug dealing, and his defence highlighted his family circumstances and drug addiction.
A 17‑year‑old boy was sentenced to 12 months' probation after he pushed his bike into a girl's path at Howth Junction Dart station, causing her to fall off the platform and become trapped under a train. The boy pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Martin Nolan described the boy's conduct as "prankish" and "irresponsible", noting it was "highly unlikely" he anticipated the outcome. He found the boy's behaviour "reckless" but not intentional, and therefore did not impose a custodial sentence. The probation order includes strict conditions and requires the boy to comply with the Probation Service. The girl, who suffered a concussion and was hospitalised, gave a victim impact statement in court. The incident was captured on CCTV and later leaked online, attracting 100 million views worldwide.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, who is accused of the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC stated that the team was forced to carry out a 'fundamental reappraisal' of their strategy after being served with significant new evidence late last week. The court, presided over by Justice Tara Burns, granted a one-week adjournment, noting that the trial is unlikely to commence next Monday due to the court's full calendar. Mr. Hutch, who has been in custody since his extradition from Spain, was remanded until next Monday. He has not yet been arraigned. In related developments, the DPP indicated that a nolle prosequi could be entered against Jonathan Dowdall on the murder count, as he pleaded guilty last Wednesday to a lesser charge of facilitating the shooting. Jonathan Dowdall and his father, Patrick Dowdall, both pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder by making a room available at the hotel for a criminal organisation. Their sentencing was adjourned. Co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, charged with facilitating the offence by providing access to vehicles, were also due to stand trial but the matter was postponed to allow for further disclosure.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal concerning journalistic privilege and police search powers, marking the first time the court will address the interaction between criminal investigations and protection of journalistic sources. The case arises from the seizure of a mobile phone belonging to a journalist at his home in Strokestown, County Roscommon, in December 2018, as part of a garda investigation into violence at a repossessed property. The High Court had permitted gardai access to the device's contents, but the Court of Appeal subsequently quashed the search warrant, finding that journalistic privilege rights were not adequately considered before it was issued. The Garda Commissioner sought Supreme Court review. A three-judge panel of the Supreme Court determined the case raises important issues of general public importance regarding the balance between criminal investigations and journalistic privilege, and agreed to hear the appeal. A hearing date will be fixed later in the term.
Former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall is being assessed for the Witness Protection Program after providing a statement to gardai that implicates others in the murder of David Byrne, who was shot dead at the Regency Hotel in 2016 as part of the Hutch/Kinahan gang feud. Jonathan Dowdall and his father Patrick Dowdall both pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of David Byrne by making a hotel room available for the Hutch gang ahead of the murder. They admitted to participating in or contributing to activity intending to or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation or any of its members, to wit the murder of David Byrne, by making a room available at the Regency Hotel, Drumcondra, Dublin 9 for that criminal organisation or its members, within the State on February 4, 2016. The three-judge Special Criminal Court adjourned sentencing of Jonathan Dowdall and his father Patrick Dowdall after hearing submissions from their respective counsel. The court heard that room 2104 in the Regency Hotel was booked using Patrick Dowdall's credit card on February 4, 2016, one day before Mr Byrne's murder. CCTV footage showed Patrick Dowdall arriving at the hotel, receiving key cards, and later handing them over to a known member of the Hutch criminal organisation. The matter is currently in the appeal stage.