A 36‑year‑old man was sentenced to 32 months' imprisonment for assaulting his former partner and her 15‑year‑old daughter in their home. He pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm on 23 November 2021. The judge described the attacks as having "severely traumatised" the victims in a place that should be a refuge. He was given a headline sentence of four years on both counts, reduced to three years and two months with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. The defendant has 78 prior convictions, including four for threatening behaviour, and is currently on remand. He was ordered to have no contact with the victim except in relation to their children.
Alina Buckley, aged 19, will be sentenced on 29 July after admitting possession of a knife outside Blackrock Garda Station on three occasions in 2020. She pleaded guilty to knife possession on 20 January, 1 February and 15 May 2020, and to threatening behaviour on 10 April 2020. Buckley, who had severe mental health difficulties at the time, was also abusive towards Gardaí during each incident. Garda Ciara Morris and Garda Sinead Whelan gave evidence of her behaviour, noting she was 17 during the first incident and that she had a steak knife and a razor blade in her possession. She had eight previous convictions, including two for assault, and had spent nine months in custody. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned sentencing to 29 July for finalisation.
A 13‑year‑old boy, now 16, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm, production of a bicycle pump during an assault, two robberies and two attempted robberies on 20 October 2019. He had 24 prior convictions for burglary and robbery, all committed to fund a drug addiction that began when he was 12. The boy, born addicted to heroin and raised by his grandmother and aunts, began abusing cocaine and tablets after a traumatic encounter with his biological mother at age 12. He was said to spend €1,000 per day on drugs. The court sentenced him to 18 months' detention, backdated to January 2021 when he was first remanded in Oberstown. The case involved a violent mugging of teenagers at Na Fianna GAA grounds in Drumcondra, where a victim was struck with a bicycle pump, left with bruising, swelling, a black eye and leg bruises. Photographs and a medical report were presented.
Chad Redmond, aged 29, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for assault causing harm and criminal damage after a February 2020 incident in which he threatened to throw his ex‑partner off her balcony. The assault took place at her apartment on Hampton Wood Drive, Finglas, after Redmond forced entry, shouted at her friends, struck her on the head, and threatened to push her off the balcony. He had previously been convicted of burglary at the same home, where he also assaulted her. Redmond was intoxicated, having taken cocaine, and had a history of drug addiction. The victim withdrew her statement to Gardaí and did not give a victim impact statement. Judge Martin Nolan reduced the headline sentence of three and a half years to 20 months, citing mitigating factors such as the victim's cooperation and Redmond's intoxication. Chad Redmond pleaded guilty.
Patrick Fahey, aged 47, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison by Judge Martin Nolan at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of robberies and attempted robberies committed between August 2019 and October 2021. The offences included a €400 theft from a Soho adult shop, a €30 theft from a vintage clothes shop where he left with only fruit and a chocolate bar, a €350 theft from Londis, a €700 theft and €500 damage at a café, and a €200‑€300 theft from a Spar shop. Fahey pleaded guilty to seven counts and had 18 prior convictions. He had been remanded since October 2021 and had admitted his involvement, expressed remorse, and apologized for his actions. The judge noted the lack of violence but the fear caused to victims, and highlighted Fahey's previous attempts at reform. The sentence was back‑dated to 3 October 2021.
The High Court has adjourned the extradition appeal of Imre Arakas to Monday next to fix a hearing date, during which he is to appear by video-link. Mr Justice Paul Burns directed the State to prepare a Section 20 request under the Extradition Act to clarify Lithuanian authorities' allegations regarding Arakas's specific role in the 2015 murder of Deimantas Bugavicius. Lithuanian police allege Arakas was part of a three-man gang that conspired to murder the victim, while Arakas claims he was in Spain on the relevant dates. An eyewitness to the murder stated that Arakas was not present at the scene. The court noted that Arakas was previously jailed by the Special Criminal Court for six years in December 2018 after pleading guilty to conspiring with others to murder James 'Mago' Gately in Northern Ireland between April 3 and 4, 2017. He has been in custody in Ireland since April 2017. The judge also referenced the separate extradition case of Liam Campbell, who was found civilly liable for the Omagh bombing and whose appeal to the Supreme Court resulted in a ruling permitting his extradition to Lithuania for offences including terrorism and weapons possession. The matter remains at the appeal stage, with the current session adjourned rather than concluded.
Piotr Konieczny, 45, was sentenced to eight and a half months in prison for assault causing harm after he attacked his partner in his mother's home. He dragged her off a couch, pressed a foot on her arm and struck her face. The court heard that the victim had made two withdrawn statements and that the couple had reconciled and were living together. Konieczny had pleaded guilty to the assault and had a prior drink‑driving conviction. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a suspended four‑month term, requiring him to keep the peace and exhibit good behaviour for 12 months after release, and to remain under probation supervision for that period. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the domestic violence incident and the court's consideration of future risk.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 61‑year‑old man was convicted of seven counts of rape and six counts of indecent assault against his younger cousin, who was ten when the abuse began in 1991. The court heard that the victim was raped as many as 50 times a year, with oral and anal rapes, until 1997 when the victim asked the man to stop. The abuse was described as "relentless and constant" and was carried out while the victim lived with the defendant, with a three‑year break when the victim lived elsewhere. The victim's parents were alcoholics and the family environment was described as neglectful, with several siblings placed in care. The defendant denies the allegations and has no remorse. He is already serving a seven‑year sentence for other sexual assaults on girls. Sentencing was adjourned to 24 October 2024.".
In a 2022 Central Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice David Keane refused to accept character references for a defendant who, in his thirties, raped a child and sexually abused two others between 1983 and 1993. The judge ruled that only references from individuals present in court could be considered, allowing cross‑examination. The defendant, now in his late sixties, was found guilty of one count of anal rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and three counts of sexual assault. He denied the allegations, calling them "lies" and "a load of crap." Two victims gave impact statements describing lasting trauma. The judge noted the defendant's lack of prior convictions, cooperation with Gardaí and low re‑offending risk, but also his lack of remorse. He sentenced the man to 11 years' imprisonment, with a three‑year probation supervision period after release.
Celyn Eadon, aged 30, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for assaulting a support worker after his release from prison. The assault occurred on 14 January 2023 at his home in Annaly Grove, Ongar, Dublin, when Eadon punched the support worker several times in the face during a discussion about films. Eadon had previously been convicted of murdering his mother, Noreen Kelly, in 2014, a conviction later quashed by the Supreme Court, and he pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He had served 14 years for that offence, back‑dated to 2011, and had eight prior assault convictions while in prison. The judge, citing Eadon's guilty plea, cooperation, and remorse, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with 14 months suspended, back‑dated to the date of the assault. The support worker declined to give a victim impact statement. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The Special Criminal Court, a non‑jury tribunal, has been ordered to hear the trial of Michael Carroll, a 43‑year‑old Dublin man. He faces three attempted murder charges: two against Edward Staunton, who was injured in a hit‑and‑run on 26 March 2017 and later shot, and one against the late John Hutch, who was shot at his Drumalee Avenue home on 2 September 2016. Carroll was in custody and was not present at the ex‑parte hearing where the order was granted by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath. The trial will be scheduled for a later date.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Judge Tara Burns praised a 13‑year‑old victim for promptly reporting a rape and sexual assault. The defendant, now 22, pleaded guilty to one count of oral rape and one count of sexual assault. The judge imposed an eight‑year sentence for the oral rape, with the final 12 months suspended under strict conditions, and a five‑year sentence for the sexual assault; both sentences run concurrently. The judge highlighted the seriousness of the offences, the violence involved, and the breach of trust, while noting mitigating factors such as the defendant's heavy drinking that night and distressing news. She commended the victim's bravery and urged other young women to report assaults. The sentencing reflected the judge's assessment of the case's aggravating and mitigating circumstances.
Christopher Slator, 37, of Cabra, Dublin 7, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin 1 on April 25, 2016. Slator, who pleaded not guilty, became the third man convicted of the killing. The court rejected his defence that his DNA on a mask and runners was innocent, finding it the only rational explanation for his involvement. Slator has 59 previous convictions. In November 2020, David Hunter, 43, of London, was jailed for life for the same murder. Eamon Cumberton, of Dublin 7, was also jailed for life in 2019. Martin Aylmer, 36, of Marino, Dublin 3, pleaded guilty to buying mobile phones for the gang and was sentenced to just under four years. This sentence was later increased to six years by the Court of Appeal. The court described the murder as a planned operation involving at least three people. Barr was shot seven times, five in the head, during a raffle event. The court noted Slator and Cumberton fled to Dubai the day after the shooting before returning to Ireland a month later.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Lateef Lawal, aged 24, was sentenced to three and a half years for assault and false imprisonment of Karl Duggan at the Peter McVerry Trust homeless shelter on 1 July 2021. The court heard that Lawal beat Duggan for over an hour and a half, stripped him of his clothing, held him captive, and posted a ten‑second Snapchat video of the assault. Lawal also stole Duggan's mobile phone, gym bag and six grams of cannabis, for which he accepted responsibility. The judge noted the seriousness of the assault and false imprisonment, describing the conduct as "totally unacceptable behaviour." Lawal's prior convictions for drug possession and sale were considered, but the sentencing focused on the assault and false imprisonment. The victim's impact statement was not read in court. The case highlighted the use of social media evidence in criminal proceedings. Lateef Lawal pleaded guilty.
The High Court has heard arguments in a judicial review application by Tracey Tully, mother of murdered Irish Champion boxer Kevin Sheehy, challenging the Minister for Justice's decision to transfer convicted murderer Logan Jackson to a UK prison. Ms. Tully alleges the transfer breaches her rights under the 2017 Victim of Crime Act and the 2019 Parole Act, claiming it abdicating the State's responsibility for parole decisions and extinguishing her right to be consulted. She seeks a declaration that the decision is unconstitutional and an order quashing the transfer. The Minister's counsel argued that the legal threshold for leave was not met, asserting that Jackson's sentence was finalised and that UK systems allow victim input on parole. Jackson, who was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court and sentenced to life imprisonment for Mr. Sheehy's murder, supported the Minister's position. Ms. Justice Siobhan Phelan reserved her decision on the leave application, indicating she intends to deliver her judgment before the current legal term concludes at the end of July. Jackson's proposed transfer remains on hold pending the outcome of this action.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled that Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch's application to dismiss the murder charge against him under Section 4E of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1967 cannot be heard in the non-jury court. The court determined that Section 4E is only applicable when an accused is sent forward for trial from the District Court, and as Mr Hutch was charged directly before the Special Criminal Court, the application is not available to him. The ruling followed submissions from defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC, who argued that the literal interpretation of the section would result in unequal treatment for Mr Hutch compared to those charged in the District Court. The court rejected the argument that the section should be interpreted in a purposive manner, stating that the literal meaning reflects the intention of the Oireachtas. The matter was adjourned until October 3, with all parties agreeing that there was nothing else to attend to before the trial date. Jonathan Dowdall, Patrick Dowdall, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney are also charged in relation to the murder of David Byrne, but their cases remain at the appeal stage with no finalisation yet.
The Special Criminal Court has convicted Christopher Slator of the murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin 1 on April 25, 2016. Slator, of Cabra, Dublin 7, had pleaded not guilty, but the non-jury court rejected his defence that his DNA on a mask and runners found in a car had an innocent explanation. The court found the DNA evidence sufficient to prove his guilt, noting that his flight to Dubai with Eamon Cumberton the day after the shooting was highly suspicious. Slator will be sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment later today. This conviction follows previous life sentences imposed on David Hunter in 2020 and Eamon Cumberton in 2019 for the same murder. Additionally, Martin Aylmer pleaded guilty to buying mobile phones for the gang involved in the killing; he was initially sentenced to just under four years, a term later increased to six years by the Court of Appeal. The court highlighted the chaotic nature of the shooting, where Barr was shot seven times, and the unusual circumstances of the defendants' travel arrangements as supporting evidence for the conviction.
Gerard Hughes, 25, was sentenced to one year in prison for criminal damage after smashing 21 doors at Citywest Hotel, Saggart, Dublin, in September 2018, causing over €7,000 in damage. He received an additional 18‑month consecutive sentence for possessing cannabis for sale, found at his home in March 2021. Witnesses, including security officer Conor Flynn, reported Hughes breaking hotel doors and attempting to smash a safe with a fire extinguisher. The hotel paid €7,717 for repairs, and an office was broken into with keys later found on Hughes. Hughes admitted the acts, expressed remorse, and cited the murder of his brother a year earlier as a distressing factor. He has 81 prior convictions, including drug offences, and was on bail for the criminal damage charge at the time of sentencing. The judge back‑dated the sentences to May 21, when Hughes entered custody for a separate robbery and endangerment matter. Gerard Hughes pleaded guilty.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeals against conviction and sentence lodged by Gheorghe Goidan, a 49-year-old Romanian national. Goidan was convicted at the Central Criminal Court of rape and sexual assault committed against two sex workers in separate hotels in Portlaoise and Galway on September 7, 2017. He had pleaded not guilty to these charges but admitted to robbing the victims. The trial judge, Ms Justice Tara Burns, sentenced him to two consecutive terms of 10 years, describing the offences as ultra-violent and premeditated. In his appeal, Goidan's counsel argued that the trial judge erred regarding the admissibility of videolink evidence and the refusal to sever the indictment, and that the sentence was disproportionate. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, rejected these grounds, stating the trial judge exercised her discretion correctly. The court further dismissed the appeal against sentence, noting that the discount applied to the consecutive terms was entirely appropriate. The judges affirmed that the sentence reflected the severe violence and humiliation experienced by the victims, who were targeted due to their vulnerability. The 20-year effective custody term is therefore upheld.
Robert Duffy, a 50‑year‑old former IRA member, was jailed for life in Northern Ireland for the 1993 murder of John Gibson, a building contractor director. He was released on licence under the Good Friday Agreement in July 2000, but in 2008 he was convicted in the Republic of Ireland for attempting to murder Colin O'Neill at the Emerald Bar in Dundalk. Duffy pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment after firing a shotgun at O'Neill, who survived but was injured. Following his conviction, his release licence was suspended by the Northern Ireland Secretary of State and a warrant was issued under the EU‑UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement to return him to Northern Ireland to serve the remainder of his sentence for Gibson's murder.
The trial of 17‑year‑old Dean Kerrie centred on the death of fisherman Jack Power, who was stabbed in the chest with a kitchen knife during a night of violence at Kerrie's home in Dunmore East. Garda evidence showed broken windows, blood‑stained furniture and a knife heavily stained with Power's blood. Kerrie claimed he was defending himself after Power entered as a trespasser, while witnesses such as Christopher Lee denied that Power had forced entry and alleged Kerrie deliberately killed him. The prosecution argued that a large knife wound implied intent to cause serious injury. The judge explained the jury's options: acquittal for lawful self‑defence, manslaughter for excessive but honest force, or murder if the accused knew the force was excessive. After two days of deliberation, the jury found Kerrie guilty of manslaughter. The verdict was based on the evidence that Kerrie used force he believed necessary, but that the force was excessive.
Dean Kerrie, aged 21, was acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter after a retrial at the Central Criminal Court. The case involved the death of 25‑year‑old Jack Power, who had smashed the front window of Kerrie's home and entered after 3 am. Kerrie claimed Power attacked him and his mother, and that he stabbed Power with a kitchen knife in self‑defence. The jury, consisting of seven women and four men, deliberated for just under six hours before reaching a unanimous verdict. Judge Paul McDermott remanded Kerrie into custody pending sentencing on 19 October, ordered a probation report and a victim impact statement, and refused to allow him to remain on bail. The trial was the second for Kerrie on the same offence, following an earlier hung jury. The evidence presented included conflicting witness accounts of the events inside the house and the circumstances of the stabbing. Dean Kerrie pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal has increased the jail sentence of John McDonagh, a knife-wielding burglar who carried out a violent home invasion in Sligo Town in January 2020. McDonagh and a teenage accomplice broke into a house, threatened four occupants with a knife, and caused significant damage to property. The occupants were threatened with death if they contacted the gardaí. Both McDonagh (27) of Brookfield, Ballinode, Sligo, and his accomplice pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and burglary at a house at Glencarrig, Ballinode, and were sentenced in March of last year. Sligo Circuit Criminal Court judge Francis Comerford initially sentenced both men to five-and-a-half years in jail with the final two years suspended for three years. However, the Court of Appeal found the original sentence unduly lenient. The court heard that the offences were in the upper range of offending and that a headline sentence between nine and 14 years should have been identified. The appeal court quashed the previous sentence and substituted it with a seven-year term, with the final 18 months suspended for two years. The sentence was backdated to August 1, 2020, when McDonagh was first taken into custody. The matter was adjourned at the appeal stage.
In a Central Criminal Court murder trial, the jury must decide whether 17‑year‑old Dean Kerrie used reasonable force when fisherman Jack Power entered his home. Judge Paul McDermott explained three possible verdicts: acquittal if Kerrie's force was objectively reasonable, manslaughter if he believed the force necessary but used excessive force, and murder if he knew the force was excessive. Evidence includes a 999 call from Kerrie at 3:44 am, eyewitness accounts, and Kerrie's own statements to Gardaí. The case centers on Power's alleged entry after a night of drinking, a broken window, and a single stab wound to Power's chest. Kerrie, aged 20 at trial, pleaded not guilty to murdering 25‑year‑old Power, who died at Shanakiel, Dunmore East. The jury began deliberations on the day of the hearing.
In the trial of 21‑year‑old Dean Kerrie, who was 17 when the incident occurred, the court heard closing speeches from both the prosecution and defence. Kerrie, of St Brigid's Square, Portarlington, denies murdering 25‑year‑old Jack Power, who was stabbed at Shanakiel, Dunmore East, on 26 July 2018. The defence argues that Kerrie acted in self‑defence after Power allegedly forced his way into the Kerrie home following a rock thrown at their window. Witness testimony includes a 999 call by Kerrie at 3.44 am, stating that Power entered the front door and tried to hit him, and that Kerrie stabbed him with a kitchen knife without intent to kill. Christopher Lee, a friend of Power, denies that Power forced entry and claims Kerrie deliberately killed him. The court heard that Power died from a 13 cm stab wound that penetrated his heart, causing massive blood loss. Dean Kerrie pleaded not guilty.
Patrick Shiels, 66, was found guilty of oral rape and four counts of sexual assault against his daughter, Marlene Prakash-Shiels, who was aged between four and eight at the time. The offences occurred between September 2000 and December 2004 at his address in Togher, Portlaoise, Co Laois. Shiels was also found guilty of two charges of child cruelty for forcing the victim to drink alcohol and watch pornography. This verdict followed a retrial earlier this year; Shiels had previously been convicted and jailed but was released in July 2021 after the Court of Appeal ordered a re-trial. The victim, who waived her anonymity, stated that Shiels caused "so much destruction" and showed no remorse. Prosecutors noted that the victim was placed in foster care in 2001 and that alcohol was a consistent feature of her visits to her father. Defence counsel highlighted Shiels' anxiety, depression, and alcoholism, noting he has no previous convictions. However, Mr Justice Tony Hunt stated there was little room for mitigation because Shiels does not accept the jury's verdict. The matter was adjourned to July 22 for sentencing.
In a Court of Appeal hearing, Patrick Gageby SC argued that Judge Tara Burns erred by refusing the defendant, Gheorghe Goidan, the right to cross‑examine one victim on her sexual history and by failing to discharge the jury after prejudicial material was presented. Goidan, 49, had been convicted in 2019 of two rapes and robberies of Czech sex workers, receiving 20 years' imprisonment (10 years for each rape, 7 years for robbery, concurrent). He appealed both conviction and sentence, claiming the judge's headline 17‑year sexual‑offence term was disproportionate and that his lack of prior convictions should have been weighted more heavily. The Director of Public Prosecutions upheld the conviction and sentence, citing the premeditated, ultra‑violent nature of the attacks and the victims' vulnerability. The appeal judgment remains reserved. Gheorghe Goidan pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the conviction appeal of an unnamed 59-year-old man, upholding his July 2019 Central Criminal Court jury verdict. He was convicted of two counts of rape under Section 2, one count of rape under Section 4, and two counts of sexual assault under Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) Act 1990. The offences, involving his special needs daughter, occurred between January 2003 and December 2004, and in January 2011. The appellant argued that the trial judge, Ms Justice Creedon, failed to provide an adequate corroboration warning regarding evidence from the complainant's mother. In a judgment delivered by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, sitting with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, the court found no error in the trial judge's approach to the potentially corroborative evidence. Consequently, the conviction stands. Following the judgment, defence counsel Colman Cody SC informed the court that the man intends to appeal against the length of his sentence. He was originally sentenced on February 3, 2020, to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on strict conditions, resulting in an effective custody period of 11 years. He was also registered as a sex offender. The matter regarding the sentence remains pending as the appeal against the conviction has been concluded.
Two brothers, Gavin Quinn (28) and Lee Quinn (27), were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for attacking Garda Alan Murphy in Inchicore, Dublin, on 30 March 2020. Gavin pinned Murphy to the ground while Lee attempted to stab the officer in the eye with a six‑inch kitchen knife and later slashed him across the head. Both pleaded guilty to lesser charges: Gavin to assaulting a peace officer and Lee to attempting to cause serious harm. Gavin received a four‑year sentence with one year suspended, back‑dated to 5 June 2020, and Lee received seven years with one year suspended, back‑dated to 20 March 2020. The judge noted the brothers' aggressive conduct, prior convictions, and the impact on Murphy, who described the incident as a daily memory of confusion and danger. The sentences reflect the seriousness of the assault and the brothers' guilty pleas.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 8 July 2022, Catherine Kirwan, aged 57, testified that her older brother, Paul Brothwood, 63, had repeatedly sexually assaulted her between 1973 and 1975 when she was aged nine to eleven and he was fourteen to sixteen. Kirwan described a life of fear, dread, and mental health difficulties, citing the abuse's impact on her relationships, marriage, and career prospects. She read a victim impact statement in which she said, "You, Paul, took my courage from me all those years ago. Today I take it back." Brothwood pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault and was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment, the maximum penalty at the time being two years. The judge noted his remorse and cooperation, and the court added him to the Sex Offenders' Register. Kirwan's statement highlighted the long‑term trauma she endured, including severe depression, anxiety, and an attempted overdose.
An eye witness, Dylan Jones, told a jury that a drunk fisherman, Dean Kerrie, entered the home of a teenager, now on trial for murder, and began choking him while saying, "I'm going to kill you." Jones also said the prosecution's claim that Jack Power was leaving the house when Kerrie stabbed him was false. Kerrie, aged 20, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 25‑year‑old Jack Power, who was 17 at the time of the death. Jones described the night of the stabbing, noting that Power appeared drunk, pushed him against a wall, and that Kerrie later stabbed him. He denied that Power had pushed the door in or that a knife was seen until after the stabbing. The trial continues with further witnesses to be called.
Lawyers for Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, accused of the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel, have argued that their client would face discrimination if prevented from applying to the Special Criminal Court to dismiss the charge against him under Section 4E of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1967. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC stated that it would be an 'absurd interpretation' of the law to deny Mr Hutch the right to apply for dismissal simply because he was charged directly in the Special Criminal Court rather than the District Court. The matter was adjourned for a ruling on July 15. Mr Hutch, who is in custody, was present in court and was joined by his four co-accused, including Jonathan Dowdall, Patrick Dowdall, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney, who were also present. All five accused are due to stand trial at the Special Criminal Court on October 3. The trial is expected to last 12 weeks. The case involves the murder of David Byrne, who was shot dead at the hotel in February 2016. Mr Hutch was extradited from Spain after his final appeal against extradition was rejected by a Spanish Appeals Court. The Supreme Court has reserved its decision on appeals by Mr Hutch and Jonathan Dowdall against the DPP's decision to try them before the non-jury Special Criminal Court.
Wayne Cooney, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jordan Davis and possessing a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and ammunition, was sentenced by Mr Justice Tony Hunt. The judge imposed the mandatory life imprisonment term for the murder, describing Cooney as an "extremely dangerous individual" who should not be considered for release until that danger is negated. He further sentenced Cooney to 13 years each for the firearm and ammunition possession, with these terms running concurrently with the life sentence. The court heard that Cooney has 21 previous convictions. Mr Justice Hunt criticized recurring legal arguments regarding CCTV privacy as a "shocking waste of public money," urging the Court of Appeal to rule on the matter. Although the defense indicated the jury's verdict is likely to be appealed, the sentencing hearing itself was not adjourned. The judge noted that the prosecution alleged Davis owed €70,000 to a local drug dealer, and that Cooney fired eight times, striking Davis three times. The judge emphasized that Davis had a right to life, despite his alleged involvement in crime, and praised An Garda Síochána for their investigation.
In a High Court decision, Mr Justice Tony Hunt ruled that the European Court of Justice's 2022 ruling in Graham Dwyer's case, which declared the indiscriminate retention of mobile‑phone data for criminal investigations unlawful, does not automatically exclude such evidence from Irish courts. The judge held that Gardaí investigating the murder of 22‑year‑old Jordan Davis were entitled to access the killer's phone records. He emphasized that the right to privacy is not absolute and must be balanced against the rights of society and victims. Mr Justice Hunt noted that the 2011 Communications (Retention of Data) Act was lawful under Irish law, even though parts of it conflicted with EU fundamental rights. He concluded that the evidence gathered in 2019 remains admissible, as the CJEU ruling does not compel automatic exclusion of data used in investigations. The judgment clarifies how Irish courts may interpret the EU decision in future cases involving mobile‑phone data.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 19‑year‑old Trinity College student recounted a violent late‑night mugging that occurred early on 13 September 2018. While socialising near Londis on Westmoreland Street, a woman stole the student's wallet. The victim pursued her to Aston Place, where he was confronted by Anthony Dennis (37) of Ballyfermot and two other men. Dennis punched the student, who fell to the ground, and then, with the others, searched his pockets and took his phone. The student suffered a head injury and jaw pain, and he reported the crime the following day. Dennis, who had 330 prior convictions and was on bail, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on the condition of good behaviour for one year after release, and backdated the sentence for time already served. The student, now 21, expressed forgiveness for Dennis in his victim impact statement.
The prosecution finished its case in the trial of Dean Kerrie, a 20‑year‑old accused of murdering 25‑year‑old fisherman Jack Power in July 2018. On the final day, forensic expert Dr Stephen Clifford presented DNA evidence from items found in Kerrie's home, including a knife in the kitchen that matched Power's DNA and a second knife with an incomplete DNA mix. Blood stains on a white scarf and on a pair of shorts also matched Power and Kerrie's mother, Ann Fitzgerald. The jury heard that Kerrie, who was 17 at the time of the murder, had called 999 at 3.44 am, claiming he stabbed Power in self‑defence. Witness Christopher Lee denied that Power had forced entry and accused Kerrie of deliberately killing him. The defence announced plans to call technical witnesses, and the judge scheduled the next phase of the trial for the following day. Dean Kerrie pleaded not guilty.
On 6 July 2019, Daniel Prenderville, aged 34, attacked his partner Hayley Flood in her Walkinstown flat, knocking her to the floor and repeatedly kicking her face. She lost consciousness and fled the house, fearing for her safety. Prenderville also damaged the front door, which cost about €3,700 to repair. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and criminal damage at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. His defence cited drug use that night as a root cause. Judge Martin Nolan, after considering mitigating factors such as guilty pleas and steps toward reform, imposed a headline sentence of four years, equating to a 33‑month prison term. Taking into account 20 months already served and a good‑behaviour discount, the effective custodial term was 27 months, with a six‑month sentence for the assault to run from the hearing date.
During a Central Criminal Court murder trial, the jury heard that a knife heavily stained with the blood of 25‑year‑old fisherman Jack Power was found in the kitchen of accused Dean Kerrie, while a second knife recovered from the hallway contained no blood. Kerrie, aged 20, pleaded not guilty to murdering Power, who was 17 at the time, after a 999 call at 3.44 am on 26 July 2018. Kerrie claimed he stabbed Power in the chest with a kitchen knife but did not intend to kill him. Eye witness Christopher Lee denied that Power had forced entry and accused Kerrie of deliberately killing him. Garda evidence included a black‑and‑white Swiss Line knife on a hallway mat, a black‑handled bread knife on a draining board, and a large black‑handled knife heavily blood‑stained. A broken wooden chair leg was found in the attic, with contact blood smears attributed to Kerrie's mother.
John Redmond, a 38‑year‑old mixed‑martial‑arts fighter, was given an 18‑month suspended prison sentence by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting a woman he had become infatuated with. The victim, who had told Redmond she only wanted a friendship, was attacked on All Ireland Day 2019 when Redmond threw a bin at her, pushed her to the ground, and caused her to hit her head against a wall. She suffered bruising, cuts and a dazed state. Redmond pleaded guilty on 15 March to assault causing harm at his Applewood Avenue home. He had prior convictions, including an unauthorised car taking in 2012, and admitted alcohol and drug use contributed to his behaviour. He offered €5,000 to the victim as a token of remorse and the judge noted no further incidents since the offence. The suspended sentence is conditional on Redmond keeping the peace, avoiding contact with the victim and paying the restitution.
The recent rise in Covid‑19 infections has caused a series of adjournments in criminal proceedings at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin over the past fortnight. Three courts have been unable to sit because parties involved in cases have had to isolate. A murder trial at the Special Criminal Court has been delayed since last week after a judge had to isolate following a "falling foul" of the virus. On Monday, a violent domestic assault sentence hearing at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court could not proceed because the judge was absent; the same judge is also hearing a trial of three men accused of indecent assault. A sentence hearing for a convicted rapist in a 2011 random street attack could not take place as some parties are isolating. Another sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court will not go ahead later this week because the judge is also isolating.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Mark Lynch, aged 37, was acquitted of assault causing serious harm by direction of the trial judge. Lynch had pleaded not guilty to the charge that he struck Jason Finnegan with a shovel during a dispute on a building site in Garristown. The prosecution alleged that Finnegan fell and sustained head injuries after being hit by a shovel, then was kicked and struck on the head. Lynch testified that he had struck Finnegan with his fist to defend his father, Ernie Lynch, who was also present. Judge Pauline Codd, after a legal application by Lynch's counsel, ruled that the jury could not be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Lynch used a shovel or intended serious harm. Consequently, the judge directed the jury to find Lynch not guilty. The case was described as difficult and harrowing.
In July 2022, a 42‑year‑old Dublin man was jailed for 18 months after Gardaí discovered thousands of child abuse images and videos in his bedroom, including 150 colour prints and baby nappies on the floor. The man had also possessed hundreds of DVDs containing child abuse material, which he pointed out to officers. During the investigation, his internet search history revealed queries about "venipuncture" or taking blood from infants. He had been caught in September 2017 with 3,257 explicit images and 347 videos, and an additional 18,500 images of pre‑pubescent children were found, though these were not illegal. He pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography and a further count of distributing it, involving an online conversation with a person he believed to be an eight‑year‑old. He denies the sexual assault charge pending trial later this year.
Wayne Cooney, aged 31, was found guilty of murdering drug dealer Jordan Davis, 22, by shooting him three times with a 9mm pistol while Davis was pushing his four‑month‑old son in a pram. The jury, after just over three hours, concluded that Cooney had circled Davis for three days before firing eight shots, killing him instantly. Cooney was remanded in custody pending a hearing where the victim's family will speak before a life sentence is imposed. The prosecution presented CCTV footage, DNA on a glove, and mobile phone records linking Cooney to the scene and to a drug dealer named CD, who had warned Davis of impending violence. Cooney denied being the shooter and argued that the evidence had "large holes." The case remains subject to appeal. Wayne Cooney pleaded not guilty.
In a Waterford murder trial, the Central Criminal Court heard that Jack Power, 25, died from a 13‑centimetre stab wound to his chest, inflicted by Dean Kerrie, 21, when Power entered Kerrie's house in Shanakiel, Dunmore East, on 26 July 2018. Former Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that the knife entered between the third and fourth ribs, pierced the heart and two ribs, and caused a massive haemothorax, with about 3.5 litres of blood pooled in Power's chest cavity. CPR and chest drains were attempted but failed. Power's blood alcohol level was 187 mg per 100 ml, three times the driving limit, and there was evidence of recent cocaine use. Dr Curtis concluded the cause of death was the single stab wound; blunt‑force trauma to the head was not contributory. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. Dean Kerrie pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Tony Hunt directed a jury that if they could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that 31‑year‑old Wayne Cooney murdered Jordan Davis, they could find him guilty of the lesser offence of impeding the murder investigation. The judge explained that Cooney was seen on CCTV at Belcamp Lane about 5.20 pm, roughly 1 hour 20 minutes after the shooting, retrieving a body warmer that the alleged shooter had left there. He noted that the shooter disposed of the body warmer in a 40‑second window when off‑camera, and Cooney's retrieval took almost the same time, suggesting he had knowledge of the item's location. Hunt said that if Cooney was not the shooter, he must have had information that led him to the laneway. Wayne Cooney pleaded not guilty.
In a 2022 court hearing, a 13‑year‑old girl recounted that her half‑brother, then about 18 or 19, sexually assaulted her at her family home in 2001. She described being awakened by his weight on top of her, forced to silence her cries, and later hearing him snore as she pushed her bed against the door to prevent his return. The accused, 40, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. He had prior convictions for public order offences. The victim's impact statement highlighted ongoing emotional damage and her desire for justice. The defense noted the accused's remorse, prior apology, and willingness to attend a sex‑offender program. The judge adjourned finalisation to 25 July, pending further consideration.
Alan Giles, 30, of Glasnevin Road, Finglas, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for robbery at DCU Glasnevin Campus on February 9, 2021. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge. Judge Melanie Greally described the incident as involving a considerable degree of violence, noting that the victim was punched and kicked, resulting in injuries and the theft of a phone and cards. The court heard that Giles has 28 previous convictions, including for drug possession and theft. Judge Greally rejected a defence application for more time to engage with Probation Services, citing inconsistent engagement, a failure to submit urine samples since November 2021, and uncompleted community service hours. The judge handed Giles a five-year custodial sentence, suspending the final two years on the condition that he enter a bond to keep the peace for two years. The sentence was backdated to the date Giles entered custody. He is ordered to remain under Probation Services supervision for 12 months upon release. The judge stated that the violent nature of the robbery required a custodial sentence, despite mitigating factors such as remorse and addiction. Defence counsel noted that Giles had paid €1,000 in compensation and that his co-accused received a fully suspended five-year sentence.
Philip Byrne, 41, was sentenced to five years in prison for assault, threatening to kill, false imprisonment and possession of a kitchen knife after he repeatedly stabbed his wife during a domestic dispute at their home. The court heard that Byrne stabbed his wife in the abdomen, breast and hand, causing permanent nerve damage and requiring surgery. He was also found to have a high risk of re‑offending and harmful behaviour in intimate relationships. Byrne pleaded guilty to all charges. The judge imposed a seven‑year sentence for false imprisonment, suspended the final two years, and directed Byrne to comply with probation and safeguarding measures for two years after release. Separate three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentences were imposed for the remaining counts, all back‑dated to December 3, 2020. The couple have since reconciled, and the wife withdrew her statement, stating the incident was accidental.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 1 July 2022, Mr Justice Tony Hunt instructed a jury that the key question was whether Wayne Cooney, 31, was the cyclist who shot Jordan Davis, 22, on 22 May 2019. Cooney, who lives on Glenshane Drive, Tallaght, had pleaded not guilty to the murder, to possession of a 9mm semi‑automatic pistol, and to possession of ammunition in circumstances implying unlawful use. The prosecution alleged Cooney stalked Davis for three days, fired eight bullets that hit Davis three times, and that Davis owed €70,000 to a local drug dealer, the brother of Cooney's former girlfriend. Cooney denied being the cyclist, and his barrister said the case had "large holes" and did not prove beyond reasonable doubt. Mr Justice Hunt told the jury to focus on proving Cooney's identity as the shooter and to disregard other matters. The judge would resume his charge on Monday.
Patrick McDonagh, 33, of Balbriggan, was one of eight men who attacked Martin Collins in a family feud on 7 February 2015. The attackers used two cars to ram Collins' vehicle, then assaulted him with golf clubs, baseball bats and slash hooks. While Collins was on the ground, McDonagh repeatedly stabbed him in the shoulder with a screwdriver, as other assailants struck him with weapons. Collins' brothers and his young son witnessed the assault, which left Collins with a broken arm, stab wounds and head cuts. He later required a plate in his arm and remains on painkillers. McDonagh had pleaded guilty to affray in April and was already serving a sentence for theft. In February 2016 he received seven years for driving a stolen car at a Garda. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced McDonagh to three and a half years' imprisonment for the affray, to commence after his current term.