The Special Criminal Court has listed a Section 4E application for July 8 regarding Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, who is accused of the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC stated that Mr Hutch is seeking a pre-trial hearing and an application to dismiss the charge due to insufficient evidence. The court must first determine its jurisdiction under Section 4E of the Criminal Procedure Act 1967. Additionally, a preliminary trial hearing application under Section 6 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2021 is being pursued, with Jonathan Dowdall's counsel joining this application. Jonathan Dowdall is also accused of the murder of Mr Byrne. His father, Patrick Dowdall, is accused of facilitating the murder by making a hotel room available to a criminal organisation. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney are both accused of facilitating the commission of a serious offence by providing access to motor vehicles to the organisation. All five accused are due to stand trial on October 3, with the trial expected to last 12 weeks. The matter was adjourned to allow for these preliminary applications, and the court will rule on the jurisdiction issue shortly after the July 8 hearing. Information regarding the applications is subject to publication restrictions.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a woman who had earlier given her partner an alibi for a fatal 2006 fire in Co. Kilkenny later changed her statement after the accused, Martin Kelly, began a relationship with another woman. The court heard that Kelly, now 35, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Gerard "Gerry" Nolan, 44, who died when his mobile home was set on fire. The hearing included victim impact statements from Nolan's family, describing the traumatic loss and ongoing grief. The court also heard details of the investigation, including the accused's denial of involvement, the identification parade, and the lack of direct forensic evidence linking Kelly to the fire. The judge remanded Kelly in custody pending sentencing. The summary reflects only the facts presented in the article.
Paulo Nascimento, 46, serving a life sentence for the 2002 murder of Grainne Dillon, has lodged a High Court challenge against the Minister for Justice. He argues that the Minister has refused to consider his entitlement to parole under the newly established statutory Parole Board, despite earlier recommendations for temporary release under the former non‑statutory system. Nascimento claims that the Minister's refusal to act on his parole application breaches his rights and the Minister's duties. He seeks orders requiring the Minister to decide on his release, declarations that the Minister's refusal is unlawful and a breach of his constitutional rights, and that the Minister's actions amount to a failure to fulfil her duties under the European Convention on Human Rights. The case was granted permission to proceed and is scheduled to return to court in October.
Seamus Robert, 61, of Tallaght, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for indecent assault and unlawful assault against two girls, aged about six, between 1982 and 1988. Robert, who worked with the homeless, lured the girls into his home to play with his kittens before sexually assaulting them. One victim, who cannot be named, testified that the abuse disrupted her emotional, social and educational development, describing a prison in her mind. She reported the abuse to Gardaí in 2016 and named a childhood friend as a possible witness. Robert pleaded guilty before his trial began and had no prior convictions. The judge described his conduct as "grossly reprehensible" and imposed a five‑year sentence.
In the Central Criminal Court, witness Ms Stacey Hayes denied that she was pressured to make a false allegation against Wayne Cooney. She said she had picked up Cooney from a bus stop in Darndale after Jordan Davis was shot dead nearby, driving with Cooney's girlfriend, EF, in the passenger seat. Hayes claimed she had met Cooney twice before and knew of his tattoo. Cooney, 31, pleaded not guilty to Davis's murder and to possession of a 9mm pistol and ammunition. Hayes told the prosecution that she had no criminal convictions and that Cooney had entered her car on the day in question. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues with a jury of eight men and four women. The article also reports that Dr Margot Bolster gave evidence on the fatal gunshot wounds to Davis.
A 37‑year‑old man, jailed for repeatedly raping his younger brother, had his conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal after the trial judge erred by not giving reasons for allowing evidence of the man's interviews with Gardaí to be presented to the jury. The man had claimed he was "induced" into confessing during a two‑hour interview, where he admitted to being a "bastard of a brother but not a rapist". The Court of Appeal held the judge was obliged to explain why he allowed the interview evidence, a requirement the judge failed to meet. The conviction was quashed and the State is seeking a retrial. The case involved 10 counts of oral rape, 7 counts of assault causing harm and one count of intimidation, with the jury having found the man guilty on all assault counts and two rape counts. The man was originally sentenced to nine years by Mr Justice Michael White. The unnamed 37-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Lloyd Saunders, aged 33, was convicted of assault causing harm to his former girlfriend, Kelly Evans, after a prolonged attack that began with strangulation. Saunders pleaded not guilty to additional charges of false imprisonment and threatening to kill, which the jury did not convict on. Evans testified that Saunders repeatedly slapped her, strangled her for about an hour and a half, and asked if she was "ready for round two" before ending the assault. She described severe bruising, anxiety, depression and PTSD, and noted that the trial process had a major impact on her mental health. Saunders had 10 prior convictions. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to three and a half years, suspending the final six months on strict conditions, including probation engagement. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the prolonged assault on a vulnerable woman in an intimate relationship.
Graham Dwyer, aged 49, is set to file appeal submissions by 15 July after the Court of Appeal confirmed the case could be heard in autumn. The appeal stems from a 2022 European Court of Justice ruling that indiscriminate retention of mobile phone data breaches EU law, a key element in his 2015 conviction for murdering childcare worker Elaine O'Hara. Dwyer's lawyers argue that metadata used at trial was unlawful under the 2011 Communications (Retention of Data) Act, which the EU Court found invalid. The appeal will address whether the data should have been admissible and whether his conviction should be quashed. The Director of Public Prosecutions will need time to respond, and the case is unlikely to be heard before the October court term. The appeal will be revisited in July for progress updates. Dwyer was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in 2015 for O'Hara's murder on 22 August 2012.
In a Dublin case, a 40‑year‑old mother pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to three charges: causing serious harm to one of her 18‑month‑old twin sons, producing a large kitchen knife capable of serious injury, and false imprisonment of a female social worker. The alleged offences all occurred on 9 October 2019 at her home. She had previously sought dismissal of the two attempted‑murder charges but the application was refused. The court adjourned the matter to 27 July for sentencing and a psychological report. The mother appeared in court wearing a 'Just Do It' t‑shirt and tracksuit bottoms, and answered "guilty" to the charges read by the registrar. Her barrister, Anne Rowland SC, represented her without an interpreter. No further details of the case were provided in the article.
In a murder trial, a jury watched CCTV footage showing 22‑year‑old Jordan Davis being shot while pushing a pram with his four‑month‑old son through a lane between a church and a national school in Darndale. The footage, examined by Detective Sergeant Eoin Colbert, shows Davis entering the cul‑de‑sac at 3.28 pm, leaving at 3.50 pm, and walking with a friend to the lane at 3.59 pm. A figure on a bicycle approached from behind at that time, and a young child was also cycling through the lane. Davis is seen falling to the ground as the shooting occurs. The prosecution alleges that 31‑year‑old Wayne Cooney, who lives on Glenshane Drive in Tallaght, was the person on the bicycle who shot Davis. Wayne Cooney pleaded not guilty.
A Dublin man, whose identity is protected to safeguard a child victim, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting his former partner and their 12-year-old son in April 2018. The defendant, a convicted rapist with 31 previous convictions, was found guilty after a trial of two counts of assault causing harm and one count of criminal damage, having denied all charges. He disregarded a barring order by visiting his ex-partner's home, where he became physically violent. The 12-year-old boy attempted to protect his mother and was also assaulted before calling gardaí. The woman sustained cuts to her head and face, while the child suffered cuts to his ankle and thigh. In a victim impact statement, the woman described the actions as inhumane. Judge Pauline Codd noted the lack of remorse and the defendant's disregard for the court order as aggravating factors. She sentenced him to four years in prison, suspending the final six months on conditions. This sentence will not commence until 2029, once he completes his current prison term for previous sexual offending.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 17 June 2022, Garda Alan Murphy recounted the night two brothers, Gavin Quinn (28) and Lee Quinn (27), attacked him in Inchicore, Dublin 8. Gavin pinned Murphy to the ground while Lee attempted to stab him in the eye with a six‑inch kitchen knife. The assault was reported to have occurred on 30 March 2020, when the brothers were already in custody. Both pleaded guilty to lesser charges: Gavin to assaulting a peace officer and Lee to attempting to cause serious harm. The court heard Murphy's victim impact statement, in which he thanked Dublin Fire Brigade for saving his life and described the lasting psychological trauma. He declined to label himself a victim, preferring to identify as a proud Garda. The hearing was adjourned to 11 July for sentencing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 16 June 2022, convicted murderer Laurence Murphy, aged 44, was sentenced to three years in prison for assaulting prison officer Kieran Maher at Wheatfield Prison on 10 July 2019. Murphy had pleaded guilty to the offence. The court noted that Murphy had previously been convicted of murdering Thomas Brady, aged 22, in 2001, when he stabbed Brady with a butter knife in a shared cell. During the 2019 assault, Murphy head‑butted and repeatedly punched Officer Maher, causing injuries to the officer's nose, face, gums, teeth and back. Officer Maher reported flashbacks, ten months of work absence and breathing difficulties. The prosecution argued that prisoners serving life sentences can attack staff with impunity, as such attacks do not affect their sentences. Judge Melanie Greally reduced Murphy's original four‑year sentence to three years, taking his guilty plea into account. Murphy was present via video‑link from prison.
A man has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison following a serious unprovoked assault in Dublin city centre. Daryl Cassells, aged 27 and of no fixed abode, attacked a man outside Burger King on Grafton Street at approximately 1am on 19 July 2019. The victim sustained significant injuries including a brain bleed, skull fracture, and fractured eye socket. He suffered seizures during transport to St James Hospital and was admitted for eight days. The assault subsequently resulted in the development of epilepsy, affecting the victim's employment prospects and quality of life. Cassells pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Pauline Codd noted the serious nature of the unprovoked attack and the significant injuries inflicted. She suspended the final six months of the sentence on condition that Cassells keep the peace and be of good behaviour for one year, and cooperate with probation services. The sentence was backdated to account for time already served in custody.
The High Court deferred judgment on a bail application for Brendan Treanor until June 24. Treanor is charged with participating in a robbery at the Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013. His counsel argued that refusing bail while his trial was delayed from October to January next year offended his client's dignity, particularly given his limited contact with his newborn son. The Director of Public Prosecutions objected to bail under Section 2(a) of the Bail Act, citing fears of further serious offences. The court ordered that details of the application not be published. Separately, Aaron Brady was found guilty of the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe by an 11-to-1 majority jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court on August 11, 2020. Brady was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 40 years, as the victim was a garda acting in the course of duty. He was also sentenced to 14 years for the robbery of €7,000 at the Lordship Credit Union, a sentence to run concurrently with the life term. James Flynn, also charged with the robbery, is awaiting an appeal against his extradition from the UK to Ireland.
Lacey O'Connor, 30, of Rowlagh Park, Clondalkin, appeared for sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on an offence of perverting the course of justice. She pleaded guilty to giving a false account of the movement of a suspect during the murder investigation in November 2019. O'Connor had told gardai that her then-partner, Anthony Casserly, was with her at the time of the fatal shooting of Wayne Whelan. However, CCTV and mobile phone records contradicted this, showing Casserly left the home during the relevant period. Judge Orla Crowe noted that O'Connor provided false information in a two-page document and sat through seven garda interviews. The judge acknowledged O'Connor's role as the sole carer for a young child, her subsequent co-operation with gardai, and her lack of prior criminal record. While the headline sentence was two years imprisonment, reduced to 18 months in light of her guilty plea, Judge Crowe suspended the sentence in its entirety for four years. O'Connor was bound to keep the peace for that period. This sentencing follows earlier proceedings where Casserly pleaded guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of Whelan and was sentenced to seven years in January. Christopher Moran also pleaded guilty to being the getaway driver after the shooting. The court emphasized that O'Connor's false statement was exposed through technology and gardai investigation.
In 2020, a 72‑year‑old man was convicted of raping his 16‑year‑old niece at her grandparents' farmhouse in 1978 and sentenced to four years and six months' imprisonment. He appealed, arguing that jurors had begun deliberations early and were allegedly bullied, citing an anonymous letter. The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal, finding no evidence of premature deliberations or misconduct. The judge noted the offence was aggravated by the victim's age and the setting, and that the defendant's poor health made him a poor candidate for prison. The victim, who described the assault in a victim impact statement, was a child at the time and the case was heard in the Central Criminal Court. The appeal was dismissed by the three‑judge panel, with no change to the conviction or sentence. The unnamed 72-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The High Court heard a challenge brought by Tracey Tully, mother of murdered boxer Kevin Sheehy, against the State's decision to allow the man convicted of killing her son to transfer to a UK prison. The 20-year-old was fatally struck by a vehicle in Limerick in July 2019. Logan Jackson, from Coventry, England, was convicted of murder at the Central Criminal Court in December last year and sentenced to life imprisonment. He subsequently obtained approval from the Minister for Justice to serve his sentence in the UK. Ms Tully seeks to quash the transfer decision, contending it breaches her rights under the Victim of Crime Act and represents an unconstitutional abdication of State responsibility regarding parole determination. She fears losing input into any future parole application heard by UK authorities. The Minister for Justice is fully contesting the application for judicial review. Mr Justice Charles Meenan scheduled the hearing for July 15th.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the prosecution told a jury that 41‑year‑old Nassar Ahmed, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, killed Eoin Boylan, 32, in Ennis on 14 April 2020. Ahmed, originally from Sudan, had lived in Ennis since the mid‑2000s, married a local woman in 2007, and had three children. The marriage ended in November 2018. In late 2019, Ahmed's former partner met Boylan and they began a relationship, with Boylan moving into the partner's house shortly thereafter. On the day of the incident, a dispute arose when Ahmed called the partner to come to the house. Witnesses and partial CCTV footage showed Ahmed striking Boylan three times, after which Boylan fell and suffered stab‑like injuries. A pathologist concluded Boylan was stabbed to death. The prosecution will argue that the issue of self‑defence must be considered by the jury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a barrister presented evidence that a drug dealer warned a man named Jordan Davis that he would be killed soon, with the phrase "soon, very soon, bang bang." The defendant, Wayne Cooney, 31, denies murdering Davis, 22, who was shot while pushing a pram in Darndale on 22 May 2019. CCTV footage shows Davis being shot repeatedly by Cooney. Cooney also faces charges of possessing a 9mm pistol and ammunition. The prosecution will argue that the warning from the dealer was a death threat. Additional evidence includes DNA linking Cooney to gloves found at the scene, which contained firearm residue. The trial, expected to last up to four weeks, will continue before a jury and Justice Tony Hunt. Wayne Cooney pleaded not guilty.
Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, 58, accused of murdering Kinahan gang member David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016, has a bid to dismiss the charge adjourned to next week by the Special Criminal Court. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC told the three‑judge court that the application could proceed, but one judge was unavailable, so the hearing was postponed to Monday. The court must first decide whether it has jurisdiction under Section 4E of the Criminal Procedure Act 1967, which allows dismissal where evidence is insufficient. Hutch, who is in custody, was present for the brief hearing. Jonathan Dowdall (43) and Patrick Dowdall (64) are also charged with the Regency Hotel murder and are due to stand trial on 3 October. The trial, if it goes ahead, is expected to last 12 weeks. The matter was adjourned until 10.30 am Monday.
An 18‑year‑old, who was a juvenile when he orally raped and sexually assaulted a 16‑year‑old girl in a Dublin park on 17 January 2020, was sentenced to 42 months' imprisonment, with the final 21 months suspended. The judge, Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, also imposed an 18‑month sentence for sexual assault, to run concurrently with the rape sentence. The defendant, who has autism and was found not guilty by the jury at his February trial, was ordered to attend education and therapy while detained and to keep the peace under Probation Service supervision for the suspended period. The court heard the victim's impact statement, describing fear, anxiety and the effect on her family, and noted the defendant's disruptive behaviour in court, which led to his removal. The sentence reflects the judge's consideration of the defendant's personal circumstances and lack of prior convictions.
A garda and prison investigation will be carried out into the death of Sameer Syed, who had been scheduled to stand trial for the triple murder of his wife Seema Banu and their children Asfira Riza and Faizan Syed. Syed, aged 38, was found dead in his cell at Midlands Prison in Co Laois on 9 June after taking his own life. The Central Criminal Court heard that the criminal file against him would be closed, formally ending the proceedings. Brendan Grehan SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, also announced that a full inquest would be held into the deaths of Banu and her children. The court noted the tragic nature of the case and expressed sympathy for the victims' families. No further details about the investigation or the inquest were provided in the article.
A retired senior garda officer, Sergeant Paul Barry, has alleged that Chief Supt Catherine Kehoe's investigation into his bullying and harassment complaints was a 'sham' and that the 'inordinate' time taken to conclude inquiries amounted to 'perverting the course of justice'. The Disclosures Tribunal is examining these claims, which relate to a 2012 complaint by Barry that the proper investigation of a child sexual assault allegation was prevented by Supt Michael Comyns, who he alleges also bullied and harassed him. The Director of Public Prosecutions directed there be no prosecution of the child sexual assault allegation in 2015 due to a lack of evidence. Chief Supt Kehoe, who investigated Barry's complaints, stated that she only learned from tribunal documents that Barry had accused her of targeting him by taking an 'inordinate' amount of time investigating his complaints. She explained that there were 'three arms' to the investigation, all concluded in May 2016, and that the process was delayed by various factors, including Barry's civil action and movement of investigators. Chief Supt Kehoe denied the allegations against her, calling them 'very disturbing, totally unfounded and hurtful'. The tribunal continues on Thursday before retired judge Chairman Sean Ryan.
After George Bento was arraigned, his defence counsel Padraig Dwyer SC applied to the court, arguing that the murder charge was unsupported by evidence and that the case should be charged as manslaughter. He cited CCTV footage showing other individuals attacking Bento and his companion, and claimed that Bento's use of force was reasonable and in self‑defence, defence of another and property. Dwyer also requested the judge to monitor the evidence for fairness, stating that an unfair trial could result if the jury considered a murder charge. The prosecution, led by Sean Guerin SC, countered that the CCTV and eyewitness accounts established a murder charge, noting that a 16‑year‑old received two fatal stab wounds. Mr Justice Paul Burns ruled that the court would not remove the murder count, allowing it to proceed to the jury. During the trial, a large group of Deliveroo riders attended the courtroom in uniform, expressing solidarity with Bento.
The jury for the trial of Brazilian food‑delivery cyclist George Gonzaga Bento, charged with murdering 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne, will return to the Central Criminal Court to continue deliberations. Bento, 36, is accused of stabbing Dunne after a confrontation with a gang while attempting to recover a stolen bicycle. He is also charged with producing a utility knife in a manner likely to intimidate, and with assault causing harm to two other young men. Bento pleaded not guilty to all four counts. The jury has spent almost six hours considering verdicts. A juror asked whether the knife‑production charge refers to the moment Bento removed the knife from his pocket or when he opened it; Judge Paul Burns explained the offence can relate to either.
During the trial of food‑delivery cyclist Mr Bento, who is accused of murdering 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne, the jury questioned why the man on a moped, described by the prosecution as the "instigator" of the fatal row, was not called as a witness. The jury had been sent out to deliberate and returned with a list of questions, noting that they had heard from "everyone" except the moped rider and a cyclist who had his bike stolen. Mr Bento, 36, was charged with murder, possession of a knife in a threatening manner, and assault causing harm to two other young men. He pleaded not guilty to all four counts. Mr Justice Paul Burns instructed the jury to base their verdict solely on the evidence presented, to avoid speculation, and to consider each charge separately. He explained the legal definitions of self‑defence, reasonable force, and the possible verdicts for the murder charge. The unnamed accused was acquitted.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Judge Paul Burns explained to the jury that a person may use force to protect themselves if it is reasonable and proportionate to the attack. He told the jury that George Gonzaga Bento, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian delivery cyclist, admitted stabbing 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne but claimed the killing was lawful because he and a friend were attacked by a bike thief and a group of teenagers. The judge clarified that a person acting in self‑defence may continue to use force only while it remains necessary; once it is no longer needed, further force is not self‑defence. He instructed the jury to assess whether Bento honestly believed his actions were necessary, whether the threat was imminent, and whether he had an opportunity to retreat. If the jury finds that Bento used no more force than was reasonably necessary, he would be acquitted.
George Gonzaga Bento, a 36-year-old Brazilian national from East Wall, Dublin 3, was acquitted by the Central Criminal Court of murdering 16-year-old Josh Dunne. The defendant, a delivery cyclist, had pleaded not guilty to four counts, including murder, producing a knife to intimidate, and assault causing harm to two other young men. The incident occurred on January 26, 2021, at East Wall Road, following a confrontation over a stolen bicycle. Defence counsel argued that Bento used reasonable force to defend himself and his friend from a violent group assault, while the prosecution alleged he exaggerated the threat and used lethal force against Dunne, who was merely reacting to protect his friend. The jury accepted the defence's position, resulting in a full acquittal on all charges. This finding concludes the criminal proceedings against Bento, who was found not guilty of the serious allegations brought by the state.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a 47‑year‑old man was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for assaulting his partner in August 2018 after she texted an ex‑boyfriend about a family loss. He pleaded guilty to assault and was convicted of false imprisonment by a jury. The judge described the violence as calculated to instil fear, noting repeated slaps and a choking incident that caused the victim to bleed. The court suspended the final year of a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence on the condition that the offender undergo alcohol treatment and keep away from the victim, including on social media. The victim, who suffered physical and emotional pain, could not leave the house until 10 am and later walked 25 km home. The offender's guilty plea was taken into account in the sentencing.
In a January 2020 incident at Carmen's Hall hostel, Peter Quinn, aged 52 and without a fixed address, assaulted a homeless man with a metal chair, kicking him and striking him with the victim's own crutch. Quinn, who has 106 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and production of an article. The victim suffered 25 stitches to the head, five to the eyes, and severe bruising, and reported flashbacks. Quinn's history includes long-term institutional care from age five and psychiatric diagnoses of schizophrenia and substance abuse. The court noted a positive probation report and that Quinn was engaging with support services. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Quinn to four years' imprisonment, describing the assault as "extremely brutal and violent." The second charge of production of an article was deferred to June 24.
Five men aged 17 to 19 were convicted of gang‑rape and sexual assault of a 17‑year‑old Leaving Cert student on 27 December 2016. The victim was taken from a midlands town to a remote dry dock in Co Westmeath where the men raped her one after another, filmed the assaults, and later forced her into a car where further sexual acts occurred. The court heard the victim's impact statement, describing how the men stripped her of dignity and left her in shock. Ms Justice Tara Burns sentenced the men to a combined 66 years: 15 years for Marcos Vinicius De Silva Umbelino, 18 years for Eduardo Dias Ferreira Filho, 20 years for Gabriel Gomes Da Rocha, 12 years for Conor Byrne, and 7 years for Ethan Nikolaou. All sentences had a suspended year, and additional concurrent sentences were imposed for other assaults. Conor Byrne pleaded guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 2 June 2022, Michael Bowman SC argued that DNA evidence presented by the State does not prove that Christopher Slator was one of the three men involved in the murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub. Bowman highlighted that Slator's DNA was found on a mask and a pair of runners in the getaway car, but also on other masks belonging to unknown individuals. He cited the forensic scientist's admission that secondary transfer could explain the DNA presence and that the DNA does not prove Slator wore the mask. Bowman also questioned the prosecution's inference that Slator's DNA indicated his presence in the car at the time of the shooting, noting that witnesses described a taller man than Slator's height. He further challenged the prosecution's reliance on a same‑day Bangkok flight booking as evidence of guilt, arguing it was an unusual but not incriminating travel pattern. Christopher Slator pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Dominic McGinn SC argued that DNA found on a mask and a runner inside a getaway car was sufficient to convict Christopher Slator of murdering Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in 2016. McGinn noted that the DNA matched Slator's profile and that the same items were linked to the car used by the three gunmen who fled the scene. He also cited evidence that Slator and an accomplice booked a flight to Bangkok the day after the shooting, with no luggage, suggesting a planned escape. McGinn emphasized that no reasonable explanation for the DNA evidence existed, and that the injuries sustained by Barr proved the act was murder. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC was scheduled to present his closing remarks the following day. The case remains at the non‑jury trial stage. Christopher Slator pleaded not guilty.
A 59-year-old man from Sligo has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction on charges arising from an incident at his home in April 2015. Christopher Feeney was found guilty of rape, oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault following a trial in September 2021. He was acquitted of a false imprisonment charge on which the jury could not reach agreement. The victim, then aged 54, had met Feeney through a dating application and travelled to Sligo town to meet him. The attack occurred at his Millbrook address in the early hours of the morning. Gardaí attended the scene after the woman contacted them and was instructed to display a signal from her balcony. Feeney fled Ireland whilst the Director of Public Prosecutions considered the case and was arrested in the UK in 2019. Mr Justice David Keane imposed concurrent sentences and noted Feeney demonstrated no remorse. A three-year post-release supervision order and sex offender registration were also imposed. Christopher Feeney pleaded not guilty.
At the Disclosures Tribunal in Dublin Castle, retired Garda Sgt Paul Barry and Supt Michael Comyns provided evidence regarding a 2012 complaint by Mr Barry alleging that Supt Comyns prevented the proper investigation of a child sexual assault allegation and bullied him. The DPP directed no prosecution for the child abuse allegation and, in November 2015, directed no prosecution for Supt Comyns's alleged perversion of the course of justice due to a lack of evidence. Supt Comyns, who denies the allegations as unfounded and vexatious, testified that a medical certificate issued to Mr Barry, which prohibited contact between them, made his role as district officer unworkable. He stated this prevented him from supervising investigations and created a serious precedent in An Garda Síochána. Supt Comyns also denied targeting Mr Barry regarding annual leave or a Regulation 10 warning for lateness, noting another garda was disciplined on the same day. He further clarified that he did not see Mr Barry during the Irish Open policing operation and that Mr Barry did not attend a February 2015 case conference on rape allegations. In September 2015, before being cleared of the allegations, Supt Comyns urged investigating gardaí to complete their disciplinary inquiries without delay. The matter is currently at the charge or pretrial stage, with Supt Comyns's evidence continuing.
In the Central Criminal Court, 36‑year‑old George Gonzaga Bento, a Brazilian food‑delivery cyclist, denies acting as a "hard‑man" during the January 26, 2021 incident at East Wall Road that led to the death of 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne. He claims he used a knife to defend himself and his friend from a man on a moped who had stolen a bike and from a group of youths who attacked them. Bento says he intended only to intimidate the attackers and that his life was at risk, not that he sought to harm anyone. He acknowledges causing injuries that led to Dunne's death, as well as stabbing two other young men, but maintains he was acting in self‑defence. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Burns, continues tomorrow with 12 jurors.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Danilo De Silva, aged 41, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for assault causing harm to a sex worker. The incident occurred in November 2020 when De Silva, who had previously worked as a professional chef, confronted the woman after they had consensual sex at her apartment in Clondalkin. He shouted at her, demanding money, and swung a large kitchen knife at her head and throat. The victim, who was operating as a sex worker, managed to shield herself with her hand, sustaining a cut on her palm and a small cut to her face. Gardaí found the palm heavily cut and covered in blood. De Silva fled but was later arrested. In June 2021 he pleaded guilty to the assault. The judge highlighted the vulnerability of the victim and the need for deterrence, noting the knife was in his backpack from his chef work. The sentence was three years' imprisonment.
Albert Tucker, aged 66, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment after a jury found him guilty of multiple indecent assault charges against his sister‑in‑law, Ms Aileen Ryan Wright, committed between 1976 and 1979. The offences involved repeated abuse at various locations in Dublin, including assaults in a car while driving her younger sister home. Tucker denied the allegations, claiming only one consensual act occurred when his sister‑in‑law was of legal age. He had no prior convictions. Ms Ryan Wright, who was aged 11 to 17 at the time of the assaults, testified that the abuse left her fearful and caused severe emotional distress, including attempts at self‑harm. The judge noted Tucker's lack of criminal history and medical conditions but considered the seriousness of the offences, sentencing him to four years with no suspended portion and requiring two years of post‑release supervision by probation services. Albert Tucker pleaded not guilty.
Robert Cruise, aged 34, was sentenced to eight years in prison, with the final two years suspended, after pleading guilty to being in control of a semi‑automatic pistol and in possession of six rounds of ammunition on 15 June 2017. The pistol and a petrol can of accelerant were found in a car he had moved, along with a motorbike helmet containing clothes. Gardaí stopped Cruise around 10 pm that night on Northbrook Road, searched him, and later found a key he claimed belonged to his brother, which opened the car. Cruise was arrested in May of the following year when his fingerprints were found on the bag holding the petrol can. He has 67 prior convictions, including threats to kill and assault. The court accepted that Cruise was pressured into the role and that the offence was out of character for him, citing his struggles with addiction and mental health.
In a Dublin homeless hostel on 2 January 2017, a 26‑year‑old man threw a baby's bottle at his partner during a dispute over heroin. The bottle's lid struck their one‑month‑old son on the forehead, while the bottle hit the mother. The child sustained a bruise but was not seriously injured. The man pleaded guilty to one count of common assault, a charge carrying a maximum six‑month sentence. He was sentenced to four months' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan, who noted the reckless nature of the act. The court also recorded that the defendant, who has 67 prior convictions and a history of homelessness, drug addiction and mental health issues, is due for release in July but will remain in custody longer because of this offence. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jamie Heffernan, aged 22, pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Aaron Murdiff after a spontaneous assault that left Murdiff with a traumatic brain injury. Heffernan, who had been chatting with Murdiff on CCTV, was reportedly informed that Murdiff had assaulted his cousin at a house party earlier that night. Heffernan struck Murdiff, causing him to fall, and then launched three separate assaults over a period of four and a half minutes, striking him in the head and body. Heffernan was arrested shortly after the attack. Murdiff suffered a brain injury with lasting balance issues, and a victim impact statement was submitted by his mother and sister. Two minor co‑accused await sentencing for their roles in the assault. The case is scheduled for sentencing in July. The court noted Heffernan's prior convictions, his early guilty plea, and his efforts to address alcohol and cannabis use.
Five men were convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of sexually assaulting and raping a 17-year-old Leaving Cert student in December 2016. The defendants are Gabriel Gomes Da Rocha, Eduardo Dias Ferreira Filho, Ethan Nikolaou, Marcos De Silva Umbelino, and Conor Byrne. Byrne entered a guilty plea to rape, while the other four men denied all charges but were found guilty of various counts of sexual assault, rape, and false imprisonment. The jury reached unanimous verdicts after a four-week trial. During the proceedings, the victim addressed the court, expressing her trauma and PTSD. She specifically addressed Byrne, acknowledging his admission of guilt and asking him not to let this be the defining moment of his life. She stated she would not forgive the other four men, who she said showed no remorse. The defence lawyers for all five men stated they accepted the jury verdicts and highlighted their clients' remorse. Ms Justice Tara Burns adjourned the case to 2pm on Thursday for finalisation. The five men were remanded in custody pending that finalisation.
Joseph Behan, 46, was convicted by a jury at the Circuit Criminal Court for robbery, attempted robbery, assault causing serious harm, assault causing harm, possession of a firearm and reckless discharging of the firearm after a raid on Mizzoni's Pizza in Raheny on 1 January 2019. He was jailed for 15 years. Behan appealed to the Court of Appeal and then to the Supreme Court, arguing that a search warrant issued for his home was unlawful because the Divisional Detective Superintendent who granted it was not independent of the investigation, as required by Section 29(5) of the 1939 Offences Against the State Act. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, ruling that the warrant was lawful and that any error made had no practical effect on the conviction. The court split 3‑2 on the statutory interpretation, but all judges agreed that the conviction should stand. The case was decided on 30 May 2022.
Feri Anghel, a 43‑year‑old Romanian gypsy, was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Ioan Artene Bob, a 49‑year‑old construction worker who was found badly beaten in Sean Walsh Memorial Park, Tallaght, on 13 April 2018. The court noted that Bob had been lured to the park after a casino win of about €2,700, which he had largely sent to his family in Romania. Anghel had a history of violent offences, including attempted murder, and had 24 prior convictions across Romania, France and Ireland. CCTV footage and forensic evidence showed a brutal attack involving stamping and blunt‑force trauma that caused Bob's death. Anghel pleaded not guilty but was unanimously convicted by a jury after a trial that lasted two days. The judge imposed a mandatory life sentence, backdated to Anghel's arrest on 18 April 2018, and highlighted the role of CCTV in the prosecution's case.
Jonathan Reid, 28, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison, with the final two years suspended for three years, after stabbing Greg Shiels, his mother's partner, in the neck during a drug‑induced psychosis on 6 March 2020. The attack was described as unprovoked and extremely violent, causing serious injury to Shiels, who was taken to Naas Hospital and later Tallaght Hospital for surgery. Reid pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm and to possession of cocaine and cannabis, leading the Director of Public Prosecutions to drop the attempted murder charge. He has no prior convictions, has a history of mental health problems linked to drug use, and has been offered addiction counselling through the Peter McVerry Trust upon release. The judge noted Reid's willingness to engage with his problems and his sincere remorse, which mitigated the sentence. The court emphasized the need for Reid to attend probation appointments and local drug‑addiction services.
The Supreme Court upheld a finding that the 2003 murder conviction of Somali‑born Yusuf Ali Abdi was a miscarriage of justice. Abdi, who had spent 16 years in prison, was found not guilty by reason of insanity at a retrial in 2019 after new psychiatric evidence showed he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the killing of his 20‑month‑old son, Nathan. The Court of Appeal had quashed the original conviction and ordered the retrial, which resulted in an acquittal. The Supreme Court, hearing an appeal from the Director of Public Prosecutions, dismissed the appeal and confirmed that Abdi was entitled to a Section 9 certificate for compensation. The decision clarified the legal test for a miscarriage of justice and the role of insanity in criminal liability. The ruling reaffirmed the earlier judgments of the Central Criminal Court and the Court of Appeal.
Former Irish soldier Lisa Smith, aged 39, was found guilty of membership in the Islamic State by the Special Criminal Court. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, rejected Smith's claim that she joined the group out of religious obligation or to live under Sharia law, stating that religion is irrelevant to criminal membership. Smith was not found guilty of the second charge of funding terrorism, as the court accepted that the €800 she sent in May 2015 could have been for humanitarian reasons. The court held that Smith travelled to Syria with full knowledge of Isis's violent activities and pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al‑Baghdadi. Smith was granted bail until her sentencing hearing on 11 July, with the judge noting her compliance with bail conditions over the past two years. The verdict was delivered after a 90‑minute hearing. Lisa Smith pleaded not guilty. Islamic State pleaded not guilty.
Mark Taylor, aged 32, was sentenced to two years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for allowing himself to be carried in a stolen Nissan car on 3 December 2019. The car was stolen from a house in Orwell Park, Templeogue, crashed after theft, and was later recovered in Cabra. DNA from a glove, hat and Yop yoghurt bottle linked Taylor to the offence. The owner's victim impact report noted €20,000 purchase price and €14,000 damage. Taylor has 152 prior convictions, including traffic, drugs, assault, vehicle theft, burglary and endangerment. He has been in custody since October for a five‑year endangerment sentence. His defence argued a personal change after his twin brother's death, but the judge noted his behaviour was less culpable than earlier offences and did not extend his sentence beyond the two years imposed. The sentence is effective from the hearing date.
A 60‑year‑old man, who was raped and sexually assaulted by his uncle between 1987 and 1993, pleaded guilty to one count of rape and two counts of sexual assault at the Central Criminal Court. He described the abuse as a "constant nightmare" and said he wanted his inner child to know it was not his fault. The judge, Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, noted the offences were committed when the victim was aged between seven and 13 and described them as a fundamental breach of a child's bodily integrity. The man was sentenced to six and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended. He had previously denied the offences but pleaded guilty in December after a jury had been empanelled. The court heard that the victim had suffered flashbacks and emotional distress for decades.