A 54‑year‑old man was jailed for two years after sexually assaulting a 16‑year‑old girl who was staying in his family home. He also sent the girl a sexually explicit text message after the assault. The girl showed the message to her mother, who confronted the man. He left the house and attempted suicide at a pier, but was persuaded to return by Gardaí and RNLI. He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and a charge of sending an explicit message to a child. Judge Elma Sheahan initially set a headline sentence of four years, citing repeated assault and the insulting text messages as aggravating factors. After considering mitigating factors such as remorse and a psychological report, the sentence was reduced to two and a half years with the final six months suspended on the condition of therapy and treatment.
Alan Wilson, 42, appeared before the Special Criminal Court for sentencing on a conspiracy to murder charge. He pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder persons unknown on July 26, 2010, and to possessing a .38 calibre Smith & Wesson revolver and a .32 calibre Zastava semi-automatic pistol for an unlawful purpose. Charges of attempted murder against Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett, and Austin Purcell were dropped. Wilson was previously acquitted of the murder of Marioara Rostas in 2014. In 2019, he pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Gary Hanley and was jailed for six years, with release due in May next year. Defence counsel Padraig Dwyer SC argued that the Rostas accusation caused significant suffering and that Wilson is not a member of the Kinahan gang. Dwyer highlighted Wilson's remorse, his early guilty plea, and his desire to lead an honest life, requesting a suspended portion of the sentence to aid rehabilitation. The court scheduled the sentencing for the current conviction for 2pm that day.
The Central Criminal Court heard that Alan Ward, aged 54, denies murdering his wife Catherine Ward, aged 41, who died on 1 March 2019 after being stabbed in their home. Ward has pleaded not guilty to the murder, to a threat to kill his son Adam, and to an attempted stabbing of Adam. He was previously charged in 2002 with assaulting his wife after heavy drinking and tablets, and again in 2010 when he assaulted her, causing a head injury that required hospital treatment. In 2011 he allegedly injured a neighbour with a sword. Psychiatrist Dr Damien Smith, called by the prosecution, said Ward's actions were better explained by acute intoxication and that his 2017 stroke did not produce a significant personality change. Dr Paul O'Connell, called by the defence, argued that the stroke, combined with long‑term alcohol abuse and childhood trauma, contributed to a mental disorder that may have impaired Ward's responsibility.
Nikkita Brogan, 24, of Letterkenny, Co Donegal, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for her role in a violent taxi hijacking. The validated procedural stage for this report is an appeal, as the case was previously sent to the Court of Appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions to clarify a procedural matter regarding the service of books of evidence. Brogan pleaded guilty to the unlawful seizure of a vehicle at Rutland Grove, Crumlin, on May 6, 2019. She admitted to unbuckling the taxi driver's seatbelt and assisting in reattaching the gearstick knob while two men assaulted the driver. Judge Melanie Greally handed down a 32-month sentence, suspending the final 12 months on conditions. Brogan has been in custody since January. The court noted her remorse and rehabilitation efforts. The two male accomplices, Peter and Jason Collins, were sentenced in December 2019 for robbery, assault causing harm, and unlawful seizure of a car. Peter Collins received four and a half years' imprisonment, while Jason Collins received three and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended. Brogan has 76 previous convictions, mainly for shoplifting, and was on bail for theft offences at the time of the incident.
Laurence Grocott, aged 38, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for an unprovoked assault at Capel's Bar in Dublin on 12 October 2018. He pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm to a man. CCTV footage showed Grocott approaching the victim and his friend, punching the victim several times to the head and face, leaving a one‑inch scar on the victim's jaw. The victim and his friend were drinking when Grocott and his friends offered them drugs; they declined and moved seats, after which Grocott attacked without warning. The victim tried to defend himself and was taken to hospital. Judge Melanie Greally imposed the 18‑month sentence to run concurrently with Grocott's existing nine‑year term for drug offences and a machine‑gun attack, noting he is making progress in custody and is now drug‑free. Grocott has a history of various jobs and is a grandfather.
Stephen Fowler, a grandfather convicted of logistical involvement in a botched Kinahan Cartel plot to murder James 'Mago' Gately, has launched a High Court challenge regarding the Garda's seizure and retention of his car. Fowler, who is serving a sentence in Portlaoise Prison, stated he gave full permission to a friend to use the 2014 Skoda Octavia. The vehicle was detained on October 31 and is currently being retained by the Garda, despite counsel arguing the seizure was irrational and disproportionate. Fowler's legal team, represented by Micheal O'Higgins SC and Brendan Hennessy BL, submitted that the continued detention breaches property rights and constitutes an abuse of authority. They seek orders to quash the refusal to return the vehicle, a declaration of oppressive conduct, and damages. Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted permission to bring the judicial review proceedings on an ex-parte basis. The judge noted the applicants had previously written to the Garda without a meaningful response and asked if a more cost-effective resolution existed. The matter was adjourned to a date in February. Fowler was previously sentenced to six years and nine months in the Special Criminal Court for participating in activities intended to enhance the criminal organisation's ability to commit murder. The last 15 months of his sentence were suspended for three years.
A man has been convicted at the Central Criminal Court in Sligo of sexually abusing a child over a five-year period in Donegal. Liam Carr, aged 59 and with an address in Ballina, Falcarragh, County Donegal, was found guilty of 31 counts including sexual assault, anal rape and oral rape of the boy between September 1995 and September 2000. The jury could not agree on four further counts. The case reached trial four times after legal issues and previous jury disagreements. The victim, now aged 39, described the legal process in a statement read to the court as six years of "complete torture" since first approaching gardaí in October 2015. He stated he had given testimony on four separate occasions. Defence counsel indicated Carr does not accept the verdicts and intends to appeal his conviction. The case has been adjourned for sentencing on 17 January 2022.
A Limerick man, Keith Anthony McCarthy (41), has consented to his extradition to the UK after being charged with murder and grievous bodily harm. The charges stem from an incident on 15 April 2020 in Harwich where McCarthy allegedly ran over scooter rider Kerrin Repman (29) with his BMW, killing Repman, and also struck a 79‑year‑old pedestrian, causing multiple broken limbs. The High Court hearing on 13 December 2021, presided over by Fiona Murphy SC, confirmed McCarthy's consent to surrender under two European Arrest Warrant (EAW) warrants. The court noted that both charges carry a maximum life sentence. McCarthy is currently in custody in Ireland, where he is serving a separate sentence, and the extradition is scheduled for after Christmas, with the matter adjourned to 17 January 2022. The court also considered legal questions about the applicability of the EAW post‑Brexit and the potential impact of time already served.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the state pathologist, Dr Michael Curtis, testified that Catherine Ward, aged 41, died from a fatal stab wound to her neck that severed two arteries, sliced her windpipe, and entered her lungs, causing the left lung to collapse. The wound entered at a 45‑degree angle and travelled about 10 centimetres downward. Additional stab wounds were found on her face, left ear, scalp, left arm, and left hand, with one through‑and‑through wound on the back of her left hand and a deep cut on her left index finger that nearly severed the finger. The injuries to the hand and forearm were described as defensive wounds. A toxicology report showed high alcohol levels in her blood. Alan Ward, 54, husband of the deceased, pleaded not guilty to murder, to a threat to kill his son, and to an attempted stabbing of his son.
The Special Criminal Court has extended an order protecting the identity of a man convicted of inflicting the most severe injuries on businessman Kevin Lunney during a 2019 kidnapping in Cavan. The anonymity order, which was due to expire on 13 December, has been extended until 20 December to allow the defendant's legal team time to seek a High Court order for continued anonymity pending other outstanding legal matters. The defendant and two co-accused are scheduled to be sentenced on 20 December for their roles in the abduction and assault of Mr Lunney at Ballinagh on 17 September 2019. All three men were convicted of false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm. During trial, the court heard evidence that the defendant drove Mr Lunney to a remote farmyard where he was subjected to severe violence including being struck with a baseball bat and cut with a Stanley knife. The presiding judge noted the defendant was heavily involved in the crimes and responsible for inflicting most of the victim's serious injuries.
Conor Clarke, 29, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years' imprisonment for unlawful seizure of a vehicle, attempted seizure, assault and threats to kill, following an incident on Hazelhatch Road, Newcastle, Co Dublin, on 15 February 2019. The case involved Clarke emerging from an overturned car, punching John Daly and attempting to seize a second car. Clarke's plea of guilty, his history of 55 convictions, and a probation report indicating a high risk of reoffending were weighed against mitigating factors such as his early guilty plea, difficult upbringing and recent relationship break‑up. The judge imposed a 12‑month suspended period, requiring Clarke to attend anger‑management classes, follow drug and alcohol treatment plans, and submit to random urine tests. He will also be supervised by the Probation Service for 12 months after release. The court noted Clarke's remorse, his depression and anxiety, and his role as a father of three young children. The sentence was delivered by Judge Elma Sheahan.
Michael O'Donoghue, aged 43, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for raping and sexually abusing his 19‑year‑old daughter, Aimee Foley, over a six‑year period. The Central Criminal Court heard that O'Donoghue supplied Foley with alcohol and drugs, including cannabis and cocaine, before sexually assaulting her during access visits to his home. He pleaded guilty to 31 counts of sexual assault, one count of rape and one count of producing child pornography. Foley, who was aged between 12 and 17 at the time of the abuse, gave a victim impact statement in which she described the emotional and physical abuse she endured. The judge noted mitigating factors such as O'Donoghue's early admission to Gardaí and his current low risk of re‑offending. The sentence was back‑dated to his arrest in April 2019.
A 20‑year‑old woman, who was sexually assaulted by her mother's partner, Dean Hurley, when she was 12, has begun training as a police officer in the UK. She gave permission for Hurley's name to appear in the sentencing report but asked that she not be named. She disclosed the abuse a year later after learning about sexual abuse in school, left the family home, and has lived with her father in England since. Hurley, 51, was jailed for three years after a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court convicted him following a three‑day trial in October. He pleaded not guilty to the assault that occurred between 1 and 30 October 2013. The woman's victim impact statement described the abuse, her mental health struggles, and her hope to help other abused children through her future policing work.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 19‑year‑old Katilyn Butler testified that her life was "changed forever" after her mother informed her that her father, John Butler, had died from injuries sustained in a fight with her brother, Stephen Butler. Katilyn, who still loves her brother but says she can never fully forgive him, described the shock of learning of her father's death at 4 a.m. at University Hospital Waterford, two hours after the altercation. She recounted the emotional impact, her anger toward Stephen, and her hope to rebuild their relationship. The court also heard a victim impact statement from Stephen's brother, William Butler, who lamented the loss of a family member. Stephen Butler, aged 23, had pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted manslaughter; the jury found him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, and he was remanded for sentencing. Mr Justice Paul Burns adjourned the sentencing until 24 January.
Stephen Penrose was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for the murder of Philip Finnegan at the Central Criminal Court. The sentence was backdated to May 17, 2017, when Penrose entered custody. Penrose, who had pleaded not guilty, was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict. He represented himself during the trial after dismissing his legal teams, an action the judge described as a serious abuse of the legal system. In a victim impact statement, Angela Finnegan, the victim's mother, condemned Penrose for cross-examining her in the witness box, stating no mother should be questioned by the man who murdered her son. She described the trauma of finding her son's decapitated remains in Rahin Woods, Co Kildare, three weeks after he went missing. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Finnegan died from multiple stab wounds, including fatal injuries to his liver and aorta. Superintendent Brian O'Keeffe informed the court of Penrose's previous convictions, including the manslaughter of David Sharkey in 2010, for which Sharkey was sentenced to nine years in prison. Penrose's other prior offenses included possession of firearms, a hit-and-run, and assaults on prison officers. The judge noted that Penrose had been continually in custody since May 2017. The court rejected Penrose's defense that he was attacked by others, accepting the prosecution's case that he inflicted a gruesome death on Finnegan.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has convicted a UK man of the murder of Kevin Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion, who was struck and run over multiple times by a jeep on Hyde Road in Limerick city on 1 July 2019. Logan Jackson, aged 31, of Longford Road, Coventry, England, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury unanimously rejected his defence of provocation after deliberating for two hours and thirty minutes. Jackson was also found guilty of endangerment. The court heard that Sheehy, aged 20, attempted to rise from the ground after the initial impact but was run over twice more at speed. Jackson claimed he felt intimidated after an altercation outside a house party, though he admitted to gardaí he was not under threat when he drove the vehicle and was angry and drinking. The judge will impose a mandatory life sentence next Tuesday. Sheehy's family will have the opportunity to address the court regarding the impact of his death.
The High Court heard challenges to An Garda Siochana's alleged policy of refusing station bail to persons accused of breaching domestic violence orders. Lawyers argue that the 2017 Domestic Abuse Intervention Policy, which underpins the refusals, violates constitutional rights to justice and presumption of innocence. They claim the policy forces them to seek bail before District Court sittings after Garda custody. The court noted that the 1967 Criminal Procedure Act does not list domestic violence breaches as offences requiring Garda refusal of bail. Two cases were presented: a woman who was denied bail after a protection order was issued and later arrested for alleged breaches, and a man who was denied bail after a complaint of order breach. Both denied the charges. The applicants seek orders quashing the Garda decisions, declarations that the refusals are unlawful, and that the Commissioner's policy exceeds his powers. Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted ex‑parte permission for the challenges, with hearings adjourned to January.
In December 2021, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of Erick Mukoko, a violent rapist from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who had been sentenced to eight years in prison for raping a 21‑year‑old woman in Limerick in May 2017. Mukoko had pleaded guilty and his lawyers argued that the trial judge, Mr Justice Michael White, had misclassified the offence and had not given sufficient weight to mitigating factors. The appeal was rejected by a three‑judge panel headed by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, who upheld the judge's discretion and the consideration of mitigating factors. The Director of Public Prosecutions affirmed that the sentence was fully within the judge's margin of appreciation. The victim's impact statement described ongoing anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and attempts at self‑harm following the rape. The case was investigated by Gardaí, who identified Mukoko as the suspect and confirmed a DNA match.
In December 2021, Michael Waters, a 49‑year‑old barrister from Belfast, petitioned the Court of Appeal to quash a 2013 assault conviction in which he was found guilty of head‑butting a creche manager, Marian Wallace, on 4 January 2012. The original conviction carried a suspended three‑year sentence and was upheld by the Court of Appeal in June 2017. Waters' motion, filed under Section 2 of the Criminal Procedures Act 1992, claimed newly discovered facts and sought a "miscarriage of justice" certification. Judge John Edwards responded that the judgment had been made in 2017 and that any objection should have been raised then, not four years later. He told Waters that all facts were known at the time and that he must provide an affidavit detailing any new evidence. The case was adjourned to February, with the judge giving Waters two months to submit his evidence. The motion was not granted.
Two weeks before the murder of his wife, Alan Ward, 54, visited neighbour Siobhan Byrne's home in Clondalkin, where he was visibly agitated and smelled of alcohol. Byrne, who had known the Ward family since they moved in, reported that Ward stood at her door, then, after being brought inside, told her, "You're a lovely lady but brain's telling me to stab you." He also mentioned wanting to stab his doctor and complained that no one was listening. Byrne's daughter Stacey recalled Ward saying voices in his head told him to hurt people, though she was unsure if he meant people in general or specifically his wife. Ward was taken by ambulance after the incident. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife, a threat to kill his son, and an attempt to stab his son, all of which are still pending before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury.
The trial of Logan Jackson, 31, of Coventry, England, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Jackson, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Irish boxing champion Kevin Sheehy but guilty to his manslaughter, is also charged with endangerment under Section 13 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. The incident occurred on July 1, 2019, at Hyde Road in Limerick city, where Jackson allegedly repeatedly ran over Sheehy in a Mitsubishi jeep. The jury, comprising five men and five women, began deliberations on Friday afternoon but had not reached a unanimous verdict by 4pm. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon adjourned the deliberations for the weekend, with the jury scheduled to return to Court 19 on Monday at 11:30am to determine their verdict. In her charge, the judge instructed the jury to consider whether Jackson was provoked, a partial defence that could reduce a murder conviction to manslaughter. The prosecution argued Jackson acted with murderous intent, while the defence contended he suffered a sudden loss of self-control due to provocation. The matter remains at the trial stage, with the final verdict pending.
At the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution closing argument in the trial of Logan Jackson concluded on December 9th. Mr Jackson, aged 31, of Coventry, England, denies murdering Kevin Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion aged 20, but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The death occurred on July 1st, 2019, on Hyde Road in Limerick city, when Mr Sheehy was struck repeatedly by a Mitsubishi Shogun jeep, sustaining fatal injuries including a catastrophic skull fracture. The prosecution barrister contended that CCTV evidence contradicted the defendant's account to gardaí, describing his statements as fabricated. The defence counsel argued the case lacked conclusive detail and that manslaughter remained the appropriate verdict. Mr Jackson also faces a charge of dangerous driving contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. Justice Eileen Creedon is expected to charge the jury of five men and six women before deliberations commence. Logan Jackson pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Alan Ward, 54, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife Catherine, 41, who was found dead on March 1, 2019, at their Clondalkin home. Ward told Gardaí that after a bickering episode, his wife hit him, he grabbed a lock‑knife, and went upstairs where she lay in blood. When asked if he stabbed her, he said he could not remember and when asked if he killed her, he said, "I'm not sure." He added that he had been drinking vodka, taken five or six prescription tablets, and had no intention to harm her. Ward also denied an offence of threatening his son Adam and of attempting to stab Adam on the same date. The case is proceeding before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of nine men and three women.
A 37‑year‑old London native, Mark Nolan, appeared by video‑link from Midlands Prison at the High Court to hear that his extradition to Ireland had been postponed. He had previously consented to surrender to answer alleged offences, including a 2019 assault in London, and was now charged with five new offences in Ireland: four counts of possessing firearms in suspicious circumstances and one charge of possessing material contrary to Section 7 of the Offences Against the State Act. The court was asked to consider the postponement in light of these new charges. The judge agreed, remanding Nolan in custody until 21 February. The extradition process follows the EU‑UK Trade and Co‑operation Agreement, and the new charges relate to possession of firearms and state‑related material. No further details of the alleged offences were provided in the article.
At the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, a murder trial has heard evidence regarding the death of Kevin Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion killed in Limerick city on July 1, 2019. Logan Jackson, a 31-year-old from Coventry, England, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Detective Garda Pat Whelan gave evidence of interviews conducted after Jackson presented himself at Tullamore Garda Station on the evening of the incident. Jackson initially claimed he faced threats from "three big fellas" near his black Mitsubishi Shogun jeep on Hyde Road, but in his fifth interview acknowledged he was angry and drinking when he pulled out the vehicle and that there was no threat present at that time. The 20-year-old was struck repeatedly by the jeep and sustained fatal injuries including a catastrophic skull fracture. Forensic evidence placed Mr Sheehy's DNA on the vehicle's front grill and bumper trim. The trial continues before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
Dubliner Glen Concannon (24) was sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in a 'vicious' assault outside Ballymun Garda Station on August 23, 2020. Concannon admitted to assault causing harm, and the court accepted his plea of guilty. The attack occurred after Concannon believed the victim, Aaron Tyrell, had assaulted a member of his family a week earlier. Concannon was in a car while others chased Mr Tyrell until they caught him outside the garda station, where the group punched and kicked him. The victim was hospitalised but did not engage with the investigation. Judge Melanie Greally described the assault as planned and extremely violent, noting the victim faced a risk of serious injury. She accepted testimonials from employers, family members, and a local youth project, which highlighted Concannon's character as a 'hard working, diligent employee and a caring responsible partner'. She noted his genuine remorse, early guilty plea, lack of previous convictions, and low risk of reoffending. The court suspended a two-year prison sentence on condition that Concannon keep the peace and be of good behaviour for that period.
In the Central Criminal Court, Adam Ward, 23, son of the accused Alan Ward, testified that his father had previously used a Samurai sword to stab a neighbour, forcing the family to leave Tallaght. Adam described a household marked by frequent arguments, physical altercations, and his father's refusal to allow his mother to pursue her own interests. He recounted the night of his mother Catherine's death, stating he heard a bang, saw his father brandish a blade, and was forced to flee to the street where neighbours called the Gardaí. Adam reported that Alan admitted to stabbing his wife, citing a quarrel, and claimed he did not intend to kill her. Alan Ward, 54, has pleaded not guilty to the murder, to threatening Adam, and to attempting to stab him. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of nine men and three women.
A 25‑year‑old Latvian man, Valerijs Leitons, was found guilty of manslaughter with substantially diminished responsibility for stabbing a 34‑year‑old Latvian woman, Saidrite Valdgeima, over 50 times at the Binary Hub aparthotel in Dublin on 26 June 2019. Leitons, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, claimed he believed Valdgeima was an enemy agent and that he was being monitored by the FBI, CIA and KGB. He had stopped taking his antipsychotic medication three months before the incident. The jury rejected his plea of not guilty by reason of insanity and returned a manslaughter verdict. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, and sentencing was adjourned to 18 January 2022. The hearing included victim‑impact statements from Valdgeima's three daughters, describing profound grief and lasting trauma. The judge expressed condolences to the family and noted the case's unusual nature.
In a Dublin apartment on 21 August 2017, a 41‑year‑old Albanian man raped a 15‑year‑old girl who had been invited to stay with him after a night out. The victim, who was fully clothed when she fell asleep, woke to find the man on top of her and he covered her mouth while she screamed before raping her. She later told the Central Criminal Court that she had been "killed" that night and that she had not been alive since. The jury found him guilty of rape and sexual assault; he was acquitted of a single count of false imprisonment. He has a prior conviction for serious drug dealing. On 8 December 2021, Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him to nine years' imprisonment, refusing to suspend any portion of the sentence.
A man named Gavin Craven, aged 47, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment with the final year suspended after attacking Fergal Quinn with a poker while claiming to be in the IRA. The assault took place at Quinn's home in Liffey Place, Cork City, on 1 August 2020, following a dispute over a parking space. Craven pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. The Court of Appeal found that the trial judge had erred in setting a five‑year headline sentence and had applied an inappropriate 20% discount. The appeal court reduced the headline to five years, then applied a 25% discount for the guilty plea, suspended 21 months, and left a custodial term of two years and three months to be served. The case was heard at Cork Circuit Criminal Court and the appeal was heard by Mr Justice Birmingham.
At the Central Criminal Court, a forensic pathologist gave evidence concerning the death of Kevin Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion, who died on July 1, 2019, following a fatal road traffic collision in Limerick city. Dr Allan Cala, testifying via video link from Australia, detailed multiple severe injuries sustained by the twenty-year-old, including a catastrophic skull fracture, extensive skeletal fractures, and profuse internal bleeding. Logan Jackson, aged thirty-one, of Longford Road, Coventry, England, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies murder. Evidence presented included witness testimony describing the vehicle striking Mr Sheehy repeatedly, and forensic findings consistent with the deceased being struck and dragged. The trial, before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury, continues at the Central Criminal Court.
A 54‑year‑old man, Alan Ward, is charged with the murder of his wife, Catherine Ward, 41, who was ten years his junior. The incident occurred on 1 March 2019 at their home on Greenfort Drive, Clondalkin. Ward told Gardaí that he had "snapped" after his wife struck him with a bottle and that he had stabbed her, but later said it was "possible he did" and claimed no memory of the act. He also faces charges of threatening and attempting to stab their son, Adam Ward, on the same day. The prosecution will present medical evidence of Ward's mental state, including a prior stroke, and testimony from his sons, who describe a marriage marked by arguments and drinking. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, is expected to last two weeks. The jury will hear evidence of the stabbing wounds, the post‑mortem findings, and Ward's alleged threat to his son. Alan Ward pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joseph O'Brien, aged 35, was found to have robbed a victim on James Street on 21 January 2019. O'Brien struck the victim twice on the back of the head with a glass bottle, then kicked him 20 to 30 times while he lay on the ground before stealing his phone. The victim suffered a laceration requiring stitches, heavy facial bruising, black eyes and a broken tooth. Witnesses saw O'Brien use the bottle and a woman also kicked the victim two or three times. O'Brien had previously committed a pharmacy robbery two days earlier, where he forced a staff member to open the till and stole about €300. He has 56 prior convictions, including robbery, burglary, assault and drug‑related offences. The court noted his history of drug addiction and homelessness, and Judge Melanie Greally ordered a Probation Service report and adjourned sentencing to 29 March, indicating a likely lengthy sentence. Joseph O'Brien pleaded guilty.
Gary O Hare, 49, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a tussle with his brother on 3 November 2019. The incident began when O Hare objected to his brother bringing his partner to the family home. He struck his brother's partner with a glass, which accidentally hit the brother's face, causing a laceration below the left eye that required stitches. The victim, who had moved out of the house but was looking to return, said he believed the offence did not warrant a prison sentence and that the family had endured enough. O Hare, who has no prior convictions and is the primary carer for his father, was described by the judge as having behaved very aggressively and used derogatory language. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 16 months imprisonment, suspended in its entirety on strict conditions, citing the incident as an isolated act of violence and aggression.
A soccer coach, aged in his seventies and suffering ill health, has filed a High Court application to halt his prosecution for two counts of indecent assault alleged to have occurred in the mid‑1970s. The alleged assaults took place at a Dublin club house and a location outside Dublin while the accused, then in his twenties, was the coach of an under‑age football team. The complainant, aged 12‑13 at the time, first gave a statement to Gardai in 2017, followed by a second in 2020. A decision to prosecute was not made until 2021. The coach, represented by Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC, claims that delays by the Director of Public Prosecutions, failure to disclose material and the passage of time have breached his right to an expeditious trial. He alleges that the DPP has not provided a statement explaining why the charges were not brought earlier.
A 54‑year‑old man, Alan Ward, will go on trial tomorrow for the murder of his wife, Catherine Ward, 41, who was killed on 1 March 2019 at their home on Greenfort Drive, Clondalkin. Ward is charged with the murder and two further offences: threatening to kill or seriously harm their son Adam Ward and attempting to stab Adam on the same day. He pleaded not guilty to all three counts. The case will be heard by Mr Justice Tony Hunt in the Central Criminal Court and is expected to last two weeks.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard evidence concerning the death of Kevin Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion, who died after being struck by a vehicle in Limerick city on 1 July 2019. Logan Jackson (31), of Longford Road, Coventry, England has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Forensic evidence presented to the jury indicated the black Mitsubishi jeep did not stop as it struck the 20-year-old on Hyde Road. Sergeant Kevin Burke, a forensic investigator, testified that drag marks approximately eleven metres long were found at the scene, consistent with the deceased being dragged beneath the vehicle. No brake marks were detected. Evidence of multiple strikes was identified on the jeep's front, with blood located on both the driver and passenger sides. The court heard that Mr Sheehy's cousin attempted to assist him before the vehicle struck him a third time and fled. The trial continues before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and jury.
Liam Vickers, aged 24, was given a two‑year suspended sentence in January 2021 for a knife attack on an escort. The sentence was reactivated in March 2021. In February 2021 he sexually assaulted a 21‑year‑old woman while she was running near her home. Gardaí identified him through CCTV and local witnesses. Vickers pleaded guilty to the assault and was sentenced by Judge Elma Sheahan to a three‑year term, consecutive to the two‑year suspended sentence. The judge noted Vickers' prior leniency, his traumatic childhood, cooperation at arrest, and expressed desire for rehabilitation, but also cited his low risk of reoffending as a mitigating factor. The new sentence will run consecutively to the existing two‑year term, adding three years of imprisonment to his custodial period. The case highlights the court's consideration of both past conduct and mitigating circumstances in sentencing.
In a court hearing on 3 December 2021, Damien Singleton, aged 31 and without a fixed abode, addressed the family of Peter Donnelly, who was murdered on 11 June 2019. Singleton apologized, saying he could not ask for forgiveness because he could never forgive himself, and expressed regret for subjecting the family to the trial. He acknowledged that he had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and that he had been found guilty of murder by an 11‑member jury after CCTV footage and a threatening voicemail were presented. The trial focused on whether Singleton, intoxicated with drugs and alcohol, had formed the intent to kill. The jury rejected the defence's claim of incapacity, resulting in a mandatory life sentence. The hearing also included victim impact statements from Donnelly's mother, aunt, and a child's mother, all expressing grief and the loss of a loved one.
A 32‑year‑old man was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of repeatedly beating, raping and abusing his 12‑year‑old step‑daughter. He had previously served a ten‑year sentence in Eastern Europe for killing a former girlfriend. The jury found him guilty on one assault‑causing‑harm charge, six child‑cruelty charges, three sexual‑assault charges and two rape charges covering incidents from September 2019 to May 2020. Justice Deirdre Murphy imposed a 15‑year sentence, suspending the final two years on the condition that the defendant engage in anger‑management therapy, avoid all contact with the victim, comply with probation directions and maintain good behaviour. The court noted the defendant's willingness to undertake these conditions and that breach would constitute contempt of court. The suspended period is contingent on the defendant's adherence to the therapeutic and protective orders set by the court.
A witness at the Central Criminal Court has denied allegations that he and the deceased, Irish boxing champion Kevin Sheehy, goaded or threatened the accused. Thomas Lysaght testified that interactions at a party on Hyde Road in Limerick city in the early hours of 1 July 2019 were lighthearted. He rejected suggestions from defence counsel Michael Bowman SC that he and friends provoked Logan Jackson, aged 31, of Longford Road, Coventry. Jackson has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in connection with Mr Sheehy's death following a vehicle strike. Other witnesses gave accounts of shouting outside the premises and events leading to the incident. The trial before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and jury continues, with proceedings examining the circumstances preceding Mr Sheehy's fatal injuries.
Kieran Creaven, a former RTÉ producer, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for a range of child‑sexual‑abuse offences committed in Ireland, the UK and the Philippines between 2014 and 2017. He pleaded guilty to ten counts, including four of child exploitation, two of sexual assault of a child and four of child pornography. The offences involved children aged from under one to 16, with one victim in the Philippines never identified. Creaven travelled to the Philippines to sexually assault a girl aged 10‑12, recording the abuse for three years. He also used Facebook, Skype and PayPal to contact and exploit children in Ireland. He has expressed remorse, engaged in psychotherapy and will be on the sex‑offender register for life. The judge adjourned the case to 16 December to consider post‑release supervision. The sentence was handed down via video link from prison. The court heard no victim impact statements.
A witness at the Central Criminal Court has testified about the fatal incident involving Irish boxing champion Kevin Sheehy in Limerick city on July 1, 2019. Thomas Lysaght described attempting to prevent his cousin from being struck by a jeep at Hyde Road, stating he tried to grab and pull Mr Sheehy from the vehicle after the initial impact. According to Mr Lysaght's evidence, the jeep returned twice more, striking Mr Sheehy a second and third time before the driver fled the scene. Logan Jackson, aged 31 and with an address at Longford Road, Coventry, England, is charged with murder in connection with Mr Sheehy's death. Mr Jackson has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The 20-year-old Mr Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion, was pronounced dead following the incident.
A 37‑year‑old London native, Mark Nolan, appeared before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs at the High Court on 2 December 2021 and consented to surrender to the United Kingdom on two separate warrants. The first warrant, issued by Westminster Magistrates Court on 16 June 2021, accuses Nolan of eight terrorism offences, two child‑pornography offences and two further possession charges, with maximum sentences ranging from 10 to 15 years. The second warrant, issued by London Crown Court on 12 November 2021, alleges an assault causing actual bodily harm in London in April 2019, carrying a maximum term of five years. Garda Extradition Unit Detective Eoin Kane presented evidence that Nolan was arrested on 2 pm that day, was escorted to court in handcuffs, and had been remanded in custody for 10 days before being surrendered to a UK‑authorised person for an additional 10‑day period.
A witness has described how a five-time Irish boxing champion fought unsuccessfully to rise from the ground before being struck by a vehicle for a second time at speed. Derek Hanlon gave evidence at the Central Criminal Court on the morning of the incident on Hyde Road in Limerick on 1 July 2019. Logan Jackson (31), with an address at Longford Road, Coventry, England, is charged with murder. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Kevin Sheehy (20). Mr Jackson also faces a charge of endangerment contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. Mr Hanlon testified that he witnessed an earlier verbal altercation between Mr Sheehy and a man with an English accent before a UK-registered Mitsubishi jeep drove towards the group at high speed on the inside road. The vehicle struck Mr Sheehy twice. Mr Hanlon told the court that Mr Sheehy attempted to get up after the first impact but was unable to escape before being hit again.
A 28‑year‑old European karate champion, Bagrat Kudzievi, was sentenced to six years in prison for two counts of sexual assault against 18‑year‑old Rachel McElroy on the night of 19 October 2019 in Cork city centre. The assaults took place outside a nightclub on a busy street. McElroy, who had consumed a small amount of alcohol, was taken by Kudzievi to a secluded location where he lifted and carried her across a bridge. CCTV footage captured the incident, and security staff intervened, arresting him. Kudzievi denied the charges and later claimed the activity was consensual. McElroy's victim impact statement described the attacks as degrading and left her feeling empty, disgusted and lacking confidence. The judge, Justice Tara Burns, noted the aggravating factors of the assault's public nature, the victim's intoxication and the degrading behaviour. Bagrat Kudzievi was convicted.
Michael McGuinness, a 61‑year‑old former army driver, was found guilty of indecent assault on three boys aged seven to thirteen between 1979 and 1990. The victims, who waived anonymity, described how McGuinness used his trusted military reputation to lure them, often disguising himself as a friend and forcing them to masturbate him in his car or home. The abuse was revealed when one victim reported McGuinness to Gardaí after meeting him through work. McGuinness pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault, admitted his actions as a "dark dirty secret," and expressed remorse. He had no prior convictions. The court noted the repeated nature of the offences and the lasting impact on the victims, ordering reports and remand pending sentencing on March 15 next year. The maximum sentence for each count is two years, except the final count, which carries a maximum of ten years.
Logan Jackson, a 31-year-old British man from Coventry, is standing trial at the Central Criminal Court for the death of Irish boxing champion Kevin Sheehy. Jackson has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, with the alleged incident occurring on Hyde Road in Limerick City on July 1, 2019. Prosecution counsel Dean Kelly SC outlined the State's case, alleging that after a brief exchange following a house party celebrating Limerick's Munster hurling victory, Jackson drove a Mitsubishi jeep into Sheehy and his cousin. The prosecution contends that Jackson then reversed and drove over Sheehy's body twice more at speed. Sheehy, a five-time Irish champion, died from serious injuries sustained in the collision. Jackson also faces a separate charge of endangerment under Section 13 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, which he denies. The trial is currently ongoing before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve. The matter was adjourned to continue on Thursday, meaning the proceedings have not yet concluded.
In January 2021 Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced 24‑year‑old Liam Vickers to a two‑year suspended term for assault causing harm in a Dublin apartment on 30 September 2017. He had earlier convictions for driving while holding a mobile phone and failure to appear. The court heard that Vickers had threatened the victim's roommate and ordered the victim to delete his phone number and texts. Vickers was later found to have followed a 21‑year‑old woman while she was running near her family home on 3 February, pushed her against park railings, and sexually assaulted her. He admitted the act was sexually motivated. The court adjourned the case to 6 December, with CCTV footage presented and a victim impact statement noting eight weeks of work absence and ongoing safety concerns. The case remains pending. Liam Vickers pleaded guilty.
Alan Wilson, a member of the Kinahan criminal gang, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to conspiracy to murder and an offence under the Firearms Act. He admitted to possessing a .38 calibre Smith & Wesson revolver and a .32 calibre Zastava semi-automatic pistol between July 24 and July 26, 2010, in circumstances giving rise to the reasonable inference that he possessed them for an unlawful purpose. The prosecution alleged he provided firearms and getaway cars for the attempted murders of Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett, and Austin Purcell at The Player's Lounge in Dublin 3 on July 26, 2010. Wilson claimed he was acting on instructions from dissident republicans. The Director of Public Prosecutions agreed to drop three attempted murder charges against him. Wilson also pleaded guilty in 2019 to conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017, for which he was jailed for six years and is due for release in May next year. The court noted his diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. The matter is at the sentencing stage. Ms Justice Tara Burns, presiding with Judge James Faughnan and Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin, will hear pleas in mitigation from Wilson's senior barrister Padraig Dwyer before passing sentence on December 15.